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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/8sI1XOzQQ6o/extending-the-awesome-button.html
Instructables user thematthewknot took our Awesome Button project to the next level by adding an RGB LED and a rotary encoder, allowing him to execute a few different functions with one big red Staples Easy Button. When he turns the dial, he can scroll through different button functions, each indicated by a different color on the RGB LED. He has his set up to move his cursor, and execute the copy and paste keyboard shortcuts. When he hits the button, the selected function is executed. Thank you thematthewknot for sharing this awes– er, fantastic extension to The Awesome Button project!
More:
The AWESOME Button: A Made-to-Measure USB Input Device
December 10 2011, 2:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/Uj1f5N51eD0/diy-ipad-cash-register.html
It’s always interesting to see what people do to adapt technology to suit their needs. Check out this iPad cash register built by Coffee Cartel Labs founder Jason Silberschlag.
December 5 2011, 10:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/EdeqZjvr_S4/diy-4-grocery-panniers.html
A good set of bicycle panniers can cost a chunk of change, but if you’re thinking of heading to the store to pick up a few essentials they’re pretty indispensable. Check out these cheep and easy DIY bicycle panniers you can construct from a couple of reusable grocery bags, some masonite, and a bungee. [via bikehacks]
September 6 2011, 10:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/XLQyF6XNW_k/maker-wedding-enlightenment.html
Earlier this summer, Brett was working on a nifty three LED and two AAA battery holder design at the Boston Area MakerBot meetup. We get together when enough people feel the need, generally at Sprout in Somerville. When we met this week, he was able to happily report on the project and the role his making played in “the big day.”
The initial plan was to use throwies, but I felt they wouldn’t give as much light as a commercial three LED solution. This led me to a fun, albeit time-consuming project.
The commercial version boasts a 12-hour life, which probably means 6-8 hours at decent brightness. I was looking for something that we could set up the night before, so I settled on three LEDs powered by two AA batteries.
Designing/printing of the frame was only the beginning. I was able to print four holders at a time on Sprout’s Thing-O-Matic. During the 38-minute print, I would wire up the previously printed set. It took me a while to settle on an efficient assembly technique.
With the lighting and marriage project complete (or at least well underway), he’s moved on to the more domestic pursuit of redesigning the Pocket Coin-Op Bottle Opener while learning OpenSCAD.
You don’t need to make a big commitment to download and print Brett’s design.
August 28 2011, 12:42am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/1XyHrTWkpCc/how-many-iterations.html
As I develop new projects for my classroom this summer, a recurring theme has been to explore just how many times it takes to get a new design right. As far as I’m concerned, nothing ever comes out perfectly the first time. It’s useful for students and new learners to a subject to recognize this. Programmers call this iterative development, engineers use the engineering design process, both of which are relatives to the scientific method. Sure, just about anything can be fixed with duct tape and zip ties, but to get beyond a temporary kludge, you need to put some time and thought into analyzing the problem and crafting a proper solution. Most of us are used to devices like our phones, which generally work consistently when we unbox them. Our first moment with the new device is well along the cycle of the development.
While some people spend loads of time making the perfect design first, and plan out every step before starting, another approach is to just get started. Even though it won’t be perfect, you will at least have something done that will help you gather information about what works in your design and what doesn’t. Next, you can pick away at the things that aren’t correct in the design while retaining the best aspects.
One of the projects I’ve been developing is a cellphone holder. Several of the desired qualities are: can hold my phone securely at an angle for easy viewing, has a way to attach it to my bike’s handlebars, and it can be printed on the MakerBot. Initially, I started with a few quick sketches on a bit of a paper bag. That slip of paper floated around my pocket for a few days before I found the time to design it in SketchUp. After a bit, I got around to printing it. I was pretty confident that the first one wouldn’t fit, and indeed it didn’t. The openings were too tight and it couldn’t accept the phone. I made several minor changes to the size and shape of the openings, learning some new techniques and tools in the process. The second version did fit, but was still too tight. I’ve saved each of the revisions of the cell stand, warts and all, for future reference.
