Meet the Makers 23 – 3D-Printed Blasters, DIY Running Shoes and a Wooden “PlayStation”
At the June Meet the Makers 23, three exceptional projects were presented at PrusaLab, united by one word – open source. Each comes from a different world, but all of them let you create, customise and repair. Fighting samurai puppets, modular sports shoes, and 3D-printed blasters – all of this could be seen at MtM 23.
Printkeep Blasters: a 3D-printed alternative to paintball
Šimon Stupka from the project Printkeep Blasters showed how, using 3D printing, a few metal parts and clever design, you can build your own blaster, which fires foam darts and offers an alternative to airsoft or paintball. The project is based on a kit principle: most of the structure is printed, and the other components (metal parts, springs, fasteners) come in a set you can order. Printkeep supports community modifications and improvements, whether it is the blaster’s ergonomics or its looks. The result is a game that is not only fun but also teaches you something about mechanics and design thinking.
The video recordings are in Czech.Open Footwear: running shoes you make yourself
The project Open Footwear by Juraj Šuška offers a fresh perspective on the world of footwear. Instead of buying new running shoes, he designed his own – ones that anyone can make in a local shared workshop, adapt to their needs and easily repair. The sole can easily be replaced, and you can adapt the construction to the shape of your foot or your running style. Open Footwear is not just a design experiment; it offers a practical and affordable approach to sustainable, customisable and repairable footwear. It uses commonly available materials and technologies, so anyone with access to a 3D printer and basic tools can make the shoes. At Meet the Makers, Juraj showed how the whole system works, what you can customise and the potential of this approach beyond the running community.
Kenka Puppetgame: puppets that fight and bring people together
Kenka Puppetgame is a handmade duel game that brings together the world of puppet theatre and Japanese samurai. The main roles are played by two wooden figures that duel each other – not to the death, but for lots of fun. It was created by Petr Valla, who came up with the whole project as family entertainment and gradually developed it into a well-thought-out, open and fully modifiable game. In Kenka you can design your own weapons, masks and accessories and even transform the whole setting. The basis is puppets made of oak cylinders, masks with a magnetic mount and a set of bamboo and aluminium weapons. The puppet duel brings tension, humour and room for creativity – and not only for children.
The whole evening in one place
Interested in more than the individual projects? Check out the complete recording of Meet the Makers 23, where you will find all three presentations together, including questions from the audience and an atmosphere that will draw you right in.
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