Well In

I've been steadily progressing in the building of the Ultimaker. I found that the rocking I spoke of in the previous post was due to the table I had it on. Placed on the floor, everything is fine. The table is one of those interlocking home-made tables you can make out of one piece of plywood. I have two. Had 'em for years. Maybe it's time to upgrade to less "student" looking furniture.

One of these pieces is not like the other.
Someone was too quick loading/unloading the laser cutter.

So far the motors, X-Y axes and extrusion head are installed. Next up is the Z stage. It's going together quite easily. The only issues so far have been with some small clearances, and a laser cut part that had a diagonal hole because the operator of the laser cutting machine was loading or unloading the birch plywood into the machine while it was cutting (see right).

I need to come up with a title for this blog - "Working Title" isn't cutting it. Maybe a play on words around 3D printing or plastic. But I don't want to limit the blog to just the 3D printer part, when the actual objects being made are the important part. I don't really want to associate myself with the Make or Maker terminology. I feel that Make Magazine and the Maker Shed has subverted the actual Do-It-Yourself/Home-Made movement with a monetization that is the antithesis of the ideals it stands for. Nothing against O'Reilly. It's just that paying for the ideas and plans one "makes" gives me that "ew" feeling.

I would like to work curmudgeon in the title somewhere. Lets call it "The Creative Curmudgeon". No, sorry, that's been taken - twice. OK, how about the "Homemade Curmudgeon". No, that sounds like Suzy Homemaker. How about the "Constructive Curmudgeon". No, taken. "The Curmudgeon Constructs". Hmmm. That works. Done. At least for now.