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Archive: DIY Projects
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February 29, 2008
Arduino compatible breadboard
This is a nice little tutorial on building your own Arduino compatible breadboard. The heeart of the board is an AMTEL8 AVR and breakout board from SparkFun. It is a fairly easy build, but if you just want to jump right into programming pick up a completed version in the MAKE store! - Link
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Feb 29, 2008 02:00 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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February 28, 2008
Simple walking bot
Matt Mets made this simple servo-controlled walking bot which uses a Barebones Arduino to walk, one leg at a time. Source code included. - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 28, 2008 09:00 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Robotics |
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Vibrobot from a speaker and pull-cord toy
Randy made his own version of the Bristlebot, but with a speaker and pull cord. Excellent, and with renewable propulsion! I like the little resistor antlers/feelers - Link.
Related:
HOW TO - Make a Bristlebot a tiny directional vibrobot made from a toothbrush! - Link.
Bristlebot racing snail - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 28, 2008 07:00 PM
DIY Projects, Robotics, Toys and Games |
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| Comments (1)
February 27, 2008
The Furby Gurdy
Ran across this circuit bent Furby sequencer over at the Matrixsynth blog -
Each furby has 4 controls: mute, crash, loop and reset. The handle turns 8 cams which operate corresponding microswitches to create interesting rhythmic patterns. Part of the 'setting up' section at the beginning has been fast forwarded. Please commission me to make lots more of these machines!The video starts off a bit slow but gets pretty interesting around the halfway mark. Interesting to see a mechanical/electronic hybrid instrument! - [via]Link
Related:
Circuit Bent Furby - Link
New Furby Hacking : Part 1 : Skinning... - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 06:10 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
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Sax-a-ma-phoooone
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Check out Ranjit's homemade reed instrument, the Saxamaphone -
I cut the stick in half the long way and chiseled out a rectangular trench in one half. I clamped the two halves together while I made the mouthpiece (which is coated with lemon oil and olive oil to protect it from spit) and tested the first reed. Then I glued the halves together and drilled the finger holes, and made a bunch more reeds.In this sound sample, he tries out a number of different reeds. Impressive sound - especially for a stick! - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 03:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
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| Comments (3)
Peggy Planner
Mike Biel wrote this handy web app for planning out LED projects using the EMS "Peggy" board. Great for preparing your next big marketing campaign! - Link
Related:
"Peggy," - A Light emitting pegboard display - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Speaker cans
An anonymous reader sent us a link to these neat speakers made from used cans. Oddly enough they convey a rather chic sense of style. The instructions are written in german - but you can pretty much infer the necessary steps from the supplied images. I'm guessing they may sound a bit "tinny"? - Link
Related:
Fold-Up Speakers - Link.
From the pages of MAKE:
Make - Volume 12 - Styrofoam Plate Speaker (DIY: Music) (Page 131) - Link.
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Green |
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| Comments (15)
Low-tech plant watering indicator
Here's a twitter-free version of how to get plants to indicate they need water using about $1.50 in parts, thanks Ben! Link.
Related:
HOW TO - Make plants talk! They'll Twitter you when they need to be watered (and more)... - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 27, 2008 10:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (9)
Amuse Friends with chemical stunts
Modern Mechanix 1934
DO YOU like to dabble with chemicals? It was a hobby with Thomas A. Edison during his youth and formed the basis of an education that later brought thousands of new inventions into the world. Far from being a "dry" science, chemistry can be very amusing and entertaining. How many people would believe that you could pour a little drinking water into a china bowl and cause it to burst forth with flames several feet high--without the use of matches?Amuse Friends with chemical stunts - Link.
Related:
Thrilling stunts with a glass-eating chemical - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 27, 2008 08:00 AM
DIY Projects, Modern Mechanix, Retro, Science |
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| Comments (1)
Wire ghost
Reader Dax put us on to this simple chicken wire sculpture project. When seen from a distance, it seems an eerie and somewhat beautiful apparition. - Link
Related:
Animated ghost scares you into thinking you can build a better one - Link
The "Flying Crank Ghost" kit - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 05:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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Build a heat-driven monitor spinner
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member funnypolynomial built a very simple, heat driven motor that sits atop an LCD monitor bezel. It's actual a revision of an earlier design for use with CRTs -
The original Monitor Spinner did its thing on a giant CRT and was prone to falling off, especially if I turned on the fan in my cube.He's also posted a template for download. Print, cut, add a metal wire with a sharp point, - prepare for numerous comments from your coworkers. - Link
I was pleasantly surprised when I got my flat LCD monitors and found they still put out enough heat to make it spin. I decided to make a second version, less susceptable to breezes.
