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October 31, 2008

Star Wars AT-ST (Chicken walker) costume

Painteddone3
Winnah Atst 2008
The trend this year - chicken walkers! Chebosto writes -

For this year's costume I was going to do the new Takara R35 GTR Transformer Toy as a costume, but i wanted to change it up a bit this year... plus all my friends were like.. do something else.. i was watching Return of the Jedi on DVD during a recent business trip, and i'm like. whoa... bipedal vehicles.. i totally forgot about the Chicken walker.
i started doing some drawings.. and then bought a Lego AT-ST to get a scale model in front of me..

i intend on doing it semi puppet like. my feet/legs will be all in black, then 'slip' into the feet (or harnesses to the side of the feet) of the AT-ST so when i move my own legs it will move the legs of the AT-ST. the legs/torso of the AT-st will be mounted in a suspender like rigging so it will stay on my hips while i move. Rubber bands inside the legs near the hinges will return it to the neutral state and prevent it from sagging due to the multiple links in the ostrich legs... then my upper torso will be in the 'head' and i'll be able to move the cannons and lasers with my hands.. to mount the head to my body, i was thinking of using a backpack rigging similar to that of a hiking pack with a skeleton structure, and strapping the head to this rig so that i can move the head of the at-st to one side but still have my feet facing forward as i walk.. for the entry port at the top of the AT-st. i'll cut a hole, and have Chewbacca stick out at the top, which will be stuck to a hat that i'll be wearing so when i move my head, it'll look like Chewy will be moving around up there.

materials used (& planned to use): alot of cardboard, corrugated plastic, foam board, pop rivets, super duct tape, velcro, Kilz wood sealer, Rustoleum primer and paint, wooden dowels, pvc pipe, plastic water bottles, pop rivets, bolts, old backpack straps, big rubber bands.

Tools: uber sharp razor blade/box cutter, tape measure, straight edge, calculator, circle cutter, protractor, drill and bit set, saw

How to build a modular AVR synth

Here's a nice DIY tutorial on building an AVR Synth from basic schematics. The author decided to build it with perfboard and turn each element into a discreet module. Check out the details and photo essay at the link below.

DIY AVR Synth via Electronics Lab

Spray paint jumps into the real world

This sculpture by Canadian artist Julien Valle gives new meaning to the phrase "jumping right out of the page". Valle has sculpted the resulting spray from a typical can of spray paint into a spiky reality. Check out the link below for more of his work including a 24x100 inch hanging banner with hundreds of office supplies, tools, electronics, and other supplies attached to it.

Julien Vallee Works

Tetris on... An Arduino

Tetris on... an Arduino - the "open source GameBoy" has a game! Liquidware is now selling the "game pack" as well. This set up is pretty intense, the little Ardunio is doing more than I think anyone ever expected!

HOW TO - Make a USB remote control receiver

Remir
Nice how-to at Hack-a-day from Ian on how to make a USB remote control receiver, he writes...

Now that we listen to MP3s, and watch XVIDs or x264s, a computer is the entertainment center in at least one room of most homes. Unless you have a special HTPC, though, you’re probably stuck using the keyboard to pause, change the volume, and fast-forward through annoying Mythbusters recaps. PC remote control receivers range from ancient serial port designs (who has one?) to USB devices not supported by popular software. In this how-to we design a USB infrared receiver that imitates a common protocol supported by software for Windows, Linux, and Mac. We’ve got a full guide to the protocol plus schematics and a parts list.

Sulfur - The barking dog experiment

A cool experiment called "the barking dog" using sulfur from The Periodic Table of Videos.

Wind Tree will turn wind into turntablism

"Wind Tree" by Elliot Montgomery connects a custom built turbine with a record player so that the blowing wind actually drove the turntable to spin causing the resulting sound to slow down or speed up depending on the available gusts. This project was built during a workshop at Solar One, "a New York-based center devoted to promoting "green energy, arts, and education which works to break down the barriers between energy users and energy makers."

Aeolian Electric: Wind-Powered Sculptures at Solar One, via InHabitat

Laser etching a Moleskin... sorta

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Nick writes -

When we got the Lazor at NYCR, Adam discovered that Moleskin’s have PVC (not good) in the leather and lazering such a thing could be harmful to your health and might even harm small puppies! (Gasp!)
I wanted to Lazer the NYTimes “T” into my notebook so I had to take an alternate route. Very simply, I just cut out a “T” on the Epilog Lazor and then pressed it in a vice between a couple of pieces of wood for 20 mins or so. Looks pretty neat if I may say so myself. “Fire the lazzzzor!”

