RSSArchives: August 2007
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August 13, 2007
Gear template generator
Woodworker Matt Wandel has a tool on his site for designing your own "low precision" gears (i.e. wood, phenolic plastic, etc) and printing them out onto paper templates for cutting. You can define two gears (with tooth size, count, angle) and watch them interact. The site also includes a brief tutorial on how to cut out the gears from the templates.
Interactive gear template generator - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 13, 2007 06:00 PM
Crafts, DIY Projects |
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knife.hand.chop.bot
Wow, the knife.hand.chop.bot is my new favorite bot. The best part of the video is the laser dot that appears on the person's hand before it starts its chopping -
5VOLTCORE is about to build a self-fulfilling cybernetic system, that plays with the senses and perceptions of the User and the sensors and the processes of the Machine.knife.hand.chop.bot - Link.The Robot is equipped with a knife that the Machine uses to s(t)imulate the test of courage - a kind of game known as "Mumblety-Peg". The User puts his/her hand into the Machine and starts the knife game at the push of a button. The knife starts to hit the space between the fingers, first slowly then continually getting faster. The Machine knows where to chop by receiving signals of a sensor that guides the knife to the place between the fingers.
Electric contacts are mounted on the support block of the Machine, where the hand is situated. These contacts are activated as soon as the first "nervous sweat" appears that turns the skin into a conductor. Subsequently the computer becomes disturbed by the electric current that is now transmitted via the skin.
This has two effects: on the one hand, sounds are generated by the closure of the contacts (circuit bending) that can either be interpreted as warning or act as an additional source of stress. On the other hand, they can have an effect on the position of the knife which is controlled by the computer and thereby hurt the potential perpetrator of the disturbance.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 05:00 PM
Arts, Made On Earth, Robotics |
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HOW TO - Shave a deck of cards
This video shows you how to shave a deck of cards so that you can perform many common card tricks.
Make a "Magic" Deck of Playing Cards - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 13, 2007 04:00 PM
DIY Projects, Gaming, Toys and Games |
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Semitone - open dimmer project
Semitone is a cool open dimmer project -
The aim of this project is the development of comfortable standalone digital light dimmers for home use, which are inexpensive, easy to build, yet very feature-rich and configurable. All development details, such as the microcontroller operating systems (firmware), schematics, and documentation, are freely available under the GNU license.Semitone - open dimmer project - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 03:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
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Celebrating LEGO's 75th Anniversary
In honor of LEGO's 75th anniversary, DIY Life has put together a list of 23 of their favorite LEGO projects online (many of which we've already covered here). The one seen above is an amazing, working Guitar Hero game controller modeled after the Gibson Explorer.
LEGO's 75th anniversary: 23 DIY LEGO ideas - Link
Related:
- LEGO Guitar - Link
- HOW TO - Make a DIY PS2 Guitar Hero controller - Link
- Left handed Guitar hero mod & more mods! - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 13, 2007 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gaming, Toys and Games |
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The antique chip collector's page
The antique chip collector's page is awesome, bookmarked! -
Perhaps vintage is a better term than antique although, in Internet years, integrated circuits have been around for more than 120 years. It is absolutely amazing the number and variety of computing devices that have been created and obsolesced in just 40 years. Integrated circuits are used for many purposes, but these pages focus primarily on vintage computing chips from the 60's-80's.The Antique Chip Collector's Page - Link.Theses pages contain information on these vintage chips that is difficult to find. Most publications are written for hardware and software designers. Very few publications are suitable for collectors' needs. How do you identify the chip? What do the markings mean? How can you tell which company made the chip? When was it made? How was it made? What is the history and significance behind the chip? These pages attempt to answer these questions. There is information here for the beginning and the advanced collector.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Join the DIY Halloween MAKE Flickr Photo Pool
Yah, it's August but we're gearing up for what might be the biggest Halloween contest and maker bonanza in Halloween history... So for now join the DIY Halloween MAKE Flickr photo pool, upload and tag any Halloween photos with "DIYHALLOWEEN" and we'll have lots more information about everything very soon!...Woo! Link.
Related:
MAKE: Halloween Special Edition (pre-order!) - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 12:00 PM
Halloween |
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HOW TO - Make a solar thermal water heater for less than five dollars
TheNaib writes -
This project will create a DIY solar hot water heater for less than five dollars (if you have access to a garbage dump). It will allow you to see the principles of solar water heating in action, and is highly customizable.HOW TO - Make a solar thermal water heater for less than five dollars - Link.Its a great way to learn about using the renewable energy of the sun to produce useful effects, in this case hot water. You can use these instructions to build a device that will actually heat enough water to use in the home, but it would require modifications.
This device is more useful for camping or as a science experiment and teaching tool. A word of caution it is possible to create very hot water with this technique and you should be careful not to burn yourself. You can find this and more great DIY projects relating to renewable energy, solar cooking, and sustainable design at The Sietch
By using the sun instead of fossil fuels to heat your water you will be preventing dangerous greenhouse gasses from being released into the atmosphere, helping to prevent global warming.
Related:
Beer bottle solar-powered water heater - Link.
DIY Solar heater - Link.
