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CrowdGadget: Top 5 start-up gadgets
From heads-up display car assistants to smart mugs, BRYAN TURNER wraps the coolest gadgets to back on several start-up platforms.
3. HexBot – A robotic arm that writes, draws, 3D prints, and laser engraves
Ever feel like you need an extra hand with sharp accuracy? The HexBot can help. It claims to be the first desktop robotic arm, with extremely high 0.05mm repeatability that turns a desktop into a workshop.
It is designed for makers, designers, and anyone who wants to bring ideas to life.
It features a modular design that is aimed to complete a range of tasks, from simply grasping and drawing to 3D printing and laser engraving.
What’s great about its modular design is no screws are needed to switch from a robotic clasp to a laser engraver.
The robotic arm is bundled with software that can control the robotic arm and has integrated Blockly into its software, which allows dragging and placing code blocks to control it. This allows for code to be written and published online, meaning one doesn’t need to know how to code for many predefined tasks, like playing chess or engraving pictures.
A 3.5-inch colour touchscreen module is included with the robotic arm, and allows users to check status and command Hexbot without a computer.
For example, one could download G-code files to an SD card and start drawing, engraving, or printing.
The project is available for backing on Kickstarter here.
Click here to read about a smart mug that tells you if your water is safe to
