Available as a Single Volume

Volume 21: Desktop Manufacturing

Learn how to make three-dimensional parts using inexpensive computer-controlled manufacturing equipment. Both additive (RepRap, CandyFab) and subtractive (Lumenlab Micro CNC) systems are covered. Also in this issue: instructions for making a traditional cigar box guitar, a magic photo cube, and a snow making machine.

View a list of all links referenced in this volume

Table of Contents

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Much More to Do by Dale Dougherty in Welcome
Five years in, MAKE is just getting started. Page 1

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Mad for 3D CAD by Saul Griffith in Making Trouble
It’s the ultimate video game. Page 12

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Who You Calling Unoriginal? by Cory Doctorow in Make Free
Reinventing the wheel is not mandatory. Page 14

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Tales from Make: Online by Gareth Branwyn
Get Your DIY On(line) Page 15

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Reader Input in Reader Input
Love of lashing, kids who solder, hope, and Scout skills. Page 16

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Cranked-Up Creativity by Laura Cochrane in Made on Earth
Mike Adair, a 44-year-old artist from Overland Park, Kan., builds brightly colored wooden crank toys in his basement workshop. Page 18

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Bright Idea by Megan Mansell Williams in Made on Earth
Eric Lawrence, a web designer and former art student at the University of Texas, Austin, made the first Styrolight built from the molded styrofoam his new Apple computer came in. Page 20

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Emotional Aquatics by Laura Kiniry

 in Made on Earth
Axolotl is a 3D audiovisual display attracting onlookers with a digitized squid-like creature that responds to facial recognition by simulating a sense of interaction and involvement. Page 21

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Camper Van Bicycle by Thomas Walker Wilson in Made on Earth
Through the vehicular art series, the Camper Kart, Camper Bike, and paintings of vans, Kevin Cyr hopes the Kart will stimulate conversation about self-reliance, mobility, and shelter. Page 22

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Art of Fusion by Megan Mansell Williams in Made on Earth
Jared Pankin, who makes sculptures, is innovative with his use of plywood, fake fur, sawdust, foam, model-scale trees, and other familiar goods. Page 23

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Mechanimals Menagerie by Ian Dille in Made on Earth
Andrew Chase welds together sheet metal, iron pipe, and used car parts to make mechanical animals, or "mechanimals.” Page 24

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

In the Zome by Bruce Stewart in Made on Earth
Rob Bell and Patricia Algara created their own hybrid structure, a DIY greenhouse they call the Algarden Zome. Page 25

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Snow Science by Forrest Mims III in Country Scientist
Conduct winter experiments. Page 26

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Maker Shed on the March by Dan Woods in Maker's Corner
Maker Shed kiosks on the march. Page 29

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Cup Positioning System by Cy Tymony in 123
Use a cup to put you in your place. Page 30

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Cutting His Own Paths by Keith Hammond in Maker
Eddie Paul is Hollywood’s fastest maker. Page 32

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Big Kid Bikes by Nik Schulz in Maker
Bending bicycles with builder Greg Degouveia. Page 38

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Locally Grown by Peter Smith in Maker
Carving boards and waves with the maker of all-wood Grain Surfboards. Page 40

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Nonsense Factory by Lisa Katayama in Maker
The Maywa Denki collective makes instruments of mass whimsy. Page 42

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Solar Catenary Reflector by Tho X. Bui in Maker
21st-century tech using 17th-century math. Page 43

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Revolution Will Be Squirted by Becky Stern
An inside look at MakerBot Industries. Page 46

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Armchair Architect by Colin Berry
A new way to create 3D models for Google Earth. Page 52

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

DIY 3D Scanner by Andrew Lewis
Introducing the SplineScan computer-controlled turntable. Page 54

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Your Own CNC For Under $800 by James Floyd Kelly
An overview from the co-author of the new book Build Your Own CNC Machine. Page 60

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Direct Digital Wedding Rings by Jonathan Oxford
Create custom jewelry using CAD software and a 3D printer. Page 64

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Open Source Self-Replicator by Abe Connally
This plasma cutter promises tool inter-changeability, and synergy with its RepRap cousin. Page 66

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

CNC Machine Kit by Steve Lodefink
Meet the mighty micRo, a tabletop CNC robot kit from Lumenlab. Page 68

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

MakerBeam: Lego for Grownups by John Baichtal
An open source building system for project boxes, robots, and more. Page 70

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

3D Fabbing State of the Art by Gareth Branwyn
3D printing and desktop manufacturing innovators tell us what’s currently on their radars. Page 71

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Traditional Cigar Box Guitar by Mark Frauenfelder
Build this 3-string instrument that requires a minimum of tools and parts, yet sounds great. Page 76

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Geared Candleholder by Benjamin Cowden
Make an elegant, all-aluminum candleholder with a movement containing 3 handmade gears. Page 86

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Reaction Timer by Charles Platt
Use 555 timer chips to test your reflexes in this experiment excerpted from Make: Electronics. Page 96

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Drill Rod by Russ Byrer in Build Notes
Run a mini electric bike with a cordless drill. Page 108