Fortunately, the process of designing on the computer and fabricating with CNC tools allows minor changes without having to start each next version from scratch. I’ve found that it takes from three to a half dozen iterations to get the design settled.
I’ve also been using a similar process to develop a project for sewing cellphone cases by hand or with with a sewing machine. With these pouches, it also seems to take several tries to get the design just right. While each one does work, the ability to change the design, add features and try different details makes each completed pouch a unique solution. It also took about a half dozen versions to make a new knob for the washing machine.
Working with the Engineering Design Process, it takes both patience and persistence to create the design, make the object, test the object’s fit, and other features, identify the needed changes, implement the changes and make another version so you can repeat the process. Designing in this cycle can be enlightening, empowering or discouraging to students, who are often accustomed to using devices and systems that have got well crafted designs and interfaces.
If you’re a teacher or are working with students to develop more complete designs, how do you encourage learners to stick with a project so that they can reach more amazing solutions than they would achieve on the first go-round? What resources and tools of encouragement do you use? As a student or a person learning a new skill, how do you manage your efforts and projects to get the very best solution as you work? What approaches do you use to keep track of your various revisions while working on a project? Some people save files in certain locations, with particular naming conventions to help keep the digital information straight. Pictures and screen shots are a way that many people use to track the process. Notebooks are a time honored tradition among makers, artists, scientists and engineers. How might these techniques be employed in the classroom to help people learn about designing more effectively?
August 20 2011, 10:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/W-Zn5PrBz7g/how-to-remove-anything-from-metal.html
Calling all parts recyclers, pick-and-pull repurposers, and lovers of all things metal! Back in MAKE Volume 17, John Todd shared a veritable catalog of ways to remove various substances, from rust to paint to petrified grease, from metal. John breaks down mechanical methods, chemical methods, and the electrolytic method, complete with a how-to for building your own electrolytic conversion tank at home. Check out the full article on Make: Projects. Dig out some old machine parts, and get your shine on!
NOTE: Not all the methods John chronicles have pictures associated with them on Make: Projects, but since the site is a wiki, you can help! If you employ any of the methods, take pics, and add them to the project. The community will thank you!
August 19 2011, 1:37am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/lhuciaiw57I/freeform-led-ceiling-lights.html
After moving into a new apartment I was faced with a full set of white-hot, inefficient halogen ceiling bulbs. The fixtures use the 12 volt DC MR16 standard, taken from the mains after being converted from 120 AC. They’re controlled by the light switch right next to the front door, making them essential for navigating a dark room when first arriving home.
While there are LED alternatives on the market for this socket type, the technology is still prohibitively expensive. I pulled one of the halogens and found the socket was simply two pieces of 19 gauge wire. I decided to free-form some circuits made of different colored LEDs around the thicker terminals.
Depending on the color and the amount of LEDs used in a circuit, the resistance needs change. Unless you’re an electrical engineer, you’ll probably find that an online LED circuit calculator comes in handy.
Once you have them all soldered together, check the polarity on each fixture with a test circuit. The fixtures are designed to only work with a load, so I used a small DC motor and noted the proper direction of rotation. Then, with the lightswitch turned off, carefully plug the 19 gauge wires into the sockets and switch them on.
The result is a soft and ambient illumination that lights my way when coming home. If I need it brighter I switch on some lamps in the room.
More:
August 16 2011, 2:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/66LBqvk9PcU/super-awesome-sylvia-shows-how-to-build-the-lol-shield-kit.html
Super Awesome Sylvia is back with an all new video about the LOL Shield! Take it away, Sylvia!
For this build, we’re laughing out loud at how many LEDs we’re going to solder in for the LOL (Lots of LEDs) Shield by our good buddy, Jimmie Rodgers! Let’s go!
For this blinky build, we’ll need:
- The LOL Shield kit from the Maker Shed
- Soldering iron and solder
- An Arduino
- A Computer
- A USB Cable
- Wire snips
- And last but not least, a vice or helper hands (not required, but really useful!)
