Banner Image: © Golibtolibov / Adobe Stock
September 14, 2023
The most difficult step in CNC plasma cutting is loading the 4’x8’ sheets onto the table. Thin sheets are too flexible and thick sheets are too heavy for a single person to handle. This DIY, battery-powered vacuum lifter uses 8 suctions cups to effortlessly lift up to 1,000 lbs of sheet metal.
January 21, 2023
The Large Format 3D Printer is a DIY machine capable of printing furniture! A 1 kg/hr pellet extruder quickly fills the massive 1 m3 build volume with intricate shapes and geometries that are only possible with additive manufacturing. Explore this project to see 3D printing taken to the next level.
March 2, 2020
A computer controlled (CNC) mill can turn digital 3D models into metal parts with ease. In this project, Dr. D-Flo converts a manual Precision Matthews mill (833T) to CNC by swapping in ball screws and stepper motors. Learn about the mechanics, electronics, and software behind this project.
November 12, 2020
The Cyber Scooter is Dr. D-Flo’s daily driver to and from work. This custom electric vehicle can reach speeds of up 30 MPH and has a range of over 50 miles! The eye-catching light bar was a design element borrowed from Tesla’s Cybertruck. This design required 12 unique components machined from 6061 aluminum.
July 23, 2020
Building a CNC plasma cutter at home is as awesome as it sounds, albeit a little dangerous. The torch’s 20,000 ℃ plasma stream can slice through any conductive metal. When the positioning of this incredibly hot stream is controlled by a CNC machine remarkable designs can be cut out of metal.
January 2, 2020
Independent Dual EXtruder (IDEX) 3D printers achieve the highest quality when it comes to multi-material or multi-color prints. In this project you will learn how to build Zidex, a small format IDEX printer that is packed full of features. This project goes hand in hand with the How to Build a 3D Printer Guide.
August 30, 2019
Dr. D-Flo's favorite arcade game is Centipede. He wanted to build a retro upright cabinet but this idea was nixed due to cost and space. Instead, Dr. D-Flo constructed a small bluetooth box with a track ball and a few arcade buttons. Now he can play Centipede comfortably from his couch.
August 19, 2017
Dr. D-Flo spends a lot of time at the computer when researching and editing videos. A proper desk can make these long computer sessions comfortable and efficient. Dr. D-Flo's steel and marble desk was designed to be ergonomic but also minimalistic to prevent distractions while working.
June 8, 2017
While calling this machine a food printer is definitely a stretch, think about all of the applications that could benefit from the precise placement of paste. Whether you want to create a work of art on a cake or precisely place solder paste on a circuit board, this project could be of great interest to you.
May 19, 2017
A beer pairs well with many activities, such as watching a football game or socializing with friends. Beer from a keg not only tastes better than bottled or canned beer but is also cheaper. The challenge with kegs is keeping them cold but also accessible. Enter the Kegerator (Keg + Refrigerator).
April 14, 2017
Dust off your 3D printer, pick up a motor, and a couple of bearings and you are ready to create this slick cooling contraption. You mind find this project a little controversial because an impellar hidden in the base is what generates the airflow, which definitely has "blades".
March 14, 2017
Need a helping hand? A 6-axis robotic arm should do the trick. This almost entirely 3D printed arm uses 7 stepper motors and 1 servo motor for 6 degrees of movement plus a gripping action. The arm can be programmed by a Xbox controller to quickly teach it movements.
March 11, 2017
The magnetic bottle opener has always been a crowd-pleaser. People always seem to be amazed when a tumbling bottle cap is caught midair by a magnet hidden within a wooden plaque. In college, Dr. D-Flo sold hundreds of custom wall-mounted bottle openers and the profits fed his tool buying addiction.
March 6, 2017
Is this clock analog, digitial, or something else entirely? This unusual way of telling time can only be described as art. In this project, Dr. D-Flo uses his CNC router to mill the clock's aluminum face, HDPE body, and circuit board. An Arduino controls addressable LEDs to light up the appropriate times.
February 20, 2017
A syringe pump may seem like it is only useful in a hospital or laboratory, but there are many instances where the automatic dispensing of liquids and gels would be very useful. Dr. D-Flo is going to use his syringe pump in a 3D food printer to create tasty works of art.
