NEWS

SolarSinter : A Machine that Uses Sun and Sand for Production

SolarSinter : A Machine that Uses Sun and Sand for Production

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Can sun and sand help power the future?  Markus Kayser is a designer who is interested the potential natural energy and technology and develops projects to explore current methodologies in manufacturing and the potential of new production scenarios. His latest project, SolarSinter, uses sunlight and sand as raw energy and material to produce glass objects using a 3D printing process, combining natural energy and material with high-tech production technology.  The project was setup in the desert, and explores the potential of desert manufacturing, where energy and material are in abundance.

The inspiration for SolarSinter started in 2010, when Kayser took his first solar machine the Sun-Cutter to the Egyptian desert.  The Sun-Cutter was a solar-powered, semi-automated low-tech laser cutter, that used the power of the sun to power and ‘laser’ cut 2D components out of plywood.  While working on this project, Kayser got the idea to make a new machine that would combine the potential of the sun as well as the sand.   He researched the process of 3D printing, which use laser technology and resin to create 3D objects from a powder material, and created the SolarSinter.

The SolarSinter was tested in the Moroccan desert and later in the Sahara desert near Siwa, Egypt.  Kayser was able to create some objects with his setup, and the SolarSinter presents the potential of using sun and sand for production.

Is this the power of the future?  The SolarSinter presents innovative solutions to use the abundant resources of the sun and sand offers an almost unlimited supply of silica in the form of quartz.

Image Source:
www.markuskayser.com/

Links:

www.markuskayser.com/

Crowdfunding with Kick Starter: FAQs Answered by Awkward Hug

Crowdfunding with Kick Starter: FAQs Answered by Awkward Hug

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Kickstarter was founded in 2008, and was one of the earliest crowdfunding sites where creative projects are funded by the general public.  To list a project, individuals listing on Kickstarter must  fundraising goal and deadline are set, and the full amount has to be reached in order for the project to receive funding.

In 2010,  the media design group Awkward Hug went to Kickstarter to get funding for a online sock puppet game they hoped to develop.  They earned more money than they asked for (They were backed for $73357, which was aboe their $6,000 goal.) and their game sockpuppet has been doing well since it was launched.

Julie Coniglio, of Awkward Hug created a presentation titled Crowdfunding with Kick Starter that gives tips about using Kickstarter.  She shares tips such as how to develop an outreach strategy, design a reward system for funders, determine the funding amount to set, the importance of making a video for your project, and other tips.

I’m currently developing a new project that I plan to list on a crowdfunding site, so I was interested in the tips and tricks shared by Awkward Hug.  What to get You can view the presentation on slideshare.net and can check out Socks, Inc. – the project that Awkward Hug got funded and is going strong.

Image Source:
Presentation:  Funding with Kick Starter by Awkward Hug

Links:

Presentation:  Funding with Kick Starter by Awkward Hug

Socks, Inc. Kickstarter Site

 

 

Generative Leaf Botanical Art: Allison Kudla’s Growth Pattern Project

Generative Leaf Botanical Art: Allison Kudla’s Growth Pattern Project

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Artist Allison Kudla works with digital media in order to create time-based botanical works. Some of her past works have included data generated real-time video/audio renderings, working with hybrid bio-mechanical systems, and using CNC technologies and plant tissue culturing.

In her project called Growth Pattern, Kudla explored how a living natural system can take on the form of a manufactured pattern.

To make the piece, tobacco leaves are die-cut into a symmetrical pattern and suspended in tiling square petri dishes that have the nutrients necessary to promote new leaf growth.  The leaves are provided with the hormones that cause the cells to produce new leaf tissue, and the new leaves that grow extend the form of the traditional inspired botanical design.

When on display, the leaves change and change over time.   Each tile is a self-contained ecosystem, and through they were decontaminated and sterilized, some contamination still occurs. In some tiles,  the tissue dies.  In others, parasites might grow faster in the leaves.  In other tiles, new shoots begin to sprout from the original pattern.

