Welcome to World Maker Faire 2018!
It's official--We are WORLD Makers, as part of WORLD MAKER FAIRE 2018 in New York!
And we couldn't be more proud!
World Maker Faire is described as " Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned."
We wanted to show other makers some different ways to fabricate.
Fabricating can be as complex as designing files and 3D printing, or as simple as cutting up foam floor mats and using household objects. So we made a suit of T-60 Power Armor from the Fallout 4 video game--entirely out of foam floor mats. The platform boots are built around a pair of robot slippers that make hydraulic sounds when you walk. The slippers are actually inside of the platform boots, and make this power armor extra comfy to walk around in! We added some hoses to the tanks on the back, and some fabricated chrome painted handles made from tubes. When we were done, we gave this armor a quick Atom Cats paint job--fabricating doesn't have to be difficult or expensive, common every day objects work just fine!
The helmet was 3D printed and finished, and contained a basic circuit and switch to make the headlamp light up. The lens was molded and cast for custom fit, and the inside had foam added for comfort. Add an Atom Cats paint job, and the armor was complete!
We designed the parts for the minigun, 3D printed them, then finished and painted them. We attached the front end to PVC pipes, and wired a drill inside to make the barrel spin. The bullets were molded and cast in flexible urethane, then painted and added to the belt. They came out so realistic, we had to bend the bullets to show they weren't real.
This was a really fun project for us to create.
We loved getting to incorporate a lot of different skill sets into one project, let others see some different ways to fabricate, and tell us what they've learned on their projects too.
The icing on the cake was being named by Tom's Hardware (the authority on tech products and reviews) as one of "The 21 Coolest Things we saw at Maker Faire 2018". Thanks Tom's Hardware, we think you're cool too. We're lucky number 13.
World Maker Faire was an unforgettable experience for us, and we definitely learned as much as we shared. We made some lasting friendships and met so many fascinating people of all ages--from small children to retirees, all with different ideas, backgrounds and skills--and got to hear about the amazing projects that THEY are working on. From a motorized pony that zips around, to a hydraulic car-crushing hand, legions of droids, solar-powered kraken and everything in between, we were completely inspired to create bigger and better than ever before--and explore other ideas that we hadn't even considered.
We're already counting the days until World Maker Faire 2019!
Made friends with the New Jersey Astromech Society and their legion of droids.
Car-crushing Hand of Man
Motorized Pony Express!
