Welcome
Page 08
Make: 43 — Wires and Threads
Electronics shrink. Power requirements lessen. Capabilities compound. Processing speeds skyrocket. Interfacing options multiply. Today’s microcontrollers and microsized computers greatly surpass those of even just a year ago, making almost any project feasible. And some of the hottest projects right now come from the world of wearables.
What is a wearable, exactly? Some call the space “wearable electronics,” others “wearable computing.” We see it as something far broader than that. Wearable technology can be advanced electronic sensors and displays combined with everyday apparel, like Io Flament’s brainwave-sensing beanie (see page 60) and Jonathan Cook’s Open-Source Smartwatch (page 54), but it also includes the futuristic under-the-skin projects of a few daring body augmenters (page 53), as well as the mechanical technology in Keahi Seymour’s Bionic Boots (page 44).
In this issue of Make: we guide you through these examples and more. But first we’ll explain all the latest trends in electronics prototyping boards — including advanced wireless communication protocols — and which boards to keep an eye on. All of them smaller and more powerful than ever. Plus, build a Shishi Odoshi fountain to scare away animals from your garden, make two(!) R/C airplanes that are great for beginning pilots, capture stunning close-up photos with a microscope and a smartphone, and install a climbing wall in your backyard that doubles as a play structure.
Table of Contents
COLUMNS
Reader Input
Page 09
Bring the Bids Back Home
Alex Frommeyer
How — and why — your startup should consider onshore manufacturing.Page 10
Fully Immersed
DC Denison
Meet the creator of Nomiku, the connected sous vide stick.Page 11
The Worst Maker in the Room
Hans Gerhard Meier
Too much planning leaves too little time for making.Page 12
Made on Earth
Explore the amazing world of backyard technology.Page 14
Over the Top
James Burke
Finely crafted medieval battle armor ... for cats.Page 112
Special Section
Wires & Threads
Take a look at the latest wearable tech trends and the boards that power them.Page 20
A Smorgas-Board
Alasdair Allan
Wearables and IoT are driving diversity in the microcontroller market.Page 22
Intel Edison: Rapid Prototype
David Scheltema
The surprising maker backstory of Intel’s tiny, powerful computer.Page 26
Photographic Memory
Stephanie Moyermam
Teach Intel’s Edison to spot faces in images using OpenCV.Page 28
DIY Conductive Ink
Jordan Bunker
Mix up a homemade batch using some basic chemistry skills.Page 30
Under the Hood
Greta Lorge
An illustrated guide to wearables.Page 34
Body Boards
Boris Kourtoukov
Overview of wearable microcontrollers.Page 35
Projects on the Runway
Matt Richardson
This is what happens when Make: hosts a fashion show in New York.Page 36
What to Sense
Kate Hartman
How to select and use sensors in wearable electronics. Page 38
4 Fun Flora Projects
Leslie Birch
Bring your sci-fi fantasies to life with this sewable board. Page 42
The Fastest Man on Earth
Keahi Seymour
How maker Keahi Seymour built Bionic Boots to run like an ostrich.Page 44
Helping Hands
Nicolas Huchet
Nicolas Huchet created a 3D-printed robotic prosthetic hand — for himself.Page 48
Underware
Bo Moore
Subdermal devices are the cutting edge in wearables.Page 53
Open-Source Smartwatch
Jonathan Cook
Build a connected watch from off-the-shelf components and breakout boards.Page 54
Captivating Couture
Craig Couden and Hep Svadja
From mood-sensing displays to stunning light shows, the future of fashion is here.Page 56
Mind-Reading Beanie
IO Flament
Make an EEG hat that translates your brainwaves into colored light.Page 60
Get Your GIF On
Robert Tu
Download animated GIFs to a 16×16 LED matrix and wear your favorites. Page 61
PROJECTS
Shishi-Odoshi Rocking Fountain
Andrew Terranova
Scare critters away from your garden with gentle knocking.Page 62
DIY “Magic Shell” Chocolate Dip
Enrique DePola
Magically hardens in seconds — easy to make in minutes!Page 65
Dirty Dish Detector
Nick Normal and Jkridner
Use real-time computer vision software to track dish pile-ups.Page 66
Maker Trainer R/C Airplanes
Lucas Weakley
Build easy R/C airplanes with this video tutorial series.Page 68
Smart Rat Trap
The Brothers McKenty and Immanuel McKenty
Arduino + desperation = 21-stcentury rodent control.Page 72
Infrared Shooting Arcade
Widar Hellwig
“Light up” these targets and knock them down with IR LED guns.Page 76
Build-a-Bin Customizable Picking Bins
Dan Royer
Design custom-sized bins, then cut them by laser or by hand. Page 78
3 Fun Things to CNC
Dan Royer
The folks from Othermill give us their fave projects to route.Page 79
Backyard Climbing Wall
Bentoncalhoun
Build a real training wall that doubles as a kids’ playground.Page 80
Workshop Light Doorbell
Jason Poel Smith
Can’t hear the door? Hack a wireless doorbell for visual cue.Page 81
Tracking Planes with RTL-SDR
David Scheltema
Map commercial flights in the sky with an inexpensive software-defined radio.Page 82
Remaking History
William Gurstelle
Use safe, common chemicals to make DIY fire retardants.Page 84
When Projects Fail
Forrest M. Mims III
How a project gone wrong led to a career in science and tech.Page 86
Sure-Fire Projects for Young Makers
Michelle Hlubinka
How to make full-body stop-motion animation. Page 88
123: Keyboard Refrigerator Magnets
Jason Poel Smith
Use old keyboards to make alphabet refrigerator magnets.Page 89
Crypto Currency Tracker
Nick Normal
Know the current values of digital currencies in real-time.Page 90
123: Box Fan Beef Jerky
Laura Cochrane
Use an ordinary box fan and air filters to dry meat.Page 91
3D Printer Hacks and Mods
Eric Chu
Get the most from your 3D printer.Page 92
Toy Inventorʼs Notebook
Bob Knetzger
Make a magic, moving Valentine’s Day card. Page 93
SKILL BUILDERS
Digital Potentiometer
Charles Platt
Create patterns in light and sound — no microcontroller necessary.Page 94
Extreme Zoom
Ben Krasnow
Capture stunning close-ups with a microscope and phone.Page 98
How to Use a Breadboard
Sean Michael Ragan
An illustrated guide.Page 100
TOOLBOX
Tool Reviews
Tyler Winegarner
Recommendations for unique and useful maker tools, toys, and materials.Page 102
New Maker Tech
On the horizon for electronic accessories.Page 105
Books
Text tools for your bench or bedside table.Page 106
3D Printer Reviews
Matt Stultz
We test 3D System’s Cube 3 and Cube Pro.Page 108