First, get yourself a nice clear workspace and carefully dump out the contents of the kit. There’s a lot of LEDs in there! I mean a LOT! Take all your parts and lay them out. You should have one PCB, 133 itty bitty LEDs, and one 36 pin header strip. The LEDs are first, so get that soldering iron hot!
Remember, LEDs have polarity, they need to be put in correctly. The short leg is the negative (or cathode) and the long leg is the positive (or anode). From the top we can also see the side with the negative lead is flat, matching up with the silkscreen on the PCB. Make sure your LEDs match up with the silkscreen and they should be right every time.
Carefully place your LEDs to fill one column of nine, pinch the leads a bit (so they don’t fall out!), then flip the board over. Now carefully solder in only one lead of each LED. Once you’ve got the column soldered, flip it back over. Oh my gosh! They’re like crooked teeth!! Not to worry though…
Just heat up the soldered joint for an LED, while pressing and wiggling the top down flush with the board. Tada! Perfectly straight up and down. Repeat with the rest, then solder the other leads, trimming as you go. Only 13 more columns left to do! Be sure and check out the complete instructions by Jimmie (and some of his other cool kits and projects).
Whew! Once all your LEDs are in place, put the headers into your Arduino and snip them off to the right length. When done, place the shield over until it fits, then solder up the headers. Aaand… you’re done! Wahoo! Now head over to your computer, plug in the Arduino, get the LOL Shield library into your Arduino IDE (following the instructions at Jimmie’s site), and upload the test pattern example sketch. If everything went well, you should see the test pattern. If any LEDs fail to light (which happened to us!) check for cold solder joints, wiggle the offending LED, or if worse comes to worse, desolder it and put in a new one. The PCB traces are small and delicate so it’s best to avoid this if you can.
So, what can you do with your awesome Lots of LEDs? How about a scrolling marquee for your very own message, Conway’s Game of Life (a cellular automaton simulation), a custom animation (try and make your own at the LOL Shield Theater), a video or animated gif? If you add a button and a potentiometer, you can play tetris, space invaders, pong or even make your own game! You’re only limited by your imagination, coding skill, and how much you can squeeze on this little chip.
When you’re done, try and experiment with different programs or games, maybe try and write your own or add a speaker for sound effects, respect your soldering iron, and get out there and MAKE something!
Subscribe to the MAKE Podcast in iTunes, download the m4v video directly, or watch it on YouTube and Vimeo.
August 16 2011, 12:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/dPTj9PWimfw/how-to-mini-keychain-photo-album.html
For when wallet photos just aren’t enough: Haley at CRAFT came across a cool project for putting snapshots on your keychain:
I’m a big fan of technology, but some situations call for a more instant photo sharing method than waiting for a picture to load on my phone. That’s why I’m so enamored of this Mini Keychain Album from Happy to Create—wherever you bring your keys, you’ll always have your favorite snapshots at the ready! A template for the photo circles and a complete tutorial for the project can be found on their site.
July 23 2011, 1:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/eWYH_iMHHTY/skill-builder-revisiting-our-coasterbot-build.html
Last year, we ran a project series and contest to design and build CoasterBots, simple autonomous, programmable robots built from dead CD media (aka “coasters”). It was a roaring success. We had a lot of participants and some truly inspired project entries. Jameco Electronics, the sponsor of the campaign, also put together an awesome parts bundle with us. That bundle is still available. This is an awesome robot building starter project. To show you just how easy the basic build of the bundle is, Matt Mets put it together in one hour! Here are his instructions.
Just to give you an idea of how far out the CoasterBot concept was taken, here’s a video of the contest winner, Dan Ray’s Jarton! I have a small piece about Jartron and the CoasterBot project in MAKE Volume 27, our robot issue.
You can find out more about the other winners here.
And here’s the runner up, a staff favorite, Tortellini the Turtle Bot, built by 11 year old Jasmine and her dad.
The Robot Build page has links to all of the tutorial newsletters and all CoasterBot-related blog posts. Unfortunately, the images in the newsletters are broken. I’m currently moving all of this content over to the Make: Projects robotic section and will have that live the first of next week.
