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Golden, Colo. – (May 19, 2009)
Epilog Laser and Instructables.com are pleased to announce Daniel Reetz, Fargo, N.D., is the grand-prize winner in the Epilog Challenge. Reetz will receive a new Zing 16 Laser engraving/cutting system for his innovative and eco-friendly “DIY High-Speed Book Scanner from Trash and Cheap Cameras”. Reetz’s winning instructable was one of 478 entries in the Epilog Challenge.
“Being a bit of a bibliophile, I wanted to have my books with me everywhere,” Reetz said. “As much as I love the Internet, some of the very best information is still locked up in books new and old, so I set out to make a book scanner that anyone can build, and anyone can afford.”
Though it did not have to be the central theme of the project, all Epilog Challenge entries were to include some sort of “green” element and detail how the instructable was environmentally friendly. The environmental aspect of the winning project lies in the materials.
“This book scanner employs recycled, found, and salvaged materials at every step,” Reetz said. “I think it's important not only because it is the right thing to do environmentally, but also because the major thrust of this project is to make it affordable for almost anyone. Affordability often means getting creative with what you have and what you can find.”
“Daniel’s entry showed great innovation and creativity,” said Mike Dean, director of sales and marketing for Epilog. “It was a tough choice for the judges, given all the exceptional entries, but we’re excited his highly original project won the top spot and we hope he continues making more exciting inventions with the help of the Zing Laser.”
“We’re consistently blown away by the great projects our users come up with,” said Eric Wilhelm, founder and CEO of Instructables. “It's awesome that Daniel made his project accessible to the world by sharing it on Instructables, and we can't wait to see the fantastic things he makes with his hew Zing Laser!
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Reetz, who is an artist and a graduate student studying Visual Neuroscience at North Dakota State University, said he has some very specific applications he plans to execute with the Zing Laser.
“I have strong 3D modeling skills, and I'm planning to use the Zing to do all kinds of rapid prototyping. The Zing will allow me to rapidly make stencils and solder masks, and to prototype new camera mounts quickly. But I'm most excited about using the Zing to pursue an exciting new field of imaging called computational photography,” Reetz said. “Really, without Epilog and Instructables, none of this would have been possible.”
Other notable entries include “The Steampunk Segway”, “Wind-Powered Composter”, “Pressing Aluminum Cans into Wall Tiles”, and the “Ant-Designed Coffee Table.”
To learn more about Instructables, and view entries and finalists, visit www.instructables.com/contest/epilogchallenge
For more information, contact:
Amy Dallman
Marketing Communications Specialist
Epilog Laser
303-277-1188
amyd@epiloglaser.com
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