tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59462062620905283902024-03-13T21:53:42.516-07:00Create and CutA blog dedicated to using computer driven craft cutters to support production of artistic endeavors.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-31904016187062833142016-08-16T10:10:00.002-07:002016-08-16T10:10:38.715-07:00An New Blog for A New Crafting Artform - IdeaRoom3DIf you are/were a follower of this blog, you know how much respect I have for the crafting community. You also know of my passion for 3D design and printing. From the day I began to blog about 3D printing I fully anticipated that someday the craft and 3D printing world would find that tipping point where they converged.<br />
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I think that time has finally come.<br />
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What was needed was a low cost 3D printer that could produce prints in materials that were well suited for crafting and some way to colorize and beautify the prints. The low-cost 3D printer has arrived in the form of the <a href="http://www.printm3d.com/"><b>M3D Micro</b></a>, which can print in a variety of materials, including flexible "Tough 3D Ink" in a variety of colors... including clear! With flexible materials we can create personalized bracelets, designer barrettes, custom pins and faces for stuffed animals! It's a wonderful new material.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nZgCJRL_tR7s6jSrOIb7NrsVrIEVjMbdlVc2d-mm03g8VBDMjYrpK8i-9MWl72GO8crMUTpbPpl1dT-z-iUU3_ovue0uKvJ-d0__79rDBsiTB36cMKE5r3verWrWkdDWr8Nzzx-o5UQ/s1600/MicroGreen_g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nZgCJRL_tR7s6jSrOIb7NrsVrIEVjMbdlVc2d-mm03g8VBDMjYrpK8i-9MWl72GO8crMUTpbPpl1dT-z-iUU3_ovue0uKvJ-d0__79rDBsiTB36cMKE5r3verWrWkdDWr8Nzzx-o5UQ/s320/MicroGreen_g.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M3D Micro 3D Printer</td></tr>
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And, a way to bring the prints to life with full color has arrived with the Craftwell <b><a href="http://www.craftwellusa.com/products/ebrush">eBrush</a></b> airbrush system!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0gguqq6ysPtcymDRnwNlBLRNfxoHzWw7MMjboT9oOVwHKBfEWX5FcTzDv-RizzVETCdOrgADKqmJwbUTSSkE80_PFHOV78MxzYO-p-sv2TPCUabpyl2jzO73bbvLLrwCa_c5dZNj0L4/s1600/craftwell-ebrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0gguqq6ysPtcymDRnwNlBLRNfxoHzWw7MMjboT9oOVwHKBfEWX5FcTzDv-RizzVETCdOrgADKqmJwbUTSSkE80_PFHOV78MxzYO-p-sv2TPCUabpyl2jzO73bbvLLrwCa_c5dZNj0L4/s320/craftwell-ebrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craftwell's eBrush Airbrush System</td></tr>
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I have tested the eBrush with M3D's flexible materials and with their ABS-R. I am certain it will also work well with PLA. <br />
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I have started a new blog that will be devoted to exploring the M3D line of printers with an emphasis on creating crafts. And, I'm very happy to be blogging about Craftwell products again. <br />
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The new blog is called "<a href="http://idearoom3d.blogspot.com/"><b>IdeaRoom3D</b></a>". <br />
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The reason behind that name, is my belief, from years of experience in 3D printing, that <i><b>ANY</b></i> room can become an "Idea Room" with the presence of a 3D printer. There is something about having the ability to turn abstract ideas into physical reality in 3D form that unleashes creativity in a very dynamic and powerful way. <br />
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Want to ask you to join me in my new <a href="http://idearoom3d.blogspot.com/"><b>IdeaRoom3D blog</b></a> to see if 3D printing is in your future. The crafting community is <i><b>THE</b></i> most creative community that I know. But, it's more than that. It's also a wonderful <i><b>loving</b></i> community because that is why you do what you do.<br />
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I expect that a lot of groundwork needs to be done before most of you will be ready to invest in a 3D printer. So, be patient with me as I explore how to create appealing items that enhance your current creative work. Designing in 3D is certainly one hurdle. But, I have found a site that can turn our familiar SVG files into 3D objects and, believe it or not, I find using my favorite 3D design application even easier to use than Inkscape.<br />
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Going from 2D art to 3D art is a journey that we can take a step at a time. And, i can assure you it's going to be a <i><b>LOT</b></i> of fun!<br />
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TomTom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-50861243788710391192016-02-20T13:39:00.000-08:002016-02-20T13:39:03.210-08:00My Recommendation for an Excellent Camera to Shoot Our WorksBelieve it or not, my first foray into the world of crafts around 2000. My participation in the <i><b>Craft Report</b></i> (now <a href="http://handmade-business.com/the-crafts-report-is-now-handmade-business-magazine/"><i><b>Handmade Business</b></i></a>) forums was posting about how craft artists could use digital cameras to shoot their own work. To say that I met with resistance from professional photographers on the forum is a monumental understatement. <b> </b>It was just plain vicious.<br />
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But, in time, more and more artists and craftsperson have found they they can, in fact, effectively shoot images of their own work.<br />
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The question isn't whether it CAN be done; but, what is the best equipment and technique that can allow us to do so easily and effectively.<br />
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I have always been uneasy about recommending cameras for those wishing to shoot their own work. The range of cameras is SO wide and the means of individuals is so critical to the choice of a camera that I just didn't feel comfortable recommending a particular camera.... until now.<br />
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<b>Some Background</b><br />
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While I had spend years as a videographer, I moved into digital photography around 2000 to help my daughter by shooting her ceramic sculptures.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fleurette: Sculpture by Cheryl Meeks photo Fleurette01.jpg" class="placeHold" data-link="id{:placeHolderId}" height="320" id="placeHolder_0" src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m47/TMeeks/Cheryl%20Meeks%20Art/Fleurette01.jpg" style="height: 448px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 66px; width: 336px;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleurette by Cheryl Meeks - Carved Porcelain</td></tr>
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I have always used high level DSLR or SLR digital cameras. These cameras have cost at least $1,500+ and the camera+lens combination (<b><i>Canon 5D MK II with 24-70 f2.8L and 70-200 f2.8L lenses</i></b>) that I have used for the last 3 years exceeds $7,000. This is hardly affordable for most artists and craftspersons. Moreover, SLRs, oddly enough, with their large image chips and shalloe depth of field, might be LESS effective for shooting small objects for pacing images on Etsy or eBay.<br />
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On the other hand, on the low end, point & shoot cameras, the problem is how to control the lighting to present our work in the best light possible. <br />
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My daughter recently began creating ceramic marbles and wanted to photograph them herself. She was not at all interested in a complex SLR so I began to serious look at the options. Her new interest coincided with my interest in finding a smaller and lighter camera for myself for my blogging and teaching as the Canon 5D is quite heavy.<br />
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This lead me to so-called "bridge cameras". We first turned to the Nikon L840. She likes it. I hate it. The appeal for her is how easy it is to use. But, its lack of a hot shoe for a flash has required me to come up with less-than-ideal lighting strategies for her to use. We're still working on that.<br />
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But, in the meantime, I knew that the L840 would drive me crazy. Interestingly, my solution came about through my long-time interest in video. I use a Panasonic x920 and had subscribed to a blog by Graham Houghton to follow his articles about that video camera. Along the way, he also wrote about a Panasonic Lumix still camera called the <b>Lumix DMC-FZ200.</b><br />
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I took a chance and ordered one. I could not be happier.<br />
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I have come to believe that if an artist or crafts person does not already have an SLR camera, then the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 is an infinitely better choice as at $247 (<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=880958&gclid=Cj0KEQiAuqC2BRDVxMSnpa-mhZoBEiQAFta8wcIWsLnnejWdwOEM8Fxd24RSjdE4b4Pidy76neBPZKMaAnUV8P8HAQ&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&A=details&Q="><b>B& H Photo</b></a>) it is probably <i><b>THE</b></i> greatest bargain in a still camera that I have ever seen. The price/performance ratio is astounding.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="first" data-loadstatus="done" data-zoomlevel="0" data-zoomsize="500x500" data-zoomstatus="done" height="320" id="zoomImage-img880958-500x500" src="http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images500x500/1342470218000_880958.jpg" style="height: 500px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 500px;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panasonic Lumix FZ200 Digital Camera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
It offers the ease and simplicity of a point & shoot with extended capabilities normally found on professional SLRs... like a hot-shoe and f2.8 lens. From now on it is the Lumix FZ200 that that will be my go-to camera for shooting my 3D objects and images for my blogs. </div>