From the Pages of MAKE
MAKE Volume 27, Robots!
The robots have returned! MAKE Volume 27 features a special package with robotics projects for every age and skill level. They play music; they outwit your pets; they learn from their mistakes! In addition, we’ll show you how to build a special aquarium to keep jellyfish, create pre-Edison incandescent lighting, spy via the internet, and make a go-anywhere digital message board! All this and much, much more, in MAKE Volume 27.
On newsstands July 26! Buy or Subscribe
July 15 2011, 11:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/-prumYxFa7I/toy-fire-truck-transformed-into-a-lamp.html
Jasmine Orchard found a “pre-loved” toy fire truck, repainted it, and wired it up with a lightbulb to upcycle it into really cool table lamp. Perhaps if you’re nostalgic for the days in which you played with toys like these, this is great inspiration for incorporating your favorite plaything into your current decor. [via Recyclart]
More:
July 9 2011, 2:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/diy-laser-cut-camera.html
The KDS-POTO2 camera by Kit Man of kit da studio is over the top. Assembled from laser-cut acrylic parts and scavenged lenses, this fully functional manual film camera takes interesting pictures reminiscent of an analog Hipstamtic or DIY Lomo and seems like it would be a blast to assemble. The best part is that, being the cool guy that he is, Kit also includes an AI file so you can cut out your own. How cool is that? [via DIYP]
July 7 2011, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/father-and-son-build-awesome-button.html
Nick Carter and his son Henry were browsing Goodwill when Henry spotted a Staples Easy Button for sale and wanted to try using it to make an Awesome Button, our DIY USB synonym generator project. Neither of them had much experience with electronics projects, and despite some difficulty with the soldering iron, they managed to get the project working:
[Henry] also learned that horseplay and soldering irons don’t mix. It was some good father-son time and I didn’t take any process pictures because we were having too much fun (and trying to keep him from burning himself again on the soldering iron.) [...] I’m almost as new to electronics as Henry so it’s nice that we can learn together.
Kudos to Nick and Henry on the successful build! It looks like you had an awesome incredible time building it together.
More:
July 6 2011, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/pringles-can-antenna-turns-10.html
Ten years ago, over a hot 4th of July weekend, a few of us “alpha geeks” were hanging out on Rob Flickenger‘s porch in Sebastopol, CA testing out homebrew microwave antennas when we stumbled upon the fact that you could squeeze about 12db out of an empty Pringles can and some miscellaneous hardware. At the time, antennas of similar gain would set you back about $150. With our design, you could build two for about $10 (one for each end).
July 5 2011, 10:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/ring-shaped-3d-scanner.html
MAKE subscriber Uros wrote to us to share the projects by some of the students in ENSCI, a product design school in Paris, France. I especially liked the design of the 3D scanner demonstrated in the video above. The scanner uses a laser pointer moving along a ring-shaped track around an object to find a set of 3D points that define the object’s shape. Be sure to check out all of the cool work by the students at ENSCI.
More:
July 3 2011, 1:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/microrax-ipad-stand.html
Ken Kremer built this adjustable iPad stand using MicroRAX, including some of the new hotness hinged connectors the MicroRAX guys were showing off at Maker Faire this May. Very nice!
July 2 2011, 6:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/the-flame-tube-project-and-contest-coming-soon.html
Happy (almost) July 4th! Looking for more of the “rocket’s red glare?” The current issue of MAKE, Volume 26, features a DIY project I wrote called “The Flame Tube.” It’s one of my favorite fiery projects from my new book The Practical Pyromaniac because it’s quite the eyecatcher, it demonstrates some good science, and it has a bit of historical backstory. The flame tube is a 110 year old demonstration that allows onlookers to visualize standing sound waves.
Based on the work of German quantum physics pioneer, Heinrich Rubens, I designed this flame tube so propane gas inside the tube flows through holes drilled along the top, and flames are then lit above. I send a sound wave into the tube with a loudspeaker at the other end. When the tube is driven at one of its resonance frequencies, flames form a visual standing wave pattern, as you can see in the picture. Vary the pitch and change the volume to get different patters. Cool!
