openMaterials

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about homemade biodegradable plastic. I haven’t tried it myself, but thought it would be useful to gather here some resources relating to these experiments: :: Above is a video by Green Plastics, showing how to make your own bioplastic. :: Shapeways How-to :: Cooking & molding bioplastics at home: recipes, [...]

A talk by Bath University Professor Adrian Boyer, creator of the RepRap 3D Printer, given @ FOSDEM. (via Erik de Bruijn)

A mini documentary on RepRap Mendel shot at the University of Bath.

Sugru is a brand new material developed specifically to “hack things better.” Here are some of its extraordinary properties: Cures at room temperature Sugru is like modeling clay when you take it from its pack. Once it’s exposed to air, it cures to a tough flexible silicone overnight using the moisture in the air. Working time = [...]

A simple switch made with QTC sheet. Quantum tunnelling composite (QTC) is a smart flexible polymer, with extraordinary electrical properties, used for pressure switching and sensing. In its normal state it’s a near-perfect electrical insulator, but when deformed QTC becomes a metal-like conductor capable of passing very high currents. In fact, a QTC button measuring 4mm [...]

Hot Glue (aka Hot Melt Glue, Thermoplastic Adhesive) This must be one of my favorite materials. It allows you to glue almost anything together in an often easy and semi-durable way. It dries pretty quickly so you don’t have to wait more than a minute or so to proceed with your work. And, even though the [...]