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Archive: DIY Projects
May 10, 2008
Animals - caught on tape!
Patrick shares results from his mammalian video exposé using motion activated video recording -
Our 4-year old son left a piece of cheese out to see if there would be bite marks in the morning. Then we got more ambitious about tracking our visitors...
6:10am: this squirrel was so calm that 5 minutes of video were collected. Or maybe it was more then one calm squirrel. We sped up the film below 5x. In the film, the light flashes briefly when the squirrel was so still that the motion detector missed it for a while.Indeed they did, the videos are great. It's always extra awesome to capture and view such critter activity in your own backyard!
Bonus points for the project's technical documentation -
Watch more candid animal footage on Patrick's blog - The Animal Detection Apparatus
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
May 10, 2008 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Imaging |
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Solar powered poultry lighting
This one is for Dale since the last phone conference call we had he was feeding his chickens... Solar powered poultry lighting - put together a solar system to power poultry lighting - increase winter egg production from REUK.co.uk.
If we received 1p every time someone emailed us about solar powered poultry lighting we would have earned 23p during September. Therefore we have compiled the information in the following article to assist those people, and anyone else who requires timer controlled lighting where mains electricity is not available.One of the most important factors in egg production by poultry is the length of the day. During the summer months when days are long, hens and other poultry lay merrily. But in the winter when the days are short (and often dull) egg production can slow or even stop. Therefore artificial poultry lighting on a timer is often used to trick the poultry into believing the days are longer while still maintaining the necessary 9-10 hours of dark roosting time.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
May 10, 2008 02:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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May 9, 2008
Botanical communications kit
You've read about it - now you too can follow your own pet vegetation on twitter! -
The Botanicalls Twitter kit includes all the hardware you need to create a networked communication system for your plant. A moisture sensor placed into the soil will send information to simple electronic detection circuitry you solder together yourself. Twitter updates are then sent out via an onboard Ethernet connection to the Internet, where they can be viewed online or routed to your mobile phone.The pricetag seemed a bit a high before I realized all the hardware included in the kit - it even comes with an Arduino! - Botanicalls kit
Unfortunately, the dog still communicates via unfashionably messy methods.
Related:
HOW TO - Make plants talk! They'll Twitter you when they need to be watered (and more)...
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
May 9, 2008 02:15 PM
DIY Projects |
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DIY: Satellite Tracker
This project is for those of you that want to explore communications via LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites. You can manually point your antenna, but a micro-controller makes it a whole lot easier.
The basis for operation is fairly straightforward. A tracking program (WiSP, Nova for Windows, The Station Program, and DK1TB's SatPC32 program are all known to work) sends data in the EASYCOMM data format out a standard serial port to the SAEBRTrack unit. The Parallax BASIC Stamp 2 decodes the azimuth and elevation information sent by the tracking program, and the array is positioned.
Read more about making your own Satellite Tracker
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 9, 2008 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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May 8, 2008
SWARM @ Maker Faire
Hack-a-day posted up one of my favorite projects @ Maker Faire, SWARM!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
May 8, 2008 12:00 PM
Arts, DIY Projects, Maker Faire |
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May 7, 2008
Emergency party button!
Holy Wow!
Basically, it is exactly what it sounds like; a button that instantly launches a party. When pressed, the blinds to my apartment close, the kitchen, hallway, dining room, and living room lights dim, the stereo starts blasting Haddaway - What Is Love, black lights turn on, laser lights start moving to the music, a strobe light goes on, and the fog machine starts up.That big-red-button must be the ultimate coffee table conversation starter - spider-man & friends only wish they had it this good!With another press of the button, the party is gone as easily as it started.
It may not be the most hi-tech thing in the world, but people sure as hell love it when they come over.
Build pics and info - Emergency party button [via Zedomax - Thanks, Max!]
Related:
International Dance Party transforms to a booty shaking powerhouse
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
May 7, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects |
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Wooden PCB drill has easy to replace parts
Here's a cool PCB drill made of pieces of wood, a Dremel, a drill press, and some motors from old printers and VCRs. All of the code for the design is available through the link below
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
May 7, 2008 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Made On Earth |
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Mobile scooter communications hub
Jared writes -
A year ago we had the opportunity to produce a promotional product for one of our clients using a new vino scooter and some geek know-how. The end result was a rolling system capable of long distance war driving, GPS navigation, Pir8 Radio Station, Skype calls on the road as well as recording your favorite TV program so you don't miss Lost because you are lost.All that plus an antennae beefy enough to hit a home run with! - The Ultimate Geek Scooter
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
May 7, 2008 04:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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DIY Bookmaking: The Book Binding Guy
If you want to make high quality hand crafted books, then this is the DVD for you. By the time you are done watching this instructional video, you will have all the skills necessary to make your own heirloom quality books.
