I've posted the weekly newsletter for this week. If you are already subscibed you should receive it later today. Don't forget that if you are on the old server you'll need to move to the new one if you want to keep receiving it.

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<--edit--> Ready to download!

Pages complete. I've done the instructions and all the parts. I've included a mono version in the pack so you can add your own colour. I should have it completed and uploaded within

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Spent the afternoon adding colour to the This Much Robot. I've tried to make the final look of the robot a little more romantic but with a mechanical edge to it. Hence the row of rivets contrasting with the eye lashes. The "I love you this much" speech bubble is an

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I stripped back the model that I'd created yesterday and I've scanned and made appropriate adjustments to the parts layouts. The scissor arm unit is fastened top and bottom inside the body. In the stage that I was at yesterday the tabs holding the scissors were glued into the centre of a flat surface.

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 TMR (A quick re-cap, "This-Much! Robot." Press the body down and the arms go out - "I love you this much!")

Having got a set of working arms I'm now fitting them into a robot body.

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Been on an epic road trip today. Hannibal like, I cross the mountainous Pennines in blizzard conditions. All to fetch a new passport for #1 daughter who is travelling to France at the weekend. But it was not time wasted. I've been thinking about how the shop / exclusive models should work.

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No printer ink from the postman this morning. I've pressed the laser printer into service - it is not very good on card, I think the fuser isn't hot enough. Anyway - it did the job and has let me construct a few experiments in robot geometry.

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I've just  uploaded a sample project from the Cardboard Engineering Source Book. You can download it for free on the Source Book page. The sample project features the crank slider mechanism. It comes with an automata character or you can complete it with your own character. There's also page of ideas for extending the project and the contents list for the full book. The full Cardboard Engineering Source Book contains nine more projects as well information about design and mechanisms.
I hope you enjoy it!

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Back to work! I've had a few family days while the kids are on school holiday - helping with home work, visiting friends, walking the dog. It's been nice.

I've been thinking about a few different models - got some nice ideas I reckon! I'm starting off with what should have been this year's Valentine model, should be ready in good time for 2011! The model will be a paper robot. Lift the body up and the arms spread. "I love you this much!" I'm using a scissor mechanism to move the hands in and out. At the moment there is an issue with the amount of travel. Even pulling the centre of the arms right up (As modeled by #1 son) the hands won't pull right in. I've got a couple of things that I can try involving varying the geometry and changing the joints. I'll give them a try in the morning and report back tomorrow. 

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By the power of Google Alerts I received notification of a new YouTube video featuring work using the Cardboard Engineering Source Book. The video was posted by Ron Vickers one of the dedicatees of the Source Book. It is fantastic to see young people getting to grips with mechanism! Thanks Ron!

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