HACKberry is an open source, 3D-printed bionic hand

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This 3D-printable bionic limb is controlled by a smartphone, powered by camera batteries and based on an Arduino. 

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If you sit back and reflect over the past couple of years, it’s truly remarkable how far the world of prosthetics has come thanks to recent advancements in 3D printing and open hardware. These artificial limbs have transcended well beyond the heavy, plastic and metal pieces of yesteryear into lightweight, sci-fi-like accessories that can be easily constructed and controlled in ways never before imagined.

Aside from providing these body-adorned gadgets with futuristic capabilities, what makes the sleek and futuristic prosthetics even more appealing are their price tags — a fraction of the cost of its older and commercial counterparts. With aspirations of accelerating development and increasing accessibility, Japan-based startup exiii has developed an open source bionic hand that is built around an Arduino Micro (ATmega32U4) and myoelectric sensors, uses a smartphone as the brains of its operation and relies upon camera batteries for power. Named HACKberry, most of the device is comprised of 3D-printed components that can be taken apart and swapped out whenever necessary.

“HACKberry is a practical model for daily use created through the cooperation of actual users. Hackberries, which are a species of trees included in the elm family, grow many branches,” exiii writes. “Our goal is to develop an artificial arm that would become the platform upon which developers and artificial arm users from all over the world are able to build as they wish.
The name represents our vision to ‘hack’ at problems, grow branches of joy that reach out to users and enable their ideas and efforts to bear fruit (‘berries’).”

While its newest model may not be ready for sale yet, the limb only took $300 to create. The latest iteration boasts a number improvements compared to its more expensive (and not open source) sibling, the Handoii, which includes a more flexible wrist for various movements, a smaller palm to make it attractive for women to wear, and enhanced compatibility to an assortment of camera batteries. Impressively, what really sets HACKberry apart is that its ductile fingers that can even differentiate between grasping and picking up based on the object, whether that’s turning the page of a magazine, grabbing some nail polish or even tying one’s shoelaces.

Want to learn more? exiii has made all of its files available on GitHub page. This includes printing and source codes for software, as well as all the data for its hand, sensor and battery boards. In the meantime, you can see HACKberry in action below!

RepRapPro launches a $300 Delta 3D printer

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The Fisher Delta 3D printer is an easy-to-assemble and even easier-to-afford machine for Makers of any level.

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Safe to say that the adoption of 3D printing will rely heavily upon both affordability and accessibility to Makers. And one of the companies continuing to lead the way is RepRapPro, who has debuted yet another open source machine for the DIY community. Recently unveiled during 3D Printshow London, Fisher is an easy-to-assemble, Delta style 3D printer that is expected to cost around $300 — quite the wallet-friendly price compared to many other devices on the market today.

“In order to achieve the low price, a Delta configuration was chosen, utilizing mainly parts and processes which can be found in our other RepRap kits,” its team revels. “Although in this configuration the machine lacks a heated bed, many great features are included, such as an automatic bed probing and new compact all metal hot-end, which all combine to give the same great print quality as all our other RepRap 3D printer designs.”

One of its other notable features is RepRapPro’s Arduino-compatible, 32-bit controller. Based on an Atmel | SMART SAM3X8E Cortex-M3 MCU, the Duet board is equipped with four stepper motor controllers, an SD card slot, as well as USB and Ethernet ports. Makers can drive the platform with a conventional RepRap app like Pronterface or command the platform via a standard web server. What’s more, an expansion board offers an additional four stepper motor controllers, allowing for a total of five extruders and up to eight axis controls.

Key specs of the Fisher:

• Build volume: 150mm diameter, 180mm height
• Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
• Resolution: 12.5um in all axes
• Print bed: Removable
• Extruder: Direct drive extruder with an all-metal stainless steel nozzle
• Connectivity: Ethernet and USB interface
• Storage: On-board microSD
• Software: Prints G-code files provided by Slic3r and other open-source slicing programs

At the moment, the design is in its beta stage, as the team gathers feedback from end users throughout the open source community. Meanwhile, upgrades are already in the works which include a heated bed and color touchscreen kits. Interested? Head over to its official page here.

