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Boing Boing: Created by a team from Pittsburgh's Techshop makerspace, the Origami uses a novel, fold-out arm that lets you laser-etch and -cut much larger designs than you could get into a normal, enclosed cutter.
12 comments:
Fiona Rhodes
said...
This is an interesting product idea, because it would greatly expand the range of materials and situations in which one could use a laser cutter. I have only used a laser cutter once, but it was a great way to ensure accuracy (if you do it correctly). This mechanism might be difficult to ensure that it works correctly, because of all of the possible places for error in the set-up. That the team has no production experience is a little bit worrying...but I am excited to see where they go with this and how they make it work.
When he first started talking, I imagined something totally different! I thought it was going to be kind of like robot or something that had parts that folded out (used as support) that could travel across a surface and cut. Kind of like those vacuums that go around the house and clean. For my idea, you would have to input the surface shape and size but I think that should be the next step after this! I mean this is cool but it seems limited. Sure it's not in the laser cutter box anymore, but you're still limited to that square shape and you can't go larger than where the arm can reach!
When I read the title, I thought it was going to be a smaller laser cutter, not a bigger one! The name, "The Origami" threw me off because Origami is normally small. Either way, the idea is interesting. I'm not sure why anyone would need to be laser cutting walls, but hey! Why not? That is also A LOT of money. I'm not sure they can fund themselves, but if they do get enough money, I'm sure the turnout will be excellent. I have high hopes for this product.
While this does seem like a cool and innovative new product, I question the actual practicality of it. It is definitely more portable and cheaper than a traditional laser cutter but is really necessary. I don't think I would be this skeptical if they had actually shown it using these new features instead of just cutting small pieces placed under it. The supposed advantage is that it should be able to create a larger piece but they never actually show how that is done. I get that it involves moving the device around and doing the cutting in pieces but that relies heavily on the operator to position it perfectly. What happens if it is not aligned properly? That being said, the ability to etch into something that is already standing or attached to a wall is cool but ultimately it still begs the question, do we really need a product that can do that? It's an incredibly niche market and I don't know if they can sustain a business making just that product.
This is pretty neat, I love seeing the form factor of these rapid prototyping tools changing. This is how humanity has innovated tools since the beginning of time. First there was a saw, than many saws optimized for different materials and shapes. Soon we will see many different varieties of laser cutters and 3D printers in the same way. This project and the 3Doodler are 2 examples that come to mind. It is also neat to see a project made by people I have worked with before appear on Boing Boing in an article written by my favorite author, Cory Doctorow, Ollie was a coworker of mine at Techshop 2 summers ago!
I think this can be a very useful tool. Laser cutters can be very helpful when you need to carve a design into a material because it can cut into many different types. There are limitations with the size of a piece and the machine. This new portable laser cutter can help fix some of those problems and cut on more items. I think this product can be very successful and used by many different people and shops. It is relatively small so it will be easy to travel with and get into tight spaces. It is a little bigger than I imagined at first.
I've actually been working at the TechShop this past week helping out the scenery team on the upcoming production of Day Room Window at the New Hazlett and actually saw this laser and had the chance to speak to Ollie himself. It is quite a simple and refreshing design to an often recurring problem. The possibilities of what size material you could etch on is almost limitless. Ollie and I talked about the advantages to maybe even making different models in varying sizes. Imagine, a mini version for desktop etching or even a jumbo 8' long version for etching onto full sheets of plywood.
It is definitely a design to keep your eye on. An innovation to laser cutting such as this one could be valuable in most departments on theatre. I foresee costume shops using it to cut out intricate patterns into fabric, the paints department etching out a design template onto a flat, even lighting so as to create a battle ready groundplan onto sheet metal.
This is such a simple idea that I'm surprised hasn't come about sooner. The uses of a portable laser cutter seams endless. I can see it being really successful and selling to many different occupations for countless purposes. And David's idea of creating different sized cutters seems great as well. I can definitely foresee this product being purchased and used and not just being another flop. And the fact that it originated from a pittsburgh tech shop is great as well.
