RSS
Archive: Electronics
Page 66 of 143 << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 >>
December 18, 2006
USB-Powered LEGO Christmas Tree and Festivus pole
MAKE Flickr photo pool member Jonny5rd writes -
"I made the tree a long time ago (i believe i was 12 or so), but several improvements have been made this year.
First i hollowed out the trunk (with careful drilling), and drilled small holes through to each branch level. I then fed magnet wire up through the trunk and out the holes, and soldered on the LEDs. The red LEGO brick in back houses the resistor and power switch; the base is some random PCB i scrounged.
This year i substituted a USB plug for the original wall-wart that powered it, and added the Festivus pole. The latter is removable for storage and is, of course, made from aluminum tubing (Very high strength-to-weight ratio).
Happy Holidays!" - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 08:08 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Holiday projects |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
"PS3 SIXAXIS controller" style BASIC-programmable USB device (airplane as a joystick)
Max writes -
"Remember we had a preview of the upcoming SIXAXIS controller for PC? Well Garrett has now embedded the whole controller into his model airplane. He also added some special effects such as the motor which will rotate at a speed proportional to the actual throttle
in the game.
Of course, there are ways to use your SIXAXIS controller on your PC, but here's a way you can create a PS3 SIXAXIS style controller for PC from scratch.
Now the question is, what will he embed it in next?" - Link.
Pretty neat, when you play the game the propellor spins and you use the plane as a joystick (it's the same plane as the game has too) - video here. Not everything is released (custom board) but hopefully it will be later.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 07:30 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Hard Drive Yo-Yo (video)
Rick writes -
"I made a yo-yo out of a hard drive motor and 6 platters. Here is the yo-yo in use." - Link.
Related:
- The 42 gigabyte hard drive mirror - Link.
- Harddrive clock - Link.
- Hard drive belt buckle - Link.
- More hard driving - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 07:11 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
Wii-mote guts
Our pals @ Spark Fun Electronics cracked open a Wiimote, check out all the photos and parts list... (You'll find a Bluetooth IC, IR sensor, vibratory motor, speaker, triple axis accelerometer, an I2C EEPROM, and a range of passives. Not bad for $55.)
"I promise. No more 'Wii' jokes. My brother sent me the link to www.WiiHaveAProblem.com featuring all the damage caused by thrown remotes, which sparked my interest in how the Wii remote worked. I had to tear one open! This new gaming system from Nintendo is the first maker to really flood the market with a triple-axis accelerometer with Bluetooth connectivity. Simple right? We've had this for a couple years now. Checkout the our WiTilt product. It featured the MMA7260Q, the first commercially available tri-ax chip from Freescale connected with a Bluetooth module for wireless accelerometer sensing. Nintendo made it so much more fun...
My apologies for the large pictures causing the page layout to crunch. It's more important to be able to read the IC markings!" - Link.
Related guttings:
- Wii gutted - Link.
- PS3 gutted - Link.
- Zune gutted - Link.
- Xbox 360 gutted - Link.
- PS3 (Playstation 3) controller & iPod shuffle 2.0 taken apart - Link.
- Take apart a Nintendo DS in 13 minutes (video) - Link.
- Sony Reader Internals 2.0 (pics!) - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 02:07 PM
Electronics, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
Homemade $25 iPod boom box
Here's a low cost ipod boom box using a cheap iPod dock and a JVC KS-SB200 boom box made for a KT-SR2000 Sirius Satellite Radio Tuner - Thanks Coderman! Link.
Related:
- Knitted Boombox Bag - Link.
- Boombox Tablet PC (with video) - Link.
- Boombox messenger bag - Link.
- Touchscreen Boombox PC - Link.
- DIY iPod boom box - Link.
From the pages of MAKE:
- irock Broadcast Boombox. Pump up the volume with a portable FM radio station. MAKE 02 - page 122. Subscribers -- read this article now in your digital edition or pick up volume 02.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 01:53 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, iPod |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
POV tree
Don writes -
"POVTree - geek out your holiday! Another take on the POV-based tree, this one with a vaguely tree-shaped form!" - Link.
Related:
- Wirelessly updatable POV... - Link.
- The Super POV, the video! - Link.
- Microcontrollers 101 - Build a POV - Link.
- HOW TO - Make a golf club POV (spells words when you ... - Link.
- LED POV helmet - Link.
- POV in 3D - Link.
- HOW TO - The Super POV - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 09:06 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Holiday projects |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
The Basics of Soldering, Photo Gallery
EPE Magazine has a good gallery and text on the basics of soldering:
"These photos illustrate the basic steps in making a perfect solder joint on a p.c.b. If you're a beginner, our advice is that it's best to practice your soldering technique using some clean, new parts with perhaps some new stripboard (protoboard). Be sure to avoid using old, dirty parts; these can be difficult if not impossible to solder." - Link.
Related:
From the pages of MAKE:
- Soldering and Desoldering Step-by-step instructions for making (and unmaking) the perfect solder joint. MAKE 01 - Page 162. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition or get Volume 01.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 07:39 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Creative MuVo V200 flash memory upgrade
Pablot shows you how to upgrade the flash memory from 512MB to 1024MB on a Creative MuVo V200 mp3 player - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 06:34 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
HOW TO - PICAXE your iDog
Here's how to control an iDOG directly from a microcontroller, Botmaker writes -
I got myself a Sega I-dog, the Japanese version, not the Hasbro one that is sold in the US. You can get one from Ebay for about $20. The Japanese version has a lot more features. It makes a nice desktop companion with all the flashing lights, but can be very annoying with tunes playing and gears moving.