Heads Up: Flame Tube Video Contest
MAKE’s editors, in a display of extraordinary beneficence, have put the Flame Tube project on Make: Projects. I am working with Chicago Review Press (The Practical Pyromaniac’s publisher) to put together a Flame Tube contest with exciting prizes awarded for the best flame tube vid posted on YouTube. More to come… So start building your flame tube!
More:
The Flame Tube
July 1 2011, 9:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/06/transform-a-student-desk-into-a-spin-art-station.html
If these little student desks conjure up images of exams, sustained silent reading, and learning fractions, take a look at Pete Mills’ SpinArt Desk, which puts an artistic “spin” on these boring mini workstations. Pete found the desk for $10 at a local ReUse Center and added a box fan motor to make a piece of furniture that creates art suitable for proud display on the kitchen ‘fridge. As a nice touch, Pete used spin art to embellish the desktop, ridding it of its academic look even when the lid is closed.
More:
Build the Giant Spin Art Rig from MAKE Volume 25
June 27 2011, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/06/10-project-to-make-with-dad-for-kids-over-10.html
Father’s Day is coming right up this weekend, and of course we think there’s no better way to spend the day than to work on a project with Dad on his special day. Last week we posted up 10 project ideas for kids 10 and under, and today we offer up 10 more for older kids. With Dad by your side, there’s really no project you can’t tackle, and we know that kids of all ages are capable of amazing builds. Check out our suggestions below, and head over to Make: Projects for tons more full projects. You’ll no doubt find a project perfect for you and Pops.
June 16 2011, 1:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/06/making-a-blade-out-of-homemade-steel.html
June 14 2011, 10:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/06/diy-semi-anamorphic-pinhole-camera.html
Check out this DIY semi-anamorphic pinhole camera from maker Costas Kaounas. Easy assembly from cardboard and black tape, the camera shoots 35mm film across an arch to capture a semi-anamorphic image. [via DIYP]
June 13 2011, 9:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05/maker-faire-bay-area-is-over-but-the-fun-has-just-begun.html
Alas, we just closed the gates on Maker Faire Bay Area 2011. It was, by all accounts (that I’ve heard) an inspired success. Happy, huge but well-mannered crowds, hundred of amazing makers, and an embarrassment of things to see, make, test, ride, play with, and eat.
But at the end of each Faire, we always watch people walk away, wondering who did we “reach” this year? Who’s going to go back home, pick up a hammer or a soldering iron or a screw gun or whatever and translate their inspiration into next year’s impressive Maker Faire exhibits? This might sound like a romanticized notion, but we hear this same story year after year.
This year, we actually want to hear more of these stories. If you came to the Faire and decided to undertake a project as a result, we’d love to hear from you. We’d love to track some projects, from inception and design through to completion, and possible inclusion in next year’s Faire. Share your current thoughts now In Comments below) and let us know what your plans are.
And we can’t wait to see you next year, or in Detroit or New York.
May 23 2011, 1:57am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05/cambridge-mini-maker-faire-2011.html
When you bring together group of makers and their projects, sometimes it’s all sunshine and unicorns, and sometimes you get fierce winds and two thunderstorms during a four-hour event. Last weekend in Cambridge, our hale and hearty makers defied the weather gods to celebrate fabulous projects and the experiences of creating. Our hosts at the Cambridge Science Festival organized a fun week of events, including the Carnival.
Above, sculptor Gideon Weisz explains how he uses making as a way of learning while developing new original designs.
Shane Colton’s Twitch is a unique remote-control car that seems to be able to go in any direction at any moment. His SegStick is quite an effort at accomplishing a seemly impossible design, with minimum parts, in an elegantly simple way.
You can see more video on the Boston Area Maker Faire Facebook page, the group’s Flickr pool has recent photos.
