Tag Archives: lathe

A New type of Toy Story

Posted on by

tomogram_1

We’ve seen a great deal of lathe-made toys in our time. Japan has a rich history of lathe-spun toys, the Kokeshi doll being probably the most famous. India too, even today, has a legacy of wooden toys made on the lathe. The most cult of the lot is probably the Russian Matryoshka doll-in-doll. All these toys explore indigenous techniques of toy-making that haven’t really seen re-invention in decades. The Tomogram toy creates a new wave of lathe-made toys with an unusual aesthetic. The Tomogram comes in a fresh and delicious palette of colors that are absolutely new to the lathe toy industry. Each toy also has a bespoke quality about it, and you’re encouraged to build your own, choosing from a set of heads, torsos, lips, etc. Not only does this bring back a dying craft, it also encourages children to explore their creativity and make a new toy for themselves or their friends every single day!

Designer: Tomogram

tomogram_2

tomogram_3

tomogram_4

tomogram_5

tomogram_6

tomogram_7

tomogram_8

tomogram_9

tomogram_10

tomogram_11

tomogram_12

Watch a Vase Get Made from 256 Crayons

Posted on by

There’s something so cool and soothing about seeing a melted brick of crayons being made into a vase on a lathe. The swirling colors as it turns, combined with the colorful bits of wax flying everywhere is just so cool. It is a great way that adults can still play with crayons. Plus it makes a huge mess, and what adult kid doesn’t love that?

crayon_vase_1zoom in


In fact it makes such a mess that you have to cover your floor, yourself, and all of your tools, because if you don’t, everything is going to be covered in colored wax. But you are going to have an awesome and colorful vase afterwards; one that will be waterproof even if it will melt on a super hot day, but who cares?

Check out Peter Brown’s messy and marvelous craft project in the clip below:

I’d like to try this myself one day.

[via Sploid]

LEGO Lathe Performs Spinjitzu on Foam

Posted on by

Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to make motorized shop tools out of LEGO. Now, the guy behind the LEGO 3D milling machine is back with a new creation – a lathe that can create custom forms by tracing a simple outline.

lego lathe

Arthur Sacek actually made his first LEGO lathe back in 2005, and now he’s remade the machine and shared it with the world to enjoy. The machine uses LEGO RCX components (now known as Mindstorms), and can cut cylindrical forms from floral foam using a spinning bit. To make a shape, Arthur loads up a block of foam, then draws a curve profile on a white piece of paper. The system then automatically traces the line and carves the shape from the rapidly-spinning foam. It’s quite impressive in action:

The LEGO motors probably aren’t powerful enough to turn wood, though I wonder if it could handle something soft like balsa.