From the MAKE Flickr pool Eschlaep shares details on building a 2-axis joystick from scavenged VCR and computer mouse parts – Well, the other day I found another idler wheel from the same VCR, and I decided to share the construction technique so that you can make one too. It’s pretty simple and takes an […]
This is a really interesting solution to a relatively common problem of implementing a whole house intercom system. Keep in mind, many of today’s phones already have an intercom feature, but it isn’t nearly as satisfying to use as one based on an Arduino. You can really learn a lot about electronics and micro controllers […]
This winter, my dad and I took up the project of building a simple pedal-powered cell phone charger to mount on my bicycle. Cell phones are small potatoes in the big picture of energy consumption, but the apparatus we built could be a very practical concept for those on self-supported bike tours or those living […]
One of my favorite things at this year’s Maker Faire was iFixIt’s repair area. They had obviously worked their butts off to create a really cool environment conducive to teaching people about fixing their own cars, home appliances and electronics gear. They had awesome displays, like physical exploded view “diagrams” of handheld devices, using the […]
Makers is a beautiful hardbound book that introduces you to a brigade of citizen engineers making their own cameras, clocks, airplanes, submarines, musical instruments, weapons, medical equipment, energy- saving devices, robots, and houses. They create their own tools to explore the outer atmosphere, the deep sea, and the behavior of tiny flies in their backyard. […]
During Maker Faire, people of all stripes were riding these crazy junkcycles around. I took a moment to speak with Tom Kabat, their creator on Sunday. Tom and his bikes were a mainstay of Bike Town, an area of Maker Faire that featured many bike builders and their projects. A former serious cyclist who still […]
I made this minimalist table lamp from three ready-made components: 1) a burner tripod lab stand from The Science Company, 2) a 5″ globe incandescent light bulb, and 3) a socket extension cord from the hardware store. It works and looks great, and the total cost is about $20 US. The 5″ globe light bulbs […]
