timer

Prison Door System Built Using Only Timers and Relays

Prison Door System Built Using Only Timers and Relays

By Michael Colombo

Michael Colombo

In addition to being an online editor for MAKE Magazine, Michael Colombo works in fabrication, electronics, sound design, music production and performance (Yes. All that.) In the past he has also been a childrens' educator and entertainer, and holds a Masters degree from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program.

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When the trustees of a southern prison insist that no microprocessors or transistors be used to create a new door and gate locking system, a young engineer springs into action with relays and timers.

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Swim Timer for Late Night Laps

Swim Timer for Late Night Laps

By Matt Richardson

Matt Richardson

Matt Richardson is a San Francisco-based creative technologist and Contributing Editor at MAKE. He’s the co-author of Getting Started with Raspberry Pi and the author of Getting Started with BeagleBone.

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Doug had a problem to solve: when he swims early in the morning, there’s not enough light to see the pool’s pace clock at the end of the lane. Like any good maker, he devised his own solution. He built a waterproof swim timer that uses an LED display to show your time.

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DIY Hardware-Based Freelance Time Tracker

DIY Hardware-Based Freelance Time Tracker

By Matt Richardson

Matt Richardson

Matt Richardson is a San Francisco-based creative technologist and Contributing Editor at MAKE. He’s the co-author of Getting Started with Raspberry Pi and the author of Getting Started with BeagleBone.

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Our friend Raphael Abrams from NYC Resistor needs to track the hours he works as a freelancer but none of the solutions out there work very well for him. He therefore decided to make his own hardware-based detonator-style time tracker which he calls “Puncher.” The source code and schematics are available to download if you’d […]

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555 timer cake

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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From the MAKE Flickr photo pool For InterAccess’ “555 Timer Night” at Open Studio, they made this 555 IC cake, inspired by EMS Labs’ circuitry snacks. Nice to have the data sheet handy so you know what you’re eating. Those 23 transistors, 2 diodes, and 16 resistors may look hidden inside that tiny DIP, but […]

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