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So, the question is this. Are you interested in shooting your own work? If so, are you interested in learning how to use a camera like the FZ200 to do so? Your comments will determine whether or not we go down this path. We will cover low cost lighting solutions for smaller (Under 12"x12"x12") objects and the use of auxiliary lenses for shooting high detail or very small objects.</div>
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Let me know. :)</div>
Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-22990495548059335662016-02-20T12:45:00.001-08:002016-02-20T12:45:46.098-08:00For Craft Artists the Sands are Always Shiftimg.... POSITIVELY!As I look back over the last 14 years, since I first started blogging about crafts, I am amazing at how far the landscape has shifted. The offerings of products have not only changed; but, the variety of new methods for reaching our design goals have vastly increased.<br />
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But, sometimes, the biggest changes are in ourselves as our interests expand or compress over time. I finally gave my paper cutters to a charitable organization after seeing them sit idly for a number of years as my attention was turned to 3D design and printing.<br />
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But, even in that endeavor, today is a lot different than it was just 3 years ago when I obtained my first 3D printer. I started with a kit and was overjoyed when 3D Systems introduced the first true consumer 3D printer, the 1st Generation Cube. Now, 3 generations of the Cube have come and gone and 3D Systems has announced they are leaving the consumer marketplace.<br />
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There is a reason for that. So many new companies have introduced 3D printers with ever lower price points that in just a few short years the profit margins on 3D printers are under a great deal of stress.<br />
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The good news is that this plethora of options among 3D printers means they are more affordable than ever.<br />
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The other good news is that companies like Autodesk are committed to making 3D design easier and easier. Believe me, if you can create SVG files for cutting, you can easily learn ro create your own 3D designs. In fact, I actually find it EASIER to design in 3D than in 2D.<br />
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The reason for my writing this particular post is to alert you to a new 3D printer offering that just might be the tipping point for home 3D printing.<br />
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It actually comes from the TOY industry!<br />
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I have no idea how well it works; but, at $300 (List) it certainly begins to be an appealing product for parents and families. It's from Mattel and is called <a href="http://toyland.gizmodo.com/mattel-is-making-a-300-3d-printing-toy-studio-for-kids-1759078152"><b>The ThingMaker.</b></a><br />
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<b><img alt="Mattel Is Making a $300 3D Printing Toy Studio For Kids" class=" cursor-pointer" data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--h-xzOxs_--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/h5hnuoqbtc16z16xpsrt.jpg" data-chomp-id="h5hnuoqbtc16z16xpsrt" data-format="jpg" height="450" src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--h-xzOxs_--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/h5hnuoqbtc16z16xpsrt.jpg" width="800" /> </b><br />
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<b>I don't do cut and paste articles so until I can get some real experience with the Thingmaker, I will not offer and opinion of its viability. But, I did want you to know about it so you can be aware that the sands are shifting in YOUR direction! :)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-48255598868381351332013-09-11T06:29:00.005-07:002013-09-11T06:29:52.644-07:00Paper and 3D Printing Move Closer TogetherIf I learned anything from the paper crafting community is that creativity, love and making people feel special is what this community is all about. I love what you do and I love what you do for those you care about.<br />
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As a teacher, it broke my heart to see children that didn't have parents like you, that take the time to let their children know how special they were. Now that I am back into teaching "at-risk" kids 3D printing, I see how important it is to these kids to create something that they can give to their caregivers to make them proud of them.<br />
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When I first posted in this blog about 3D printing, the means to create a 3D object for printing were largely technical in nature, based on CAD style drawing. But, 3D Systems has now released Sculpt, a virtual clay sculpting application that is much simpler to use than previous sculpting applications that I've tried.<br />
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The more I use Cubify Sculpt and 3D printing, the more I am convinced that the very passion and skills you now use to create your paper crafts are perfectly in line with those skills that can create designs that bring that same passion and love in a new format that enhances your current work.<br />
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Expect to see this blog come to life again with tutorials and articles expressly designed to demonstrate my belief that you have not only the skills to create 3D objects; but, that these objects can enhance you REAL goal... which is to express the feelings that you have for those around you!<br />
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<i>I love the paper crafting community!!!</i> :)Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-6976884962046156892012-03-08T11:54:00.002-08:002012-03-08T12:02:39.128-08:00The eCraft tearing problems revisitedI have watched from the sidelines as the tearing problems persist. <br />
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Yes, there are work arounds. And, at least some of the problems deal with cutting points that have dulled. But, the majority of problems are related to a behaviour in the eCraft that causes the paper to be lifted up by the cutter until it is above the cutting edge of the blade.<br />
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I know this because I spent a considerable amount of time observing tearing using a high-speed camera to catch the action in slow motion. And, I sent these videos to eCraft for their engineers to study. I didn't say anything because I felt a team that could come up with such a wonderful design in all other respects would figure out how to stop the paper lift. I wanted to give them the time necessary to do so.<br />
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Here is a slow motion video that demonstrates exactly what is happening just before your paper rips. Notice how the blade lifts the paper!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid101.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm47%2FTMeeks%2Fslo-test%2FCIMG2205.mp4" height="240" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></div><br />
As ripping still seems to be an issue, I am going to do my best to used what I learned in that research to try to see if I can come up with a solution. All I can do is to promise to try. And, at long last, I think I have the means to do so, now that I own a 3D Printer with which to experiment.<br />
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One of my goals with my new 3D printer is to come up with a solution to the tearing problems if at all possible. I'm going to attempt to design a foot that holds the paper down as the eCraft cuts, much like the foot on a sewing machine. I will let you know if the idea works!<br />
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Wish me luck for ALL of us!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-62587563803636989252012-03-06T15:53:00.006-08:002012-03-06T16:08:54.083-08:00Show me the love!<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And, I'll show you a CONTEST! </b></span><br />
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One of my greatest experiences has been becoming acquainted with the craft community through my early blogs about the eCraft cutter. What I came away with out of that experience is that this community does what it does out of a deep love of family, friends and creativity.<br />
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I <i><b>FINALLY</b></i> found a fun way to give something back to at least a few of the fantastic <b>followers</b> of this blog. I wish I had enough money to send something to everyone. But, I don't. However, I CAN recognize the work of every one of my followers.<br />
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Here is what I'd like you to do. <br />
<ol><li><b>Add your name as a follower, if it's not already there.</b></li>
<li><b>If you have a blog, photo site, Facebook page, Twitter account or other social media where you have images of your work, I would like you to send those links to me by March 15th, 2012.</b></li>
</ol>My email for this is: tmeeks[at sign]createandcut.com.<br />
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I will moderate the links to make sure they are family friendly. Those that pass that test will be featured in a future article on how the heart plays such a huge roll in the craft community.<br />
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My gift also has a second goal. I think people who love crafts and family will love 3D printing. So, I'm hoping this contest will introduce all of you to the potential of 3D printing to expand the ways you create to show love. One of the best ways to become acquainted with 3D printing is to create something and have it created by a 3D printer. And, right now, among the most fun and best 3D experiences that my granddaughters and I have had was when we created some robots together,<br />