May 14 2011, 6:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05/make-volume-26-combination-lock-made-from-money.html
In each issue of MAKE magazine (since Volume 10), columnist Tom Parker offers a new installation of Make Money, where he shows you examples of how “Sometimes it costs more to buy it than to make it from the money itself.” Tom has covered mouse traps to eye glasses to an abacus, and in the latest issue, Volume 26, he’s outdone himself with an awesomely complex combination lock made out of 5 quarters, 2 half-dollars, and a penny (plus an assortment of scrap metal, nuts, and bolts. A combination drawer lock bought online can run between $15 and $20, but Tom’s money-made version came out to about $2.26. The following images from the column show a head-on view, disassembled view, and a side view:
Check out the full details in the Tom’s column on pages 146 and 147 of MAKE Volume 26. Subscribers, read it now online in the digital edition.
From the Pages of MAKE:
MAKE Volume 26: Karts & Wheels
Garage go-kart building is a time-honored tradition for DIYers, In this issue of MAKE, we’ll show you how to build wheeled wonders that’ll have you and the kids racing around the neighborhood in epic DIY style. Build a longboard skateboard by bending plywood and build a crazy go-kart driven by a pair of battery-powered drills. Put a mini gasoline engine on a bicycle. And construct an amazing wind-powered cart that can outrun a tailwind. Plus you’ll learn how to build the winning vehicle from our online Karts and Wheels contest! In addition to karts, you’ll find plenty of other projects that only MAKE can offer!
» BUY or SUBSCRIBE
May 13 2011, 11:31pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05/building-a-wireless-snail-mail-notifier.html
You may have already seen Matt Richardson’s wonderful Snail Mail Push project. Our Arduino projects guy, Riley Porter, has put together a snail mail hack of his own. His new workshop is in his backyard, far from his mailbox. Rather than having to walk to the box obsessively to see if mail has arrived, he developed a prototype for this wireless device that alerts him to the mail’s arrival. It’s a wireless Arduino system with a photoresistor sensor that detects when the box is opened and alerts Riley, via a wireless connection and an Arduino, in his shop.
See Riley’s project featured on the Make: Arduino page
More:
Snail Mail Push Alerts
May 13 2011, 9:30pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05/how-to-tweeting-geiger-counter.html
Using a Netduino Plus and a Geiger counter kit, Fabien created a tweeting radiation monitor. You can check out the latest readings from the device (which is stationed in Seattle) or read through his detailed build instructions if you’d like to make your own. [via Adafruit]
More:
In the Maker Shed:
Netduino Plus
May 11 2011, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/super-cheap-seed-starters-on-make-projects.html
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to get some seeds started. Frequent MAKE contributor and off-grid aficionado Abe Connally teaches us how to make cheap and simple soil blocks to avoid transplant mortality (from MAKE Volume 24). He uses a can as the soil blocker mold, one of the can ends as the press plate, and an eye bolt, nut, and washer as the plunger. To boot, Abe uses reclaimed plastic bakery containers as the trays. Here’s the full project on Make: Projects, previewed here:
Abe not only talks the talk, but struts the walk, as he and his wife Josie and their toddler Leo live completely off-grid. Check out a list of the projects he and Josie have contributed to the pages of MAKE, and read more about their adventures on their Vela Creations site.
There are three more of Abe’s projects available on Make: Projects as well: the Solar Food Dryer from the current issue, MAKE Volume 26, the Honey Cow from Volume 25, and the DIY Wind Generator from Volume 19. Keep your ears to the wire for an upcoming interview with Abe about living the off-grid lifestyle.
April 23 2011, 12:28am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/in-the-maker-shed-54-piece-bit-driver-kit.html
Got some strange screws that need unscrewing? Want to get in there and modify some gear the manufacturer didn’t trust you to open? Check out the 54 Piece Bit Driver Kit from the Maker Shed. The kit includes a magnetized driver with metal shaft, swivel top, and rubberized grip, a 60 mm extension, a 130 mm flexible extension, and 54 bits. Problem solved!
