Craig B
@mutillidae.bsky.social
Principal Investigator of impedimental temporal phenomena. Hymenopterist. Keeper of secrets. he/him
Curator of a university insect collection located in the Midwest (USA).
I am passionate about velvet-ants.
Curator of a university insect collection located in the Midwest (USA).
I am passionate about velvet-ants.
Good onya mate! That's the right way to go on holiday... 😀
September 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Good onya mate! That's the right way to go on holiday... 😀
Hi Jill! I've been designing and printing a bunch of things to use in the field and in the collection. Field curation kits, aspirators, vial racks, pinning blocks, imaging stages, etc. etc...
If you're going to Portland, I'm giving a 3D printing talk on Tuesday afternoon. 🙂
If you're going to Portland, I'm giving a 3D printing talk on Tuesday afternoon. 🙂
September 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Hi Jill! I've been designing and printing a bunch of things to use in the field and in the collection. Field curation kits, aspirators, vial racks, pinning blocks, imaging stages, etc. etc...
If you're going to Portland, I'm giving a 3D printing talk on Tuesday afternoon. 🙂
If you're going to Portland, I'm giving a 3D printing talk on Tuesday afternoon. 🙂
I did. I found by increasing the size of the pins ("stage_axis" & "stage_pin") I could get a tighter fit & less spin. I did this in the slicing software—I increased the print size (for just the stage axis) to 104% and it's a much tighter fit.
The amount of tweaking will depend on the filament type.
The amount of tweaking will depend on the filament type.
September 26, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I did. I found by increasing the size of the pins ("stage_axis" & "stage_pin") I could get a tighter fit & less spin. I did this in the slicing software—I increased the print size (for just the stage axis) to 104% and it's a much tighter fit.
The amount of tweaking will depend on the filament type.
The amount of tweaking will depend on the filament type.
Yes! I have two AMS units daisy-chained together...so no spool swapping whatsoever. 🙂
September 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Yes! I have two AMS units daisy-chained together...so no spool swapping whatsoever. 🙂
Pro tip:
You can use an inexpensive punch to cut out plugs of foam to use in your manipulators.
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
You can use an inexpensive punch to cut out plugs of foam to use in your manipulators.
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
September 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Pro tip:
You can use an inexpensive punch to cut out plugs of foam to use in your manipulators.
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
You can use an inexpensive punch to cut out plugs of foam to use in your manipulators.
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
Here's my one-off manipulator. I like it because it is the only one in the world made like this...and I think it looks kinda steampunk-ish. 🙂
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
September 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Here's my one-off manipulator. I like it because it is the only one in the world made like this...and I think it looks kinda steampunk-ish. 🙂
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Curation
#MakeItYourOwnDamnSelf
If you ever get the chance...do it! The course was amazing and the site (AMNH SWRS) even more so. 👍
September 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
If you ever get the chance...do it! The course was amazing and the site (AMNH SWRS) even more so. 👍
Yes! This design is by Western Entomological; it's on their GitHub site: github.com/western-ento...
I don't think they are still active as a group/company but their designs are still available for download.
I don't think they are still active as a group/company but their designs are still available for download.
September 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Yes! This design is by Western Entomological; it's on their GitHub site: github.com/western-ento...
I don't think they are still active as a group/company but their designs are still available for download.
I don't think they are still active as a group/company but their designs are still available for download.
Yes, entirely 3D printed! (Well, except for the small foam plug that will hold the specimen pin.)
September 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Yes, entirely 3D printed! (Well, except for the small foam plug that will hold the specimen pin.)
My former step-dad was a machinist and he had an apprentice from the local tech college looking for a project. I lent one of the nice rose manipulators to use as a model and he made one for his project. I like it as much as the original! (I'll share a picture when I get to the lab.)
September 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
My former step-dad was a machinist and he had an apprentice from the local tech college looking for a project. I lent one of the nice rose manipulators to use as a model and he made one for his project. I like it as much as the original! (I'll share a picture when I get to the lab.)