The Robot Workshop

Science Fair Projects Using Mold Making and Materials Science

Ideas and approaches for science fair projects built around mold making, polymer chemistry, and materials testing -- with guidance on how to frame fabrication …

Women in Making and Fabrication: Communities, Resources, and Opportunities

Overview of women's participation in maker culture, prop building, and fabrication — with resources for female makers pursuing STEM opportunities and …

Robotics Competitions for Students: From FIRST to VEX and Beyond

Overview of robotics competitions for K-12 and university students, including FIRST Robotics, VEX, BEST, and science fair opportunities, and how prop-building …

Cold-Cast Metal Resin: Bronze, Aluminum, and Copper Finishes for Props

How to achieve genuine metal-looking prop parts using cold-cast resin — mixing metal powder into urethane resin and polishing to reveal real metal surfaces.

Sci-Fi TV Prop Building: Skills, Materials, and Where to Start

Overview of sci-fi television prop replica building -- the skills involved, materials used, and how to approach your first build. Covers mold making, casting, …

Lost in Space Prop Replicas: Building the B9 Robot and Beyond

Guide to building Lost in Space prop replicas -- the B9 robot, the Jupiter 2, control consoles, and set dressing pieces. Covers reference sources, materials, …

Silicone Mold Making Part 3: Multi-Part Molds and Complex Geometries

Advanced silicone mold making for complex shapes — three-part and four-part molds, core molds for hollow castings, and strategies for masters with challenging …

Mold Box Construction: Techniques for Any Size and Shape

How to build mold boxes for silicone rubber casting. Covers LEGO brick method, melamine board boxes, clay bedding for two-part molds, and large-format …

Choosing Silicone Rubber for Prop Molds: Shore Hardness, Tin vs. Platinum, and Product Guide

How to select the right silicone rubber for prop molds. Covers Shore A hardness, platinum vs. tin-cure chemistry, product comparisons, and common applications.

Painting and Finishing Cast Resin Parts: Surface Prep to Final Coat

How to properly paint and finish urethane resin castings — surface preparation, primer selection, paint compatibility, and achieving professional results on …

Urethane Resin for Beginners: What You Need to Know Before Your First Pour

Beginner's guide to urethane resin casting. Covers safety, material selection, workspace setup, first pour preparation, and the most common mistakes to avoid.

Advanced Resin Casting Techniques for Prop Fabrication

Advanced urethane resin casting techniques including pressure casting, rotational casting, foam fills, colorants, and surface finishing for production-quality …

The B9 Builders Club: Getting Started with the Community

What the B9 Builders Club is, what it offers builders at every stage, how to use the forums effectively, and what to expect from your first build with community …

B9 Robot Radar Section: Construction Guide

How to build the B9 robot's radar section — the rotating sensor assembly on top of the head dome. Covers structure, motor drive, lighting, and mounting.

B9 Robot Collar Section: Construction and Materials

How to build the B9 robot's accordion collar section — the flexible neck piece between the torso and head. Covers materials, construction methods, and fitting …

In Memory of Bob May: The Man Who Was the B9 Robot

A tribute to Bob May, the actor who physically performed the B9 robot in all 83 episodes of Lost in Space from 1965 to 1968.

The file does not exist on disk yet. I’ll write the updated content directly with the 3 outbound links woven in naturally.

The 3 links I’ll add: …

WonderFest 2025: B9 Robot Display and Builder Community Report

Report from WonderFest 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky — B9 robot displays, builder community highlights, and notes from the show floor.

WonderFest Louisville: The Model and Prop Convention for Serious Builders

What WonderFest in Louisville, Kentucky is, what to expect, and why it's the most important annual gathering for B9 robot builders and sci-fi prop replica …

WonderFest 2005: Louisville Convention Report

Convention report from WonderFest 2005 in Louisville, Kentucky. Covers B9 robot displays, model kit vendors, prop replica builders, and the maker community at …