As part of our Weekend Projects series of beginner-friendly electronics projects, the 555 Timer Ball Whacker proves that you don’t always need a microprocessor to perform complex actions. This project uses similar components to some of our other Weekend Projects, and will also introduce you to the field of cybernetics, or “self-governing” principles.
I am probably flattering myself, taking any sort of credit for inspiring this sweet custom temperature controller built by Adafruit reader Mike to keep his beer-brewing fridge at a constant temperature. Like my recent project, it simultaneously controls AC-powered heating and cooling equipment to maintain a constant temperature, and is mounted in a CANTEX PVC junction box. But there the similarities pretty much end: Whereas I used a cheap off-the-shelf thermostat module from China, Mike built and programmed his own controller using an Arduino for brains, an Xbee for remote temperature control and data logging, and a cool multicolor LED display with letters that turn red when the system is heating, blue when it is cooling, and green when it is at the correct temperature.
Recently, I posted about German firm Serrox Technischer Handel’s video showing an interesting alternative to the basic slab-joint method for building an acrylic box. Their technique, which involves cutting 90-degree V-grooves almost all the way through the plastic, has much to recommend it over the slab-joint method, with the exception that they use a very expensive custom V-shaped sawblade to cut the grooves. I wondered, at the time, whether it might not work just or almost as well with a cheap 90-degree V-groove router bit, and with some encouragement from Angus Hines, I decided to try it, myself.
To date, most of our Weekend Projects, by design, have been battery-powered, save our inaugural project, the USB Webcam Microscope, which uses a USB cable (5V) as its power supply. In our Floating Glow Display project, the battery clip even provided a sculptural element, doubling as the base for our display. Our latest project still uses batteries, only now, you’ll never need to swap them out for fresh power! The Solar TV Remote project will teach you first and foremost how to fabricate a solar power pack capable of supplying two rechargeable AA batteries with 3V of renewable energy goodness!
Here’s another super-simple mod from Weekend Projects, our beginner-friendly electronics series where we introduce you to projects you can make in a weekend. Actually, the Solar TV Remote should only take you a couple of hours once you’ve gathered all your parts.
I can’t believe it was just a week ago today that makers were finishing preparations for the 2nd annual World Maker Faire in NYC. We did our best to cover the event in real-time, using services such as our Posterous-powered Maker Faire Daily (a good read a week later, I might add), but lots of content is still trickling in.
As part of our Plastics theme, we’ve uploaded Charles Platt’s excellent ABS Plastic Fantastic Desk Set article from MAKE Volume 10. By the time you’re done, you’ll have three handsome, handmade desk set pieces (a pen holder, a CD caddy/drawer, and a book/magazine stand) and a great introduction to working with ABS. What is “ABS” you ask?