From the pages of MAKE:
HOW TO - Curie engine - MAKE:09 p.114 - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Science |
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| Comments (6)
DIY - GPS Camera attachment
This is a great how-to on building a GPS system for your DSLR camera. The pictures are tagged with the exact GPS coordinates for later reference. Nice work!
This version eliminates the need for the expensive MC-35 and even the special 10-pin connector. I've opted for a quick GPS receiver and encased everything in a small black box with a flash shoe mount. Because it is powered through the camera's power source, a switch on the side of the box turns off the GPS. Version 3 should include a battery, rechargeable through a USB connection.DIY Camera GPS system - [via] Link
Related:
DIY camera GPS project for Nikon DSLRs - Link
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Feb 27, 2008 02:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Photography |
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| Comments (1)
DIY Waterproof Camera Enclosure
Here is a great project since summer is just around the bend, although you could use this for ice fishing. Either way, this site has a great set of instructions on how to make a waterproof enclosure for your electronics.
This design will work with almost any camera, digital camera, or camcorder. It gives you access to all the camcorder's features. You can either look through the bag into the viewfinder or use the LCD, although most LCDs aren't any good in sunlight. I wanted mine for kitesurfing, but it'll work underwater too. If it leaks you'll be able to see water in the bottom of the bag or bubbles escaping and return to the surface before your camera is harmed.
DIY Waterproof Camera Enclosure - Link
Related:
Underwater macro photography & DIY macro photo round up - Link.
HOW TO - Make an underwater CVS camcorder - Link.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Feb 27, 2008 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Imaging |
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| Comments (2)
February 26, 2008
Follow up - DIY metal detector
Thanks to all of you who posted great explanations in the comments of yesterday's post about a dubious way to make a metal detector from an AM radio and a calculator. Mahto submitted his trial video first (shown above), and he gets a Make pocket ref! Some notable comments:
Nick Clark writes:
AM radio operates from a frequency band of 520kHz to 1610kHz. That video suggests that we set our radios to the top of the spectrum, so we'll say 1500kHz or so. Speaking as an electrical engineer, any radio waves generated by an digital device like a calculator would have to be some multiple of the device's internal clock. (e.g., a 200kHz clock would broadcast EMI at 200kHz, 400kHz, 800kHz, etc). Most of the noise would be at the clock's fundamental frequency, with most of the rest of it at twice the fundamental frequency. Thus, in order to be picked up by an AM radio near the upper band a circuit would have to be running a huge IC at 750kHz or so, or a smaller IC at 1500kHz. A metal detector like this _might_ be theoretically possible for a really power-hungry device running at 500kHz or for a not-so-hungry (but still _much_ more hungry than a solar-powered calc) 1MHz device.
CaladanJan writes:
Picking up the internal oscillators of the calculator is not at all surprising. The AM radio will pick up fundamentals or AM tones on any carrier if the signal is strong enough (and inverse squares makes that also read "close enough"). AM radios will also pick up lightning in a storm, especially if you are not on a station.
The real question is if there is any oscillator in the calculator that would be sensitive to the proximity of metallic objects. A self-tuned rod inductor oscillator will be rather sensitive to changes in the magnetic flux path, and this is actually half of how commercial metal detectors actually work. Does a calculator have such a circuit? That would depend on the calculator. A lot of LCD bias voltage generating circuits are built that way, so it's certainly possible.
I'm consistently impressed with the high level of intellect and technical competency of our readers. I learn something new every day. Way to go, guys!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 26, 2008 04:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Telecommunications |
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| Comments (4)
Cocktail Amp
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member Pekar poses the question - 'Fancy a drink with that solo?'
This is a crackerbox type guitar amplifier I built into a vintage cocktail case. It runs on a 12 volt battery and uses a JRC386D to drive the 7" driver.Hope that strapping keeps the bar kit from rattling too much. Dig that open/closed-back option - suave! - Link
The amps sound and output can be influenced by opening the case.
Related:
Coconut amp - Link
From the pages of MAKE:
Project: The $5 Cracker Box Amplifier. Small box, big sound. Read this article in MAKE: 09: Fringe, Page 104. To get MAKE, subscribe or purchase single volumes. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition!
