Move over R2D2! BB-8, the adorable new Star Wars droid, stole the show when it rolled on stage at this year’s Star Wars Celebration. In Make: Vol. 46 we show you how three Makers approached building their very own working BB-8 bots, and how you can build one, too!
Then, look at ways to trick out your favorite vehicle in this issue’s special section. From detailing electric car and bicycle builds to customizing your connected car dashboard to clever bicycle hacks for riders on the go, there’s nothing as DIY as hot-rodding your wheels.
Plus, get these full how-tos: Build a million-color flashlight using NeoPixel LEDs, 3D-print a sweet R/C race car, craft a surprisingly realistic rose out of duct tape, and much more.
Take a sneak peek at projects and articles from the issue!
BB-8 Uses Omniwheels and Beaglebone for Self-Balancing Head
Create your very own full-size Star Wars BB-8 self-balancing robot using these instructions.
- Posted by Eric Boehlke | November 20th, 2015 6:00 AM
Build a PVC Water Balloon Cannon
Let's add a new weapon to your water fight arsenal and build a pneumatic water balloon cannon. This is an easy project to put together. For about $20 and 20 minutes of time you can return fire across the street, down the street, or even to the next block if you want.
- Posted by Jason Fabbri | September 16th, 2015 5:30 AM
8 Easy Bike Hacks to Build Right Now
From a simple spoke amplifier to monitors that gather useful data, there's sure to be a bike hack out there that will elevate your ride.
- Posted by Donald Bell | August 27th, 2015 7:30 AM
Power Your Project: How to Choose the Right Battery
There are many types of battery chemistries, and each one has its own different characteristics. So which one to choose? We’ll cover the basic features for each battery type in order to help you decide which one is right for you.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | July 30th, 2015 5:00 AM
How Henry Bessemer Helped Forge the Age of Steel
While looking for a way to strengthen cannon barrels, Bessemer discovered better ways of making steel.
- Posted by William Gurstelle | July 29th, 2015 10:20 AM
This High-Performance Electric Vehicle Kit Can Be Built in a Week
What started as an idea to produce our own simple, fun, affordable electric vehicle has evolved into a DIY project easily assembled by nearly anyone. The Switch defines a new class of auto — a lightweight, high-capacity, versatile electric vehicle (EV) that requires minimal resources to construct, assemble, and drive.
- Posted by Peter Oliver and Jim McGreen | July 29th, 2015 6:00 AM
Build a Burly Wooden Scooter That Can Haul Hundreds of Pounds
Build the Congolese workhorse that can haul hundreds of pounds of cargo.
- Posted by Doug Bradbury | July 28th, 2015 7:00 AM
How to Build a No-Screws, Snap-Together, 3D Printed R/C Car
3D print and snap together this little race car with a brushless motor, Flutter wireless microcontrollers, and a few bucks of filament.
- Posted by Taylor Alexander | July 26th, 2015 5:00 AM
Sourcing Parts to Create the Cutest Racing Go-Kart Ever
Designing and building the Chibi-Mikuvan go-kart for the Power Racing Series was no easy feat.
- Posted by Charles Z Guan | July 23rd, 2015 7:00 AM
Review: Printrbot Metal Plus
Following the metal-framed makeover of its smaller simple sibling, the Printrbot Metal Plus transitions from a laser-cut wood frame to a new, beautiful powder-coated metal housing. The sturdy frame offers a number of upgrades over the previous generation, getting great results in our tests. It holds a z-axis that’s been beefed up from the last […]
- Posted by Chris Yohe | July 21st, 2015 2:29 PM
Carbon Origins: From Hobbyist Rockets to a Space Tech Business
The founders of Carbon Origins moved to the desert to launch rockets. It was harder than they expected.
- Posted by Nathan Hurst | July 21st, 2015 7:00 AM
Maker’s Dashboard
Don’t let the limited features of your car’s dashboard get you down. Here are nine projects that will help you customize your cockpit.
- Posted by Donald Bell | June 29th, 2015 1:30 PM
Over the Top: A Brief History of 21st Century BattleMechs
When historians of the future look back on the history of giant mechanized robot warriors, they'll say it all started with BattleBots.
- Posted by James Tiberius Burke | June 29th, 2015 12:53 PM
Maker Pro Q&A: Stuck on Sugru
Sugru is a “moldable glue” that has found a place in many Maker toolboxes. Inventor Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh talks about finding her product’s niche.
- Posted by DC Denison | June 29th, 2015 11:00 AM
How Middle Schoolers Reinvented the First Text Message System
Looking at historical inventions is a way for students to interact with technology and understand it.
- Posted by Dale Dougherty | June 29th, 2015 11:00 AM
40,000 Balloons Compose This 5-Story Indoor Seascape
The Amazing Air-Filled Under-Sea Adventure used more than 40,000 balloons to fill the building’s five-story atrium.