Best of Maker Faire - Final day of our Maker Shed sale

During Maker Faire Austin 2008 we had some great deals in the Maker Shed. A lot of people were asking if they could get the same deals online. Well, the answer is...Yes! Just remember, this is the last day of our Best of Maker Faire promotion, so hurry up and take advantage of these great deals!

Enter in MAKER to get 10% off any of these kits in the Maker Shed right now orr if you spend more than $80 enter in FAIRE after and get free shipping on orders over $80.00 (Post discount of course), either of these codes will work independently from another as well as together.

Magnet Sculpture Kit Experience the magic of rare earth magnets firsthand with this fun sculpture building kit.

A real attention-getting addition to any eccentric cubicle. Two powerful NdFeB magnets attract each other making it appear as if the cube on the cord is levitating.

High-strength woven Spectra cord and connectors are included. The wood components have been cut and drilled, and are ready for assembly. The degree of finishing is up to you, but the hardwood in this kit will reward even modest efforts. Use of walnut throughout gives the finished product a rich look and solid feel. Perfect for those who appreciate the beauty of wood, but don't have access to a shop full of tools.

3rd Generation TV B Gone Turn ANY TV on or off with a click of the button! With the new and improved Gen 3 model, even those new big screen LCD TVs aren't safe anymore! New features include instant reactivation with the press of a button, bigger battery, Flashing LED indicates that the unit is sending out its signal. (If you don't want the flashing LED on, simply double-click at the beginning of a new sequence for "stealth mode") Check out our hat hack!

Brain Machine Kit Hack your Brain! Get comfortable, put on the glasses and headphones, close your eyes (the LEDs are bright!), and flick the power switch. Enjoy the hallucinations as you drift into deep meditation, ponder your inner world, and then come out after the 14-minute program feeling fabulous. Sound and Light Machines (SLMs) produce sound and light pulses at brain wave frequencies, which help people sleep, wake up, meditate, or experience whatever state of consciousness the machine is programmed for. Features

Kit Contains:
MiniPOV3 Kit
Resistors
Capacitors
Stereo headphone jack
Heatshrink tubing
Blue & Yellow wire-wrap wire
Safety glasses
Graphix (color printout) with template for glasses
Headphones
AA Alkaline batteries (yes batteries are included!)
Instructions

Remember - enter in MAKER to get 10% off any of these kits, or if you spend more than $80 enter in FAIRE after and get free shipping on orders over $80.00 (Post discount of course), either of these codes will work independently from another as well as together.

This is the last day of our store-wide sale, don't miss out on this great deal!

DIY Alien face hugger and chest burster costume!

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Gmichaelorr's DIY Alien face hugger and chest burster costume! part of the DIY Halloween 2008 contest in the DIY Halloween 2008 photo pool!

How-to: Cast concrete planters using packing inserts

Sean sent us a link to a very cool project. It shows you how to cast these really nice flowerpots using Styrofoam packaging materials and plastic cups. The end results are really nice. [Thanks Sean]

More about How-to: Cast concrete planters using packing inserts

A chicken walker mech costume...

Rick writes in -

A chicken walker mech costume - So my middle son asked to be a robot for Halloween. We had a great time building this but I believe he may be a bit too tired to eat candy. Then again perhaps not.

Most read articles in MAKE 15

Here are the most read articles in MAKE: Volume 15... We just announced MAKE 16 so it's a good time to see what everyone was reading in last volume.

If you're a MAKE subscriber, you get the digital edition for free - MAKE Digital Edition is a vivid replica of the print edition of MAKE, it offers an experience very much like the print magazine plus many additional benefits, such as online searching, embedded multimedia and printing. Please note that MAKE Digital Edition can be viewed from any web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari etc.) and requires NO DOWNLOADING of software NO weird DRM'ed PDFs - you get instant access to your entire MAKE collection!

Click any of the links below and start reading MAKE now. Or subscribe and get started a little later! Use the code CMAKE to get $5 off (USA only).

Toolbox by Daniel Carter et al. Binoculars for beginners, über-accurate torque, a tea-serving robot, and 100 monsters. Page 172. Read Toolbox in the MAKE digital edition.

Compressed Air Rocket by Rick Schertle. Page 104. Blow your friends away as you send this 25-cent rocket hundreds of feet in the air. You can build this easy launcher and rocket with common hardware store items in an afternoon. Read Compressed Air Rocket in the MAKE digital edition.