February 13, 2017
The MakerGear M2 has been Dr. D-Flo's workhorse of a 3D printer. Its time to give ol' reliable an upgrade by adding a second extruder that can be used for multi-color or -material prints. In this project, Dr. D-Flo also attempts to print a circuit board with conductive filament.
February 6, 2017
Are 3D printers capable of self replicating? To answer the question everyone is asking, Dr. D-Flo will attempt to 3D print a 3D printer. This paradox of a project will include 3D printed rails, supports, and many other parts. To put it to the test, the 3D printed 3D printer will be tasked with printing its own parts.
January 7, 2017
Large LED displays can suffer from signal noise and power supply issues. This project will show you how to create an LED system capabale of supporting well over 1000 LEDs that will not only provide more immersive light shows but can still be programmed with the Arduino IDE.
January 7, 2017
Are you interested in learning how to program addressable LEDs? This project will show you how to quickly set up a small lightshow with a strip of addressable LEDs and an Arduino. If you are new to coding or microcontrollers (e.g. Arduinos), then working with LEDs is great way to get your feet wet.
December 20, 2016
The nixie tube clock is simultaneously old-fashioned and futuristic. Nixies are vacuum tubes that were used as numeric displays in early digital equipment (1950s). Today, these steampunk clocks are statement pieces for those who are unhappy aesthetics of digital displays.
January 2, 2020
Independent Dual EXtruder (IDEX) 3D printers achieve the highest quality when it comes to multi-material or multi-color prints. In this project you will learn how to build Zidex, a small format IDEX printer that is packed full of features. This project goes hand in hand with the How to Build a 3D Printer Guide.
June 8, 2017
While calling this machine a food printer is definitely a stretch, think about all of the applications that could benefit from the precise placement of paste. Whether you want to create a work of art on a cake or precisely place solder paste on a circuit board, this project could be of great interest to you.
April 14, 2017
Dust off your 3D printer, pick up a motor, and a couple of bearings and you are ready to create this slick cooling contraption. You mind find this project a little controversial because an impellar hidden in the base is what generates the airflow, which definitely has "blades".
March 24, 2017
Need a helping hand? A 6-axis robotic arm should do the trick. This almost entirely 3D printed arm uses 7 stepper motors and 1 servo motor for 6 degrees of movement plus a gripping action. The arm can be programmed by a Xbox controller to quickly teach it movements.
February 13, 2017
The MakerGear M2 has been Dr. D-Flo's workhorse of a 3D printer. Its time to give ol' reliable an upgrade by adding a second extruder that can be used for multi-color or -material prints. In this project, Dr. D-Flo also attempts to print a circuit board with conductive filament.
February 6, 2017
Are 3D printers capable of self replicating? To answer the question everyone is asking, Dr. D-Flo will attempt to 3D print a 3D printer. This paradox of a project will include 3D printed rails, supports, and many other parts. To put it to the test, the 3D printed 3D printer will be tasked with printing its own parts.
January 2, 2020
Building a CNC plasma cutter at home is as awesome as it sounds, albeit a little dangerous. The torch’s 20,000 ℃ plasma stream can slice through any conductive metal. When the positioning of this incredibly hot stream is controlled by a CNC machine remarkable designs can be cut out of metal.
March 2, 2020
A computer controlled (CNC) mill can turn digital 3D models into metal parts with ease. In this project, Dr. D-Flo converts a manual Precision Matthews mill (833T) to CNC by swapping in ball screws and stepper motors. Learn about the mechanics, electronics, and software behind this project.
March 24, 2017
Need a helping hand? A 6-axis robotic arm should do the trick. This almost entirely 3D printed arm uses 7 stepper motors and 1 servo motor for 6 degrees of movement plus a gripping action. The arm can be programmed by a Xbox controller to quickly teach it movements.
August 30, 2019
Dr. D-Flo's favorite arcade game is Centipede. He wanted to build a retro upright cabinet but this idea was nixed due to cost and space. Instead, Dr. D-Flo constructed a small bluetooth box with a track ball and a few arcade buttons. Now he can play Centipede comfortably from his couch.