HOW TO - Make a homemade solar water heater - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Green, Instructables |
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A/C unit keeps car cool
It's hot out, it's time for makers making things cool, in interesting ways...
Scott Dawson, a civil engineering graduate from the University of Houston, decided after three years of driving around Houston without air conditioning in his car was long enough. So instead of spending $1,200 to fix the air conditioning on a car he planned on getting rid of soon, he bolted a home window A/C unit to the roof and wired it to the car.A/C Unit Keeps Car Cool - [via] Link & photos.
Related:
Poor man's air conditioning... - Link.
DIY cheapest air conditioner in the world - Link.
Homebrew Air Conditioning for under $25 - Link.
Homemade air conditioner - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 10:00 AM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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HOW TO - Hack The Spy Ear and reverse engineer a circuit
Biotele writes -
This instructable introduces the venerable Spy Ear in details and my way to reverse engineer a circuit.Why does this device deserves its own instructable?:
- You can buy a Spy Ear for a dollar!
- It can amplify sounds up to 60 dB or a factor of a 100.
- It has a self limiting property and adjusts the gain so that the amplified signal volume is always just right.
- It runs of two LR44 1.5 volt button cell alkaline battery, so it's perfect for portable projects.
- Many of today's projects, such as in robotics, require analogue front end for sensing the environment and the Spy Ear circuit is just right to fill in as a multi-purpose front end amplifier.
- It is simple enough to reverse engineer.
- I am making another instructable using this device.
- The Spy Ear is a fantastic cheap,small and rugged circuit for modding and hacking.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 09:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables, Toys and Games |
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Mini motorcycles from watch parts
Lovely collection of minature motorcycles made from watch parts, anyone know who made these? - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 08:00 AM
Arts |
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HOW TO - Make a low cost circuit board pre-heat workstation for solder re-work
JXP writes -
Circuit board pre-heat workstations are very expensive, $350.00 - $2500.00. The goal of this project is to demonstrate how to make a circuit board pre-heat workstation for around $50.00 with no special tools and the majority of materials from Home Depot and Harbor Freight Tools...HOW TO - Make a low cost circuit board pre-heat workstation for solder re-work - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 07:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (1)
Linux based mobile dev kit
Huh, USB, touchscreen, WiFi looks like it has everything to tinker with... -
Unicon System's MKit™ development kit is the first and only unique mobile Linux development kit on the market. It gives professional developers and manufacturers the ability to create new handheld devices for industrial, security, educational and medical applications, as well as various consumer electronics products.Unicon Systems. Linux based mobile dev kit - Link.Our patented, wireless, and mobile chip-on-film Linux computer is based on an ARM9 embedded CPU running full blown Linux 2.6 and attached to the back of a 3.5" touch screen. It is equipped with multiple connectivity options, including two 2.0 high-speed USB host ports and WiFi.
It is a well-designed license free software stack and debugging JTAG board that makes customization easy and guarantees the shortest time to market.
Development kits are available in different modifications including the world's first SDIO Linux Development Kit.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits |
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| Comments (6)
AVR based headphone amp
Here's an AVR based headphone amp from AVR freaks. Simonetta writes -
Headphone amp using National LM4832 audio processor that is controlled through I2C from AVR Tiny13. Unique design has one potentiometer and a single pushswitch. On power-up, the pot controls volume. On first switch press, pot controls treble. Next press, pot controls bass level. On third switch press, the pot goes back to controlling volume. The amp retains the parameter settings set by the previous switch modes. AVR sleeps between 1/15 second intervals. An AVR Tiny13 reads the potentiometer 15 times a second and creates the I2C clock and data signals needed to change the settings of the LM4832. I needed a small but loud headphone amp and was given these LM4832 samples at work. None of the old-school engineers could figure out how to control or program an I2C connection. The code shows a simple but effective way to use I2C with AVR assembler.AVR based headphone amp - Link.
Related:
MAX - headphone amp - Link.
Altoids headphone amp - Link.
Altoids and tin cases archives - Link.
From the pages of MAKE:
Mint-Tin Amp. Pocket amplifier punches up headphones. MAKE 04 - page 141. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition or get MAKE 04 @ the Maker store.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
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| Comments (2)
Hydra kit in the MAKE store
The new Hydra kit is now in the MAKE store - The Propeller-powered Hydra Game Development Kit includes everything you need to get started writing video games. It's not just a game console, but a computer system inspired by the home computers of days gone by.
Features
- The HYDRA Game Console with 128K EEPROM and a plethora of I/O interfaces.
- 9V DC Power Wall Adapter.
- PS/2 Mouse.
- PS/2 Mini Keyboard.
- Nintendo Compatible Gamepad.
- A/V Cable.
- USB Programming Cable.
- 128K Re-Programmable Game Card to Store Games and Applications.
- Blank "Experimenter" Card to Design Your own Add-On Hardware.
- "Game Programming for the Propeller Powered HYDRA" hard copy book by Andre' LaMothe.
