I didn't have a booth MakerFaire - Detroit this year but, I spent the first day of the Faire checking things out. It's actually the first time I got to roam the place without having to rush back to my booth so its really the first time I've been able to enjoy everything MakerFaire - Detroit has to offer.
My first major find was the guys from Easel. They produced a CNC drawing software that handles all the GCode creation as well, plus it sends it to a Shapeoko CNC cutter, all in one software application. And it's Free! They basically created for CNC cutting what TinkerCad does for 3D printing and more. I thought it was still in Beta mode but it has apparently been officially released per the Easel guys. And who was there checking it out at the same time I was? None other than Ben Heckendorn of the Ben Heck show. We were both bombarding them with questions but Ben got to try it out first so I just watched. It's really awesome. I plan to add a Shapeoko to my lab so I'll have both 3D printing and CNC capability. They were routing out a circuit board when I first walked up.
My first major find was the guys from Easel. They produced a CNC drawing software that handles all the GCode creation as well, plus it sends it to a Shapeoko CNC cutter, all in one software application. And it's Free! They basically created for CNC cutting what TinkerCad does for 3D printing and more. I thought it was still in Beta mode but it has apparently been officially released per the Easel guys. And who was there checking it out at the same time I was? None other than Ben Heckendorn of the Ben Heck show. We were both bombarding them with questions but Ben got to try it out first so I just watched. It's really awesome. I plan to add a Shapeoko to my lab so I'll have both 3D printing and CNC capability. They were routing out a circuit board when I first walked up.
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At my 3rd MakerFaire in 2012, I had a Hot Wheels multi-lane track with a custom LED winner indicator at the finish. It had light sensors built into the track and would light an LED for the winner. It was a hit with the kids. Well I saw a new one at this years Faire that blew mine away. It used wooden cars and had timers for each lane. It was huge and extremely popular with the kids. It was built at the Maker Works makerspace in Ann Arbor Michigan but unfortunately it was so crowded I couldn't get any details on who made it or the electronics used inside.
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And finally, what would a trip to Maker Faire - Detroit be without a visit to the Star Wars booth. Every year they step it up. Storm Troopers as usual along with a Droid junk yard.
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I tried to get through everything at the Faire, which included so many 3D printers. There was just about every kind you could imagine, except for the Davinci 3D. I didn't see a single Davinci 3D printer (unless someone was hiding in a corner). I even talked to a few people about the Davinci and found many knew nothing about it. But I did get to compare the prints of all various printers and it was clear to me that the Davinci prints just as good as most of the printers costing far more.
3D printers have clearly taken over the Maker Faire. What was interesting is I saw very few electronics booths or Arduino booths other than the big Make Magazine tent. It appears that most of the electronics sellers with custom shields and boards that were at past Faires have either quit Maker Faire - Detroit or got sick of competing with the Make Tent. That is a shame because the first few years you could find just about any electronics you wanted. Raspberry PI was at a few booths but they were just showing something it could do. Arduino presence was not big either outside the Make Tent.
Overall, I thought it was another great Maker Faire - Detroit. Outside the weather was hot but perfect. Inside the museum was cool and crowded. The fact that it's actually in Dearborn, not Detroit, at The Henry Ford and costs $28 to get in for the day makes it the most expensive Maker Faire I know of. But people still crowd the place. I continue to be amazed by the crowds that this Faire draws. It is well worth the trip if you get a chance.
3D printers have clearly taken over the Maker Faire. What was interesting is I saw very few electronics booths or Arduino booths other than the big Make Magazine tent. It appears that most of the electronics sellers with custom shields and boards that were at past Faires have either quit Maker Faire - Detroit or got sick of competing with the Make Tent. That is a shame because the first few years you could find just about any electronics you wanted. Raspberry PI was at a few booths but they were just showing something it could do. Arduino presence was not big either outside the Make Tent.
Overall, I thought it was another great Maker Faire - Detroit. Outside the weather was hot but perfect. Inside the museum was cool and crowded. The fact that it's actually in Dearborn, not Detroit, at The Henry Ford and costs $28 to get in for the day makes it the most expensive Maker Faire I know of. But people still crowd the place. I continue to be amazed by the crowds that this Faire draws. It is well worth the trip if you get a chance.
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