Yea, this is what we used to do jumped up several levels.. we are demonstrating desktop manufacturing with modern tools.the Earl of Whirl wrote: In reading about the event, I see where there will be a "maker space" with lathes and 3D printers. It says it will be coordinated by our very own Kyo (Kyle Weems of Kyo's toys) and Drew Tetz (44RPM). I remember being fascinated by the "lathe room" in the past but this sounds like it is going to another level. Maybe Kyo can tell us a bit about what to expect and give us some inside information on this "maker space".
Like, for instance, the world yoyo website only talks about making yoyos. Will we be able to make tops?
I'm bringing 4 3d printers (one of which will be given away thanks to a generous sponsorship from MatterHackers), we will have a Carvey machine from Inventables (desktop cnc router) as well. I was hoping to bring a small CNC but I ran into um.. well I broke it.
The primary focus is on yo-yos, since that's the major event.. but I'd be happy to talk about tops as well, all the same stuff applies from a production standpoint.
The general plan:
Each day we will hold a workshop session (aiming for ~10am) where I will randomly select someone to design a yo-yo. We will sketch it, I will demonstrate how to model it (I have a nice projector so everybody can see), convert that file to 3d printer code (called slicing), and make it. I will talk about the entire process, about how I test designs mathematically and how to tweak designs to improve them. I will also cover how you would make that design using the Carvey machine, a CNC lathe, or any other method you can think of.. but 3d printing is the easiest to demo on site. The rest of the day will be an open q/a with me and any other makers I can recruit and I will have the printers running the design of the day. The printers will spit out parts all day and night and the next morning we will give away whatever we have made.
Meanwhile, the Carvey will be producing fixed axle wooden yo-yos to give away. They will have the Worlds logo on one side and we're trying to set it up so that people can customize the other side. The machine runs on a software called Easel which I'll be showing the basics of and helping people create their designs which will then be cut on their yo-yos. Spaces will be limited a bit as we only have one machine, but I have enough wood for ~50-60 yo-yos.
If any of you guys want to stop by, I'll talk about tops as well and if there is time (I'm stretched pretty thin) I'd be willing to draw one up and make it.
My plan is also to be selling some finger tops at my sales table in the main hall, but quantities will be -very- limited.. so be sure to stop by early

Kyle