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Here is a video of the robot building process created during the MyRobotNation's beta test.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/esq3Y9VnVhI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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I've ordered 5 gift certificates from <a href="http://www.myrobotnation.com/"><b>My Robot Nation</b></a> to be given away through this blog. <br />
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The first My Robot Nation certificate will be going to a person that I REALLY appreciate enormously. When events took me out of eCraft blogging, she more than picked up the slack. And, I know that many, many of you have been helped by her. So, our first recipient will be Denise O'Connor of Purple Paper Paradise. I can hardly wait to see her first robot creation.<br />
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Don't tell her... It's a surprise!!! :) <br />
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I will then pick 4 additional followers at random, from those that have sent me links, and send the 4 winners a certificate that allows them to create and ship a robot from MyRobotNation.com. If a winner is outside the U.S.A., I will have to add funds to your gift certificate for the shipping. So, I will contact each winner to try to ensure that you pay no shipping costs.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">This is the first time I've tried something like this. So, I hope that my rules are clear and all goes well. This is meant to be a fun thing for everyone. And, that is where the 3rd rule comes in. When you have created your robot, we'd like to see it and hear how your first 3D experience went.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the meantime, have fun with this short video!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQ5BEdr3Tv0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't work for MyRobotNation. Nor do I have any ownership stake. It's just my kind of fun! </div>Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-61371717732806840192012-02-19T09:42:00.000-08:002012-02-19T09:42:56.461-08:00A great Example of 3D Printing and PopPop/Grandchildren Quality Time!3D Printing has been around for a while for businesses. These days, some shoe manufacturers won't manufacture a line of shoes until they've have shown the buyers of the bigger stores that shoe in a 3D model. Here are two views of a sample that I saw on my visit to the 3D Systems headquarters.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rdFrM3b3yJUfGJJE9446CsjFWnZXk0qbNS04XlHZ8NrTHdCYSCq4yzlNF1mJG9H6D22SpuMe2BrsX-vWraAbma7HMFfiYtlpz_t9aQMFUqzDWS5ZjjrYyl_3qHOsVSoV3oFrh1vQTBo/s1600/3DS_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rdFrM3b3yJUfGJJE9446CsjFWnZXk0qbNS04XlHZ8NrTHdCYSCq4yzlNF1mJG9H6D22SpuMe2BrsX-vWraAbma7HMFfiYtlpz_t9aQMFUqzDWS5ZjjrYyl_3qHOsVSoV3oFrh1vQTBo/s400/3DS_0026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CiFchf7NN7zT6ZQgk_BgAK41jGmCMVtpjP54e7w0p63XXY6Zg3VRgfUyuHt0xyuWpwzOC_Sq4SiaLeed7DeAYErHBp9wwZlGzsXe81G1q7aNdRoSyTYXf7ug6Qz0kSAJB4z7_zArydE/s1600/3DS_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CiFchf7NN7zT6ZQgk_BgAK41jGmCMVtpjP54e7w0p63XXY6Zg3VRgfUyuHt0xyuWpwzOC_Sq4SiaLeed7DeAYErHBp9wwZlGzsXe81G1q7aNdRoSyTYXf7ug6Qz0kSAJB4z7_zArydE/s400/3DS_0027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Even standing right next to them, they appear to be made of leather with rubber soles. It isn't until you pick one up that you realize this a 3D print. They look that real. It's very cool.<br />
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Now, that same technology is beginning to be available for consumers. 3D Systems will be selling a home 3D Printer that does single color printing. But, they will also be offering the ability to print with the very same technology that created the shoes. They've dubbed this "Printing in the Cloud". You design the object you want printed. Upload it to the 3D Systems "Cloud". They print it and send it out to you. This means 3D printing in a wide range of materials and unlimited colors.<br />
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But, we don't have to wait until 3D System's Cloud is fully functioning to experience what it will be like. <a href="http://myrobotnation.com/"><b>My Robot Nation</b></a> premiered late last year. I can tell you from experience that this is one fun web site with a great user experience from start to finish. My granddaughters and I did the whole My Robot Nation experience together. It was a collaborative effort. I supplied the credit card and they supplied the designs!<br />
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It was amazing to see how easy and fun it was to design each robot. The online user interface is excellent and very well organized. You get to chose the parts for your robot and then color each part. They even wrote their names on the back of their respective robots for a real customizing experience.<br />
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Once the order was placed, a series of emails tracked the progress of the robots through manufacturing and shipping. But, it was just the fact that they communicated. It was the enthusiastic wording that made me love their attitude toward their customers. Each email extolled the awesomeness of that particular robot and they sent an image of the robot right out of the printer before shipping.<br />
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I think we enjoyed the emails as much as we enjoyed making them! <br />
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Amazingly, the robots arrived in just 7 days. We had ordered them on a Saturday and they arrived the following Friday. Here they are in all their AWESOMENESS!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMOghlG0GEOQA7BvzP4MD4WIhljAIPEZWLgKLi08uAFVAOkz85fD6TaApDRFDNPk2BGJEWCmEJQB4IZN8EMb3ryyDKJJh6xPVFXgaL_dw8MXlDFVrckRNaNQmZDBcMMoBkFjkX7Nn2yk/s1600/QwertyHenry_019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMOghlG0GEOQA7BvzP4MD4WIhljAIPEZWLgKLi08uAFVAOkz85fD6TaApDRFDNPk2BGJEWCmEJQB4IZN8EMb3ryyDKJJh6xPVFXgaL_dw8MXlDFVrckRNaNQmZDBcMMoBkFjkX7Nn2yk/s400/QwertyHenry_019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My granddaughters have names that are <i><b>NEVER</b></i> on the cups, etc. in gift shops or toy stores. But, this time they <i><b>WERE</b></i> able to buy an item having their name on it. That is because they were able to do it themselves!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2be3KFlWft8WFZF4y_W2BBvIrtZUyV1K5Nq-KCKOkoCd8l8xb_d2tmOJI1HKVsV935PdMGsVvTwl4ak8A0s6khfdsFiE4kx_ZY4IOmkNekhsvv075CBQvtRR_LQOrqrIpepHxvprubjQ/s1600/QwertyHenry_014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2be3KFlWft8WFZF4y_W2BBvIrtZUyV1K5Nq-KCKOkoCd8l8xb_d2tmOJI1HKVsV935PdMGsVvTwl4ak8A0s6khfdsFiE4kx_ZY4IOmkNekhsvv075CBQvtRR_LQOrqrIpepHxvprubjQ/s400/QwertyHenry_014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These robots were printed with the exact same materials and methods that create the shoes above. By the way, some people actually created robots as cake toppers for their wedding! While I think that's kind of cool, I don't think my wife would have been quite so thrilled with that idea. But, it won't be long before we can create things like these with our own images and then I think she would see the value in that. It's only going to get better!</div>Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-35493709185012776082012-01-13T10:04:00.000-08:002012-01-13T10:16:30.527-08:00Interview of Cathy Lewis at CES on Purple Paper Paradise BlogDenise has added a video of Cathy Lewis, of 3D Systems, being interviewed at the Cubify booth. Ms. Lewis does a great job of quickly introducing the Cubify.com concept and the Cube printer in a very short time. There are some nice shots of the Cube 3D printer making an object.<br />
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<a href="http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-of-new-era.html">http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-of-new-era.html</a><br />
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It's heartening to see that people for whom I have a great deal of respect in the paper crafting community also see the potential for other ways to enhance what they are really all about, which is making things that demonstrate a real appreciation for family and friends.<br />
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Thanks, Denise!!!<br />
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In the meantime, I have created a new blog in which is dedicated to Cubify.com and the Cube 3D printing community. That may seem odd, since there IS no community as yet, as far as I can tell, since noone that I know about has a Cube printer and the Cubify site is just days old.<br />
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But, I expect that to change very, very quickly and I want to be there for that creative community just as I wanted to be there for early eCraft owners. Here is the link for the new site. I hope you will become followers if only to keep up with what's happening.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://cubifyfans.blogspot.com/">Cubify Fans Blog</a></strong><br />
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I hope to see you there! In fact, given the level of creativity I have come to admire among the readers of this blog, I would be very disappointed if I didn't see you there so that all of us can benefit by your observations and creative contributions.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-16358852751214240802012-01-11T10:32:00.000-08:002012-01-11T10:32:52.067-08:00More Images of Objects Printed by the Cube 3D PrinterAs the days go by at CES more and more images of 3D objects printed using the <strong>Cube</strong> 3D printer are beginning to show up. <br />
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Here, for instance, are a number of images on Flickr. Some are official images from 3D Systems and others appear to be images taken by attendees at CES. Flickr's rules prevent me from linking to individual images.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Cubify&f=hp">Flickr Search for Cubify</a></strong><br />
