Cat + Heat Shield for Makerbot Replicator

BC printing takes several hours with an extruding 3d printer, I set about protecting the machine from the cats (and vice versa).

I soon realized that this could help tremendously with heat dissipation and was pleased to find that indeed it made a huge difference.

I bought five 24"x18" plexiglass panels from Home Depot (would have gone to Lowes but there are none nearby) for a total of $45. They refused to cut it for me.... and I was lazy, so the dimensions are off. 20x20x20 would probably be perfect for this machine (Makerbot Replicator).

Here is what it looks like:

Here are the super basic .stl files I printed for the support pieces:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:22119

Also, check out the solidoodle:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/former-makerbot-exec-launches-solidoodle-sub-500-3d-printer/
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3895263

print a solid border for catan

one of the items on my list of 'things to print' from thingiverse.com was a border to keep unruly settlers of catan land tiles (aka terrain hexes) in place.

I tried printing this directly, but the interlocking mechanism wasn't fitting together properly.

While tinkering with the border, I decided to see how many pieces I could fit on the replicator's platform at once, to reduce the number of total prints required to make a border.

Here's the result:



Grab the .stl from thingiverse, here.

I used:

1% infill

.3mm layer height

1 shell

60 mm/s feed rate

Raft/Support

no other support

120 degrees C for platform

225 degrees C for extruder

In-dash hack for Droid Bionic Car Dock

I never used the stock Nav system so I took it out and sold it, leaving a hole in the dash.

After tinkering for a bit, I decided to put the Sirius and a second USB charging outlet inside, in addition to my phone's car dock.

I had to make a new back for the dock - so designed it in SketchUp and printed it with the Replicator.

Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=985QM9iDMB8

Files for 3D printer and google SketchUp:

(right click and save as)

scribl.it/3dstuff/willstuff/dockfinal.gcode

scribl.it/3dstuff/willstuff/dockfinal.stl

scribl.it/3dstuff/willstuff/dockfinal.skp

Samsung Series 9 2012: A01 vs. A02 Elucidated

A01: core i5-2467M @ 1.6GHz, two slots reported in BIOS (2GB each)

BIOS V: P04AAH

International Warranty sticker - I don't remember this on the A02?

Setting up Windows... it still thinks it's 12 hours later than it is (and thus the wrong date)

So it seems the only difference is the BIOS V. P03AAH on the A02 with a date of 2/2/2012 and P04AAH on the A01 with a date of 2/28/2012.

This could easily be a fluke (my particular A01 sat in the factory for a bit longer so got a BIOS upgrade?). I'm gonna go ahead and conclude the different models were intended to house different versions of Windows, but in the end someone decided to force Home Premium on errryyybody.

Oh, the wallpaper for the A01 is set to some Samsung 'amor2' thing. A02 uses "Microsoft Signature." (It's possible something I installed made this change on A02).

And now that I look further, there seems to be other bloat on the A01 - >

Amazon Kindle

Norton

WildTangent Games

and some things are lacking (like Zune).

UPDATE:

The A01 seems to get very hot. The A02 never got this hot!

Also, here are photos.

Samsung Series 9 2012: np900x3b-a01 vs np900x3b-a02

I now have both of these. Picked up the A01 from a local Bestbuy (4/11/2012) in AA, MI. Apparently they were the first to get one (of any store) in Michigan and they only had 1 other (to be used as display). I was the first to buy one.

Looking at Samsung's website, and even after Googling it, I still can't find a difference between the two models. Same color, specs, & OS version. I'll open up the new one now and do some digging...

upgrade the np900x3b by hacking the SD slot

Having a computer that I can't upgrade is kind of a buzz kill IMO. As I'm currently roadblocked re: upgrading the RAM, I decided to see if I could upgrade something else in my Samsung Series 9 2012 13.3"

It perturbs me immensely when companies build a memory card slot that leaves part of the card sticking out. This coupled with the fact that SD cards are obsolete caused me to want to use the bay to add 64gB (or 128gB if you have the cash).

So...

To do this you need to do the following:

1. Hack a device that uses SD pinout but that is half the length

2. Open up the computer

3. Hack 1 into the SD slot

Here are photos from the operation. Without my soldering iron the closest I could get was a 32gB SD showing up (see photo of computer screen) - but when I get my tools back I will try out a microSD - > SD hacked adapter (also pictured)