Year: 2013

Making Music, Teaching English with Popsicle Sticks

Making Music, Teaching English with Popsicle Sticks

Ian Thacker’s blog is called DIY family. True to the blog’s name, it includes great projects from his talented wife and son, too. One of the projects that caught my eye was a popsicle stick-encased stereo amplifier with speakers Ian built from used CD spool cases. One of his students wanted a cheap stereo to take to college so he designed it for easy construction, affordability, and cool design. It’s all of that. The project is built around a $33 8-watt amp. He later had four students without prior electronics experience build their own and he said they did so with ease.

Takeout Container ROV Controller

Takeout Container ROV Controller

I saw Chris Connors’ Laser Clicker in Maker Faire New York last September. It’s a great idea: an enclosure made from a plastic takeout container, some laser-cut acrylic parts, holding three self-made DPDT switches. Chris built the rig to control a SeaPerch ROV or some other 3-motor robot. More photos of the project.