Kits

xkcd’s submarine ROV

xkcd’s submarine ROV

Renowned webcomic artist Randall Munroe built a submersible ROV starting with a commercially-available parts kit: The kit comes with a good set of underwater motors and a sensitive camera, and this summer I started modifying it to use an Arduino and joystick control, running the whole thing over Cat-5 cable (which significantly lightened the tether). […]

In the Maker Shed: Gakken SX-150

The Gakken SX-150 has always been a really popular kit in the Maker Shed. We have posted a lot of projects that involve hacking and modifying of the SX-150. We’ve see Arduino controlled versions, fooling around with plasma, incredible analog cassette hacks, button mods, and more! Collin did a really nice video review too! Did you hack and mod your SX-150? Are you planning on it? Let us know in the comments. Thanks!

Impressive laser-cut wooden Mars rover model

Impressive laser-cut wooden Mars rover model

Back in April I blogged about the plans and kits for this and other elaborate laser-cut wooden models available from WoodMarvels.com. At the time, I snarked a bit about how all the images on their website are actually CG renderings, implying that, with models that complicated, it’d be nice to have some reassurance that somebody, somewhere, had put together a real physical version in the real physical world before giving up the green. Well, MAKE pal and dynamite CNC contractor Angus Hines sprung for a set of plans, cut the parts on his own equipment, and took these cool photos of the assembled model on red clay to suggest the Martian surface. [Thanks, Angus!]

Ganging up your Larson Scanners

You’re likely already familiar with the Larson Scanner kit, created by Evil Mad Scientist Labs and carried in the Maker Shed. Named after Glen A. Larson, the man behind the original Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider TV shows, it’s a microcontrolled 9-LED display that emulates the back and forth panning light patterns used on the […]