software

Finding Starter Projects: Free Software for Making

Finding Starter Projects: Free Software for Making

By Jessica Henricks

Jessica Henricks

Jessica designs art, making, and STEAM experiences for learners of all ages. She's developed and produced hands-on workshops, public programs, video media, project guides, and PD resources for organizations like Maker Media, the Exploratorium, and Franconia Sculpture Park. She holds a BFA in Sculpture from RISD and an EdM from Harvard.

She's shared hands-on activities with attendees at Maker Faires since 2007.

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By Michelle "Binka" Hlubinka

Michelle "Binka" Hlubinka

Michelle, or Binka, makes . While at Maker Media, she oversaw publications, outreach, and programming for kids, families, and schools. Before joining Maker Media in 2007, she worked at the Exploratorium, in Mitchel Resnick’s Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, and as a curriculum designer for various publishers and educational researchers. When she’s not supporting future makers, including her two young sons, Binka does some making of her own, most often as a visual artist.

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Learners and teachers have so many free options at their fingertips, we find that fewer are buying the higher-priced software. Just like with all kinds of making, with software these days you can do a lot with a little. Years ago, the costs of new software, especially those used by creative professionals, were prohibitive to […]

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Kerbal Space Program: Now with More Asteroid!

Kerbal Space Program: Now with More Asteroid!

By Alasdair Allan

Alasdair Allan

Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.

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Kerbal Space Program is the closest most of us are going to get to running our own space agency, and now NASA has stepped in and is collaborating with the game’s makers to improve it.

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Chris Lee Talks About Greebli.es and the Millennium Falcon Project

Chris Lee Talks About Greebli.es and the Millennium Falcon Project

By Ian Lee

Ian Lee

I'm a software engineer by day and maker by night. Most of my making revolves around woodworking, electronics, and the combination of the two. I'm also the founder & president of NashMicro - the Nashville Microcontrollers users' group and the father of three future makers. Follow me on Twitter as @ianlee74 or for the most recent news on everything Gadgeteer, follow @gadgeteerin.

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Chris Lee is no stranger to making really big projects a reality. At TEDx Nashville, he officially unveiled project Greebli.es, his next big adventure, and he needs your help.

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Differential Drive Simulator Plots the Path of a Robot

Differential Drive Simulator Plots the Path of a Robot

By John Baichtal

John Baichtal

My interests include writing, electronics, RPGs, scifi, hackers & hackerspaces, 3D printing, building sets & toys. @johnbaichtal nerdage.net

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Differential drive robots operate with two motorized wheels doing all of the propulsion and steering, with additional wheels serving only to maintain balance. This Processing-based program lets you steer a simulated robot around your screen while recording the simulated motors’ rotations.

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Free Alternatives to Tinkercad

Free Alternatives to Tinkercad

By Eric Weinhoffer

Eric Weinhoffer

Eric is a Mechanical Engineer with interests in machining, mass manufacturing, product design and kinetic art. While not building things, he enjoys skiing, cycling, and juggling.

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Creators of Tinkercad announced earlier this week that they would no longer be developing the popular cloud-based CAD tool. We’re fans of Tinkercad here at Make, having written about and praised it on the blog and in our Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing, so this is sad news. The free version is still available to use between now and the end of April, and paying customers will have access until the end of 2013.

Here are a few other free alternatives to TinkerCAD, starting with what I think is the most beginner-friendly and ending with the least beginner-friendly.

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