There are a lot of little tricks that you are not going to figure out by yourself. I really like how he found the grain of the paper by rolling the paper back and forth. Also, he describes how to make your own organic, white rice, glue as an alternative to wheat paste.
If you want to make you own books, this is a must watch DVD. The instructions are clear and the audio and video are very well done. I really enjoyed it from start to finish.
Read more about The Book Binding Guy
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 7, 2008 01:00 AM
Crafts, DIY Projects |
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May 6, 2008
DIY: Solar lantern
This is a 3-part article on building a solar lantern. It's a well-documented project, and there are a lot of pictures of the build process. Make sure to check out parts 2 & 3 for the complete build. The links are at the top of the article.
The solar lantern is composed of 2 main modules. The charging module, and the lighting module. The lighting system would be an LED or a number of LEDs connected to a power source. The charging system would be a way to charge the battery via small solar cell.
Read more about making your own Solar Lantern
Realted:
How to make a Sun Jar
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 6, 2008 04:59 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Green |
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Microcontroller Programming - A Primer @ MAKE
Microcontroller Programming by Sparkle Labs. Easy-to-program chips tell circuitry to do what you want. Page 159 - MAKE 4. Read this article now in the MAKE digital edition.
Or get MAKE 04 from the Maker store and/or subscribe to MAKE (use code CMAKE for $5 off USD).
You can view all our in depth Primers from MAKE here too.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
May 6, 2008 12:17 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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The Arduino Flush-O-Matic
I am not really sure why the toilet should be connected to an Arduino, but apparently Mau has a legitimate reason. I like the mechanics of this project, and it just goes to show you that anything can be, and will be, computer controlled eventually. Thanks Mau!
Read more about the Arduino toilet [Google translation]
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 6, 2008 10:48 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Fuzz Face clone rocks the house
This home built guitar pedal called "Fuzz Face" uses two 3AX31C germanium transistors while its onboard knobs control volume, bass, contour, fuzz, and include an internal trim pot to adjust the fuzz type. Pretty cool design and enclosure for this rockin' device.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
May 6, 2008 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
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DIY: LED glass tiles
Troy sent in his DIY LED tiles that he put in while renovating his bathroom. It would be interesting to see this hooked up to the internet, enabling it displaying information while getting ready for work. Maybe changing color based on weather, traffic or new emails?
Read more about making your own LED glass tiles
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 6, 2008 02:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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DIY 35mm pinhole camera
Here is another DIY video form ProPhotoLife.com. This time they make a 35mm pinhole camera, which take some really nice shots. There is a lot more information on the website, along with pictures of the build. [Thanks Jim]
Learn more about making a 35mm pinhole camera
Related:
Make a Pinenut pinhole camera
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 6, 2008 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Photography |
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May 5, 2008
New Tengu clone in a PCB version
This Tengu clone (Tengu is a toy created by artist / designer Crispin Jones that responds to sound from your computer and makes appropriate facial expressions based on the output) uses a custom-designed PCB with some pretty detailed instructions on how to build your own at the link below.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
May 5, 2008 07:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits |
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Dance dance make-olution
These custom built dance pads cost under $2 USD a tile and can be hooked up to almost any console systen you can think of. This maker connected them up to his computer and the booty shaking title "StepMania". Check out the detailed instructions at the link below.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
May 5, 2008 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Gaming |
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DIY: Inexpensive PVC flute
This website has a lot of useful information on making a PVC flute. What makes this site unique is all the information on different pipe sizes and materials. There is even a link to software that will help you tune your finished flute. DIY PVC Flute
Related:
DIY: Pennywhistle in the key of D
More DIY Musical Instruments: PVC Recorder
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 5, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Kids, Music |
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May 2, 2008
HOW TO - Convert a webcam into a microscope
It's amazing what a little lens flip can do - check out this simple how-to on webcam to microscope conversion - Convert webcam to microscope (google translation)
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
May 2, 2008 06:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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How to: Make a ram pump
I was searching the web trying to learn more water pumps for a future project when I came across this great website. It details the making or a ram pump. I am amazed at the lack of a motor or any user input. I wish I had a stream near by to try it out!
This is a pump that uses the power of water flowing downhill to deliver a supply of water to a much higher level. Pumps like this are relatively easy to build at home, for very little cost.
Learn how to make a Ram Pump
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 2, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Green |
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Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
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Robot Maker
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Video Maker
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Sound Maker
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Current Podcast
The Best of Maker Faire 2008
Check out all the fun and excitement at this year's Maker Faire in San Mateo, California. People from all over the world came to experience this amazing event. Take a look at some of the highlights and make plans...
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