Itchy – next steps

I’ve got a few choices to make with Itchy right now. Do I want my own machine for making art, or do I want to make a set of machines that others can use? If I get this ready for kickstarting, it’s one path, if I make it into a better machine for me, it’s another. I really want to make the better machine, but at some point that will probably run out of money as a project. Things that I have to do for both are relatively limited in crossover, but the big one is a redesign of the head so I can put different tools on there. The pen holder and the lino cutter are two different set-ups, and I’ll want a servo for the brush pens, and so on. For me, I want to make the Y axis and the gantry far more rigid. If I make it for lots of people, I’d want to make the frame in MDF with steel rods. I guess I could convince myself I’m doing that to find out how rigid it is…

So, I’m starting with asking tech companies and art councils about funding. If that comes down to nothing, and I’m not getting enough commissions to let me do my own thing on it, I’ll streamline it for kickstarting in my spare time.