I think this kickstarter marks the beginning of a great idea that hasn't fully been figured out yet. I've used a laser cutter once before and it is a magnificent tool for intricacies and precision work, but the limited space of the laser bed and the cost for the huge machine and the ventilation set up makes its use much more limited. This product offers a great solution allowing you to set up a laser bed virtually anywhere which makes it not only more versatile and accessible but also allows for new uses like the engraving of floors and walls, etc. The only issues I'm concerned with this product are 1. the ventilation (how does it work without a proper fume hood clearing ash and potentially harmful chemicals released from cutting plastics and similar materials?) and 2.the manufacturing of the product (having no real prior experience manufacturing large numbers of units how does the team plan on turning their prototype into a finished product that can easily be manufactured for the first 25 units and beyond?).
Despite its kinks I think this product is a great step in the right direction. It not only allows laser cutting to be utilized in more versatile ways but also makes the tool more accessible for smaller consumers. As a hopeful future designer I love the potential idea of owning my own private laser cutter to make small intricate pieces, with that in mind this product truly excites me and I hope it achieves its full potential.
If this works it will be very interesting. Scenic designers could be able to build their models on site or really where ever they happen to be. But if they want this portable laser cutter idea to be successful they are going to need to figure out a way to get the cost down. Also from using the laser cutter at school how are they going to handle the exhaust and fumes that are released when the laser cuts. If they can make is safer and cheaper it will be a very interesting product.
The name of and nature of this laser cutter is surprising. I too had imagined something smaller when I saw it was called The Origami and it was portable. This product idea is really innovative but I think there are a few kinks that the team needs to work out. Right now it doesn't seem too user friendly. What happens if you don't align it correctly? How hard is it to actually align it correctly? Also, how easy is it to mount it on walls? I would imagine this technology is fairly heavy. i can see the use for it once kinks like these are worked out and I'm looking forward o seeing it in the industry in the future.
This is what we need, being able to move a laser cutter to just about anywhere, and allows us to cut out larger items that typically wouldn’t fit on the bed of the cutter. Although I’ve yet to use the laser cutter we have, I’m sure there have been times when we have wanted to etch something or cut something but couldn’t because it was too big. There’s never an issue when it’s too small, because it can get down and make the nitty gritty stuff be easy as making a cake. The only downside to the origami laser cutter right now, is that it is still in the testing process to fine tune the machine. I guess if you’re willing to help with the startup and take the risk of being a product tester with the hopes of it not messing up on you, then by all means have a go at it.
12 comments:
This is an interesting product idea, because it would greatly expand the range of materials and situations in which one could use a laser cutter. I have only used a laser cutter once, but it was a great way to ensure accuracy (if you do it correctly). This mechanism might be difficult to ensure that it works correctly, because of all of the possible places for error in the set-up. That the team has no production experience is a little bit worrying...but I am excited to see where they go with this and how they make it work.
When he first started talking, I imagined something totally different! I thought it was going to be kind of like robot or something that had parts that folded out (used as support) that could travel across a surface and cut. Kind of like those vacuums that go around the house and clean. For my idea, you would have to input the surface shape and size but I think that should be the next step after this! I mean this is cool but it seems limited. Sure it's not in the laser cutter box anymore, but you're still limited to that square shape and you can't go larger than where the arm can reach!
When I read the title, I thought it was going to be a smaller laser cutter, not a bigger one! The name, "The Origami" threw me off because Origami is normally small. Either way, the idea is interesting. I'm not sure why anyone would need to be laser cutting walls, but hey! Why not? That is also A LOT of money. I'm not sure they can fund themselves, but if they do get enough money, I'm sure the turnout will be excellent. I have high hopes for this product.
While this does seem like a cool and innovative new product, I question the actual practicality of it. It is definitely more portable and cheaper than a traditional laser cutter but is really necessary. I don't think I would be this skeptical if they had actually shown it using these new features instead of just cutting small pieces placed under it. The supposed advantage is that it should be able to create a larger piece but they never actually show how that is done. I get that it involves moving the device around and doing the cutting in pieces but that relies heavily on the operator to position it perfectly. What happens if it is not aligned properly? That being said, the ability to etch into something that is already standing or attached to a wall is cool but ultimately it still begs the question, do we really need a product that can do that? It's an incredibly niche market and I don't know if they can sustain a business making just that product.