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I stumbled onto another site having some great images that are very useful. Again, until I have sought permission to show an image here, I will simply link to their site. The images of the shoes by posted by ZPrinting are especially nice.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/10/2697601/cubify-3d-printer-sample-images#2835970">The Verge's Cubify Gallery</a></strong><br />
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The Verge images are especially useful. As I look at these images, the following observations come to mind.<br />
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<strong>Image #1: Chess Pieces</strong><br />
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We can see that we are probably not going to be able to print perfectly smooth objects with the Cube. But, what is really important about this image is to observe how the design of the Rook masks some of the uneveness as compared with the design of the Knight. This means that we can actually design objects with the moderately low resolution in mind. The brick patterns on the Rook work WITH the limitations and minimize them.<br />
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<strong>Images #2 & 3: iPhone Skin</strong><br />
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The material seems to be strong enough to allow for designs that minimize material use.<br />
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<strong>Image #4: Cube 3D Printer</strong><br />
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So far, this is the first image that allows us to get at least a glimpse of the LCD display screen. We need more! <br />
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<strong>Image #5: iPod Holder(?)</strong><br />
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Again, we can get some idea of the effective resolution of the printing stratification. I also notice that from time to time a stray strand, like a spider's web is dragged along. I have no idea if these are production models. But, the strays seem minor and easy to deal with. It's interesting that the holes in the side of the object don't appear to need support materials. That's good news!<br />
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<strong>Image #6: Frog Printing</strong><br />
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This last photo needs a LOT more study than I can give it right now. It demonstrates the support materials that most 3D printers, and certainly personal 3D printers, require. Note the loose fit at the places where the actual body and the supports join. And, look inside at the top of the frog to see how the supports are built up as the frog is printed. We will pay a lot of attention to supports and removing supports. But, I like what I see so far.<br />
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I'll keep you posted as I find new things and get permission to link directly to photos.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-12993152840744703232012-01-09T21:02:00.000-08:002012-01-09T21:34:37.330-08:00Same Community - New Direction!Well, it's not really a new direction for me. But, it will seem so to you.<br />
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You know that my heart has a passion for creative people like you. And, I hope that you know that I REALLY want to do those things that will be a positive force in your ability to show your love through your creative skills.<br />
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I was first drawn to electronic paper cutters because of my desire to support my daughter in her art. But, along the way, I learned a lot about a wonderful community of people that go out of their way to personalize their expressions of caring for family and friends.<br />
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Frankly, I've felt a bit guilty about essentially abandoning eCraft users. The first impediment to continuing to explore the eCraft was an unfortunate and exhausting court battle into which my wife and I were forced to protect her elderly parents. Then, by the time the court case was over, my daughter's artistic interests had returned to sculpture. <br />
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But, to be honest, the real reason for my not picking up where I left off was that my real passion, when it comes to creative tools, is in 3D, not 2D. It is something that has long fascinated me.<br />
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For many years I have dreamed of personal 3D printers becoming a reality. In fact, I started several blogs on 3D software and 3D printing long before the eCraft was introduced. And, now, what I have longed for so many years is finally a reality. In the last few days, 3D Systems as announced <a href="http://www.cubify.com/">Cubify</a>, the first 3D printer for the home. Over time I think it is going to of very great interest to many of you.<br />
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So, I am going to devote some serious time and energy to introduce the arts and crafts communities to the vast potential of 3D printing to permit you not only to make 3D objects for use in your projects; but, also customized tools that will free you to design, make and use your dies to emboss and cut.<br />
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For now, however, let me just point you to the only videos that I have found so far related to a product for which I am VERY excited! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jLgZL0OAJhg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ytmR2rqO1n8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
So, yes, I'm back. I hope all of you that expressed so much appreciation for my eCraft videos and observations will tag along as I go in a little bit different direction. If you do, I can promise that it going to be a fantastically interesting ride!<br />
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<b>NEWS FLASH!</b><br />
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After initially posting this entry, I came across a brand new video from the Consumer Electronics Show that shows the <a href="http://cnettv.cnet.com/first-hands-cube-3d-home-printer/9742-1_53-50117874.html">Cube 3D printer at work</a>! I think this will clearly demonstrate why I am so excited about this new product and web site.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-57242815877293240542011-06-29T19:44:00.000-07:002011-06-29T20:13:34.691-07:00Here's a New Camera Concept Craftperson's Should LoveFrom the late 1960's to the 1980's I was a video producer. The term "videographer" hadn't even been coined back then. In fact, we saw the video camera and the still camera as tools in two different realms requiring relatively different sets of skills. That all changed with the advent of the digital still camera.<br />
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Today my still camera produces HD video images and most video cameras include still image capabilities.<br />
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Now I am going to show you something that promises to take us in a whole new direction. It's a camera that the developers claim will make taking photos out of focus a thing of the past. It's from Lytro and they call their new concept "Living Pictures". One doesn't focus when taking the picture. One focuses when viewing or printing the picture. Here's a sample.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" scrolling="no" src="http://www.lytro.com/pictures/lyt-28/embed?utm_source=Embed&utm_medium=EmbedLink" width="400"></iframe><br />
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A "Living Picture" allows YOU to determine the focus of the image. This particular picture demonstrates a situation that many of us have faced when having to shoot through a chain link fence. The fence is in focus but we really wanted the players to be in focus. With your current camera this picture would be a total loss. But, that is not true of a Lytro image.<br />
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Try it. Simply click on one of the players you want to be in focus and see what happens. Then click on the chain link fence. Notice that YOU are in control of what is in focus. Pretty neat, isn't it?<br />
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Let's try another...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" scrolling="no" src="http://www.lytro.com/pictures/lyt-21/embed?utm_source=Embed&utm_medium=EmbedLink" width="400"></iframe><br />
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In this image we can selectly bring into focus the flowers in the foreground, the seeds right behind the flowers or the foliage in the background. In fact, there are quite a few potential focus selections that you can find by clicking various objects.<br />
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You can find out more by going to <a href="http://www.lytro.com/">Lytro's Home Page.</a><br />
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OK. So, it's all very cool. But, how does this help a craftsperson? <br />
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It both simplifies and enhances the way we communicate our work to others. It simplifies by taking away the need to worry about focus and depth of field issues that all of us face when trying to take pictures of our work. And, this is particularly true of 3D pieces.<br />
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But, it also enhances our ability to communicate our work in that the viewer can explore the objects in our image in a highly interactive way. Ultimately, there are some hints that at least some limited 3D perspective might be possible, Those of you that make pop-up cards should be very intrigued by what this camera might be able to do for you.<br />
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No price or delivery date has been set as yet. So, I'll keep you posted as things progress. Sounds like fun!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-83666602368052762582011-06-27T22:32:00.000-07:002011-06-27T22:32:52.423-07:00Happy to see the eCraft progressingAll of the court cases have been resolved and, for now, are behind us. But, we'll still need a bit of decompressing before things are completely back to normal and I can, once again, turn a lot of attention to cutter issues.<br />