Roby is an Arduino-based, 3D-printable robotic platform

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Young Makers can build their own customized, self-balancing robots as they explore programming and 3D design.

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The brainchild of Seattle startup Socially Shaped, Roby is a 3D-printed robotic machine that not only drives on four wheels, but can walk on two. If it falls, it can even pick itself up again with its two arms.

The open-source robotic platform features a programmable on-board computer along with an Arduino remote controller. Developed as a way to introduce young Makers to programming and basic electronic principles, users can customize a personality for their bot, as well as add new attributes like computer vision, sensors and voice recognition.

“Roby is not just an entertaining robot, it’s a robotic learning platform. When you build Roby you will have an opportunity to learn in a fun and engaging way,” its creators explain.

In piecing together one’s very own Roby, Makers will have the unique ability to master programming languages, explore Arduino and Raspberry Pi, acquire rudimentary skills in Linux-based operating systems, and dabble with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication. Moreover, a child can leverage 3D printing to put a personal touch on their design.

For its Kickstarter launch, the team has unveiled three Roby kits — Roby Junior, Roby Standard and Roby Genius — each varying in price, capabilities and levels of complexity. What’s nice is that the Maker-friendly platform is also entirely upgradeable, so that a a user can graduate from one stage to the next.

Designed for novices, Roby Junior is an autonomous, RC robot controlled by an Arduino. Aside from the Atmel based board, the kit includes a pair of DC motors, a shield to drive the motors, an ultrasonic sensor to help Roby avoid obstacles and a remote control for enhanced entertainment.

Meanwhile, Roby Standard is an intermediate set for those seeking a little more adventure. The self-balancing bot can walk (well, sort of) on two wheels and is equipped with a pair arms to help it stand up should it fall. Beyond that, it can speed down a driveway in race car-like fashion or be outfitted with a set of tracks for some off-road fun. This Roby, which is a step up from the Junior model, features an Arduino, a custom shield, an ultra-sonic distance sensor, a gyroscope for self-balance, high-grade NEMA17 stepper motors for precision, servo motors for its arms, in addition to a few other electronic components.

As a Maker progresses with their Roby, they will ultimately arrive at the aptly dubbed Genius. Like its name would suggest, this gadget packs an on-board Raspberry Pi that can carry out countless actions and respond to voice commands. Not only does this kit ship with everything found in the Standard, Genius boasts a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module for IoT exploration, a color graphical screen, a video camera, a microphone and a speaker.

It’s always refreshing to see new DIY platforms, such as mBot to LocoRobo, emerge in an effort to introduce children to STEM-related fields. Is Roby right for you? Head over to its Kickstarter campaign, where the Socially Shaped team is seeking $25,000. Shipment is expected to begin in August 2015.

Create your own muscle-controlled Wolverine claws

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These DIY Wolverine claws will extend when you flex your muscles. 

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While we’ve seen plenty of X-cellent DIY Wolverine projects in the past, this recent project from Advancer Technologies founder and die-hard Maker Brian Kaminski has surely topped the list of clawesomeness. He simply flexes his arms — and snikt! — the claws extend in a matter of seconds.

This project was devised as a way to celebrate the successful launch of the team’s fourth-generation muscle sensor, the MyoWare. For those who may not be familiar with the campaign currently live on Kickstarter, the wearable sensor platform is used to measure a muscle’s electric potential. The harder a wearer flexes, the more motor units are recruited to generate greater muscle force. The greater the number of motor units, the more the muscle electrical activity increases. MyoWare then analyzes this electrical activity and outputs an analog signal that represents how hard the muscle is being flexed. The harder it is flexed, the higher the MyoWare output voltage will go — as demonstrated in the latest Wolverine project.

To bring this claw to life, Kaminski attaches a few sensors to his arm and proceeds to making a muscle. As this occurs, MyoWare detects the flexing via EMG and converts it into a digital signal. This information is transmitted to an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328) embedded within the claw tasked with controlling the mechanism. Meanwhile, the Arduino’s built-in 5V regulator is also used to power the MyoWare.