- CD-ROM with all source, demos, and development tools.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (0)
Ambient Devices now offer access to their datacasting chipset
Ambient Devices is now offering access to their datacasting chipset (you could use it to add auto-time set, weather and other net data via radio to your device)... We've included Ambient in our "What is Open source hardware" article. It's $995, and the schematics / layout for the DATA-W1 reference implementation, as well as the RS-232 base station is on the site. Interesting, Ambient built a data network and now they're releasing hardware that can access it, before you would need to buy an Ambient device - now you could potentially get a head start on development if your device(s) require this type of data access...
The AMB-4001-W1 datacast decoder chip allows companies to embed web-configurable weather forecasts and self-setting local time into their products. This chip is the content engine behind the Ambient Devices revolutionary 5-day Weather Forecaster. It makes realtime Internet weather forecasts (or other Internet-based dynamic content) available through a simple query language communicating over a 2-wire serial port. Each AMB-4001-W1 chip is programmed with a unique serial number recognized by the Ambient Network. This allows customers to monitor weather forecasts for ANY zipcode or major city in the world, plus environmental conditions like pollen count, air quality, weather alerts, and more.Ambient Devices Technical Resources - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 03:00 AM
Electronics, Open source hardware |
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| Comments (0)
Homemade iPhone
Wow, here's an amazingly accurate replicate of an iPhone, handmade from metal and wood... Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 02:00 AM
Cellphones |
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| Comments (1)
The visual image of chemistry: Perspectives from the history of art and science
Interesting paper from Joachim Schummer & Tami I. Spector on the image chemistry has had throughout the ages...Chemistry in pictures -
In this paper we investigate the most important visual stereotypes of chemistry as they occur in current portraits of chemists, depictions of chemical plants, and images of chemical glassware and apparatus. By studying the historical origin and development of these stereotypes within the broader context of the history of art and science, and by applying aesthetic and cultural theories, we explore what these images implicitly communicate about the chemical profession to the public. We conclude that chemists, along with commercial artists, have unknowingly created a visual image of chemistry that frequently conveys negative historical associations, ranging from imposture to kitsch. Other elements of this image, however, aestheticize chemistry in a positive manner by referring to classical ideals of beauty and borrowing from revered motifs of modern art.The visual image of chemistry: Perspectives from the history of art and science - [via] Link.
Related:
Chemistry in Art: A Virtual Exhibition - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 01:00 AM
Science |
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Emerging technology conference 2008 -- March 3-6, 2008
The Emerging technology conference 2008 site is live and if you if you're an artist, hacker, maker, and/or technologist that thinks the best way to predict the future is to build it, you might want to submit a proposal! The conference is March 3-6, 2008, I'm on the conference committee, so c'mon makers and represent' -
Physicist Niels Bohr said, "Prediction is very difficult, especially of the future." We agree, which is why we don't attempt to predict the future. At ETech, we show the tantalizing glimpses of future technology we think are going to truly matter, brought to life by cutting-edge researchers, be they scientists, product developers, academics, or hackers.O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2008 • March 3-6, 2008 • San Diego, California - Link.We put on stage the speakers and the ideas that help our attendees prepare for and create the future, whatever it might be. What interests us? The military running its own full Earth simulation. Instructions for creating your own 3D prototyping machine posted online. Biomimicry being used to organize teams and model crowd behavior. Gadgets that give us feedback on our behavior. A rollaway PDA that uses a flexible OLED screens, hopefully available for purchase in the very near future.
This year we'll be asking ourselves: where are some of the previously emerging technologies? It's been two years since a man got a neural implant to surf the web, but no one else has one yet. Virtual worlds have been multiplying since the '90s, but many of us have never had a productive meeting in one. And where are our jetpacks, anyway? How close are these and many other "futuristic" technologies to being viable here and now, and if they're still far away, are there techniques and lessons we can learn from any progress they've made in recent years?
At the 2008 version of ETech, the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, we'll take a wide-eyed look at the tech that's just arriving and cast a cynical one at some that have been emerging for too long. From robotics, health care, and space travel to gaming, finance, and art, we'll explore promising technologies that are just that--still promises--and renew our sense of wonder at the way technology is influencing and altering our everyday lives.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 13, 2007 12:00 AM
Announcements, Events |
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| Comments (0)
August 12, 2007
Best of CRAFT
Here are some of my favorite posts from the CRAFT site this week.
- Draft Vader Crochet Helmet - Link.
- Sewing with Night Vision Goggles - Link.
- DIY Harry Potter Wands - Link.
- Travel with Craft Books: Japan - Link.
- DIY Shrinky Dinks - Link.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Crafts |
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| Comments (0)
Page 15 of 23 << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 >>
Features and more @ MAKE!
MAKE @ The NYC Toy Fair 2008 - Covering DIY!HOW TO - Build the arms of assistance.
MADE in Japan - Part I.
MADE in Japan - Part II.
MADE in Japan - Part III.
Make store - Blinky bug kit - Blink!
Make store - Loud Objects Noise Toy Kit
Makers - MAKE Flickr pool contest. Win cool stuff!
Makers - Join the MAKE Facebook page - Meet other makers.
MAKE on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet!
What you're reading in MAKE - Data!
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
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Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher
Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT
Becky Stern
Culture jammer
Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker
Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker
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