Maker

www.makezine.com/03/ultimate

THE MAKER’S
ULTIMATE TOOLS
The tools we use — or wish we could get

our hands on. By Saul Griffith

Here’s what would go into an extremely expensive ideal toolbox for someone who wants to be able to make pretty much anything, from ultimate fighting robots to hybrid go-karts, and even play around with microelectromechanical systems. You can and will make do without these, but in a perfect world, where the streets are paved with socket wrenches, these five tools would be in your basement. For the complete list, turn to page 46. For an ultimate tools narrative, go to makezine.com/03/ultimate.

3D Printer, $25,000
3D Scanner, $30,000

zcorp.com/products/printers.asp

kmpi.konicaminolta.us/vivid/default.asp

This makes surprisingly beautiful parts; just don’t expect These machines are still quite expensive, and accuracy them to be robust. It’s the fastest way to go from computer depends on how much you spend and the size of the model to physical part. My pick of the bunch is Z Corp’s object you are scanning. They’re used a lot these days printer — it’s the cheapest and fastest. Neat fact: They’re for restoration of antiquities and sculptures as well as used to print replacement body parts. assisting in surgery.

Illustrations by Nik Schulz