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GcodeCNCDemo update May, 2015

I squeezed in some time tonight at the Vancouver Hack Space to fix GcodeCNCDemo.

All the demos in the github repository have been updated to support G02 and G03 arcs in the XY plane.

All the demos now also support checksums. You can send line numbers and a checksum bit between the ; and the \n to make sure your arduino correctly receives your message.

All of the demos will only work if your arduino is sending the newline (\n). You can turn on “send newline” from a dropdown in your arduino serial window. GcodeSender, a sister project, should already send the newline.

I’m sorry it’s taken so long, I’m working really hard to be ready for the Bay Area Maker Fair. In my vision, a person at the fair can see the Makelangelo, place an order at our booth, and get a tracking number in their email before they leave the building. We ordered parts that aren’t good enough and I’m working hard to replace them in time. Everything else is ready! We could ship the kits a week later, too, but that’s… that’s not the way I dream it should be.

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Makelangelo software update coming May 8, 2015

As part of the celebrations for the Bay Area Maker Faire we’ll be releasing software update 7.1.0 on May 5, 2015. Now we need your help to get language translations ready. (more…)

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New record: Biggest Makelangelo

@aggrav8d I did a big boy tonight! pic.twitter.com/YLnQjvFkK4

— tinyenormous (@tinyenormous) April 30, 2015

Twitter user tinyenormous sent in this entry for the #makelangelo contest and it’s easily the biggest makelangelo I’ve seen to date.

Measuring a whopping 10’x10′, he had to make his own extension cables.

“It was 10′ wide and around 10′ tall. The wall was painted with a whiteboard paint called ideapaint and It was writing with whiteboard markers.”

Here are some extra photographs of the giant makelangelo from the event. Make it the talking point of your next party.

If you have a larger machine, post it in the forums.

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Bay Area Maker Faire 2015 #makelangelo contest

We’re fast approaching the Bay Area Maker Faire, and Makelangelo number 1000. This morning I got an email from BAMF with all my Maker info, including FREE ENTRY PASSES.

So here’s the deal: Instagram or tweet your favorite Makelangelo pictures and tag them #makelangelo. I’ll choose my favorites Monday, May 11, 2015. First place gets two all-weekend passes, and second place gets one all-day pass.

All winners will be declared on this blog on Monday, May 11, 2015.  You can enter as many times as you like before Sunday May 10 at midnight PST. There will be a short skill-testing question as required by our local laws – about as hard as an “are you human?” test.  Tickets will be available at the gate.

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How to recover when you make an expensive mistake

Not all mistakes are created equal.  If you can roll with it and recover quickly you’ll do better than someone living with regret.  Here’s how I do it. (more…)