This is pretty neat, I love seeing the form factor of these rapid prototyping tools changing. This is how humanity has innovated tools since the beginning of time. First there was a saw, than many saws optimized for different materials and shapes. Soon we will see many different varieties of laser cutters and 3D printers in the same way. This project and the 3Doodler are 2 examples that come to mind. It is also neat to see a project made by people I have worked with before appear on Boing Boing in an article written by my favorite author, Cory Doctorow, Ollie was a coworker of mine at Techshop 2 summers ago!
I think this can be a very useful tool. Laser cutters can be very helpful when you need to carve a design into a material because it can cut into many different types. There are limitations with the size of a piece and the machine. This new portable laser cutter can help fix some of those problems and cut on more items. I think this product can be very successful and used by many different people and shops. It is relatively small so it will be easy to travel with and get into tight spaces. It is a little bigger than I imagined at first.
I've actually been working at the TechShop this past week helping out the scenery team on the upcoming production of Day Room Window at the New Hazlett and actually saw this laser and had the chance to speak to Ollie himself. It is quite a simple and refreshing design to an often recurring problem. The possibilities of what size material you could etch on is almost limitless. Ollie and I talked about the advantages to maybe even making different models in varying sizes. Imagine, a mini version for desktop etching or even a jumbo 8' long version for etching onto full sheets of plywood.
It is definitely a design to keep your eye on. An innovation to laser cutting such as this one could be valuable in most departments on theatre. I foresee costume shops using it to cut out intricate patterns into fabric, the paints department etching out a design template onto a flat, even lighting so as to create a battle ready groundplan onto sheet metal.
This is such a simple idea that I'm surprised hasn't come about sooner. The uses of a portable laser cutter seams endless. I can see it being really successful and selling to many different occupations for countless purposes. And David's idea of creating different sized cutters seems great as well. I can definitely foresee this product being purchased and used and not just being another flop. And the fact that it originated from a pittsburgh tech shop is great as well.
I think this kickstarter marks the beginning of a great idea that hasn't fully been figured out yet. I've used a laser cutter once before and it is a magnificent tool for intricacies and precision work, but the limited space of the laser bed and the cost for the huge machine and the ventilation set up makes its use much more limited. This product offers a great solution allowing you to set up a laser bed virtually anywhere which makes it not only more versatile and accessible but also allows for new uses like the engraving of floors and walls, etc. The only issues I'm concerned with this product are 1. the ventilation (how does it work without a proper fume hood clearing ash and potentially harmful chemicals released from cutting plastics and similar materials?) and 2.the manufacturing of the product (having no real prior experience manufacturing large numbers of units how does the team plan on turning their prototype into a finished product that can easily be manufactured for the first 25 units and beyond?).
Despite its kinks I think this product is a great step in the right direction. It not only allows laser cutting to be utilized in more versatile ways but also makes the tool more accessible for smaller consumers. As a hopeful future designer I love the potential idea of owning my own private laser cutter to make small intricate pieces, with that in mind this product truly excites me and I hope it achieves its full potential.
If this works it will be very interesting. Scenic designers could be able to build their models on site or really where ever they happen to be. But if they want this portable laser cutter idea to be successful they are going to need to figure out a way to get the cost down. Also from using the laser cutter at school how are they going to handle the exhaust and fumes that are released when the laser cuts. If they can make is safer and cheaper it will be a very interesting product.
The name of and nature of this laser cutter is surprising. I too had imagined something smaller when I saw it was called The Origami and it was portable. This product idea is really innovative but I think there are a few kinks that the team needs to work out. Right now it doesn't seem too user friendly. What happens if you don't align it correctly? How hard is it to actually align it correctly? Also, how easy is it to mount it on walls? I would imagine this technology is fairly heavy. i can see the use for it once kinks like these are worked out and I'm looking forward o seeing it in the industry in the future.
This is what we need, being able to move a laser cutter to just about anywhere, and allows us to cut out larger items that typically wouldn’t fit on the bed of the cutter. Although I’ve yet to use the laser cutter we have, I’m sure there have been times when we have wanted to etch something or cut something but couldn’t because it was too big. There’s never an issue when it’s too small, because it can get down and make the nitty gritty stuff be easy as making a cake. The only downside to the origami laser cutter right now, is that it is still in the testing process to fine tune the machine. I guess if you’re willing to help with the startup and take the risk of being a product tester with the hopes of it not messing up on you, then by all means have a go at it.
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