Let’s Build: Laser Cut Mechanical Kits, Part 1

Norm, Simone, and Jeremy tackled some new kits this week: beautiful laser-cut plywood models from Ugears. The models show how laser cut designs can be surprisingly complex, and the team warms up with a 34-piece combination lock. Plus, Jeremy tests a conversation starter program and we learn about Simone’s darkest secret.

Comments (30)

30 thoughts on “Let’s Build: Laser Cut Mechanical Kits, Part 1

  1. the whole episode I was just waiting for the moment that Simone cuts herself… That knife handling is scaaary

  2. Same! I made a little bet with myself and went for the 35 minute mark. Was only about 6-7 minutes off, I think.

    We’ve all done it though. I took a nice fillet off of my finger tip a couple of months ago with a Stanley knife. It was about 0.001 seconds after I thought to myself “This isn’t a good idea”

    Also saw the bone in the back of my thumb a few years back which was nice. Again, about a millisecond after thinking “This handsaw is going to slip if I keep doing this”

  3. I like the fancy new set: that shelving seems more decorative than practical, but it’s definitely unique and eye-catching, and I love how it incorporates the logo in the center.

  4. Still waiting for part 4 of the Lego build.

    i’m still waiting for the DeAgostini studio scale Millenium Falcon , whispered of in myth and legend, shrouded in the mists of time…

    but i love any of this stuff they post. was just thinking about the epic gundam build the other day

  5. re: part 4 of lego

    the excavator project is a long-term endeavor, and we’ll be doing updates every month with new guests, passing the baton along a full season. Filming the next batch of episodes tomorrow!

  6. ROFL me too!!!!

    Holy cow! I was terrified during those closeups watching Simone’s knife work. Had my hands over my eyes!!! YIKES!!!! And she uses power tools!!!!!!!!!

    )

    This brought back a scary flash back. Very recently I REALLY slipped with an x-acto blade.

    Without going into too much incriminating and explicit details or back story, I will simply say I that in the spirit of the holidays and binging on Instructables videos, I was trying to recycle and repurpose “trash” and create a DIY “shot glass” from something else of similar size but made of thick plastic (cut the top off of a 5hour energy bottle). In my head this was perfectly logical and would have worked fine.

    I blame the accident on what normally leads UP to a desire for an impromptu shot glass rather than on my poor knife skills (have used x-actos for 30 years and never had an injury). Needless to say my recent accident LOOKED worse than it was. In my “condition” at the time there was very little pain. There was mostly just cursing and running around searching for “unguent” and bandages. As luck would have it, there were no band-aides available but I did find duct tape, cotton balls and Neosporin!

    As we all know, x-acto injuries heal in no time with very little scaring, probably due to the surgically sharp blades involved. To use a woodworking term, the “kerf” of an x-acto is almost nonexistent.

    I believe before x-actos were available to the crafting consumer, the first “DIY” crafter may well have been a surgeon or the child of a surgeon with access to scalpels. I was in art school when the first terminator came out in theaters. A bunch of us went to see it and jumped up and CHEERED when Arnold used a number 11 x-acto to “fix his eye”. 🙂

    My resolution for the new year… don’t drink and craft… specifically when it involves x-acto knives.
    Glitter is acceptable and in many cases unavoidable when shot glasses are involved.

  7. Probably my new favorite video. Hilarious.

    This is what I love about Tested. Bringing out the fun side of Tech.

    Great work, everyone!

  8. I tried to assemble it with the glue fan and there’s PVA everywhere.

    Please advice.

    On the boat thing:

    As long as it wasn’t in gothenburg it’s like five years in most western countries but due to their shrimp based economy we might be looking at testeds first extradition.

  9. Kinder Surprises!! In Canada, they’re called the same thing Simone. But they are highly illegal in the States. Luckily we live on the edge up here and kids grow up tough. Hockey, Curling, risky toys and milk chocolate.

  10. I just found out that Kinder Surprise Eggs are banned in the states!

    The FDA prohibits the sale of the eggs because of their embedded non-food item.

    Norm may know Wonder Ball, which is the closest thing I can think of.

    Also Simone may not look safe with that exacto but I have done this for years and I still have all my fingers. I always wondered why others cringed tho…..Now I know. 😛

  11. I’m wondering about the millenium falcon build as well. I thought it was pretty cool and then it just ended.

  12. Ugh, I’ll be that guy…. James Bond in Her Majesty’s secret service isn’t connery, but the one time only George Lazeby. Sorry

  13. Finally getting time to finish this. I realsie you guys are build a cryptex. This lock box is rumoured to be designed by Da Vinci, but other sources says it was a box designed by Dan Brown.

    However it is still cool and if you place papyrus rapped around a glass vial of vinegar then attempts to break the lock will cause the vial to break and destroy the papyrus.

  14. If anyone decides to buy one of these and make it, i have some advice, waxing the cogs helps so much, as well as this when putting in piece 12 it’s easier if take out piece 15 and put it in afterwards.

    Other than that it’s really neat and lovely to build, although my thumbs do hurt a bit, I want to build some more of these now

  15. Totally have a made up holiday called Steak Day. We get together with my mother in law and family and have yummy steak. We made it up to get together around Thanksgiving, without actually being Thanksgiving.

  16. Hey Norm,

    You said you were going to put info to the new set designers. I don’t see them. Am I looking in the wrong place?

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