KineticWorld

.:: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Clockwork Prayer: 16th century automaton:

"In the Smithsonian Institution is a sixteenth-century automaton of a monk, made of wood and iron, 15 inches in height. Driven by a key-wound spring, the monk walks in a square, striking his chest with his right arm, raising and lowering a small wooden cross and rosary in his left hand, turning and nodding his head, rolling his eyes, and mouthing silent obsequies. From time to time, he brings the cross to his lips and kisses it. After over 400 years, he remains in good working order."

This is a quite fascinating story, well worth a read.

Many thanks to Max Chen for bringing it to us.

Posted at 3:02 PM by CTP |

eMachineShop - Online Machine Shop - with FREE CAD Software

This is incredible...truly incredible. I was speechless when I first saw this. Imagine free design software, which quotes you a price on custom machined parts as you design and is smart enough to keep you from making dumb mistakes, or at least keeps you from designing in elements that aren't easily doable. Then takes your order, sends it off to a machine shop, and your parts arrive at your doorstep in a few weeks.

If this system works well it's a huge leap forward for tinkerers, inventors, roboticists, and gizmo phreaks everywhere.

eMachineShop article on USA Today

Posted at 11:35 AM by CTP |

.:: Monday, December 06, 2004

CTP, Gary Goddard, Jeremy Lutes, and Bruce Cannon at dorkbotsf

time:
7:30pm Wednesday
15 December 2004

place:
The Crucible
1260 7th St
Oakland, CA

Should be a fun time. I'm going to talk about automata, and bring some of my own. You'll have to be surprised at what the other guys are doing.

Posted at 11:42 AM by CTP |

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