We had a great workshop this past Saturday. Makers created beautiful night lights, gifts, and holiday decorations.

The item is constructed so that the clear acrylic sign is removable, so you can create additional signs and switch them out with the season, holiday, etc. Besides laser etching the image on the clear sign, we assembled the LED elements and nailed small clamps into the base to hold the LED strip. 

We also found that neon dry erase markers and chalk shine when the LEDs are on, so you can have a permanent design on the sign and add messages with the markers. You can create message boards, menu boards and more with such a system.

 

 

 

One of the favorite projects at SouthWorks is creating 3D printed bugs and monsters using Sculptris software. Many people are at first intimidated when they hear about 3D design and think about the heavy duty industrial CAD/CAM programs that take years to master and cost $1,000s each year.

Sculptris is more art-oriented and intuitive. Plus, it’s free!

From elementary school students to senior citizens, everyone seems to get the hang of it within minutes. Think of a ball of clay and how you would create something with it. You’d pull, twist, compress, stretch, etc. until you molded the clay into whatever you’re designing. Sculptris works the same way. You start with a ball of material on the screen and use a handful of simple tools to pull, compress, stretch it into a shape. You can add additional balls of material to make more complex shapes, and you can then paint the shapes on the screen.

Finally, you can then send them to the 3D printer.

Below are some recent examples done by SouthWorks clients:

   

STEM Education, Vintage Military Trucks, 3D Printers, and Local Crafts

Chicago Southland Mini Maker Faire is even bigger than last year! Looking for something to do with your kids? Want to see the latest in tech? Interested in meeting local crafters? We have something for everybody, and with tickets free for 18 and under, how can you pass it up?

Get Tickets TODAY!

Near Space, Augmented Reality, 3D Printing, and More.

Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects.

We call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness.

Glimpse the future and get inspired!

New Exhibitors

 

Exhibitor: Veteran’s Garage

Veterans Garage is dedicated to the restoration, preservation, maintenance and display of Historic Military Vehicles.

 

 

A 3D printer manufacturing startup from the Chicagoland area, has been working for the last year and a half to bring the next level of open-source hardware to market.

Read more here »