E-mails tell us that by now most of the boot camp participants returned safely back home. And home is, among other things, where the work is. I started working on our project at the HKU, which deals with designing a 'concept room' for the dutch tax services. Nice challenge there, cause those guys really fucked up on software the last couple of years, and are now trying to make up for that, which asks for quite the attitude change on account of the workers.
I'm also starting conversations about fab related projects here in Holland, so more on that to come.
Still miss Norway though...
On a different note, anybody seen this weird article? I was thinking that this big earth changing event was going to happen around 2013 or so... when the last of the Mayan calendars ends. Could be those guys where not so precise in retrospect... just a couple of years of. In Norway iI was really enjoying the darkness (no, not the rock band), so could be the earth rotates in such a way that Holland will also have 2 hours of light a day... wouldn't that be marvelous?
speaking of Mayans, I've just seen the movie 'The Fountain' by Darren Aronofsky (director of 'Pi' and 'Requiem for a dream') and I must say, great movie. Perhaps not for those among us who don't like fairy tales or to much interwoven story lines (or indeed Mayans), but for them who like dreaming, love, life and death and the occasional meditative moment... do watch it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Back home
So I'm back home... no more cold, no more snow.
But luckily there is enough to keep me occupied the coming weeks...
There are plans on continuing the multi-touch project (yes, STFF) in a slightly different form, I probably have a lot to do on the already running project at the HKU (school I'm attending), and I want to start doing a lot of stuff at the Fablab in Amsterdam, and maybe in Den Haag as well.
I hope to return to Norway soon though, because it's an incredible beautiful country, with really nice (and in some cases also beautiful) people.
If there are projects out there that can use the help of a fablab, or are just in general interesting... drop me a line and maybe I could help, or learn something. The lab in Den Haag is still looking for a lab manager, so if you have become interested in this fablab stuff on a deeper level, same thing: let me know, perhaps you can join the fun.
But luckily there is enough to keep me occupied the coming weeks...
There are plans on continuing the multi-touch project (yes, STFF) in a slightly different form, I probably have a lot to do on the already running project at the HKU (school I'm attending), and I want to start doing a lot of stuff at the Fablab in Amsterdam, and maybe in Den Haag as well.
I hope to return to Norway soon though, because it's an incredible beautiful country, with really nice (and in some cases also beautiful) people.
If there are projects out there that can use the help of a fablab, or are just in general interesting... drop me a line and maybe I could help, or learn something. The lab in Den Haag is still looking for a lab manager, so if you have become interested in this fablab stuff on a deeper level, same thing: let me know, perhaps you can join the fun.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
D/A conversion
Yesterday we started building the Fab@Home 3D printers...
With these printers, that you can build yourself, you can print 3D objects using material that hardens after being squished from a syringe... rubbers, clay but also icing for your cakes and desserts.
We worked in teams, about 5 per team at the beginning, slowly diminishing in numbers as we went along. some people (me) worked at the wiring, soldering, cutting wires and connecting stepper-motors to controller-boards. others began assembling the acrylic, while still others started on assembly of the mechanical parts (ball-bearings and the likes).
Today, at around 4, our first models where being printed. One of the teams made a square block with a hole, but I wanted something more difficult... so i found a model of the Penrose Triangle (see this site for the model) to print.
Since this model contains overhangs it was not possible to print (people who know about 3D printing or CNC machines will understand this problem). So I first tried to make a support structure in Blender, but since that would also contain overhangs or be incomplete, we decided to print into a layer of water, and see if the material would get enough support from that.
The model still has to harden, but it's looking good.
Click on one of the pictures for more.
With these printers, that you can build yourself, you can print 3D objects using material that hardens after being squished from a syringe... rubbers, clay but also icing for your cakes and desserts.
We worked in teams, about 5 per team at the beginning, slowly diminishing in numbers as we went along. some people (me) worked at the wiring, soldering, cutting wires and connecting stepper-motors to controller-boards. others began assembling the acrylic, while still others started on assembly of the mechanical parts (ball-bearings and the likes).