An added bonus to the already X-tremely cool build is that a majority of its parts were 3D-printed. Intrigued? We thought you might be. Fortunately, Advancer Technologies has provided a step-by-step breakdown of its build over on MAKE: Magazine. However, those looking to get started may have to wait until MyoWare begins shipping in July.

SinapTec AT328.02 is an inexpensive, open-source controller board

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Based on an ATmega328, this minimal controller board is suitable for DIY 3D printers and other CNC machines.

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When it comes to open-source 3D printers, it seems as though a vast majority of devices are powered by the easy-to-use Arduino Mega. While many Makers employ a RAMPS 1.4 shield to interface with the powerful Arduino and expand its capabilities, “vdirienzo” has gone the other route by devising a minimal, barebones controller board for FDM printers and other CNC machines.

Dubbed SinapTec AT328.02, the low-cost MCU is based on an Arduino Nano (ATmega328) running a slimmed down version of Teacup firmware, while its simple faceplate packs just enough through-hole components to be implemented in a DIY design.

While this surely isn’t the first nor will it be the last 8-bit controller board we stumble upon, it’s pretty awesome nevertheless. Created as an entry in this year’s Hackaday Prize, perhaps the extremely inexpensive unit could be in the running for the ‘Best Product’ category. Though it may not ‘change the world’ in any way, it may have a role in changing the Makerspace. Intrigued? Check it out on its official Wikipage here.

This suitcase is actually a portable 3D printer

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Focus is a multi-material, ultra-portable 3D printer that fits within a suitcase. 

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When it comes to the utmost portability, nothing says “on the go” more than a piece of luggage, right? Have you ever thought about taking a 3D printer with you when you’re traveling? Probably not, mostly because a vast majority of machines are still relatively bulky. Aside from that, many devices are only capable of printing in a single type of filament — whether that’s plastic or paste-like materials — and require some sort of calibration. Luckily, in an effort to address this list of problems, Dutch startup 3D By Flow has debuted a new project called Focus. 

Essentially, it’s a 3D printer housed in a sleek, hipster-esque suitcase that opens up into a magnificent machine with minimal setup. Weighing in at just 15 pounds, the compact piece can be easily unfolded, warmed up and ready to print in less than 30 seconds. Like other devices on the market today, Makers can either connect the Focus to a PC or simply plug in an SD card with the STL files. What’s more, it doesn’t require any leveling or calibrating before hitting print.

While the portability of the gadget surely enhances its value when more people than ever prefer working on the go, perhaps what makes the FFF 3D printer truly stand out is its magnetic extruder switch. This enables a user to attach various extruder types, making it possible to print with different materials like PLA, ABS, wood, bio-rubber, nylon, bronze, ceramic, silicon as well as edible materials like chocolate.

Focus is also equipped with an extra endstop for accurate height adjustments. What’s more, the team has developed software with extruder recognition capabilities to ensure that despite which filament is employed for a print job, the printer will always be optimized for the intended material type. As for the bottom isolated print bed of this super mobile machine, it is entirely stationary, heated and allows for more accuracy, especially with soft materials such as ceramics.

From the looks of Focus, it would appear that the MIT duo who devised the PopFab a few years back were onto something, and rightfully so. Between traveling to and from hackerspaces, school and Maker Faires, lack of portability can certainly be a pain. Sound like a 3D printer you’d like? Head over to its official Kickstarter campaign, where the team is currently seeking $56,475. Shipment is expected to kick off in December 2015 — just in time for the holidays!

Lewihe Play is a $77 3D printer for Makers

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This new 3D printer from Lewihe is both extremely customizable and affordable.

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As we’ve seen with pretty much all technology, whether that’s PCs, laptops or the conventional printer market, prices tend to drop to a more affordable and reasonable level in time. Think about it, just a couple of years ago, a 3D printer would set you back well over $1,000. Over the past year alone, a number of new machines have entered the market with a price tag of only three figures. Then again, what about two figures?

That may now be a reality thanks to Spanish startup Lewihe, who has unveiled a 3D printer that may be one, if not, the most affordable devices to date. Designed with Makers in mind, the $77 Play is an FDM printer that comes in kit form, allowing users to customize and build their own machine.

