Consider this handful of must-have prototyping tools for the new year
These new products feature the best in resin printing, IoT development boards, high-resolution scanning, laser cutting and electronics kits.
BY JEREMY LOSAW
The holiday season is an opportunity to take a brief hiatus from prototyping and appreciate the hard work we have put into building some great prototypes and innovations from the past 12 months.
However, the inventor’s mind is always active and keen to improve, and will not stay idle for long. We always want to build faster, more accurately, and more creatively. Here are five must-have tools that every prototyper should consider taking into the new year.
Form Labs Form 4 3D Printer
Launched in the first half of the year, the latest model in the Form series features the latest advance in resin printing. The Form 4 uses high-precision laser technology to cure liquid resin, with a design that slashes print times by upwards of 75 percent or more (depending on the part). It is also very easy to use and post-process parts.
Form 4’s new automated resin handling system reduces the amount of time manually cleaning parts and reduces the mess from the resin process. It also features a wide range of material options with resins that are biocompatible, high heat, high strength and even elastomeric. If you have high-detail or high-volume printing needs, the Form 4 is a must-have. Website, price: formlabs.com, $4,499.
Particle Muon
Iot development boards have come a long way in recent years, and the recently released Particle Muon is the most versatile one on the market.
The Muon combines cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, Ethernet and satellite connectivity in a single board, which means it can send and receive data anywhere in the world. The board is laid out in a Raspberry Pi form factor, so it is compatible with any sensor or accessory hat that works with a Pi.
The device is powered by the Particle IoT Platform-as-a-Service, making it easy and intuitive to use while freeing up to a certain number of data used per month. The board can be used out of the box for production deployments, or the onboard MSOM chip can be ported to a custom design. Website, price: particle.io, $69.95.
Creality Scan Ferret
Creating 3D models for reverse engineering and 3D printing can be difficult and time consuming, but not if you have a 3D scanner. The compact and lightweight Creality Scan Ferret gives high-resolution scanning power to the masses.
It uses structured light scanning to easily create models of scan subjects and can capture objects as small as 50mm cubed. The software is intuitive and easy to use, automatically healing holes in a scan file and allowing users to manually edit or delete remnant data.
The scanner can be used with either a computer or smartphone, as the host and has modes for high-accuracy or large-object scanning. Files can be saved and output directly to a 3D printer for rapid creation of scanned designs. Website, price: creality.com, $329.
Flux Beamo Laser Cutter
Laser cutters are one of the best prototyping tools, allowing you to build mechanical models in minutes. The new Flux Beamo brings powerful laser-cutting capability in a small-form factor. The device boasts a 30 Watt CO2 laser that can cut up to 7mm thick cypress wood and 5mm plywood, and can also be used as an engraver for labeling or decorative projects.
The Flux Beamo has a 300mm x 210mm work area that fits easily on any desktop and is compatible with standard-design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Solidworks, and many more. It has an HD camera function that allows for an easy preview of what the job will look like when the material is in the machine to limit wasted material from a misalignment.
For those seeking larger cutting areas, the Beamo is also available in two larger models that increase the work area up to 600 x 375 mm. Website, price: flux3dp.com, $1,995 ($2,995 with the recommended air filter system).
Adabox electronics kits
The Adabox is a curated box of electronic goodies that is delivered a few times a year from open-source hardware company Adafruit. These boxes have a kit of parts and custom PCBs that allow makers to explore topics including IoT, photography, LEDs and music.
Each box has associated tutorials and sample projects to allow novices and experienced electronics prototypers to get up and running quickly with minimum effort. These tutorials also provide a framework for which the intrepid prototyper can run with to make his or her own creations. Subscriptions are $60 per box from Adafruit.com, with approximately 2-4 unique boxes per year.