Things I’ve Made

This focaccia recipe is full of olive oil and salt, it's just great. (I wrote this on 2020 Jan 16. )

I keep forgetting how to do this, so here it is. (I wrote this on 2018 Feb 25. )

The attack patterns of seed-eating weevils warn us that host-specificity is weakening under climate change. (I wrote this on 2022 Dec 08. )

Every time I make something, I come up with ideas for where to get new materials and what to use those materials on. (I wrote this on 2016 Jun 30. I last modified it on 2018 Sep 22.)

I'm super proud of my scientific posters, and I'd like to share my design process with you so that you can be proud of your posters too. (I wrote this on 2016 May 24. I last modified it on 2018 Oct 30.)

Hotter, drier weather is pushing plants out of their normal ranges. What happens to the insects that need them? (I wrote this on 2022 Dec 08. )

Even though my printer has bed level compensation, it wasn't enough to compensate for my slanted bed. I used spring washers to make the bed adjustable. (I wrote this on 2016 Mar 03. )

If you make a print with recessed lettering, like a dial, you need to do something to make the lettering easier to see. I like to use nail polish. (I wrote this on 2016 Feb 23. )

'Short' layers are layers of a 3D print that finish so quickly that the plastic may not cool down before the next layer is printed on top of it. Good cooling is essential when printing these with PLA. I investigated how the number of cooling fans, and the shrouds fitted on them, affected short layer success. (I wrote this on 2016 Feb 13. I last modified it on 2016 Feb 21.)

A guide to loading a Sharpie with 3D printing filament to make durable, fully-coloured prints. (I wrote this on 2016 Jan 17. I last modified it on 2016 Feb 15.)

Diagnosing two common surface finish problems in low-cost printers. (I wrote this on 2017 Sep 30. )

3D printing is not appropriate for hardware that fastens parts together and allows them to move and interact (i.e. screws, springs, and more). All designers should own a kit of these basic parts — here's what's in mine. (I wrote this on 2016 Jul 12. I last modified it on 2020 Aug 05.)

Filament can be dyed during printing by passing it through a permanent marker. This article outlines the colours you get from dyeing opaque white filament with different Sharpie colours. (I wrote this on 2016 Jan 16. I last modified it on 2016 Feb 09.)

All the things I've worked out about how to use blue tape for 3D printing. (I wrote this on 2017 Sep 28. )

3D printing with PLA demands good cooling to produce accurate, attractive objects. I did tests to find a cooling setup that gives me the best quality PLA prints from my Printrbot Simple Metal 3D printer. (I wrote this on 2015 Nov 21. I last modified it on 2016 Feb 21.)

'Flow rate' is a slicer setting that tells the 3D printer how much plastic to extrude. Correct flow rate is the first step towards pretty and dimensionally accurate 3D prints, so it's important to know how to set it properly. (I wrote this on 2017 May 30. I last modified it on 2020 Jul 28.)

New to 3D printing and not sure what you need? I list the tools I use most, and what I use them for. (I wrote this on 2015 Nov 08. I last modified it on 2016 Jan 20.)

A random number generator gadget built on Arduino. It’s way over-engineered and that is how I like it. (I wrote this on 2013 Sep 01. )

Sometimes I need to make a custom mounting to hold an object in some non-standard way. I've been using Play-Doh to solve such problems. (I wrote this on 2013 Apr 26. )

You hear a lot about gingerbread houses, but a quick Google search reveals that not many people have made houses out of shortbread, and of those people, only one other has written about it online. (I wrote this on 2013 Jan 10. )

This is a relief carving inspired by a line drawing by Karla Gerard, and which was given as a birthday present to a friend. (I wrote this on 2022 Dec 08. )

I designed a computer desk that I could use when seated or standing. (I wrote this on 2013 Jan 09. )

Plans for a removable cable holder made from thick wire. Stops your USB cables from falling off the table. (I wrote this on 2022 Dec 08. )

This is my favourite shortbread recipe. (I wrote this on 2013 Jan 04. I last modified it on 2017 Oct 08.)

Head tracking is a method of monitoring the movements of your head and translating them into computer input. It's an efficient and powerful tool, especially for video games, but it's normally expensive. Here's how you can get it for less than $50! (I wrote this on 2011 Feb 23. )