flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

A robotic arm can 3D print, etch, solder, and carve from a desktop

BIM and Information Technology

A robotic arm can 3D print, etch, solder, and carve from a desktop

It’s not just a 3D printer. The creators say Makerarm can also etch, solder, and put icing on cake.


By Adilla Menayang, Assistant Digital Editor | October 19, 2015
A robotic arm can 3D print, etch, solder, and carve from a desktop

The device has an arm with a 180-degree sweep and 10 inches of Z-travel, cantilevered on a column that mounts to a work surface. Photo courtesy of Makerarm via Kickstarter

Usually, 3D printers available for the average consumer come in a box. But Core 77 reports that entrepreneur Zaib Husain and engineer Azam Shahani have come up with a prototype called Makerarm that goes against the boxed expectation.

Their device has an arm with a 180-degree sweep and 10 inches of Z-travel, cantilevered on a column that mounts to a work surface. The arm can reach up to 16 inches.

But calling the device a desktop 3D printer will be an understatement. In the project’s Kickstarter video, we learn that Makerarm can solder, level, carve, etch, cut sheets, engrave plastic and leather, carve wood, and even feed your fish, to name a few. Perhaps the icing on the cake is Makerarm’s ability to, well, put icing on cake.

The plethora of activities is thanks to changeable tool heads that can be fastened to the arm, such as a screw fastening head, laser engraving head, 3D printing head, and foam cutting head.

The creators argue that Makerarm can be a solution to creators that don’t have a lot of access to every tool, machine, or material that is too expensive, and instead have them all in one desktop robotic arm.

So far, the project has raised $197,229 of its $349,750 goal with the help of 181 backers, and it has 22 days to go.

 

Related Stories

Sustainability | Apr 20, 2023

13 trends, technologies, and strategies to expect in 2023

Biophilic design, microgrids, and decarbonization—these are three of the trends, technologies, and strategies IMEG’s market and service leaders believe are poised to have a growing impact on the built environment.

Urban Planning | Apr 17, 2023

The future of the 20-minute city

Gensler's Stacey Olson breaks down the pros and cons of the "20-minute city," from equity concerns to data-driven design.

Intelligent Lighting | Feb 13, 2023

Exploring intelligent lighting usage in healthcare, commercial facilities

SSR's Todd Herrmann, PE, LEEP AP, explains intelligent lighting's potential use cases in healthcare facilities and more.

AEC Tech | Jan 27, 2023

Epic Games' latest foray into the AEC market and real estate industry

From architecture to real estate, the realm of computer-aided design hits new heights as more and more firms utilize the power of Epic Games’ Twinmotion and Unreal Engine.

AEC Tech | Jan 27, 2023

Key takeaways from Autodesk University 2022

Autodesk laid out its long-term vision to drive digital collaboration through cloud-based solutions and emphasized the importance of connecting people, processes and data.

Digital Twin | Nov 21, 2022

An inside look at the airport industry's plan to develop a digital twin guidebook

Zoë Fisher, AIA explores how design strategies are changing the way we deliver and design projects in the post-pandemic world.

BAS and Security | Oct 19, 2022

The biggest cybersecurity threats in commercial real estate, and how to mitigate them

Coleman Wolf, Senior Security Systems Consultant with global engineering firm ESD, outlines the top-three cybersecurity threats to commercial and institutional building owners and property managers, and offers advice on how to deter and defend against hackers. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Great Solutions

41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors

AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report, which highlights fresh ideas and innovations from leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms.



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021