Reader Input
Notes from readers like you. Page 06
Make: Volume 73 — Makers Combating Covid-19
The Covid-19 crisis has been a defining moment for the maker movement. Groups and individuals are designing and producing personal protective equipment like face shields and masks, forming grassroots organizations to deliver equipment to medical professionals, and engaging with doctors and nurses to improve the designs and materials they’re producing.
We’re calling this civic response from makers all over the world “Plan C,” the backup plan for the backup plan. In this issue we highlight the Plan C people and projects that have driven the maker response and saved lives, and show the DIY PPE you can make to help your community too.
We also showcase projects and tips to get you through shelter-in-place orders, like building a 20-second musical hand soap dispenser, transitioning to homeschooling, and delving into webcasting tech. And there are a few kid-friendly projects to help your parents keep your sanity.
Plus, over 39 projects including:
- Build a mini jacob’s ladder
- Make a fully functional cell phone with a rotary dial
- Tell time with a unique “rewrite” clock using sequins
- and much more!
On the Cover: Physiotherapist Marine Sacco wears a snorkel mask modified with a 3D printed adapter to fit an air filter, while working in a Covid unit of a Belgian hospital. Credits: Albert De Beir–VUB/Brubotics, Adobe Stock–korkeng (background), and Mike Senese (cell phone).
Table of Contents
Columns
Welcome: Everything’s Changed
Mike Senese
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected us all, and made us rethink this issue right before our deadline.Page 08
Made on Earth
Backyard builds from around the globe.Page 10
Features
New Power Nation
Saul Griffith
How we’ll remake America’s infrastructure to electrify everything. Part 3 of the Fix Our Planet series.Page 16
Native Optimization
Kieth Hammond
The Diné Maker Nation Maker Faire highlighted the high-tech future of the Navajo Nation. Page 22
Combating COVID-19
Makers: The Countermeasures for Covid-19
Dale Dougherty
Self-organizing efforts and a widely distributed infrastructure provided for a unique civic response from makers to fight Covid-19. Here are the groups, people, and designs that are saving lives. Page 28
Homeschool How-To
Bob, Christine, and Jonathan Pappas
A quick primer for families now educating their kids at home. Page 46
Community Broadcast Services
Mike Senese
Watch and create your own virtual classes and webinars with these tech tools. Page 50
Homesteading Is the New Normal
Mike Senese
Brush up on your self-sufficiency skills to overcome staple shortages.Page 54
Pump Up the Jams
Adnan Aga and Taylor Tabb
Zap coronavirus with the Scrubber, a Spotify-playing, 20-second hand-wash timer. Page 56
Low Fidelity Prototyping Cart
Matthew Wettergreen
Create a collection of common materials to help you keep on making while sheltered in place.Page 60
Family Maker Camp
Cooped Up With the Kids
Mario the Maker Magician
Keep everyone engaged, entertained, and educated with Family Maker Camp, live now!Page 62
World Wide Boomerang
Slater Harrison
This easy-to-build flyer comes back, indoors and out. Page 64
Easy Family Projects to Do at Home
A collection of past Make: projects you can probably make with stuff already lying around the house. Page 68
Projects
Digital Revolution
Justine Haupt
Take a break from your touchscreen and dial up your friends the traditional way on this rotary cell phone. Page 72
My Monkey Companion Bot
Jorvon “Odd Jayy” Moss
Build a fun robot monkey you can customize, wear with you on adventures, or use as an avatar. Page 78
Backyard Wind Power
Ulrich Schmerold
Make a simple generator that powers your small projects from the breeze. .Page 84
Mini Jacob’s Ladder
Heinz Behling
This pocket-sized ladder is easy to make for just $20. You’ll be rewarded with a real high-voltage eye-catcher. Page 90
Sequino!
Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi
How one maker made a unique “rewrite” clock with Arduino, CNC, and sequins. Page 96
Comprehending Capacitors
Charles Platt
A capacitor stores electricity, as you will see in this experiment from our book, Easy Electronics. Page 100
Pick and Pull PC Projects
Samer Najia
Three fun projects you can build with salvaged computer parts. Page 104
Toy Inventor’s Notebook: Don’t Drop Your Bot!
Bob Knetzger
High-tech fabrication meets low-tech play action. Page 110
1+2+3: Mini Ground Effect Vehicles
Doug Stith
Experiment with the world’s lowest-flying aircraft. Page 112
Skill Builder
Green Grain Glazes
Tim Sway
Study up on quality woodworking finishes that won’t destroy the world. Page 114
MIDI for Makers
Tim Deagan
The 38-year-old standard for musical instrument interfacing is still a useful tool for tunes and art alike. Page 118
Toolbox
Toolbox
Gear up with the latest tools and kits for makers. Page 122
