I received these two experimental Squirrels from Lloyd Shales (designer of the Minnow).
They have a few different things including a wire hook for the rubber band, top covered wing, foam winglets, foam stabilizers and a few other differences. When I went to the CBC interview on Monday these are the actual Squirrels I brought.
I’ve been giving workshops at many schools which is fun but I can’t be everywhere at once so I made an instruction booklet.
This should prove to be a good option for those who are farther away from me or wish to have a go at it on their own.
The booklet can be downloaded from the Video Instruction pages.
Here are a few pictures of the CNC Wire Bender I started a while back. It will eventually be used to make landing gear wire and propeller shafts.
In this picture I’m experimenting with servos, an Arduino, a stepper controller, EMC2 CNC software, acrylic, gears, pinch rollers and much more.
The wire will be driven through the bender using pinch rollers and a stepper. Some servos will do the actual bending of the wire.
This was the first attempt and I have learned a lot since these experiments so I will actually start over (a few other projects are ahead of this right now). I made all the parts by hand which triggered my tennis elbow (except the parts that were harvested from old printers).
Since then I’ve learned a lot about making parts plus I have access to all sorts of cool mechanisms of making things such as laser, CNC and so forth. I also now know where to buy parts as well.
Sometimes that’s faster than fixing what you have.
Squirrel and the new design projects are going to three Makerfaires in the next short while. I will present the Squirrel to the other makers as well as the general public. If you are in either of these cities it’s a chance to see the Squirrel.
Montreal Makerfaire Aug 25-26 @ 4141 Avenue Pierre-De Coubertin
New York World Makerfaire September 29-30 @ New York Hall of Science
Ottawa Makerfaire, Oct 13-14 @ Shopify, 150 George (last Makerfaire)
The Squirrel project received MakerFaire Editor’s Choice Blue Ribbon in 2011 at the New York World Makerfaire.
I have really enjoyed sharing and giving my Squirrel airplanes away as donations. Since I have been sending stuff to Dinkar in India, some of my friends have gotten on the bandwagon!
Here is a box of Denny Darts from my friend Neil Dennis that was sent to Dinkar.
Also Bill Kuhl (one of the early evangelists of the Squirrel) sent some educational kits.
My cousin has made a donation and a couple of my local friends have pitched into these sorts of efforts.
What’s better than sharing? Sharing the sharing.