The piece has shown in Spain and Belgium in recent years.  Kudla has other interesting projects that explore working with nature and technology which can be seen on her website allisonx.com.

Image Source:
allisonx.com/
Links:
Allison Kudla’s Website – allisonx.com/

Want to Live off the Grid? The Global Village Construction Set Can Help

Want to Live off the Grid? The Global Village Construction Set Can Help

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Open Source Ecology is a network of farmers, engineers, and supporters that for two years have been creating the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS), an open source, low-cost, high performance technological platform to support easy, DIY fabrication of 50 various Industrial Machines that are needed to build a sustainable civilization with modern comforts. The open-source project can assist entry into farming, building, and manufacturing.  Similar to a life-size lego-like set, the GVCS is a set of modular tools that can create entire economies, in both rural and urban areas.

If I was going to be part of a community off the grid, I would want to live in a wood house, have fresh bread every morning, and would want to get power from a wind turbine to power my laptop.  Some of the plans from the GVCS that would help with this venture are plans to build a sawmill, a commercial baking oven, dump truck (!) and a wind turbine.

All of these machines  rely on other machines to exist – which GVCS calls a “simple, closed-loop system,”and they are working by the end of the year to have instructions and information on how to make 50 machines which include a 3d printer, 3d scanner, an Aluminum Extractor from Clay, a Backhoe, Bakery Oven, a 50kW Wind Turbine, Baler, Cement Mixer, Universal Rotor, Universal Seeder, Well-drilling rig (to dig wells) and 39 other machines.  They currently have eight prototypes available on their website complete with planning designs, DIY videos that show how to assemble them, and budgets.

The project is an open source venture and is facilitated by a core development team in collaboration with hundreds of online project contributors and volunteers.

Some of the features of the GVCS is that it is open source, modular, low-cost, made to be DIY, high performance, tested designs, and flexible.

Image Source:
opensourceecology.org

Links:

opensourceecology.org

 Open Source Ecology – NPR story

Global Village Construction Set – TED Talk

Want to Lead a Unique Neighborhood Walking Tour Where You Live?

Want to Lead a Unique Neighborhood Walking Tour Where You Live?

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Jane’s Walk is a series of free neighborhood walking tours led by volunteers.  The walks are led by anyone who has an interest in the neighborhoods where they live, work or hang out. They are generally not  about architecture and history, but offer a more personal take on the local culture, the social history and planning issues faced by the residents in the area.

Jane’s Walk is named after  urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs, and is held annually during the first weekend in May to coincide with her birthday. Writer Jane Jacobs wrote, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”  The vision of Jane’s Walk is to celebrate these ideas and promote walkable neighborhoods, urban literacy, and cities planned for and by people.

Jane’s Walk started in 2007, and since then has happened in cities across North America including Calgary, Halifax, Vancouver, Victoria, Waterloo Anchorage, Boston, Dayton, New Orleans, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis. In 2009, over 10,000 people took part in a Jane’s Walk and were led by volunteers in 263 neighborhoods in 24 towns and cities across North America.  Jane’s Walks went international in 2011, and walks were  offered in cities including Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, St. Petersberg, Ljubljana, Sao Paolo, Guadalajara, and 12 walks in Tel Aviv & Yaffo, Israel.

Past walks have explored various places including visiting social housing slated for redevelopment, teen hangouts, secret gardens, and historical sites.  Some walks have a theme, and some have been built around ideas like the urban forestry, gay and lesbian history, places of relevance to the homeless, and urgent planning matters facing certain neighborhood.   The walks, in whatever form, give an insider tour of a neighborhood.

Is leading a Jane’s Walk for you?  The Jane’s walk website offers tips and tools to help you plan leading a walk.  It also has a list of qualities that you can read through to see if this might be for you.  The next Jane’s walk will be May 5th and 6th  for 2012, so you have some time to plan.

Image Source:
www.blogto.com
vic.gedris.org

 

Links:

www.janeswalkusa.org