- Posted by Agnes Niewiadomski | June 29th, 2015 11:00 AM
MacGyver a Semi-Auto Coffee Roaster from 3 Cordless Screwdrivers
Three cordless screwdrivers and a microcontroller = perfect small batch coffee roasting.
- Posted by Larry Cotton | June 24th, 2015 4:59 PM
Will a Vague Copyright Law Keep You from Hacking Your Car?
Will a vague copyright law affect the scope of what hobbyists and modders can do with their vehicles?
- Posted by Benjamin Preston | June 24th, 2015 3:53 PM
What’s Inside: Anatomy of a Monowheel
Monowheels, by their very nature, are fairly simple machines; after all they only have one wheel! They work by driving a seated base around the inside of a circular track to push it forward — you might think of them as a perpetual roller coaster.
- Posted by Dave Southall | June 24th, 2015 3:10 PM
Learn to Solder the Adorable Pixel Pal Chip
Soldering is fun and with a little practice it is a skill that anyone can master. Lets start with assembling Chip and his Pixel Power base and then we can plug him into an Arduino and program his eyes.
- Posted by Paul Gentile (The Hobby Guy) | June 24th, 2015 3:03 PM
Howtoons: Build a Pinewood Derby Track at Home
There are not many kids (or adults) who don't know what the Pinewood Derby is, but if it wasn't a part of your childhood, here is your chance to build your own pinewood derby track and car right at home.
- Posted by Howtoons | June 24th, 2015 2:38 PM
Track Night-Launched Projectiles with LEDs
Have fun and do science by flying toy rockets with an LED tracking light.
- Posted by Forrest M. Mims III | June 24th, 2015 2:20 PM
Build a Delay Timer that Doesn’t Suck (Energy)
Build a clever timer circuit that draws no current at all between cycles — zero power!
- Posted by Charles Platt | June 24th, 2015 2:12 PM
Heat-Treat Steel for a Rubber Band Shooter
Learn how to heat-treat and toughen the metal that built our world: carbon steel.
- Posted by William Gurstelle | June 24th, 2015 2:08 PM
Intricate Paper Sculptures Make Microbes Beautiful
Rogan Brown makes four-dimensional paper sculptures of microbes. He calls himself a scientific surrealist, and the fourth dimension is time.
- Posted by Laura Rena Murray | June 24th, 2015 1:46 PM
5 Techniques to Spray Paint Like a Pro
Using spray paint may seem like a straightforward process, but if you’re not familiar with it, the results can be disappointing. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your paint job comes out as beautiful as you’d expect.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | June 24th, 2015 12:46 PM
Skill Builder: Know Your Rivets
Rivets are one of the oldest, most reliable methods for permanently fastening two materials together. Here we’ll look at two of the most common rivets used in the home workshop.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | June 24th, 2015 11:34 AM
Learn the Basics of Spread Spectrum R/C
Entering the world of radio-control (R/C) hobbies can be a little daunting. To make it a bit easier to get started, we’ll cover the basics of 2.4GHz spread spectrum radio control, and the different pieces of a typical R/C system.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | June 24th, 2015 11:29 AM
How to Choose, Cut, and Bend Sheet Metal
Sheet metal comes in many varieties and sizes. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get that shiny sheet into your desired shape.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | June 24th, 2015 11:12 AM
Toy Inventor’s Notebook: Footstep Sand Stampers
Here’s a fun and easy project for summer: Hack a pair of flip-flops so they make designs in the sand as you walk. Just add a bit of Sugru to your sandals and start stamping!
- Posted by Bob Knetzger | June 24th, 2015 11:00 AM
Make a Waterproof Bike Light from Soda Bottle Caps
This automatic bicycle light from recycled and found parts is about the most eco-friendly DIY bike light in the world.
- Posted by Nikos Mavrikakis | April 7th, 2015 7:00 AM
Million Color HSL Flashlight
Bring fun back to the flashlight with Arduino and full-color NeoPixel LEDs. Just twiddle the knobs and dial up any hue, saturation, and light level to create millions of colors — and 10 fun flashlight modes to play with.
- Posted by Dan Rasmussen | March 28th, 2015 8:30 AM
How I Built My First Electric Bike
My goal was an easy-to-make, low cost electric bike that was both powerful and reliable. Here's how I did it.
- Posted by Parker Jardine | January 14th, 2015 1:01 PM
Cycle Chaser
Project animations from the rear of your bicycle using a Raspberry Pi and open-source software. The framerate of the animation depends on the speed you are moving at.
- Posted by Matt Richardson | November 20th, 2014 11:30 AM
Custom Soda Cooler
The heat of summer is upon us. With this DIY build, you can take your whole 12 pack out of the fridge, stick it in your cooler, and go.
- Posted by Jason Poel Smith | July 9th, 2013 9:01 AM
Realistic Duct Tape Rose
It’s surprising the number of things you can do with duct tape. This project is my attempt at creating a duct tape rose that is as realistic as possible. Here’s a video of the build: And here’s how I did it, step by step.
- Posted by Jason Poel Smith | December 18th, 2012 11:00 PM