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Safe Bamboo Swords by David Battino in 123
Padded weapons for play-fighting fun. Page 114

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

ESP/PSI Testing Lamp by John Iovine in DIY: Science
Watch the universe play dice, by detecting random radiation. Page 115

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Slow Down To Speed Up by Ken Murphy in DIY: Imaging
A smart, cheap setup for shooting long-duration time-lapse movies. Page 119

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Elemental Knowledge by Wendy Tremayne in DIY: Outdoors
Think you’ve mastered fire? Make and use a bow drill. Page 123

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Combo Snow Gun by Steven Lemos in DIY: Outdoors
Make snow with a pro-style gun for about $90. Page 125

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Gourd Lanterns by Diane Gilleland in DIY: Home
Drill patterns into hard-shell gourds and let the light shine through. Page 128

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Better Leather by Betz White in DIY: Home
Embellish leather using a woodburning technique. Page 131

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Intro To Scratch by Jeremy Kerfs in DIY: Kids
Make your own games and animations, free and easy. Page 133

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Magic Photo Cube by Ken Wade in DIY: Office
Make a fun, folding desktop photo display for about a buck. Page 136

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

"Glengarry" Brass Balls by Paul Spinrad in DIY: Office
This totemic desk toy assembles in 2 minutes. Page 138

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Automated Fan Speed Controller by Duane Wessels in DIY: Workshop
Steady temperatures in a server room, using the MAKE Controller. Page 139

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Electroluminescent (EL) Wire by Steve Boverie, Louis M. Brill in Skill Builder
Bring glow into your projects by learning how to work this flexible, durable material. Page 142

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Water Landing! by Lee D. Zlotoff in MakeShift
Legs are broken and time’s running short. Page 150

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Toolbox by Eric Ponvelle, Brian Kerfs, Sam Mason, Sean Michael Ragan, Adam Zeloof, Marc de Vinck, Justin Morris, Ed Troxell, John Edgar Park, Donald E. Simanek, Tim Lillis, Bruce Stewart, Gareth Branwyn, Arwen O'Reilly Griffith in Toolbox
A simply great calculator, laundry alternatives, a look at music, and the 3D camera you’ve been waiting for. Page 152

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Chinese South-Pointing Chariot by Donald E. Simanek in Toys, Tricks, and Teasers
For fun or function? A Chinese south-pointing chariot. Page 160

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Maker's Calendar by William Gurstelle in Maker's Calendar
Our favorite events from around the world. Page 163

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Instant Paddle by Tim Anderson in Heirloom Technology
Here’s a better, quicker, inexpensive way to make a paddle. Page 164

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Wind Chimes by Tom Parker in Make Money
Sometimes it costs more to buy it than to make it from the money itself. Page 167

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Benjamin Franklin’s Electrical Experiments by William Gurstelle in Remaking History
Benjamin Franklin and electricity. Page 168

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Cake Decorating Conundrum by Michael H. Pryor in Aha!
Cake Decorating Conundrum Page 175

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

My Big Fortune Teller by Roger Hess in Homebrew
Build your own Zoltar Speaks vintage fortune-teller machine straight from the 1988 film Big. Page 176

MAKE: Amends Errata for this volume.

Where it appears Traditional Cigar Box Guitar, Page 83
The error In Volume 21’s “Traditional Cigar Box Guitar,” the tuners were mistakenly mounted upside down, which will make the guitar more difficult to keep in tune. To mount them correctly, simply flip them so the string tension is always pulling the shaft toward the gear, not away from the gear.
Where it appears Reaction Timer, Page 105
The error In the schematic, S5 should be connected to the negative wire, not the positive wire.

Join the conversation -- every MAKE article has an online page that includes a place for discussion. We've made these RSS and Atom feeds to help you watch the discussions: subscribe.

Downloads & Extras

All the stuff you need to build the projects in MAKE, and exclusive online features direct from the staff of MAKE.

Volume 30»  Volume 29»  Volume 28»  

Connect with Make

 


Other Issues


Make: Volume 30 Cover Image Make: Volume 29 Cover Image Make: Volume 28 Cover Image Make: Volume 27 Cover Image Make: Volume 26 Cover Image Make: Volume 25 Cover Image Make: Volume 24 Cover Image Make: Volume 23 Cover Image

 


Current Discussions

Join the conversation - many MAKE articles have an online page that includes a place for discussion.

The Brain Machine -- Confused about leds
Hi Mitch, Certainly will give it a try and will post details when I've got something presentabl...

Mint-Tin Amp -- what is the use of R2
My electronic knowdges is poor,please tell me!...

The Brain Machine -- Confused about leds
Hi peckerdunne, Sounds like a cool project for making interesting visual effects. If you want to...

The Brain Machine -- Confused about leds
I'm just about finishing something similar. I'm using a msqeq7 (graphic equaliser) chip to ...

Sound Sucker -- From my dad..
(Posted for my father - who was having problems sending) The tone pressure wave travels down the ...

Make:Projects
A How-to Projects Community for Makers

Arduino
All You Need to Get Started with Arduino & More!