Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab

Here's a strange personal fabrication idea.

The paleontology is somewhat shaky, IMO, but it's an interesting piece of 3D printing.

http://cunicode.com/neopaleo/

A sylized "pterodon", cut on the Epilog Mini.  Constructed of 1/4 inch plywood, finished with textured paint.

Size is approximately 1.3 meter wingspan, .6 meter nose-to-tail.

The original plans were published on the web at:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-6-0-tall-Wooden-T-Rex-Model/step7/BONUS/

The CUCFL was part of the Partnerships for a Thriving Champaign Urbana conference April 20 at the NCSA.  It was great to meet so many people who are working to create a more livable community.  I hope they make the Fab Lab a part of those efforts.  One example is the work of Christine Moore, who is working with the Prosperity Gardens project near the police station where the public market is open.  The lab might help by making a few wooden garden stakes and signs for the area.  Anyone have any great sayings for a garden that we can laser cut into a sign?  

On May 5, 2012, the Illinois State Science Fair will take place at the Assembly Hall.  Judges are needed to review the over 1000 projects submitted by school children around the state.  No experience is necessary and training will be provided.  It looks like your commitment is 8:00AM to 12:00PM on the 5th.  If anyone is interested they should contact Bob coverdill of I-STEM  (coverdil@illinois.edu) to volunteer.  Sounds like it might be fun!  you can see the science projects from 12:00 to 2:00PM as a visitor.

A recent project from Betty Barrett and Bob McGrath.

This is simple plastic "jewelry", laser-cut in acryllic (see image). 

The butterfly is orginally from a website (http://www.malindarogers.com) which has many drawings that could be used for similar projects.

The project is explained in a document [PDF].

Threadless.com is offering free 'reject' t-shirts to groups of 8 or more.  We will be hosting an event and want you to come!

Come to the lab on Thursday 26th from 5-9pm and we'll work on the shirts.  We'll post photos to their blog and our group might win gift certificates for all attendees.

YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT BEFORE NOON on FRIDAY April 13th (this Friday).  This is the date that threadless wants all group requests in by.  If we don't have your name, we won't have enough tshirts for you to attend.

For more about the event, click here: http://www.threadless.com/news/858616/We_re_hosting_a_Tee_Upcycling_Worldwide_Meetup

TO SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT, FILL OUT THE FORM HERE: http://cucfablab.org/book/attend-class

AND SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT HERE ON MEETUP: http://www.meetup.com/Threadless/Urbana-IL/672692/

Register both on our website and on meetup.com so we know how many people are coming and so that threadless can see who's coming.

Learning how to make and use QRCodes--here is a QRCode for the URL for this web site.  When you scan it, you get cucfablab.org.

This code can be put on handouts and posters, etc.

Also, download the PNG and put it on stuff you make.  Who knows how well it will work, say, etched onto the tail of a dinosaur, but we can find out.

The Fab Lab welcomed iFoundry's special guest Federico Joselevich, technology artist, in a one-day workshop at UIUC's Fab Lab where we participated in creating fun, whimsical projects that combined art and technology! People from varying locations and backgrounds gathered to combine their talents and strengths as a team, exploring the boundaries of their minds and hearts, and fabricating devices that touch and inspire individuals.

The Fab Lab will participate in the University of Illinois Public Engagement Symposium on April 18, 2012.

Come join us from 3:00–6:00pm at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), Multipurpose Room 6, 201 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, Illinois.