Features:
- Slot sizes 1, 1.3, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 mm
- Philips sizes #000, #00, #0, #1 (x2), #2
- Spanner sizes 2, 2.2, 2.6, 3 mm
- Torx sizes T3, T4 (x2), T5, T6 (x2), T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20
- Hex sizes 0.7, 0.9, 1.3, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6 mm
- Posidrive sizes #0, #1, #2
- Star sizes 2, 3 mm
- Square sizes #0, #1, #2
- Triangle size 3 mm
- Tri-wing sizes #0, #1
- Drop size 1 mm
April 8 2011, 3:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/battery-from-pennies.html
This simple instructables from seniorhigh shows you how to create a simple battery from a few basic ingredients including pennies, a paper towel, and lemon juice. [via LifeHacker]
April 5 2011, 11:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/03/diy-scanning-electron-microscope-2.html
We’ve covered Ben Krasnow’s awesome work here before. At last year’s Maker Faire, he showed off his liquid nitrogen generator (for which he won at least one Editor’s Blue Ribbon). Now he’s posted to his blog this latest project, a working DIY scanning electron microscope! It’s been months of work to get the scope together and to get a picture out of it, but he’s done it. Now he’s going to work on improving image resolution, and reducing noise. Congrats on this, Ben. Really impressive job. [Thanks, Robert Bruce Thompson!]
DIY scanning electron microscope
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March 25 2011, 4:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/03/collins-lab-homebrew-piezo.html
Piezoelectric materials are about as close to magic as you can get. They turn physical pressure into electricity and can even turn electricity into physical pressure – an amazing sort of bidirectional converter for mechanical and electrical energies. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that you can easily ‘grow’ your own piezoelectric crystals overnight using just a couple of common ingredients – awesome.
Ever since I made my first contact microphone, I’ve been amazed by piezos and their unique abilities. I was more than psyched to learn I could make my own piezoelectric crystals after finding recipes online. Now I just need to figure out how I’ll put these little guys to good use … feel free to leave any ideas/suggestions in the comments below!
March 12 2011, 2:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/03/pneumatic-muscle-controller.html
Ben Krasnow shows a handy demo of how to build an air muscle, which is based on this Instructable. This technique is just crying out to be paired with the HowToons Robot Hands from MAKE Volume 19, also on the HowToons site. [Thanks Dale H!]
March 6 2011, 12:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/03/diy-dslr-lcd-viewfinder.html
Why spend $150-$500 for an LCD viewfinder when you can make one for cheap out of household parts? Instructables user knoptop shows us how to make one out of a baby powder container, dollar store magnifying glass, headphone cover, and a couple of hair ties.
March 4 2011, 12:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/02/mp3-music-box.html
When I was a kid, my grandmother had a charming wind up music box that plucked the tune “Edelweiss” when you opened the lid. I was so fascinated by the mechanics inside the little box that I had spent a lot of time watching the movement turn.
I decided I wanted to do a modern-day maker’s riff on the old mechanical music box. I asked around for some advice on how to do it and got a lot of great suggestions such as using an Arduino Wave Shield, an MP3 trigger board, or my favorite idea, one of those electronic musical greeting cards. But I happened upon a $6 knockoff MP3 player that started playing songs when you flipped a switch on the side. When I opened it up, I was delighted to see that I could easily stop and start the music by opening and closing the circuit between the battery and the MP3 player’s circuit board.
Using a snap action switch inside a cigar box, I was able to control the music by opening and closing the lid, just like with a mechanical music box. The main difference being that my MP3 player would start the song over again after closing and reopening the box, which didn’t bother me. I found a pair of cheap speakers that had a headphone jack so that I could easily plug them into the MP3 player.
I wanted to be able to access the MP3 player as a data drive and charge it up without awkwardly plugging a cable into the MP3 player directly, so I added a panel mount female USB B jack to the back of the box and plugged it into the MP3 player inside the box. Loading songs into the music box becomes a cinch when you just plug the USB cable from your computer into the back of the box and then drag the files to the drive.