Vortex Cannons by Edwin Wise. These three cannons can throw chunks of air in the form of smoke rings across a room. Page 116. Read Vortex Cannons in the MAKE digital edition.

The Amazing Seeback Generator by Andrew Lewis. With no moving parts, this simple  energy-recycling generator scavenges waste heat from a candle and turns it into usable electricity. Page 126. Read The Amazing Seeback Generator in the MAKE digital edition.

Laser Harp by Stephen Hobley. Play strings of light, using laser pointers, rangefinders, photocells, and Arduino. Page 66. Read Laser Harp in the MAKE digital edition.

Reader Input. Makers tell their tales of mad boating experiments and childhood hijinks. Page 16. Read Reader Input in the MAKE digital edition.

Form and Functions. David Jones makes his own scientific calculator watch. Page 20. Read Form and Functions in the MAKE digital edition.

Solar-Powered Studio by Charles Platt. Bruce Baldwin's DIY desert dream. Page 38. Read Solar-Powered Studio in the MAKE digital edition.

Subscribe and get started use the code CMAKE to get $5 off (USA only).

DIY: UV Light Box

This is a really nice UV light box for making PCBs. It supports double sided boards, has a built in timer, and a safety switch to turn off the unit when opened. Looks like a great alternative to expensive commercial versions.

I'm just toying around with this idea at the moment. If I start using photo exposure PCB type production, I'm probably going to need a light box. I have tried using spray on photo-sensitive resist and exposure to the sun. It was a complete failure. Presensitised boards, and a light box seem the way to go. I haven't read much about this technique on the web, so I'm still a bit cautious.

More about DIY: UV Light Box

The The End pool

The The End photo pool, the "end" frames of old moves - makes a great wall art / screen saver when you let it run... via NOTCOT.

October 30, 2008

Sleep well, Phoenix Mars Lander

MarsPhoenix twitter: Take care of that beautiful blue marble out there in space, our home planet. I'll be keeping an eye from here. Space exploration FTW!
about 8 hours ago from web

In case we don't get this chance again, thank you all so much for the questions, comments & good wishes over the mission. It's been awesome. about 9 hours ago from web

NASA news here.

Halloween candy code

Hobos have a code system for communicating warnings and identifying good places to camp. Warchalkers have their own code for marking open access points.

Now kids can have a secret ideogram language for finding the best loot:

Growing up in the Bowling Green neighborhood of Sacramento, I was taught how to read and mark houses with the Halloween Candy Code. For kids with an early curfew these codes were invaluable. Once we tagged a house, our peers could use our marks to reap the best full-size chocolate bars while avoiding Chex mix and dried apricots.

Most marks were left in bright chalk at the bottom of the driveway.

Shown above are the symbols for king size candy bars, fun size bars, open porch bowl, and Reese's Pieces. Though I'm pretty sure it's a joke—and I dare drop my first public ROFL in the middle of this blog entry, as that's what I've been doing for a few minutes—it also strikes me that this is a sound idea and should immediately be taught to kids everywhere.

Halloween Candy Code
Cabel Sasser's inspired tweet on the topic of a kids' hobo code

The van that thought out loud

Here's a neat project by artist Nic Wiesinger:

The Van That Thought Out Loud is a roaming billboard for your ideas, expression, thoughts and intentions. It is yours, a vehicle for you the individual to rant or whine, be profound or idiotic, wild or lame. Just email a post to the vehicle along with your name and present location to: TheVanThatThoughtOutLoud@Gmail.com. Next, wait. The image of your thought spelled on the van will posted for all to see. All interactions involving the van are free.

You can also catch the van at local events, just check out his blog.

Announcing MAKE volume 16 - Spy tech with Spy vs Spy on the cover...

Make16
Announcing MAKE volume 16 - Spy tech with Spy vs Spy on the cover by Sam Viviano... No mission is impossible when makers put their minds to it. Make Volume 16 will help you get smart with a special section on spy tech. Learn how to build and use tiny surveillance devices, and how to know if a spy is using them on you. From tiny video cameras to sneaky recorders, this volume has enough cool stuff to make James Bond's inventor Q envious... If you've been on the fence about subscribing, now is a good time (click here for a discount) - this is by far my favorite issue, we're 4 years old now, with 16 volume total, wow!...

Oh, here are a few more images from the issue (click read more) we'll have a video and more soon up too. This is literally hot off the press!