Today, at around 4, our first models where being printed. One of the teams made a square block with a hole, but I wanted something more difficult... so i found a model of the Penrose Triangle (see this site for the model) to print.
Since this model contains overhangs it was not possible to print (people who know about 3D printing or CNC machines will understand this problem). So I first tried to make a support structure in Blender, but since that would also contain overhangs or be incomplete, we decided to print into a layer of water, and see if the material would get enough support from that.
The model still has to harden, but it's looking good.
Click on one of the pictures for more.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Think Global, Act locally.
I just posted on Fablab.nl, in reply to some people who are thinking about starting projects concerning clean and free energy. I'm really happy people in our country are starting to use fablab's for these kinds of questions. We should work together on these issues and not try to re-invent the wheel separately. We will be having a discussion about how to get the different lab's to work together more closely, so questions and additions are more than welcome. Post them as a comment to this blog, or simply send me an e-mail. (also: skyping, calling, sending pigeons... it's al good.)
Hope to see more of these projects spring in our little country.
For now, set your screen to go to sleep after 2 minutes, computer after 15, and yourself after a good healthy day's work.
And since this is my personal blog, here's some personal stuff.
Since Bas an I cooked dinner one night, everybody's been helping out and yesterday Johan and I where up... The day before yesterday Hans Erik made a really marvelous meal and was also almost unbeatable in table setting.
So we decided to do something completely different. Around 5 i build four fires, one for cooking, one for looking at and roasting marshmallows, one in the sauna and one in the hot-tub.
We then roasted a real big piece of lamb and sausages, made a salad and had some excellent bean-balls made by Kamau (real nice guy from Kenia). After dinner was over we all jumped in the sauna, the snow and the hot-tub (in that exact sequence). Drinking beer and whisky in a hot sauna and trowing people in the snow... It's not like we are bored here.
The day before that we wanted to go ice climbing again, but it was a busy day, so we went out around 23:00... when we where half up the mountain, waist deep in snow and we still had not found any decent ice, we decided to give up and just enjoy the view. Climbing a mountain in the dark, with half a meter of snow is definitely something else.
Hope to see more of these projects spring in our little country.
For now, set your screen to go to sleep after 2 minutes, computer after 15, and yourself after a good healthy day's work.
And since this is my personal blog, here's some personal stuff.
Since Bas an I cooked dinner one night, everybody's been helping out and yesterday Johan and I where up... The day before yesterday Hans Erik made a really marvelous meal and was also almost unbeatable in table setting.
So we decided to do something completely different. Around 5 i build four fires, one for cooking, one for looking at and roasting marshmallows, one in the sauna and one in the hot-tub.
We then roasted a real big piece of lamb and sausages, made a salad and had some excellent bean-balls made by Kamau (real nice guy from Kenia). After dinner was over we all jumped in the sauna, the snow and the hot-tub (in that exact sequence). Drinking beer and whisky in a hot sauna and trowing people in the snow... It's not like we are bored here.
The day before that we wanted to go ice climbing again, but it was a busy day, so we went out around 23:00... when we where half up the mountain, waist deep in snow and we still had not found any decent ice, we decided to give up and just enjoy the view. Climbing a mountain in the dark, with half a meter of snow is definitely something else.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Cold
This morning, after a healty 4 hours of sleep, our new roommate woke me up by making tea... which was nice, cause she offered me some along with a nice conversation.
Then, after about 10 minutes of peace and quiet, Hans Erik (our other roommate) appeard to be still awake, cause when i heard some noise outside and opened the door, i was immediately hit by a snowball...
After that, a short but intense indoor snowfight commenced (tru whith Floortje, another roommate still) slept peacefully.
We then dicided to have a 'swim' in the snow, so after undressing we dove into a beautiful pile of snow (currently there's about 40 cm of the stuff).
