Attending the 2014 Maker Faire Detroit (USA)
Today I attended the 2014 Maker Faire Detroit – it was my first time at this event that happens several times a year across the USA (and the world). I’ve had my stuff displayed at a number of these events but because I was living abroad, never got the opportunity to go in person to one of them. I was one of the first in the morning through the gate so there weren’t huge crowds built-up yet but even so, the event was very busy!
I visited the ShopBot Tools (ShopBotTools.com) booth where I met-up with Bill Young who taught me how to use the ShopBot Desktop I’ve enjoyed for the past few years.
I saw his original Shelter 2.0 which is available on sister site CNCKing.com but when I got into the area, I noticed that it had shrunk – I saw the original which was massive and this was dramatically smaller and Bill told me he made another version slightly smaller. It’s a fantastic design. 
The furniture he designed is also great – very solid and strong yet fully functional. He also had the latest magazine with me in it on the coffee table.
What impressed me most was this storage box – wow, so strong and robust yet so beautiful… just needs a piece of glass over it and would make for a wonderful table in any living room or shop.
I also got the opportunity to see the ShopBot Handibot for the first time, it was a lot larger in person then I had envisioned, again, very well built and strong. I saw it working away and was impressed… there are so many opportunities and areas that this tool could find a home in. 
Of course, it isn’t the Maker Faire without robots – I’ve never seen so many robots all over the place – very impressive designs and abilities!
TechShop also had this cool chair, I REALLY liked the fanning effect on the back – that’s a wonderful idea… I’ve been thinking of designing one of these chairs for when I have my own full sheet router (I want to design a lot of furniture) and had to take a picture of this to remind myself to add some flair to the furniture.
I of course took the opportunity to also visit the Henry Ford Museum, so many awesome steam powered mechanical things all the way to modern aircraft and everything else in-between. The entire grounds and museum were incredible… it’s quite a contrast from what I’ve seen in other museaums around the world.
