E-Waste to Art
And whatever else we decide to make
PROJECTS
The Beginning
An initial interest in "urban mining" led to tearing down old electronics. PC boards are, in themselves, works of art. I made a simple light up box that illuminated the boards and changed colors. Then I made trinket boxes, jewelry, games, and clocks from old parts with the help of a 3D printer. Then came the resin craft, with the whole family coming up with ideas. Currently, one side of the operation has become obsessed with hand-made blankets. Some of the items were well received at live markets, so we are launching this on-line store.
Robots
A while back I started building a basic robot. A used powered wheelchair base, Harbor Freight batteries, and some electronics from Amazon came together and JCN (Jason) was created. Why Jason you ask? Rumor has it that a bad robot called HAL was named by using the letters that come before IBM; I=H, B=A, and M=L. I just went the opposite direction and ended up with JCN. For now JCN is just a bulky RC toy that can carry stuff for me. A rebuild project will soon add a Pixhawk navigation system, and I am currently building a collision avoidance and path correction system with microcontrollers. With assistance from my nephew, we just built another robot from an old Jazzy scooter.
More Robots
My nephew was so fascinated by JCN, I had him help build his own. This was a Jazzy Scooter in a past life. Usually these old mobility chairs and scooters still have good motors, wheels, and frames to build upon.
Our Expertise
As a family business, we share a combination of skills and interests. The business is Veteran owned, with prior service in the Marines and the Army. Combined, our team holds degrees in IT, Medical Administration, and Sustainability. A lifetime of electronics work allows for the safe teardown of consumer electronics, and reuse of as much of the material as possible. A creative streak and some basic machines allow us to make whatever comes to mind. Custom work is offered in 3D design and printing, vinyl cutting, small milling work, LASER etching and cutting, and custom microcontroller based gadgets. With Automation Direct parts, we can assemble and program PLC based controls. Tell us what you want us to make!
The Sustainability Cause
"Embodied Energy" refers to the energy and resources that go in to making something. The mining of materials, manufacturing, transport and use all have a toll. In our throwaway culture, we are left with mountains of electronics waste. Something that took months of engineering work and resources, then produced in large quantities, and coveted by consumers, suddenly winds up in the "free" pile at a garage sale. Or; it may be properly disposed of, but then sent to 3rd world dismantlers who suffer the health issues related to improper e-waste handling. Our goal is to re-use or recycle everything we tear down. This effort is less than a drop in the bucket in the big picture, but creating awareness is a big part of the work. There are both new and reclaimed products in our store.
Artistic Visions Showcase