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The first step was purchasing a stand for the huge 24" printer that I'd purchased for court exhibits. It's no longer sitting on the table that was occupied by the eCraft. But, for at least a little while, a high speed scanner to be used to make sure that the mounds of paper generated in the case are captured electronically will have to continue to displace the eCraft. <br />
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Believe it or not, I already have scanned and/or created 8,046 files related to the court cases. Going to court to protect an elderly parent or parents is NOT for the faint of heart.<br />
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Unfortunately, the problem of financial elder abuse is all too common given the emails that I've received from people in similar situations. While I'm not a lawyer, I certainly am in a position to at least understand the plight of those who find that a brother or sister is intent on depleting or stealing an estate from their siblings. <br />
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But, the good news is that the worst is behind us and the eCraft seems to be maturing from where it was when I had to put it aside. I am REALLY looking forward to being able to be an active part of this crafting great community once again. As my granddaughters would say, as their excuse for picking on me, "It's fun AND Special!"Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-89465749152837192182011-03-01T20:04:00.000-08:002011-03-01T20:06:21.406-08:00Crafting is STILL a lot more fun than LawyersTonight, I removed the eCraft from the table beside me to make way for a 24" printer that I need to make exhibits for what should be the final hearings in the epic battle we've been waging regarding my in-laws guardianship and, now, estate.<br />
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My father-in-law passed away in January. While it changes the nature of the battle to protect my in-laws, it didn't change the need to keep going for at least a bit longer.<br />
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I didn't remove the eCraft from its accustomed place because I plan to permanently abandon it. But, right now it's a victim of the need to set priorities.<br />
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If we win the next two court cases, we expect it to all be over for a while.<br />
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If we lose, then we expect my sister-in-law to keep fighting until the estate is eaten up by lawyer's fees. And, the odd thing is that I don't think she will ever see any of the money she craves because her lawyers will get it first. Greed, it appears, kills the area of the brain that thinks logically. And, bitterness stuffs rationality down into the deepest hold imaginable.<br />
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So, until we see the end of the saga, cutters, cutting and crafting lie beyond the limits we have in a 24 hour day. <br />
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But, it not all been in vain. I have learned to appreciate the value of planning for those days when we lose the ability to plan. And, I've got an even greater appreciation of the wonderful gift of my own parents and siblings in the context of my parent's aging and deaths. I've probably already written this somewhere. But, my parents were gracious in life and equally gracious in death. That may seem an odd thing to one that has not watched a parent decline to the point of death. But, sooner or later all of my readers will know exactly what I mean by that sentence.<br />
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I WILL be back. You are a great group of people and I could NOT stay away forever.<br />
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You probably will not hear from me again until after the March hearings. Hopefully, I will be a happy camper on my return. :)Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-19114941215683201812010-12-13T15:08:00.000-08:002010-12-13T15:22:04.116-08:00Crafting is More Fun than LawyersI've developed a new appreciation for lawyers. Well... MY lawyer, in particular. But, they are time consuming and expensive. The expensive part is what my former sargeant in the Army would call a "Personal Problem".<br />
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But, the TIME-CONSUMING part has not only affected me; but, affected those of you that were hoping for more help than I've been able to provide in the last few months. So, I thought I'd at least provide you with an explanation and my intentions going forward.<br />
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No, I have NOT abandoned the eCraft. The new patch is exactly what I expected it to be. It's certainly not what I hope it will become. But, it met my level of expectations for now.<br />
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My father-in-law has had dementia for at least three years. He was tested in 2008 and 2009 by his neurologist and a geriatric psychiatrist three different times. And, each time the dementia had progressed. The last Mini Mental Exam (MME) score in 2009 was 17/30. He was institutionalized for about a year until on a visit home he absolutely refused to be moved. My 87 year old mother-in-law tried to care for him; but, as you can imagine it was exhausting.<br />
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He fell in January of this year. And, thinking that we'd give her some respite for a few days before deciding whether or not to place him back in the nursing home, we agreed that he should go to my sister-in-law's for a few days.<br />
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In five days, she took him to her long-time physician at a walk-in clinic and had her doctor sign a certificate that declared that my father-in-law was capable of signing a Power of Attorney document and a will. She effectively took over his life in just five days. She then sent a letter of demand to her mother to fork over half of everything her father and mother owned to her.<br />
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Thus began a protracted legal battle that, in total, among all the parties, has already cost well over $100,000. When you are involved in something this complex, there is little time left for cutting shapes.<br />
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My sister-in-law's attorneys are with a law firm having a reputation for being a "predatory" law firm. They not only prey on those they are fighting in court. They also prey on their own clients, generating many, many times the number of pages to generate excessive costs. There are six lawyers involved in the cases that have come about because of my sister-in-law's actions. My sister-in-law, for instance, is paying $400 per hour to TWO lawyers. So, she is definitely VERY serious about grabbing 1/2 of the estate even before her parents are dead. If she wins, she will, no doubt, sell her parent's home, forcing her mom into a facility.<br />
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Why? The economy. My sister-in-law and her husband took out a $960,000 mortgage and an $80,000 line of credit on a $1.2 million dollar home. They could afford that if they were both working. But, that is not the case. And, in fact, neither are working right now.<br />
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So, we have to stop what she is doing to her parents. And, because of the excessive filings and paperwork keeping up is quite a chore. But, we WILL prevail. We will NOT give up. As part of our action, the courts asked that my father-in-law be tested again, and the outcome was no surprise. He tested 15/30 on the MME tests. Clearly, he did NOT have a miraculous recovery back in January.<br />
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The final court date was to be in the last part of December, 2010. But, it's been moved back to March 2011. Hopefully, after the holidays I will have a little respite to check out the new software more completely before having to pick up my research for the final trial.<br />
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So, that is my explanation for my absence at the very time you needed me to be on top of my game. But, it looks to me that the eCraft is going to be one of those products that developes slowly, over time. So, hopefully, by the time that they bring out the next phase of software, I'll be here for you.<br />
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But, by THAT time, I might only be able to test 15/30 on the MME!!!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-76670415626585624402010-11-08T07:13:00.000-08:002010-11-08T07:13:12.712-08:00Waiting Like You... On Purpose<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">"Everyone is equal. But, Some are more equal than others"</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">George Orwell, "Animal House"</span></i></div><br />
One of the things that first sold me on the eCraft was their reputed reputation for listening and responding to customers.<br />
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Because I, myself, am not an actual user in the traditional sense, I have focused on things not normally reviewed in craft circles. At first, I was sympathetic toward Craftwell because I knew that it was, effectively, a startup. This was true even if the manufacturing company behind it might actually be enormous. <br />
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But, as time has gone on, I am less and less inclined to have a favorable opinion of the commitment of management of Craftwell to its user base. And, that lagging optimism has everything to do with their almost utter lack of communication.<br />
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I can pick up the phone at any time to talk directly with the management at Craftwell. But, I am not because it is not fair to all those that <i><b>CANNOT</b></i> get through. I do <i><b>NOT</b></i> subscribe to the "Everyone is equal; but, Some are more equal than other's" view of users.<br />
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I will learn about what is going on when <b>YOU</b> learn what is going on. And, I will respond the way I think is best for <b>YOU</b>.<br />