The MP3 Music Box makes a great, customized gift for anyone. You can see in the video that I turned mine into a Wii Remote box and added 8-bit video game style music to it. You could add romantic music if you make the box for your partner for Valentines Day, or lullabies if you make it for a child’s nightstand. Whatever it is, there’s no doubt that this whimsical electronic music box will surprise and delight the recipient.
Subscribe to the MAKE Podcast in iTunes, download the m4v video directly, or watch it on YouTube and Vimeo.
February 14 2011, 12:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/02/open-source-multitouch-surfaces-with-arduino.html
Wook Chang of Seoul based
Sensible UI tipped us off to their new
open source multitouch project called
OpenMT. The project is comprised of both software and hardware tools that allow you to combine readily available parts with an Arduinoid to create super thin, flexible multitouch surfaces.
As you may know, most touch companies (except for camera-based multi-touch companies) are prefer super-closed business strategy. They never even reveal data sheets or sell samples unless large amount of volume order is guaranteed.
So, here I offer OpenMT: an Open Source MultiTouch development platform. It’s the collection of open source hardwares and softwares for anyone to make his/her own thin and flexible multi-touch panel.
The OpenMT project is at the planning stage. Documentation is not complete yet, but after the first release, you will be able to make a 8x8 multitouch trackpad.
February 7 2011, 10:00am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/02/diy-under-cabinet-led-lighting.html
Instructable user Esterill shows how to make your own swanky under-cabinet LED lighting scheme on a budget and the results are quite professional looking. For extra measure, Esterill used a microcontroller to fade the LEDs up when they're turned on and added a "half bright" mode for times when dimmer light is desired. Nice touch!
February 5 2011, 2:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/01/repurpose_an_old_laptop_as_a_digita.html
Erik Pettersson couldn't find a digital picture frame he liked, so he rolled his own using an old laptop and a frame from Ikea. With Ubuntu running on the laptop, he created a few scripts for changing the picture at a determined interval and for turning the display on and off at different times of day.
After disassembling the laptop and removing the unnecesary components, he mounted the screen in the frame and the CPU behind it. Using VNC over WiFi, Erik can easily make adjustments to the settings of his newly-hacked digital picture frame. And just in case that doesn't work, he also left the keyboard and a USB port accessible on the back. Nice work, Erik! [via Ikea Hacker]
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January 31 2011, 12:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/01/protect_yourself_welding_stainless.html
Michael writes -
I'm sure some makers work with stainless without understanding the risks. Here's a great article written by my friend Lee Sonko when, as part of the Flaming Lotus Girls, he worked on the Serpent Mother.
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January 29 2011, 11:30am | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/01/sms-enabled_deadbolt.html
You can leave your keys at home with this clever hack by Billy Chasen, who rigged up his deadbolt to a Propeller-based Spinneret Web Server. Using an SMS gateway called Twilio, he can open and close the lock by tapping out a quick text message. Not only that, but the system also responds to acknowledge his request. For security, there's a whitelist of permitted senders.
It's an awesome project, but I hope for Billy's sake that his deadbolt doesn't go rogue and start texting up all his deadbolt friends. "R U unlocked right now?"
[via BuzzFeed]
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January 22 2011, 2:00pm | More »
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I posted to blog.makezine.com
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/01/moveable_kitchen.html
Judging from the fleets of gas grills parked outside almost every big box home improvement store for the last five or six years one could assume that there's been a bit of an uptick in outdoor cooking. While barbeque tends to take center stage in this ritual, there's almost no thought given to basic kitchen amenities outside of the more elaborate setups. If you do a fair amount of your cooking outside, when the weather's nice, and you'd like access to a sink, gas burner, cutting surface and storage space, check out this handsome DIY outdoor kitchen from London-based designer Nina Tolstrup. Step-by-step PDF instructions are available on her site. [via likecool]
The outdoor kitchen comprises of gas cooking hob, a bucket sink, a chopping
board and storage for crockery, utensils and a few food ingredients. Water is
connected from the garden hose and waste water is collected in a watering can
placed beneath the sink, so grey water can be reused.
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Digg this!January 11 2011, 10:00am | More »