In terms of the kit, Play comes without several key parts in order to enable Makers to create their own printer using their preferred components. These include NEMA motors, screws and bearings, hotend, external power supply, as well as controller boards. However, the team does note that a vast majority of their devices are based on the SAV MkI — an AT90USB1286 powered derivative of the Printrboard and Teensylu.

Beyond that, the DIY gadget ships with an iron plate structure, extruder support, print surface and metal shafts, along with files for all of its 3D printable pieces. From there, Makers can mount single or dual extruders, a heated print bed, and pretty much any other one of countless combinations to make the machine their own.

• Printer size: 210mm x 210mm x 250mm
• Build volume: 105mm x 105mm x 130 mm
• Layer resolution: 0.32mm – 0.2mm
• Print speed: Stable at 60mm/seconds (can go higher)
• Filament type: Rigid and elastic materials (1.75mm)
• Software: Cura, Repetier, Pronterface and Octoprint

Interested? Head over to its official page here. Shipment is expected to begin in August 2015.

Bocusini is a plug-and-play food 3D printing system

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This easy-to-use system features a food printing head on a standard 3D printer, cartridges, an intuitive US and a web platform.

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While on the surface it may appear to be something out of a sci-fi flick, the concept of 3D-printed food has begun to generate some major momentum as of late. From the looks of things, a future with on-demand pasta, chocolate and pizza may not be too far off, especially with the wave of new machines like the Foodini, 3D Systems’ CocoJet and XYZPrinting’s Food Printer entering the market. However, even as awesome as many of these devices may be, they will still need to overcome a series of limitations before you can expect to see them in any restaurant or home kitchen. These include having to create an edible project layer-by-layer in a low resolution model similar to what is seen on existing FDM 3D printers, as well as having only a few materials to choose between and demonstrating its convenience factor.

In hopes of solving this conundrum, a Munich-based team of Makers has developed a food printing system that is capable of extruding not just your typical materials, but instead, everything from cookie dough and jelly to vegetable paste and pâtés. Unlike others before it, Bocusini is comprised of a heated food-printing head that mounts to a standard 3D printer, a selection of easy to change cartridges with printable food, an intuitive user interface and an accompanying web platform housing countless designs and recipes.

What’s more, the plug-and-play, multipurpose machine can be used right out of the box, making it a perfect tool for creative chefs, confectioners and in-home cooks alike. To get started, a user simply drags an drops their favorite design from the company’s web platform, or devises their own on a mobile device, then inserts a food cartridge into Bocusini. (These cartridges come in volumes of 60 ml and contain up to 100 grams of the product.) From there, just wait a couple of minutes for the delicious creation to be complete. The entire process can be controlled remotely via Wi-Fi.

In addition to the universal system, Bocusini will also offer a retrofit food printer head kit that will work on several open-source, Atmel based 3D printer models, including the Printrbot Simple Wood and Simple Metal as well as the Ultimaker 2. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a single-use device, this gizmo can be easily attached to an existing 3D printer for a fraction of the cost.

“There is nothing mysterious about food printing – it is just the dosing of a food product like melted chocolate, mashed potatoes or a cookie dough layer by layer onto a plate by a small nozzle – the principle of food printing is nothing more than a very precise automatically controlled pastry bag,” the team writes.

Looking ahead, the Bocusini crew will be making the entire food printing system open source and are in the process of developing two more products as well. Intrigued? The project is has just surpassed its $33,477 goal on Kickstarter with delivery expected to begin early next year.

Make the perfect cup of tea with Arduino

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Arduino will keep you from over-steeping your tea.

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While coffee has been the fuel of engineers for years, others like Brian McEvoy sometimes prefer tea for their daily jolt in the morning and afternoon pick-me-up. In order to receive the maximum amount of caffeine, however, mastering the brewing time is imperative. Over-steeping tea sometimes can lead to a bitter taste and a reduction in caffeine levels, and as someone that gets easily distracted, this tends to happen to the Maker more times than not. In order to prevent this from occurring on a regular basis, as any DIYer would do, he decided to automate his tea cup to perfect every brew.