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But, I want to make this clear. I am <i><b>NOT</b></i> upset that we are having to wait for the software. It's free and we get it when we get it. What is killing my enthusiasm for the eCraft is the fact that even as they have built up their staff, they have not dedicated anyone on that staff to be their consistent voice to hurting customers. That's right. <i><b>HURTING</b></i> customers.<br />
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People make a purchase for a purpose. And, they have high hopes when they finally bite the bullet and buy. When a vendor delivers less than promised it is <i><b>MORE</b></i> than simply a mild nuisance for some of those users. It can be traumatic for some. And, a management that seems to be callous to that reality is <i><b>NOT</b></i> a management that can hold my respect for long.<br />
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Communication, to be real communication, cannot simply be a one-way vehicle for good news whenever it's convenient. It has to be a two-way dialog that continues in tough times as well as good times. When I go up to Craftwell's<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Neck-NY/eCraft-by-Craftwell/161449879242?ref=ts"><b> Facebook Page</b></a>, and see people pleading for help with no response, it does not encourage me to try to do Craftwell's job for them any longer. And, that is the primary reason I have not participated in discussions about the eCraft for the last month.<br />
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I have one eCraft set up and unused right now. I have another in a box, unopened. I am <i><b>NOT</b></i> going to subject my daughter to unnecessary frustrations as long as Craftwell remains 95% silent leaving users in limbo.<br />
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I don't hold grudges. So, the situation could change at any minute if and when Craftwell decides that customers truly are important enough to talk to publicly. Let's hope that is soon. In the meantime, I will not be calling them. When you find out, I will find out.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-43182653828708797122010-10-13T21:12:00.000-07:002010-10-13T21:12:24.419-07:00INSERT SD CARD Message - FIXNever feel like you are bothering me when you send me emails with the problems you are having with your eCraft. This site can only be truly useful if it provides helpful information to the crafting community. And, for the most part, that information is going to come from you.<br />
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<i><b>For instance, I received this email today...</b></i><br />
<blockquote>Thanks Tom you've put my mind at rest.<br />
However I am now experiencing another problem that I have not read anyone else has had and that is: yesterday I thought I'd give the software another try but all that happened was that it kept telling me to insert my SD card which of course was in the machine but just to see if it would work I took the SD card out and then put it back in again to no avail.</blockquote><blockquote>Now, even though I have tried numerous times and in every way I can think of, the machine display tells me to insert the SD card.....I cannot do anything with this machine as the display will not go to the categories. I have made sure the machine is switched off before inserting the SD card but nothing works. Its incredibly frustrating....I had resigned myself to being patient about the software but now I cannot use the machine at all. Do you have any ideas as to what the problem could be?<br />
Many thanks<br />
Virginia </blockquote><br />
Now, it turned out that Virginia discovered the fix as well as the problem. She found that removing the USB cable seemed to reset the console and restored it to function correctly. Nice find!<br />
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It sounds to me like there might be a bug in the firmware that Virginia stumbled across. And, bugs in firmware are not uncommon in new products, which is why the firmware is designed to be updated from time to time.<br />
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So, if you run into this particular bug, you can thank Virginia for helping you to quickly recover from it!<br />
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Thanks, Virginia!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-69300988551366106712010-10-11T18:21:00.000-07:002010-10-11T18:54:23.082-07:00One thing leads to another - Sliceform to the EXTREME!As you know, I just posted an article about SusanBlueRobots.<br />
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Maybe I have a soft spot for her robots because they are blue or because they give me another opportunity to sneak in a little personal history. In the 1980's Hasbro sold a toy robot that 'talked'. Casey was it's name and here is a short video of the ad for Casey.<br />
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In the mid-1980's I was hired by a brilliant engineer, John Perkins, to create some video to be used to create one of the first demos for a new video game system based on video tape. (<i>This was prior to the advent of DVDs.</i>) We were working for Nolan Bushnell of Atari fame and he, in turn, was charged with creating such a product by Hasbro. Hasbro picked it up as the NEMO project. (Look up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMO"><b>NEMO</b></a> on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZP7czGAZT4"><b>YouTube</b></a>)<br />
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I used Casey, the Talking Blue Robot as the lead character in my demo video game. I still have the original videos and need to get around to posting them someday on YouTube simply for historical purposes.<br />
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It was one of the most fun projects I've ever been involved with but, unfortunately, Hasbro was forced to abandon it because they could not get the costs down low enough for Toys R Us to carry it. <br />
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But, I should also note that NEMO made the <a href="http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index6.shtml"><b>25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming</b></a> list at #19! It's a little disappointing that we only made #19. Maybe that's because they got their numbers wrong. They claim Hasbro spent $20 million. Actually, Hasbro spent $35 million on it before scrapping the system. That's GOT to be worth at least one or two higher positions on the list! LOL!<br />
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At any rate, I'm certainly partial to blue robots. But, I'm also appreciate of the fact that one thing often leads to another. My opportunity to work for Nolan Bushnell and Hasbro came from a person that had once worked as a consultant for Astrocade, the video game company for which I was an employee.<br />
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The point of this story is that one thing... John working for us... often ends up leading to another... i.e. My working for John. That's how opportunities grow.<br />
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And, in the immediate case, we have another instance of one thing leading to another great opportunity. And, it came from a comment on the SusanBlueRobot article.<br />
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A person that goes by the name CPEEP commented on the article about SusanBlueRobot's work in sliceform creations and I was so intrigued by the comment that I decided to see if I could locate CPEEP's work. Fortunately, I was successful in doing so.<br />
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CPEEP'S Blog is called <a href="http://extremecards.blogspot.com/"><b>EXTREME CARDS AND PAPERCRAFTING</b></a> And, it is a great place to visit with lots of tutorials. Here is just one sample of what you will find there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSQzQgVqnyJa3MB4Thb9Ii6KfEdQwqAChWN5Z3fRQapRQTPqPMCGZvh4TEHYmBC3Fq02uZyiFvjasWHMK1OOn-gnyDQgkFsYn5h6EcV0EjTG0EUJW2XHJ0gA8YTYdcvrmNvsjgDfuyPI/s320/Basket+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSQzQgVqnyJa3MB4Thb9Ii6KfEdQwqAChWN5Z3fRQapRQTPqPMCGZvh4TEHYmBC3Fq02uZyiFvjasWHMK1OOn-gnyDQgkFsYn5h6EcV0EjTG0EUJW2XHJ0gA8YTYdcvrmNvsjgDfuyPI/s320/Basket+033.jpg" /></a></div><br />
CPEEP'S work is quite broad in the methods used.In addition to sliceform, you'll find paper folding, pop up cards and paper animata (mechanical models) which are equally interesting. I wandered around for quite a while and was not the least bit bored by what I found.<br />
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Apparently, CPEEPS is not yet and eCraft owner and is able to cut to a Robo Craft directly from Corel so not all of their creations are available in SVG. Hopefully that situation will change in the near future! In the meantime I am enjoying the creativity of another person that thinks in 3D, all the while being thankful that one thing does, indeed, lead to another!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-91801902492570985432010-10-11T09:24:00.000-07:002010-10-11T09:24:11.357-07:00Cutting Chipboard Video at Nicki's Cardstock CreationsA lot of people have asked me about cutting chipboard. Chipboard is such a generic class of materials, I could not confidently say that the eCraft would or would not cut the kind of chipboard preferred by most crafters. I have to reply on the label on the material and the only paper I had with the 'Chipboard' label would NOT cut. In fact, it acted more like sandpaper and simply dulled the blade.<br />
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I do NOT think that is the material most crafters mean when they ask about 'chipboard' so I'm going to defer to the experts. There is a new video on <a href="http://nickiscardstockcreations.blogspot.com/"><b>Nicki's Cardstock Creation blog</b></a> that shows how well the eCraft actually DOES cut chipboard.<br />
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<a href="http://nickiscardstockcreations.blogspot.com/2010/10/ecraft-machine-demoing-cutting.html"><b>Chipboard Video </b></a><br />
