Approaching the Nanofax Singularity

Chris and Taylor will demonstrate the DIYLILCNC and talk about CNC technology in general, some of the shortcomings of the present state of CNC and how those are addressed by open-source hardware projects like the DIYLILCNC. We’ll also go over the specs of the DIYLILCNC, giving details about how it is built and its functions.

Approaching the Nanofax Singularity is a symposium and exhibition pavilion curated and organized by Tom Burtonwood. The exposition centers on artists using the latest digital fabrication and open source technologies such as 3-d printing, laser cutting, bio-printing and so forth. The title of the event is derived from idea of the “Nanofax” coined by author William Gibson in his 1999 novel All Tomorrow’s Parties:

“Nanofax AG offers a technology that digitally reproduces objects, physically, at a distance. Within certain rather large limitations, of course. A child’s doll, placed in a Lucky Dragon Nanofax unit in London, will be reproduced in the Lucky Dragon Nanofax unit in New York-”

This notion of infinite reproduction, coupled with the idea that the machine become self replicating is a powerful metaphor – one that artists and engineers alike are currently experimenting with. Whether it’s making the tools to make the art, or making the art with the tools we’ve made, or making the art with someone else’s tools there exist many possibilities and options for designers and artists to interact with new digital fabrication techniques. Approaching the Nanofax Singuarity (ATNS) seeks to show case some of these artists currently working in this field here in Chicago.

Pumping Station One

Join Taylor and Chris at Pumping Station One for a ~45-minute lecture covering the history and evolution of the DIYLILCNC project, some general background of CNC technology, some of the shortcomings of the present state of CNC and how those are addressed by open-source hardware projects like the DIYLILCNC. We’ll also go over the specs of the DIYLILCNC, giving details about how it is built and its functions.

Pumping Station One is a hackerspace located in Chicago, similar to groups such as the Cowtown Computer Congress, NYC Resistor, NoiseBridge, HACDC, and others around the country. Its mission is to foster a collaborative environment wherein people can explore and create intersections between technology, science, art, and culture.  PS: One hosts classes on electronics, programming, crafts, and any other skills that members (or guests) are willing to share.

Sunday, 25 July noon – 5:30 pm
Monday, 26 July 9 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday, 27 July 9 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday, 28 July 9 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday, 29 July 9 am – 1 pm

The Studio is the place for making and creating at SIGGRAPH 2010. Roll your sleeves up and get hands on in this three-ring circus of technological wonders. It is an amazing space where experts, attendees, and the latest technologies are brought together to create new works, experiment, and collaborate. Leave your old work behind, come to The Studio, and create something new.

In the Studio, you’ll find technologies specifically set up for you to use and create with. Our experts make special arrangements with research labs, developers, universities, and vendors to provide access to technologies that are not easily accessible elsewhere. Attendees can experiment and create new works with large-format printing, motion capture, interactive music, the latest software suites, high-end computing workstations, laser scanning, and many new additions to The Studio.

More than ever before, the Studio is for people of all ages, interests, and disciplines who want to create new works. You’ll see kids making their own creations, live interactive music on our stage, in-depth workshops in our classroom, attendees working with Emerging Technologies presenters and Art Gallery artists, and wearable technologies on attendees. It’s a fun space, a creative space, a learning space, a discovery space, a space for you.

Maker Faire Detroit 2010

Get up close and personal with a DIYLILCNC in action!  Taylor and Chris will be running demos, answering questions, and having fun at Maker Faire Detroit 2010.

Saturday, July 31st 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 1st 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Organized by the staff of Make magazine, makezine.com and craftzine.com, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft and engineering plus music in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum.

The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers – anyone who is embracing the DIY spirit and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience.

DIYLILCNC Lecture & Demo @ Dorkbot Chicago

Join Chris and Taylor for a red-hot demo and short lecture on the DIYLILCNC project at Dorkbot Chicago. We’ll be covering the history and evolution of the DIYLILCNC project, some general background of CNC technology, some of the shortcomings of the present state of CNC and how those are addressed by open-source hardware projects like the DIYLILCNC. We’ll also go over the specs of the DIYLILCNC, giving details about how it is built and its functions.

Dorkbot: People doing strange things with electricity.  The main goals of Dorkbot are: to create an informal, friendly environment in which people can talk about the work they’re doing and to foster discussion about that work; to help bring together people from different backgrounds who are interested in similar things; to give us all an opportunity to see the strange things our neighbors are doing with electricity. Dorkbot isn’t really a forum for formal artist talks or lectures, but rather a chance for diverse people to have friendly conversations about interesting ideas.

Tickets include breakfast, lunch and cocktail hour at the end of the day. Along with your ticket price, you will also receive a one-day pass to Maker Faire New York! Special thanks to Maker Faire for partnering with the Open Hardware Summit.

The Allied Media Conference cultivates strategies for a more just and creative world. We come together to share tools and tactics for transforming our communities through media-based organizing. The Allied Media Conference brings together a vibrant and diverse community people using media to incite change: filmmakers, radio producers, technologists, youth organizers, writers, entrepreneurs, musicians, dancers, artists, and beyond! Over 130 workshops, panels, film screenings, art and music events, strategy sessions, the AMC Media Lab, and bowling!

For more information and to register visit http://alliedmedia.org/amc2011/attend/

Sunday, August 7:  noon – 5:30 pm
Monday, August 8:  9 – 5:30 pm, 9 – 11 pm
Tuesday, August 9:  9 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday, August 10:  9 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday, August 11:  9 am – 1 pm

The Studio is the place for making and creating at SIGGRAPH 2011. Roll your sleeves up and get hands on in this three-ring circus of technological wonders. It is an amazing space where experts, attendees, and the latest technologies are brought together to create new works, experiment, and collaborate. Leave your old work behind, come to The Studio, and create something new.

In the Studio, you’ll find technologies specifically set up for you to use and create with. Our experts make special arrangements with research labs, developers, universities, and vendors to provide access to technologies that are not easily accessible elsewhere. Attendees can experiment and create new works with large-format printing, motion capture, interactive music, the latest software suites, high-end computing workstations, laser scanning, and many new additions to The Studio.

More than ever before, the Studio is for people of all ages, interests, and disciplines who want to create new works. You’ll see kids making their own creations, live interactive music on our stage, in-depth workshops in our classroom, attendees working with Emerging Technologies presenters and Art Gallery artists, and wearable technologies on attendees. It’s a fun space, a creative space, a learning space, a discovery space, a space for you.

For more info or to register visit http://www.siggraph.org/s2011/

Taylor Hokanson will host a breakout session covering open-source DIY CNC technology, and Chris Reilly will conduct a live demo of the DIYLILCNC and open-source CAD/CAM software.

The Open Hardware Summit is the world’s first comprehensive conference on open  hardware. The Open Hardware Summit is a venue to discuss and draw attention to the rapidly growing open source hardware movement. Speakers at the Summit include world renowned leaders from industry, academia and the DIY community. The summit focuses on hardware as a system through a series of discussions and panels on BUSINESS, LAW, MANUFACTURING, SCALING, DESIGN and EDUCATION. The one-day Summit seeks to empower companies, large and small, to produce electronic objects in an open source fashion.