Mechanical Engineering

The MakeShift Challenge: Mounting a “Super Cow” on a Tower Crane

The MakeShift Challenge: Mounting a “Super Cow” on a Tower Crane

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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Do you think you could hoist a fiberglass super cow onto a 40-story tower crane for $20?

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Marvelous Mechanisms with Ben Light

Marvelous Mechanisms with Ben Light

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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Fun and clever designs for various physical mechanism by artist, designer, and mechanical engineer, Ben Light.

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6 Common Problems to Avoid When Building a Strandbeest

By Jeremy S Cook

Jeremy S Cook

Jeremy is an engineer with 10 years experience at his full-time profession, and has a BSME from Clemson University. Outside of work he’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind!

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Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest has no doubt inspired many makers. Here’s some tips if you’d like to recreate your own.

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“Metamaterials” Allow You to 3D Print Simple Machines

“Metamaterials” Allow You to 3D Print Simple Machines

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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Materials with specially-designed internal microstructures deform to create macroscopic motion.

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Maker Spotlight: Blue Martin

Maker Spotlight: Blue Martin

By James Tiberius Burke

James Tiberius Burke

is a graphic designer for Make: Magazine. His life is defined by three B's: Bikes, Burgers, Battlestar Galactica. Tiny electric car enthusiast and founder of the Power Racing Series. (www.powerracingseries.org)

Also helped start a hackerspace that one time and tricked himself into thinking he didn't write this in the third person.

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When she’s not refereeing roller derby or caring for her pet pigs, Blue Martin can be found whizzing around a racetrack in a tiny electric waffle.

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Building a Sturdy, Steel Sliding Mount for 3 Computer Monitors

Building a Sturdy, Steel Sliding Mount for 3 Computer Monitors

By Jeremy S Cook

Jeremy S Cook

Jeremy is an engineer with 10 years experience at his full-time profession, and has a BSME from Clemson University. Outside of work he’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind!

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Faced with the prospect of moving three times in one year, Mitch Willing built a sliding steel mount for his 3 monitors and computer.

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3D Print a Motorized Star Wars AT-AT

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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A maker creates an almost entirely 3D printable AT-AT walker from Star Wars and shares the files.

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