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By the way, she reveals one other thing about the eCraft's console controls. If you hold down the arrows when selecting the shape from an SD card, it will swiftly go through all the choices! Now, why didn't I think of that???Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-74783249229400510052010-10-11T09:03:00.000-07:002010-10-11T09:03:51.312-07:00Robots, Robots Everywhere! The eCraft and Robots!One of the great things about being a part of a community of crafters is being able to enjoy the vast differences in direction which human creativity can take us. Recently, I've been enjoying the work of Australian, SusanBlueRobot who publishes the <a href="http://susanbluerobot.blogspot.com/"><b>SusanBlueRobot</b> </a>Blog.<br />
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I love the quirkiness of her creations. The best way I can think of describing it is thinking OUTSIDE the box by thinking INSIDE the box!<br />
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Using tree found on the eCraft Fundamentals #1 SD that comes with the eCraft digital die cutter she created this card. Of course, no tree is complete without a few robots enjoying it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgg3gZjb1VFLieLv9w-8uyIG93AhGT4P704b_NwXKnENkS8vX-u_ckd__aNAn6XuOudzHrNYJy8t0UGlDEVCgz8168IqKFKSnxrISEuczfkjpV9HY3GJJFru8HnYHujF80TlfkdmY2vcIH/s1600/100_5427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgg3gZjb1VFLieLv9w-8uyIG93AhGT4P704b_NwXKnENkS8vX-u_ckd__aNAn6XuOudzHrNYJy8t0UGlDEVCgz8168IqKFKSnxrISEuczfkjpV9HY3GJJFru8HnYHujF80TlfkdmY2vcIH/s320/100_5427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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But, using this very same eCraft Shape, she has also created this sliceform 3D tree. Imagine a party table adorned with various sizes of these wonderful trees!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7njLJ4RCRSeH1KDdxo0LX9V7Chu4I64afJI14rYMkTvbEAYfWcyQ0Ppw9sSMI9CAfx7LjNNfov2KGkMFv4h8bE5TEt_BftfTZvwWmbnWNfofpmcKUgMVDyFMjLs9A4laAYhBpNPBjuo97/s400/100_5415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7njLJ4RCRSeH1KDdxo0LX9V7Chu4I64afJI14rYMkTvbEAYfWcyQ0Ppw9sSMI9CAfx7LjNNfov2KGkMFv4h8bE5TEt_BftfTZvwWmbnWNfofpmcKUgMVDyFMjLs9A4laAYhBpNPBjuo97/s320/100_5415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
SusanBlueRobot may be the first person to post an image of a sliceform. And, in doing so, she has paved the way for an unlimited world of 3D art using a digital cutter with NO LIMITS TO LENGTH. Because the eCraft uses ROLLS of materials, as well as sheets, sliceform art of larger dimensions is possible.<br />
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Here are some samples of sliceform works that might inspire users to consider designing larger sliceform installations. They can be found at this <a href="http://fiveprime.org/flickr_hvmnd.cgi?method=GET&page=1&photo_number=50&tag_mode=all&search_type=Tags&sorting=Interestingness&photo_type=250&noform=t&search_domain=Tags&sort=Interestingness&textinput=sliceform"><b>link</b></a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2554041334_9c4754aeb5_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2554041334_9c4754aeb5_m.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/375053495_199a9d374b_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/375053495_199a9d374b_m.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In the process of exploring sliceform, I ran across the blog of an amazingly prolific crafter that specializes in creating and selling sliceform designs. Perhaps the most useful way to introduce you to her work is to link to her video page. Here is the first video on that page. <a href="http://jenigami.weebly.com/jenigami-videos.html"><b> JennieBeanCrafts Videos</b></a><br />
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I want to thank SusanBlueRobot for sending us off on a great adventure. I can tell you that she got instant rave reviews on the eCraft_Crafters Yahoo group and deservedly so! So, be sure to drop by her blog and see why everyone enjoyed her work so much!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-25169525103623949552010-10-07T06:36:00.000-07:002010-10-07T06:41:32.618-07:00Could the eCraft make the cut with Make The Cut?There was an intriguing message in the<a href="http://make-the-cut.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=7568&page=1#Item_0"><u><b> Make The Cut forums</b></u></a> that Andy, the developer, and Craftwell have opened lines of communication. None of us know where this will lead; but, there are a number of reasons why I think Craftwell would benefit enormously by an arrangement with Make The Cut.<br />
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First, if Make the Cut or Sure Cuts A Lot can cut to the eCraft it takes a LOT of pressure off of Craftwell in an area in which they have the least experience. There is no doubt at all that the Craftwell team <i><b>KNOWS </b></i>hardware design. The eCraft, as I have said over and over, is <i><b>BRILLIANTLY</b></i> designed. <i><b>THAT</b></i> is their area of expertise and it shows.<br />
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But, what is also abundantly clear, is that Craftwell is <i><b>NOT</b></i> as skilled and experienced in the area of software. And, having a bit of a safety valve in place as they sort out and build that experience will not be a bad thing.<br />
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This would not preclude Craftwell from designing and delivering a world class software product down the road. In fact, in my opinion, it would HELP them in that quest by taking pressure off of constant fixes to a poorly designed initial product and let them back up, regroup and build a team of consultants and in-house experts in the management of software development that would know how to deal with farming out the actual software programming effort. Right now, the tail seems to be wagging the dog and the tail has the dog in a very bad place of dependence.<br />
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Craftwell needs something to break themselves away from that dependence. And, that something could be Make the Cut or Sure Cuts A Lot. Once that dependence is broken, Craftwell can step up and have more control over the development process in the future. But, to do so means reorganizing their development strategies, which will take some time.<br />
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However, it would be well worth it. As long as we can cut, using SOME software, I will be the first to urge every eCraft owner to give Craftwell the space to do what I know they want to do... provide a PRO product that more than lives up to the name. I don't think that will be as likely to happen if Craftwell doggedly pursues their own path without the help of 3rd party products like Make the Cut.<br />
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So, I'm hoping the lines of communication produce some cooperative efforts to support the owners of the best hardware in the business. That would be very exciting to a LOT of owners. And, frankly, increase the odds that Craftwell could eventually deliver a killer application of their own... which is our ultimate hope.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-91264369885343761222010-10-04T06:06:00.000-07:002010-10-04T06:11:28.716-07:00"What we've got here is... failure to communicate."As I scan the eCraft Facebook and Twitter pages I am reminded of that great line from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Hand_Luke"><i><b>Cool Hand Luke</b></i></a>.<br />
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I find the silence much more incomprehensible than the problems with the software. And, that was puzzling enough. The last entry on Twitter was in August! And, while a Craftwell employee will randomly offer some insight on the Facebook page, most of the help users get is from other users who, themselves, are just hanging on and waiting along with everyone else.<br />
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You know something? That's just not good enough. Not by a long shot.<br />
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Craftwell, you have a machine that I am ready to support and support in a big way. I look at the hardware design and, as I've repeatedly said, I see a design that has the potential to dominate the digital cutter marketplace. But, a great machine design is <i><b>NOT</b></i> what makes for great success. It is only part of the equation... and, a small part at that.<br />
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The Mindset Computer was a great design. It's the <i><b>ONLY</b></i> computer on <a href="http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=986&st=1">permanent display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City!</a> But, I'll bet not a single reader knew it ever existed. It came. It went. It is forgotten.<br />
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So, much for great design being a deciding factor for success.<br />
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While I think the eCraft also deserves to be considered for such an honored place in design history, I would MUCH rather see it on thousands of tables in homes and businesses then in a permanent display in a museum with no users. But, that is where it is heading if the management of Craftwell doesn't set aside it's pride in building the first matless digital cutter and start realizing that communication, not engineering, is their ultimate ticket to success.<br />
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Cool Hand Luke ended badly. Mindset's brilliant design didn't keep it from ending it's race badly. Let's hope that Craftwell's "Failure to communicate" is corrected. And soon. Or, it too, might be just another footnote in history. And, none of us want that.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-2866358508678590852010-09-21T18:53:00.000-07:002010-09-21T18:53:39.444-07:00Added Video Link GadgetIf you find the new <b>Video Links</b> feature to the right side of this blog to be helpful in finding the videos on this blog you can thank Debbie Keith, of the eCraft_Crafters Yahoo Group. <br />
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One of the problems with the blog format is that as every new post is added, the previous posts become harder to find. And, in the case of this blog, some of the most important posts where the earliest posts as we experimented with our new machine. And, that is true of the early videos. They had become too hard to find.<br />