(click the picture for more madness)
After that, Hans Erik then went to sleep, and I went to the lab to do some soldering of my IR-LED's for the multitouch board.
Later, when Johan woke up, we agreed on taking a 'swim' again, but this time in the fjord...
Watertemperature -- about 3/4 degrees.
Outdoor temperature -- close to zero.
Then, after about 10 minutes of peace and quiet, Hans Erik (our other roommate) appeard to be still awake, cause when i heard some noise outside and opened the door, i was immediately hit by a snowball...
After that, a short but intense indoor snowfight commenced (tru whith Floortje, another roommate still) slept peacefully.
We then dicided to have a 'swim' in the snow, so after undressing we dove into a beautiful pile of snow (currently there's about 40 cm of the stuff).
(click the picture for more madness)
After that, Hans Erik then went to sleep, and I went to the lab to do some soldering of my IR-LED's for the multitouch board.
Later, when Johan woke up, we agreed on taking a 'swim' again, but this time in the fjord...
Watertemperature -- about 3/4 degrees.
Outdoor temperature -- close to zero.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Ice climbing
Today was a day off, and Bas left early in the morning for a plane home, so now i am the only Dutch person here... But we also got up early and went ice climbing with a couple of people.
So we drove up to the small village that's near the lab, walked up the mountain a bit until we reached a frozen waterfall. We brought hooks, cables and clamp-on's (hooks you can strap to your shoes) and started climbing.
click one of the pictures for more...
Furthermore, Bas did a real good job setting up our website for the different projects. So i decided to keep this blog for writing more personal stuff (like i've been doing) and the site for technical issues.
Check it out: Stff
Neat, isn't it?
So we drove up to the small village that's near the lab, walked up the mountain a bit until we reached a frozen waterfall. We brought hooks, cables and clamp-on's (hooks you can strap to your shoes) and started climbing.
click one of the pictures for more...
Furthermore, Bas did a real good job setting up our website for the different projects. So i decided to keep this blog for writing more personal stuff (like i've been doing) and the site for technical issues.
Check it out: Stff
Neat, isn't it?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Snap fit fish
Yesterday we had a real great fish dinner, for which Haakon drove 6 hours to get 'the best fish'. And that it was... i have never tasted fish livers and eggs that were so soft and tasteful. Alongside we had some vegetables, potatoes and some real nice pinot gris. The fishes had to be cleaned before dinner, and they (tried) to learn me how to do that...
Here's me standing in a huge pile of fish...
We always have dinner together here, assembled around the main table in the lab.
not always as luxurious as this, but always really good.
The guy at the end of the table (with the glass) is Haakon, our host, and one of the nicest persons I've ever met.
On a more serious note, today I constructed my first snap fit object. Bas and I wanted to make something (more on that later) move around, so i made this little system that can be attached to a (stepper)motor.
Here's a picture of the thing:
The iron pen in the middle will be attached to the motor, and the object we want to move back and forth will be attached to the piece of plexi that sticks out.
I will post the technique to do this later on, but rest assured, I didn't come up with this myself. Johan (Great guy) here is the uncrowned 'king of snap fit'
Here he is, with a scale model of a doghouse they will be building for a local sled dog breeding guy.
It's all snap fit.
Here's me standing in a huge pile of fish...
We always have dinner together here, assembled around the main table in the lab.
not always as luxurious as this, but always really good.
The guy at the end of the table (with the glass) is Haakon, our host, and one of the nicest persons I've ever met.
On a more serious note, today I constructed my first snap fit object. Bas and I wanted to make something (more on that later) move around, so i made this little system that can be attached to a (stepper)motor.
Here's a picture of the thing:
The iron pen in the middle will be attached to the motor, and the object we want to move back and forth will be attached to the piece of plexi that sticks out.
I will post the technique to do this later on, but rest assured, I didn't come up with this myself. Johan (Great guy) here is the uncrowned 'king of snap fit'
Here he is, with a scale model of a doghouse they will be building for a local sled dog breeding guy.
It's all snap fit.
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