MAKE VIDEO PODCAST: Computer Controlled CNC Etchasketch

In between robot battles at Seattle Bot Battle IV, I got a chance to interview Scott Ferguson about his computer controlled CNC etchasketch. He can make his computer control the etchasketch. Scott usually makes robots that kill other robots, but took up the kinetic art challenge for the event.

One of the things that impressed me is that Scott positioned the servos stepper motors so that he can use a big or a pocket etchasketch by just switching the pullies and changing the settings on his computer. He also wrote the program that controlls the Etcha Sketch. Click here to get the video (MP4) delivered automatically with iTunes. This video will play on PC/Mac/Linux/PSPs and iPod video devices - Link.
Posted by Bre Pettis |
Apr 12, 2006 08:28 AM
DIY Projects, MAKE Podcast |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
Recent Entries
- HOW TO - build a water mortar
- Jake's steamcar project, dashboard redo
- Build your own water quality tester
- MAKE @ Yahoo! Buzz
- Made in Japan Vol. 3
- Super Breakout version allows for competitive or collaborative gaming
- How DIYers just might revive American innovation
- Light-Field camera makes blurry images a thing of the past
- Make a pizza box solar oven
- DIY Security system calls your phone
Comments
Oldest comments listed first.
I know this is pendantic of me, but those are stepper motors, not servos :P Important when it comes to torque and accuracy of such a system.
Btw that video doesn't play on firefox, with itunes installed and running, win2k and all the latest versions of ff and itunes.
"i'm gonna go draw boobs on the etchasketch"
"go ahead, they always come out square!"
Pointing out steppers vs. servos isn't pedantic. I'll show you pedantic...
"his computer controlled CNC etchasketch. He can make his computer control the etchasketch."
His computer controlled computer numeric controlled etchascketch allows a computer to control the etchascsetch? You don't say! Does it control it numerically?
That's awesome, servo or no servo. Technically, a stepper motor can be a component of a servomechanism, but if what you mean by servo is a closed loop control, then no it's not really a servo. BUT, his mill software is cool. It generates g codes, which means you could use it to control cnc mills, lathes, & whatnot. That's pretty cool. Replace the etchascketch nobs with a worm-gear driven table and you'd have a rudimentaty cnc mill. That's way cool by any standard.
Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!
Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.
$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)
Features and more @ MAKE!
MAKE @ The NYC Toy Fair 2008 - Covering DIY!HOW TO - Build the arms of assistance.
MADE in Japan - Part I.
MADE in Japan - Part II.
MADE in Japan - Part III.
Make store - Blinky bug kit - Blink!
Make store - Loud Objects Noise Toy Kit
Makers - MAKE Flickr pool contest. Win cool stuff!
Makers - Join the MAKE Facebook page - Meet other makers.
MAKE on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet!
What you're reading in MAKE - Data!
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher
Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT
Becky Stern
Culture jammer
Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker
Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker
Current Podcast
AHAB High Altitude Ballooning - Best of Weekend Projects
mp4|mov|hd|3gp|3g2|itunes This week on Best of Weekend Projects, we look back at part two of the AHAB (High Altitude Balloon Adventure). In this epic Bre & Co. travel to Eastern Washington to launch a GPS and camera enabled balloon...
More...

