RSSArchives: Marc de Vinck
DIY bike repair stand
We love bikes, just check out all our bicycle related entries. Unfortunately, sometimes our bikes break, and when they do it's a lot easier to repair them if you have a stand. Too expensive? Then make you own bicycle repair stand with a few parts form the hardware store.
I've needed a repair stand for a long long long time now. But....damn those things aren't cheap. Thankfully, I've got more than my share of blue collar blood in me....so I decided to build one. The process couldn't have been easier. I did a quickle google search on home made repair stands and saw some interesting solutions. In the end, I went with my own variation.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 18, 2009 01:00 AM
Bicycles, DIY Projects |
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CupCake CNC build, part 3: The electronics
It's finally time to start building the CupCake CNC. The first thing you should do is read all the instructions. Don't pass by the 'mistakes to avoid section', it could save you some misery later.
Let's get started with the CupCake electronics assembly. I ordered the deluxe kit from batch #8, so most of the electronics were already assembled. Yay! Not that soldering isn't fun, but I'm happy to skip the soldering for this build and get to printing faster!
The stepper boards:
Not much to do here since the board is already soldered together. However, you do have to add the insulation-displacement connector (IDC) to the ribbon cables, and perform a simple test.
All you have to do is insert the ribbon cable into the plastic IDC connector and squeeze it closed. You might want to use some pliers to help snap the top down.
Take notice of the arrow on the connector. The brown wire is the index wire, and it should be directly above that arrow on both ends of the cable.
Rinse and repeat. You need to make three cables, each with an IDC connector on the end.
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Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 12, 2009 02:30 PM
3D printing, DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits, MAKE Projects |
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Remote-controlled bowling ball
For just $1500, you can have your very own remote-controlled bowling ball! Maybe this is worthy of a remake? How about adding flashing LEDs to one of those translucent bowling balls? That shouldn't be too difficult to make, right? Although I doubt the addition of LEDs will help you score a 300!
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 11, 2009 02:00 AM
Remake, Robotics, Toys and Games |
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CupCake CNC build part 2: Unboxing
I purchased my CupCake CNC Deluxe Kit from MakerBot Industries. This machine is from batch #8, and it's serial #000305. Future batches may be slightly different, so don't use this as an exact guide for making your own CupCake CNC. Here's what MakerBot Industries says about this version of the kit:
This kit has everything you need to build a MakerBot CNC and get started in DIY digital fabrication. Not only have we included all of the parts you need to build a CupCake CNC, but we've also included all the tools that you'll need to put it together and have the build go smoothly.
What exactly is included in the $950 deluxe kit?
- The laser-cut parts to assemble a CupCake CNC machine.
- 3 x NEMA 17 motors to drive your machine
- The nuts, bolts, and various hardware to assemble it.
- The belts and pulleys for it to move things around.
- All the bearings to make your machine nice and smooth.
- The highest quality precision ground shafts for the X and Y axes we could find.
- Pre-assembled 3rd generation electronics to drive it better, faster, and stronger.
- Magnetized, detachable build platform to make removing your finished prints easier.
- Pinch-wheel Plastruder to make things in plastic.
- 1lb of natural ABS to get you started printing in 3D.
- USB2TTL cable to talk to it
- cat5e cables to wire things up
- Standard ATX power supply
- Tools kit with all the hex keys, wrenches, and other bits you need to construct it.
- Full 5lbs of ABS plastic so you can print your heart out (in addition to the 1lb of ABS)
- Extra acrylic build surface, and a spare build platform
- SD card to buffer your prints
You can also save some money by purchasing the Basic CupCake CNC Kit for $750. Check out the link for more information about what is, and isn't, included in the basic kit. Then again, you could always build your own from scratch since it's totally open source.
Let the unboxing begin:
The first thing I found was a nice letter from the MakerBot team and a couple of postcards. I'm going to keep these filed away in a safe place. Maybe one day I'll be on the Antiques Roadshow and the host will let out a delighted *gasp* when I whip out my original, signed MakerBot Industries letter. Hey, you never know?!
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Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 10, 2009 02:30 AM
3D printing, DIY Projects, MAKE Projects, Robotics, Toolbox |
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CupCake CNC build, part 1: Introduction & background
Having just arrived home from a quick trip to the hardware store, I was pleasantly surprised to see a large, unmarked, cardboard box sitting on my front steps. This isn't an uncommon event, since I am constantly checking out cool products and projects for the Maker Shed, however this box was a bit larger than normal.
Oh wow, it's the CupCake CNC kit from MakerBot Industries! I'd ordered it weeks earlier and had completely forgotten about it. (The truth is out: I have an atrocious memory, sad but true.)
And so the adventure begins! I'm going to document my "out of box experience" with a MakerBot. How many posts will the series be? I'm not sure since I've never built one. How often will I post about the build? Again, not sure, but I'll try to do at least one a week, maybe more, it all depends on how much free time I have between all my other maker-ly projects.
