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Cupcake Car or War Machine?

The Mini-Maker Faire is only 3 weekends away and there is still so much to do on the Cupcake Car.  I spent nearly all day Sunday making the Steel “tin” that forms the wall around the base of the car.  This was the first time I really got to use my sheet metal brake and it worked really well.

The day was extra hot so after 7 hours I was drained.  The rear axle was another project I checked off my list along with the sprocket to connect to the motor.

After looking at my limited time left, I broke down and bought a motor controller.  The good thing is I have enough high-power parts to make a 2nd supped-up cupcake car, the bad thing is it’s more money.

I started mounting the tin and the curve is a bit off so I have to fake it a bit.  My goal is to finish that by the next weekend.

Monday I discovered some rust on the tin.  I’ll need to find some clear coat or rust-inhibitor.

New Gallery Pics

Brainstorming the Giant BristleBot

With the upcoming Mini-Maker Faire, i3 Detroit knew it was a perfect opportunity to get the message out and gain some more members.  We brainstormed a few days and came up with a giant ridable bristlebot.  We believe that no one has ever done this.  If you find a record of something online, let me know.  Even if it does exist, it’s still fricken cool.  Check out the gallery.  More building tonight (8/11).  I’ll upload pics.

I want!  Not sure I have the tools to build an Extreme Vortex Cannon but maybe that mini-one.  Very cool.  I need to find out what this British show is.  Link - Via Neatorama

We have a company summer picnic coming up in a few weeks.  Since I am known as the maker in the office, I thought it might be cool to bring in a project.  “You know…for the kids”.  After flipping through some books, I found a Soda Bottle Water Rocket project in the Best of Make Book.  It turned out basically like the book but it is a bit unstable and finicky.  I am going to do some tweaks and then it will be ready for the picnic.  Good work Make.

I just signed up for my Fall 2009 Classes.  Instead of going further with the electronics classes, those are put on hold for the semester.  I’ve signed up for two metalworking classes; Millwright Theory & Metalcraft 1 at the local community college.  These should teach me the basics of the lathe, mill, grinder, drill press and layout work for metalworking.  They sound like a blast and I am looking forward to their start in mid-September.

The Cupcake Car Frame after 1 weekend

Ever since I returned from the geek mecca known as Maker Faire, I have been jealous of Acme Art’s Electric Cupcake Cars.  The plan was to build one directly after Maker Faire 2008.  I ordered the biggest scariest DC electric motor I could find. I needed it to run off of 36 volts because that was the best motor controller plan I could find (Thanks Frank!).  The result was a pile of parts that sat unused for nearly a year.  I talked the good talk but no results. 

With the creation of the Mini-Maker Faire in Ann Arbor, MI this month, I had renewed motivation to bring a little piece of Maker California to Detroit.  I’ve accelerated my build time and have finished most of the frame in one weekend.  A new motor has been ordered since I had to build a new base plate for the scary one I found (Don’t worry, it will get incorporated in a future version) and the remaining drive-train parts have been ordered.

The car should be done by the last weekend in August and in time for the Faire but it leaves me little room for error.  Keep coming back to the site for updates.  I’ll upload pics as I finish pieces of the build.

i3 Detroit Group Shot with Jim Newton & Dale Dougherty at the TechShop Event

Tuesday July 28 was a great day for Detroit and I was invited to witness it firsthand. The University of Michigan, in partnership with the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, hosted a TechShop event in Ann Arbor, MI.  It featured presentations from TechShop’s COO Mark Hatch and Make Magazine’s founder, Dale Dougherty (pictured second left).  Also in attendance was Jim Newton, Founder of TechShop (pictured first right) as well as representatives from i3 Detroit, a2Geeks, Go-Tech, TechTown, Coffee House Coders, the major Michigan universities and a number of entrepreneurial groups.  The atmosphere was a mix of innovation and inspiration. It was exciting to get all the “M.B.A.s”, as an i3 Detroit member coined them, brainstorming and see their heads nodding during the presentations. The presentations by Make Magazine & TechShop were just the ignition we needed to give the Maker Movement in Detroit a starting platform that many groups in Detroit have tried so hard to promote.

The Make presentation centered around hosting a full Maker Faire in Detroit.  As some may know, a mini/test Maker Faire is scheduled for August 29th in Ann Arbor (A2 Maker Faire).  Dale made a very convincing pitch for the event and the whole room was engaged.  One thing I brought up at the discussion was how there is a lack of central communication for Maker-type events.  A Maker Faire is at least a partial solution for that and will hopefully springboard more groups, discussion and organization.

The second presentation was for Techshop.  I’ve been behind this organization for a few years.  It has great potential and I can’t wait to get one in the Detroit area.  This meeting encouraged funding and interest from the business and university communities.

The whole event got me really fired up for i3 Detroit, a new hackerspace opening soon in Detroit.  I’ve met with the group a few times and love the enthusiasm, commitment and potential of the organization.  While I certainly hope that a TechShop open its doors in Detroit some day, i3 Detroit will be an equal if not greater solution for now and in the long-term.