Welcome
Dale Dougherty
Page 08
MAKE 40: Makerspaces
From TechShops to Fab Labs, makerspaces are popping up around the country and the world, helping makers gain experience, develop support networks, and build bigger and better than ever before. Volunteer-run or professional, membership- or employee-based, non- or for-profit, theyʼre offering tools, education, and space to makers who donʼt have a home shop or who want to go beyond it.
Part recreational shop, part product incubator, part R&D lab, part community center, they cater to — and help define — a growing, decentralized hub of the maker world. These are places where makers are safe, welcome, comfortable, and free to pursue their goals, where innovation and creativity is fostered, learning is encouraged, and community trumps just about everything.
In these pages youʼll see some makerspaces up close, as well as look at what they can do and how theyʼre growing. Youʼll see some of their tools and their builds, and maybe youʼll be inspired to check one out in your area. Welcome to the Geek Club.
Table of Contents
COLUMNS
Reader Input
Page 10
Right to Repair
Kyle Wiens
Fight for your right to truly own your things.Page 12
7 Cornerstones of Making with Kids
Jennifer Turliuk and Andyforest
MakerKids shares their recipe for a successful makerspace.Page 13
Made on Earth
Explore the amazing world of backyard technology.Page 14
FEATURES
Audacious by Design
Stett Holbrook
Berkeley, California’s Project H looks to the future of K-12 education by equipping kids with tools, skills, and confidence.Page 20
From Cubicle to Clock Repair
Dug North
How maker Dug North took the leap to follow his passion for making.Page 24
Meticulous Machines
Eric Weinhoffer
What Other Machine’s Eric Weinhoffer learned about the challenges of manufacturing high-resolution CNC mills.Page 26
SPECIAL SECTION
Raise a CNC Makerspace Shed
Rick Schertle and Lendy dunaway
Build a big, customizable, stand-alone workshop for about $1,000.Page 30
FabLabs @ 10
The Fab Lab Global Network
Ten years of making (almost) anything.Page 34
Turn Codes into Things
Matt Keeter
Free, open-source parametric CAD bred for CAM from the beginning.Page 38
Most Interesting Makerspaces
Make: Editors
It’s not the size or the tools, it’s about inspiring makers and building communityPage 40
Snap Shot
Make: Editors
A peek inside Sector 67 in Madison, WI.Page 44
Industrial Instruments
Stuart Deutsch
Sometimes the right tool for the job can’t be found at home. Page 46
Makerspace to Market
Travis Good
You may be surprised (or not) at these products developed at makerspaces.Page 48
Bizarro Builds
Mike Senese
These oversized, outlandish makerspace projects prove anything is possible with the right mix of brains and brawn. Page 49
Kicking Gas
Jack Hegenauer
Building an electric car is the perfect collaboration project for a makerspace.Page 50
Where are the Women?
Georgiaguthrie
Hint: It’s not because they aren’t interested in hacking and building.Page 52
TechShopʼs Not-So-Secret Ingredient
Nathan Hurst
Staying polished and profitable.Page 54
How to Make a Makerspace
Molly Rubenstein
Six things to know before starting.Page 59
SKILL BUILDERS
Custom Sound
Charles Platt and Fredrik Jansson
Shape sound waves with timer chips to create your own digital sampling system emulator. Page 60
The Skinny on End Mills
Tyler Worman
Interested in CNC routing but clueless about tooling? We’ve got you covered.Page 64
PROJECTS
R/C Omniwheel Robot
Dirk Swart
Build an easy holonomic “Kiwi drive” platform that moves instantly in any direction.Page 66
A Modern Mobile
Marco Mahler
Swivels and a weight give flexibility and stability to this contemporary design. Page 70
F-F-Fiddle
David Perry
Build a full-size FFF 3D-print- able electric violin.Page 74
Zip-Tie Lounge Chair
Will Holman
Forty-four cable ties. A half-sheet of plywood. Streamlined comfort for the nomadic maker. Page 79
Face Recognition Treasure Safe
Tony DiCola and David Scheltema
Build a RasPi-powered safe where your face is the key.Page 80
Vinyl Digitizer Phono Preamp
Ross Hershberger
Convert LPs and 45s to sound files and take your music into the future.Page 82
Brew a Vintage IPA
Ronald Pattinson
Re-create the dry, highly hopped ale that quenched the thirst of the British Empire.Page 86
Etch a Kettle with a 9V Battery
Matt Bates
Use this trick to mark stainless steel or aluminum.Page 87
Remaking History
William Gurstelle
Developed by a Manhattan Project alum, the air muscle is still important today.Page 88
Fond o’ Bondo
Larry Cotton and Phil Bowie
An illustrated guide to the creative side of body filler.Page 90
Vibration Sensors
Forrest M. Mims III
Detect motion with DIY sensors better than your smartphone’s.Page 92
Hot Outdoor Projects
Nathan Hurst
Ten great backyard projects toliven up your summer.Page 94
Circuit Stickers
Caleb Kraft
Just peel and stick to make instant circuits.Page 96
Godzilla Detector
John Iovine
Fit a classic Cold-War Geiger counter with new digital guts.Page 97
Sure-Fire Projects for Young Makers
Samantha Matalone Cook
Use recycled materials to create fantastic worlds for tiny, easy-to-build BrushBots.Page 98
123: Party Popper Toy Cannon
Paul Rawlinson
Bring some “bang” to your desktop wars.Page 99
Toy Inventor's Notebook
Bob Knetzger
Can you build super-cheap electronic dice?Page 100
Homebrew: Water-Cooled Pillow
Victor Konshin
Do you hate a hot pillow at night? You’re not alone.Page 112
TOOLBOX
Tool Reviews
Recommendations for unique and useful maker tools, toys, and materials.Page 102
New Maker Tech
On the horizon for electronic accessories. Page 106
Books
Text tools for your bench or bedside table.Page 109