A little background: My CNC experiences
I've been tinkering with CNC for about 10 years, and consider myself an enthusiast, not an expert. I do own a few CNC mills, routers, and lathes. I have retrofitted old mills, and even build one from scratch. Pictured above is my mobile CNC machine, dubbed the "MobileC." I stuffed all the components into a mobile tool cart so I could bring it to hackerspaces, workshops, and events, all in the hopes of helping out fellow makers.
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Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 6, 2009 02:00 AM
3D printing, DIY Projects, MAKE Projects, Robotics, Toolbox |
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Giger: Custom humanoid robot
Giger is a really cool looking humanoid robot with impressive specs. The bot stands about 2 feet tall, weighs in around 11 lbs, has a WiFi camera, and runs embedded Linux. Did I mention it cost $10,000 to build! I guess all those actuators are expensive!
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 4, 2009 01:00 AM
Robotics |
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LED Binary Clock
Here is an interesting LED binary clock by instructables user ElevenOf9. I really like the single sided PCB, and the way the LEDs are arranged. It just looks cool!
This is the second revision of my PIC based LED binary clock. The original version was the first PIC project I attempted, it used a PIC16F84A to do both the timekeeping and control the display matrix, unfortunately it didn't keep good enough time and gained about a minute every week.
In the Maker Shed:
In the Maker Shed: DIY Design Electronics Kit
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 3, 2009 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables |
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Tentacle-box: A mobile music station with beat-synched lights
The Tentacle-box is a mobile DJ station housed inside an old freestanding Philips radio. The music is from a car stereo hooked to a 12-volt batter jumper, and an Arduino multiplexes the lights. Check out the link for more information, and the Arduino source code.
It should be able to work without being connected to an outlet. It should have lights and it shouldn't be to heavy to move around. Ateast not by a small wagon. And it should be loud. Not Mötorhead loud but loud enough. It should also be cheap enough so that I would not cry if it got trashed or stolen after a few gigs/parties.
In the Maker Shed:
In the Maker Shed: Arduino Duemilanove
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 2, 2009 01:00 AM
Arduino, Arts, Music |
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A look back at my Halloween-inspired builds
I'm not going to ramble on again about how I didn't make anything this year for Halloween. I'm over that thanks to my new friend, Robot Zombie Cat. However, I thought I would do a quick recap of my previous Halloween-inspired builds that I actually completed!
First up is my "Scariest Pumpkin Ever" build. I had a great time testing this project out on the neighborhood kiddies! HONK! Check out the link for complete build instructions. Just a word of warning, you neighbors are going to hate you! Trust me, I know. A big thanks to everyone who sent me links to your own builds inspired by this project. I really appreciate it!
Next up is my Gakken Mechamo Crab build with a few additional creepy parts. Again, this was a lot of fun to make, and has been very popular when I bring it to Maker Faire. Check out the link for another video of this creepy-crawler in action. Eeeeeeek, eeeek, blip, blip!
My last Halloween inspired build was the Animated Ghost kit from the Maker Shed. It's a really easy kit to make, and it always manages to freak-out anyone that gets too close! Remember, it's never too early to start working on next year's projects!
Speaking of Halloween, don't forget to enter our contest! Do it, or Robot Zombie Cat is going to come after you!
Make: Halloween Contest 2009
Microchip Technology Inc. and MAKE have teamed up to present to you the Make: Halloween Contest 2009! Show us your embedded microcontroller Halloween projects and you could be chosen as a winner.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Oct 30, 2009 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Halloween |
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Robot Zombie Cat saves Halloween
A few people have asked me what I'll be making this year for Halloween, for Make: Online. In the past, I've been known to build honking pumpkins and creepy robots, but this year, I fell a bit short. OK, I fell a lot short! The sad truth is, I didn't make anything. But all is not lost!
I had some grand plans for completing my levitating baby head, and displaying it for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters, but I didn't get around to finishing it. I started on it about a month ago, but even with the early start, there just aren't enough hours in the day.
One day last week, my daughter heard me say how disappointed I was that I wouldn't have my project finished in time. Well, that just wasn't acceptable to her -- there had to be a creepy project for Make: Online!
Enter, Robot Zombie Cat! My daughter disappeared into her room, for what seemed like an hour, and emerged with this Frankensteininan creation. She exclaimed "I made something for MAKE!" She also declared: "It's green --not just green, but green!" I knew exactly what she meant, spotting the leftover yarn from a previous project and an old water bottle from her soccer game. Creative reuse and recycling. That's my girl!
I may not have anything to post about this Halloween, but my daughter does! And that's how Robot Zombie Cat saved Marc's Halloween. I'll display it proudly for all the trick-or-treaters that come a-knockin.
Did your kids make anything for Halloween this year? Was it green, or green? Tell us about it in the comments. Thanks! And Happy Halloween!
Oh yeah, while we're on the subject of Halloween, don't forget to enter our contest! Do it, or Robot Zombie Cat is going to come after you!
Make: Halloween Contest 2009
Microchip Technology Inc. and MAKE have teamed up to present to you the Make: Halloween Contest 2009! Show us your embedded microcontroller Halloween projects and you could be chosen as a winner.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Oct 28, 2009 02:00 AM
Halloween |
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