More SmartJars work...

I haven't been putting out new designs for the laser tag project lately, because I've been obsessed with getting the SmartJars insert to be financially feasible.  I finally have a part that I think makes sense, but we'll just have to see if anyone decides to pick up a set.  I went through several iterations of the design to get a part that wastes less material, yet feels sturdy enough to use.

The open source hardware I'm really excited about is my SmartJars carousel, because it's a perfect opportunity to re-acquaint myself with OpenSCAD.  I used to use this amazing software a few years ago to make things parametrically.  This awesome software package allows you to write code that translates into 2D and 3D objects.  I only use it for things that I want to produce on the laser cutter, so this means 2D stuff.

Before OpenSCAD, I would create a 3D model in Alibre Design, and then create a drawing.  Then I would export this drawing to DXF and import it into CorelDraw.  An alternative way to design parts is directly in CorelDraw itself, but this can be painful for all but the simplest projects.  My 56 state quarter frame was done entirely in CorelDraw, but since it was just a bunch of circles, it wasn't a big deal.

The SmartJars carousel is the perfect application for OpenSCAD.  Once complete, you will be able to specify how many SmartJars on a panel (rows and columns), and how many panels in the carousel.  With this information, OpenSCAD will allow you to output DXFs for the panel and top and bottom carouself pieces.  Each SmartJar panel will interlock and screw into the top and bottom panels as well!  Check it out (I know that the holes aren't centered yet...)

Once I get this done and make the carousel, I have a really cool v2 already in mind.  :)

Worked on my SmartJars accessory design today

There's this awesome little Kickstarter project I backed that just got funded recently.  It's called SmartJars, and I saw them for the first time at MakerFaire this year.  The product is a nifty translucent jar that has a holder that snaps into ordinary pegboard, like this:

As you can see in the photo above, I've used the samples they sent me to start organizing the boys' Legos.  It is pretty awesome for this, and I actually plan to make a spinning SmartJar Tower soon.  This would allow them to have a ton of Legos on their table and hopefully keep them more organized than when we just throw them into large bins (this drives me insane, by the way).  I'll likely make the tower out of hardboard or baltic birch plywood, because ordinary pegboard from Home Depot is just warped pieces of crap.

The one thing I had an issue with was the size -- small Legos aren't worth putting into one SmartJar because they take up so little space.  I could group 1x1 Legos into the same SmartJar, but then I'd have to sift through them, which defeats the point.

I spent a lot of time iterating over my SmartJar accessory, which nicely partitions it into multiple sections.  I have three designs -- 2, 3, and 4 compartment versions.  Here's what the four-compartment model looks like:

It's a very nice looking piece.  I made it on my Replicator 2 out of PLA.  The great thing about using MakerBot's PLA is that it is food-grade, so people could use this for separating things like spices that aren't a powder (like peppercorns).

Anyhow, check out what it looks like in a SmartJar, and separating Legos, which was the original intent of the design:

And no spilling!

I'd like to put these up on etsy, since some SmartJars customers might want a few.  The problem is that they are really expensive to make.  I'm not sure if anyone is willing to fork out $5.00 to get four compartments out of a $2.50 SmartJar.  If they were popular enough, I would start my own Kickstarter project and make my own mold, but I really don't have time for that.