The Sun Logger is a data logging device that records changes in light-brightness over time. This project will introduce you to the art of making your own Arduino shield, and record data to a SD card that can later be graphed and represented visually.
These apparently sold out fast, and the price is no longer listed, but a little bird told me they were going for $25. A really great idea, for when you’re done prototyping and ready to launch your mint-tin project out of a cannon, into high orbit, to the bottom of a lake, whatever
We’ve already had some great reader suggestions for Natural Materials month. The first that caught my eye this morning is from MAKE pal and Flickr-pool-roundup regular John Honniball, aka anachrocomputer, who directs our attention to the use of natural slate panels as insulators in vintage electrical equipment. Above, a beautiful example from the Canada Science and Technology Museum…
MAKE pal Aaron Ristau makes and sells these lovely wireless mice given the deluxe retro-robo-junk-art treatment. At $180 apiece, they’re a bit rich for my blood, but have inspired me to maybe try reskinning a peripheral or two of my own.
Great looking results from the very accessible process of toner transfer galvanic etching, by Rab. [via Hacked Gadgets]
Adafruit’s most recent Part Finder Friday column featured these cool no-nonsense BUD USB 7201-C polycarbonate USB dongle cases, available at Digi-Key and Mouser and probably other places. They cost about $2 apiece if you’re only buying a couple and come in three pieces—two snap-together clamshell halves plus a connector cap—and take a 19x45mm circuit board, which seems to be a pretty common PCB size among commercial USB keys. I just ordered two to re-skin some generic thumb drives I own with bulky cases that won’t fit into the back port of my Xbox 360.. Good find, guys!
Effective, easy, inexpensive process from Briton James Williamson. Well-documented, too. James starts with laser-engraved panels, rubs them with black crayon, and removes the excess with a buffing process using paper soaked in mineral spirits. Nice work, James! [via Hacked Gadgets]