While tea timers are nothing out of the ordinary, McEvoy was determined to “(over)engineer something” using inexpensive hobby-grade electronics, and more importantly, something that would differentiate his project from countless others on sites like Instructables. This included incorporating a text display and having the cup (which as any Star Wars fan would agree, his choice was awesome) clip onto the machine.

In order to do this, the Maker devised a 3D-printed, tea-bagging mechanism that employs a 9g servo motor to control the amount of time that the leaves attached to the arm spends dipping into the mug. Meanwhile, another 3D-printed enclosure houses an Arduino Mini (ATmega328), a potentiometer to properly set the brewing process, an LCD screen to reveal the time and a start button to, well, get things going. A USB charging cable with its wired ends cut was soldered to the Arduino for power supply.

Sound like a simple device to solve your troubles in the morning? You can check out his detailed blog posts and follow along with his step-by-step tutorial on Instructables.

Electroloom is the world’s first fabric ‘3D printer’

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Doin-knit and doin-knit and doin-knit well! This 3D printer can create your nightly attire moments before heading out. 

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Archaeologists suggest that the art of sewing dates all the way back to the prehistoric era, nearly 25,000 years ago, where those of the last ice age would attach hide, skin, fur and bark to devise clothing and shelter with nothing more than some thread and needles — which at that time were actually made of animal bones, ivory and antler. This form of stitching would go on to evolve, from weaving plant leaves in Africa to natural fibers in the Middle East; however, it wasn’t until the 14th century that the word “sewing” would be used.

Fast forward hundreds of years to the Industrial Revolution, which ultimately shifted the production of textiles from the household to the mills. In the early decades of this era, Thomas Saint patented the world’s first sewing machine in 1790, and by the 1840s, other sewing mechanisms began to appear. With the potential to accelerate and perhaps disrupt an entire movement in the same manner as its predecessors, Electroloom will enable users to create seamless, ready-to-wear garments based on custom 3D fabrics from scratch — all sans sewing.

Nowadays, when it comes to buying clothes, you have one of two options: physically go to a brick-and-mortar store or sit at home and shop online, then wait for your package to arrive. What if there was a better, much more efficient way? Instead of hopping in a car or surfing the web, what if you could simply click a few buttons and have a piece of clothing materialize right before your eyes? As futuristic as this may sound, one Bay Area-based startup and HAX alum is looking to make that a reality — and we’ve even seen it firsthand at Maker Faire outside the Startup Pavilion. (It’s pretty remarkable.)

“Inspired by 3D printers, the Maker Movement, and accessible design, we set out to build a technology that enables people to design and manufacture clothes from scratch. And now, after a year and a half of development, we’re ready to find our first set of alpha testers. Introducing, the Electroloom Developer Kit,” the team writes.

In essence, the Electroloom consists of a clear plastic box that holds a thin metal template of pretty much anything from a tank top to a skirt, a beanie cap or whatever else a wearer may desire. Once ready, a customized hybrid of liquid polyester and cotton is passed through an electrically charged nozzle and spun into nano-fibers, which bind together to form a thin yet strong article of clothing in the shape of the mold that can be flexed, draped, folded, and of course, worn. The machine employs an electrospinning process, which the team dubs “Field Guided Fabrication” or “FGF” for short, to convert the liquid solutions into solid fibers that are deposited onto the 3D mold.

When discussing how the Electroloom differs from more conventionally 3D-printed garments, the group of Makers notes that the latter is typically comprised of intricate connections, like joints, that allow the material to bend and move, effectively creating chain-mail that mimics how fabrics actually move. Their material, however, is said to be flexible and light by nature and is guaranteed to embody the same characteristics as traditional fabrics.

With their crowdfunding campaign wrapping up, the team is already looking into blends that would yield fabrics beyond just a polyester/cotton blend, as well as produce variously colored materials with a single click.

“Most people say it looks like magic. We tend to agree,” the team concludes.

Admittedly, Electroloom is still in its infancy and is seeking the DIY community’s help in making this a mainstream product. Sound like something you’d like to own? Head over to its Kickstarter page, where the project has already surpassed its original $50,000 goal. Those wishing to begin making their own attire may have to wait until March 2016, when the first batch of units is expected to ship.