Model Engineering Show 2013

This year saw the 106th annual Model Engineer Show and the advent of the maker section. This year being held at the Sandown Racecourse and Exhibition Centre in Esher (Surrey, UK), the showcase traditionally displays hundreds of community and commercial stalls including steam boilers and model railways (to name a few).

This photo is from the Guildford Model Engineering Society, one of hundreds of stands from the more traditional exhibitors.

Maker movement

With the rise of the maker movement, the event this year invited makers to show their portfolio of works. Exhibitors spanned a diverse range of fields and while most were 3D printing companies, there were some artists and not-for-profit groups connecting with the community to engage interest and help share knowledge in their field.

A photo of all the Makers at the Model Engineer Show. Photograph by Marc Barto.

It was a pleasure to be invited by Marc Barto to represent Agency Republic. Our stall showcased two physical computing projects created as part of the agency’s research and development program “What next?”.

Photograph by Marc Barto

We presented the Chet Atkins All Wah and the JD Track Mat Dock. The aim was to help inspire young makers and provide advice from the experiences that we learnt to people who are currently developing their own installation pieces.

An exhibition attendee playing the guitar with the Chet Atkins All Wah.

Instruments

Jerry Fleming presented his Twitter Drum Robot, an abstract computer percussion instrument designed from recycle parts including a hexagonal lab workbench, musical instruments and central locking motors.

Photograph by Marc Barto

The installation piece took centre stage for passers-by with young virtuosos flocking to the iPad controls to orchestrate their own musical compositions.

Hobbiest satellites

Joe Hinchliffe represented the “Homebrew Satellite Builder” group from PocketQube; a community-run group which provides information and a support network for those interested in launching electronic devices into low orbit space.

Photograph by Marc Barto

He describes that realising these endeavours has become more affordable recently because of two major changes: the reduction in cost of producing the equipment; and the ability to launch satellites in space by piggybacking off large companies sending their equipment to space has become more affordable. The satellites designed are 5cm x 5cm x 5cm and can report on numerous information including sending photographs, tweets, weather information or other phenomenon.