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But, thanks to Debbie, that has been corrected. <br />
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I will be adding links to videos at <a href="http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/"><b>Purple Paper Paradise</b></a> , <a href="http://nickiscardstockcreations.blogspot.com/"><b>Nicki's Cardstock Creations</b></a> and other sites as I find them or you bring them to my attention. So, be sure to let me know if you find a video that is not listed and I will add it.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-56358751381680681562010-09-16T05:51:00.000-07:002010-09-16T06:02:46.866-07:00User setting for Cutting SpeedCherice95405 had a problem and a husband.<br />
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Wait! I can see that you are getting the wrong idea from that sentence!!!<br />
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The problem was <i><b>NOT</b></i> her husband. <br />
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<i><b>SHEEESH!!!</b></i> You guys are <i><b>ALWAYS</b></i> jumping to conclusions, aren't you?<br />
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Cherice's problem, that she posted on the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eCraft_Crafters/message/4592"><b>eCraft_Crafters Yahoo Group</b></a> was that she was unable to cut text reliably on the eCraft digital die cutter. So, she complained to the nearest person she could find, her husband. And, rather than simply walking off oblivious, as I have a tendency to do, he actually <b>LISTENED</b>. (<i>Something my wife would claim that I do NOT have a tendency to do</i>.)<br />
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Cherice calls her husband her "IT Superhero". I added that he is also my "ANALYTICAL superhero" because he went snooping to see if their was a way to solve her problem. He found it in the same place I found the name of the company that is currently responsible for developing eCraftShop... the eCraft's configuration file.<br />
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The file is in the same directory where eCraftShop is installed. It's called <b>eCraftShop.exe.config </b>and it provides a way to customize how the machine works on individual machines. It's an XML file. So, it is easily edited with a text editor. However, I would caution anyone that wants to edit that file that you should make a backup copy before doing so just in case things don't go as planned.<br />
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Look for the key word "<b>CuttingSpeed</b>" and you will find that it is set to <b>700</b> by default.<br />
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Cherice's husband slowed down the cutting speed by changing the value from 700 to 500 and she reports that she is now able to cut the characters that she was unable to cut previously. I've encouraged Cherice to badger her husband to sign up to the eCraft_Crafter's Yahoo group. <i><b>We NEED his brain. </b></i><br />
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<i><b>I love inquisitive people!</b></i> <span style="font-size: large;"><b> Nice job!</b></span>Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-14061146436274335412010-09-15T05:16:00.000-07:002010-09-15T05:16:55.268-07:00Purple Paper Paradise - What to Expect With UpdateAmong my heroes in the eCraft user community is Denise O'Connor. She sees the special quality of the eCraft cutter; but, recognizes that without equivalent quality software, it will have slow going in gaining the marketshare it deserves. <br />
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But, she also realizes that we have to be realistic about the progress of the software development. And, has written an excellent new article on the topic titled <a href="http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/2010/09/moving-forward.html"><b>"Moving Forward"</b></a><br />
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As usual, she's right on target!Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946206262090528390.post-53014185634285561332010-09-14T05:48:00.000-07:002010-09-14T05:54:32.245-07:00A Bit of Praise for the eCraft EngineersEach morning, before heading off to my consulting clients that pay the bills, I take a few minutes to focus on the eCraft community by checking Craftwell's Facebook page and emails that I've receive from blog readers overnight. Since most current owners are waiting to see what the next software release will bring and the machines one the first boat to the U.S. have not yet begun to be shipped, things were slow this morning.<br />
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That gave me some time to sit and reflect on the quality of the design of the eCraft hardware. It really is unique and well done from both an aesthetic point of view and a mechanical point of view. Even the battery compartment design merits appreciation.<br />
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Some people comment on its deep footprint when the tray is attached. But, they forget that the tray is simply an added convenience. It can be removed. And, once it's removed it requires no more depth than any other cutter since the paper we use in all cutters is the same depth and it is the paper that determines how much room we need behind the machine.<br />
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The build quality is excellent. I love that the blade trolley is right out in front and easily moved by hand or buttons. The lift up design has allowed me to photograph the blade and blade cover quite easily and while it's easier and probably safer to change the blades with the provided tweezers, it's possible to pull out an old blade and pop in a new one by hand.<br />
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And, speaking of blades, when I first took delivery of this machine, I fully expected it to run through blades quite quickly. But, surprisingly, with all the testing and cutting I have done, I still have new blades I have not used and old blades I can still use in a pinch. Obviously, blade life depends on the materials you cut and the density of the tabs you've selected. And, it may be that I'm getting longer life now because I have found that I don't normally need a high tab density and can even cut successfully without any tabs at all with some material and shape combinations.<br />
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But, one of the things I most appreciate is the simultaneous blade and pen combination. When I first started to use the eCraft I didn't think much about how useful being able to chose between a blade or a pen without having to physically change anything would be. The pen is now my most used feature for testing rendering accuracy and it has not only saved me a lot of expensive paper; but, allowed me to use less expensive paper while testing the software.<br />
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Many, many years ago, when I first graduated from college I produced videos. One of my regular clients was an opinion research firm that would bring people into a conference room to discuss a product or service. And, one of the questions they invariably asked was, "Is this product was a car, what brand of car would it be?" That seems like a good question to pose this morning.<br />
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If the eCraft was a car, what brand of car would it be?<br />
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It's trickier than one might think to make that comparison. That is because the eCraft combines features that aren't generally common in the same automobile... built-in reliability and sleek looks. A <a href="http://www.automotoportal.com/photos/Top_10_most_expensive_cars_in_the_world/2"><b>Ferrari Enzo</b></a> might be a good choice for comparison when it comes to the styling of the eCraft. The <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/go/5657/"><b>Honda Accord</b></a> might be a good choice for it's rugged construction. So, the Ferrari Enzo has the looks; but, perhaps not the ruggedness and the Honda has the ruggedness and not the looks. So, there is only one thing we can do....<br />
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Why, choose the <a href="http://www.automotoportal.com/photos/Top_10_most_expensive_cars_in_the_world"><b>Bugatti Veyron 16:4</b></a>, of course! Yes, if I had to choose a car that best reflects to design and performance of the eCraft the Bugatti is my choice. The big difference, of course, is the Bugatti <i><b>is</b></i> the world's most expensive automobile and the eCraft is <i><b>not</b></i> the most expensive digital cutter. Bugatti at a bargain. Now, that is a pretty good deal.<br />
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And, if I can be permitted to reflect on something else while we comparing the eCraft to an automobile. One of the factors in selecting an automobile is something I simply call <i><b>Unity of Design</b></i>. For a consumer to feel comfortable with a product, <i><b>ALL</b></i> the pieces of that product must be in <i><b>UNITY</b></i>. Just as a potential Bugatti owner would never accept cheap fabric seats, neither would a potential Hyundai Accent buyer want hand-crafted leather seats that cost more than the entire car! The Bugatti buyer wants seats that reflect every other aspect of that luxury car. And, a Hyundai buyer wants seats that reflect the frugality of their automobile choice. <i><b> When ANY element of a product's design is not in perfect unity with all the other elements, people get very nervous. They may not know WHY they have an uneasy feeling. They just feel it in their gut and end up walking away.</b></i><br />
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The reason I bring this up is that when I look at the hardware design of the eCraft, I cannot help but want a software component that is in every way its equal. <i><b> I don't want a Bugatti cutter being driven by Hyundai Accent software!</b></i> I expect Bugatti software and nothing else. As I said in another post, in a different way, the hardware design deserves nothing less.Tom Meekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00986603069110650426noreply@blogger.com2