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 26, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
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| Comments (0)
Steampunk Magazine #4
The latest issue of Steampunk Magazine, issue 4, is available now for download (free w/donation encouraged) or for purchase in a print edition for a paltry $3.
This latest issue includes a how-to on building a Jacob's Ladder:
Once the arc starts, the air conducting the arc is both ionized and heated by the current. Ionized air is more conductive than non-ionized air, and heated air tends to rise, so the arc will rise with it. The electrodes slope away from each other, so eventually the gap is too wide to support the arc. It re-forms at the bottom again, where the going is easier, and the cycle repeats. It is truly a wonder to behold, like watching the Devil's own yo-yo!Although a Ladder serves no direct scientific purpose, having one is a requirement for recognition as a "mad scientist" (the preferred term is "ethically-undaunted science worker") and it is the internationally recognized symbol of "forbidden science in progress." Having one in operation greatly facilitates engaging the services of reliable resurrectionists, infernal device contractors, and members of the International Congress of Hunchbacked Henchmen.
Steampunk Magazine - Link
Related:
- Steampunk apocalypse - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Feb 26, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Retro |
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HOW TO - build a water mortar
Carl wrote an instructable explaining how to build a water mortar (previously seen in our Flickr pool) -
This water mortar is made from PVC using a variation on the "drill press lathe" technique from the book "Eccentric Cubicle." The finished product launches over a quart of water per shot!Thanks, Carl! - Link
Related:
Water Mortar - Link
From the Maker store:
Eccentric Cubicle - Link
From the pages of MAKE:
Head-Mounted Water Cannon. Use steel fire-extinguisher power to pummel plastic squirt toys. MAKE 07 - page 112. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition or get MAKE 07 @ the Maker store.
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 26, 2008 01:00 PM
DIY Projects |
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| Comments (1)
DIY Security system calls your phone
Design news latest "Gadget Freak" has a DIY security system that will call you when something is up... -
Gadget Freak Bill Bowden has created a security system that calls you when an alarm is triggered. You can set it up to indicate intrusion into a door, window, office or pool. It can also connect to a panic button. The circuit includes a small PIC microcontroller, an assembly program and a handful of other parts that can be designed to detect the interruption of a switch closure or the connection of a panic button. When the circuit is tripped, the gadget dials your number and indicates what device has been triggered.DIY Security system calls your phone - Link.The construction cost for the security circuit is less than $30. As well as circuit parts, you will also need a PIC programmer to load the program into the microcontroller.
Related:
- MIDAS: Homemade Dorm Room Home Automation System - Link.
- Make - Connecting a hacked wireless doorbell receiver - Link.
- MAKE: Blog: Monitor Hack: High voltage security system - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 26, 2008 06:00 AM
Cellphones, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (0)
DIY LED matrices
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member Spikenzie etched his own 8x8 LED matrix PCB. He's also posted helpful instructions and artwork used in his process -
The 8x8 LED matrix is a building block. There is no processor or circuitry other then then LEDs and the copper traces. It is simply an eight by eight 64-LED matrix on a PCB. The 8x8 has 16 pins on one edge, 8 connect to the rows and the other 8 to the columns. This allows the maker to use their preference of controlling circuitry.The way a matrix works can be a bit mysterious at first. Of course building one yourself is the best way to learn - Link
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Auraelius documents his technique for mounting 10mm LEDs on a Modern Devices 8x8 matrix board - Link
Related:
HOW TO - LED Matrix - Link
Spark Fun's Tri Color LED Matrix - Link
HOW TO - Watch futurama on an 8x8 pixel screen - Link
From the Maker store:
LED clock kit - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 26, 2008 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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| Comments (2)
The Polarized Polaroid Camera
Alejandro sent in this very cool device for making physical screen captures of a computer display. The web site has a nice video of the device in action. Just don't forget to stockpile your Polaroid film since it's not going to be around after this year!
The Polaroid sheet camera uses the basic principle of light polarization to mimic the behavior of a camera diaphragm and shutter. LCD screens emit polarized light, which allows a Polaroid sheet in the camera to take on the diaphragm behavior.
A stepper motor controls the rotation of the camera body, from the light blocking position to the fully open position (90 degrees), in which the instant film is exposed for a predetermined amount of time before the whole camera body is rotated back to the blocking position.
The Polarized Polaroid Camera - Link
Related:
No more Polaroid... instant film - and MAKE's look at Polaroid projects - Link
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Feb 26, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Imaging, Photography |
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| Comments (1)
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