Welcome
Gareth Branwyn
Geek sports!Page 08
MAKE 33: Software for Makers
MAKE Volume 33 features projects for makers of all skill levels — Arduino projects, food, music, personal fabrication, electronics, and more. In our special Codebox section you’ll learn about software of interest to makers, including circuit board design, 3D CAD and printing, microcontrollers, and programming for kids, featuring Microsoft’s SmallBasic, Scratch, and the Kickstarter-funded project Makey Makey. And you’ll meet fascinating makers, like the maniacs behind the popular Power Wheels Racing events at Maker Faire.You’ll get 22 great DIY projects like the Optical Tremolo guitar effect, “Panjolele” cake-pan ukelele, Wii Nunchuk Mouse, CNC joinery tricks, treat-dispensing cat scratching post, laser-cut flexing wooden books, brewing sake, growing the incredibly hot “ghost chili” pepper, and more.
Table of Contents
COLUMNS
Reader Input
Laura Cochrane
Rocket sugar-rush, drill press safety, an energy-saving bear, and a trip down memory lane.Page 10
Making Makers
AnnMarie Thomas
Why make?Page 12
Maker’s Calendar
William Gurstelle
Events from around the world.Page 14
Made on Earth
The world of backyard technology.Page 16
FEATURES
Hack the Track
Goli Mohammadi
Move over Formula 1, the Power Racing Series is in town.Page 24
Going Pro
David Merrill
Makers are turning their hand-soldered prototypes into consumer electronics.Page 32
Building a Bot
*KendraMarkle* and Benjamin Bonner
Ben, Kendra, and Monsieur Tux the cat tackle the Rovera 2W Arduino Robot Kit.Page 36
Victorian Microtech
Tim Hunkin
Adventures in antique watch restoration. Page 39
Software for Makers
Goli Mohammadi
From tangible to digital and back again. Page 44
Code Kids
Lynn Langit
Start programming with SmallBasic Recipes. Page 51
The Banana Interface
Eric Rosenbaum and Amos Blanton
Control your world with Scratch and MaKey MaKey. Page 54
Hobby Horse
Eric Rosenbaum
Link Scratch to your bronco for rockin’ good times. Page 56
PROJECTS
Skill Builder: CNC Panel Joinery
Sean Michael Ragan
Make interlocking, self-aligning, and demountable joints in flat stock.Page 58
Laser-Cut Book Covers
Christian Waber and Jiskar Schmitz
Use this neat technique to make plywood flexible.Page 66
Simple Soundboard
Matt Richardson and Shawn Wallace
A getting-started project for Raspberry Pi. Page 68
DIY Welding Rod
Goli Mohammadi
Prepare for the apocalypse by rolling your own.Page 72
Panjolele
Chester Winowiecki
Start a ukulele craze with this great-sounding instrument built from household parts.Page 76
1+2+3: Dice Popper
Gus Dassios and Julie west
Page 87
Growing the Ghost
Gabriel Nagmay and Evan Hughes
Bhut Jolokia peppers are 125 times hotter than jalapeños.Page 88
Electronics: Fun & Fundamentals
Charles Platt
Make a key-card door lock.Page 92
Optical Tremolo
Nick Normal
Plug your guitar into light-programmable waveforms.Page 96
Country Scientist
Forrest M. Mims III
Explore your world through a pinhole.Page 104
Scratch-a-Treat
Phil Bowie and Larry Cotton
Build a snack-dispensing scratching post to make Kitty forget the couch and curtains.Page 108
Wii Nunchuk Mouse
Gabriel Bianconi
Bring console-style motion control to your PC.Page 118
1+2+3: Spray Bottle
Jason Poel Smith and Julie West
Page 121
Kanpai!
Brew sake at home.Page 122
Making Trouble
Sual Griffith
Build a solar-powered roasting spit.Page 127
Vinyl-Cut PCB Resist
Chris Connors
Etch your circuits the easy way — with a resist pattern you make on a vinyl cutter. Page 130
Counting Box
Nathan Pryor
Building a simple counting circuit for kids.Page 134
Howtoons: Abacus
Nick Dragotta
Long before written numbers existed, merchants used the abacus to count large numbers and calculate the cost of goods. Now you can make your own with easy-to-find household supplies!Page 140
Remaking History
William Gurstelle
Abraham Lincoln and the political campaign torch. Page 142
Homebrew
Tony Adams
Nixie tube chess set. Page 146
Toolbox
Sliver grippers, screw pliers, Typhoon burs, universal clamps, books galore, and the latest in Arduino.Page 148
Toy Inventor’s Notebook
Bob Knetzger
Gnome math required!Page 160