So I wanted to tame that Doggie! You can carefully take it apart and connect switches for the motor and speaker. I use a Picaxe to activate the nose switch every few minutes to keep it from sleeping. The Picaxe (M08) also uses a light sensor (CDS) to detect darkness to allow the idog to go to sleep.
The board connected to the proto board in the above photo is a special Picaxe Trainer board I invented. One of these days I will make it available. You can connect a Picaxe and a few compenents on a prefboard, if you perfer, to make the controller. At the bottom of the page is a schematic and the Picaxe program. - Thanks Simon! Link.
Related:
- Picaxe Microprocessors - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 05:21 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
DIY Hot Air Soldering Iron
Charper writes:
"This project stemmed from the desire to remove (and perhaps one day re-solder) surface mount components. In it's entireity (pictures and all), it took less that two hours and $20. Even if you have to buy everything, I believe the cost could easily be kept under $30. Comparatively, I could not find a hot air soldering iron retain for under $200. Every entrepreneuring young electrical engineer needs to work on some project to satisfy curiosities and take things apart... right? Well, at least I do!" - Link.
Related:
- Join the MAKE Instructables Group - Link.
- $45 Hot Air Pencil - Link.
- HOW-TO: SMD Soldering (surface-mount devices) - Link.
- Looking for a good soldering iron? - Link.
- Solder surface mount parts with a toaster oven. - Link.
- HOW-TO : Hand-solder teeny tiny chips! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 03:39 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables, Toolbox |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Caption contest... Open source MP3 player
Bre made a LASER TAG case for his MP3 player, if you haven't seen it, check it out (and how to build one yourself). Ok fine, here's my case mod for the MAKE: Open source MP3 player - laser cut acrylic, a MintyBoost -as- a power supply and uses USB rechargeable batteries, we call it VOLTRON, this nerd fight is ON. Oh, once we work out a couple things, we'll post all the files to make your own case and also figure out a way for folks to get the cases + 440s.
On a related note, the new Apple shuffle ad is fun, but we don't have the budget Apple has (yet) so Makers, help caption the photo(s). Apple says "put some music on".
Here's one to get you going for our MP3 player...
"The only MP3 player guaranteed to get you SECONDARY SCREENING".
Post up in the comments we'll pick a caption later today and the winner gets a MAKE pocket ref.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 18, 2006 12:31 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (28)
December 17, 2006
HOW TO - Etch solder paste stencils at home
Tymm writes -
"Hot air/hot plate/toaster oven soldering with solder paste are generally much easier than soldering by hand for circuits with more than a few SMD components. And a soldering stencil to accurately place consistent amounts of solder is much easier than laying down trails of solder with a syringe -- and there's much less board cleanup of solder bridges to do when a more controlled amount of paste is applied.
Unfortunately for those of us who prefer to etch a few proto boards at home when possible to test out a basic design & build quick development boards, stencils generally cost $35 or more and take a few days to get back. This is a way, using the same tools as etching circuit boards, to build quick proto solder stencils. The quality probably won't live up to the stainless steel or mylar ones you'd buy, but you might be surprised.
Note that the same method can also be used to chemically mill other designs -- decorative pieces for jewelry boxes, shadow designs for projecting with a Luxeon, etc -- possibilities are endless.
This method as posted won't eliminate the cleanup work, and I'm sure there are refinements to this method that will make it all work that much easier/better. I look forward to comments from others on ways to improve the method." - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 17, 2006 02:18 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
PCB pictures with a scanner
David writes -
"An image scanner can make great pictures of circuit boards. Not only are the pictures clear, they are very high resolution and have nearly perfect scaling. Perfect scaling means that you can actual make measurements from the image. Try that with a digital camera!" - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 17, 2006 01:48 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Imaging |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
December 16, 2006
HOW TO - Design a 2D robo-hand & Atari 800 laptop - Ben Heck
Wow, Ben Heck is busy - here are a couple project he kicked out this weekend...
Design a 2D robo-hand - I'm going to download the files and pop them in the laser tonight (hopefully!)...
For today's How-To we're going to go through the process of designing a somewhat complex item that can be cut with a standard 3 axis homebuilt CNC machine: a jointed "robotic hand". This requires several design methods drawn in multiple views, which will demostrate many of the techniques that are useful in preparing items for CNC cutting. At the very least it's a good primer for vector artwork in general, if you've ever been curious about it. So let's take a look at what's involved in prepping our CNC robot factory - Link.
For many years an Atari 800 laptop was my "dream portable". Then after I built it I had no more worlds to conquer, so to speak. Well, I do, my custom pinball machine, but I digress. Anyway, earlier this year I had a request to build another Atari 800 laptop so I decided to have another whack at it. With less woodgrain this time, and hopefully some new features. I also wanted to redo the keyboard design. Thanks technick29! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 16, 2006 05:11 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gaming, Retro |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
December 15, 2006
Bend sensor + heliotropic plant + Arduino
MAKE Flickr photo pool member Mleak writes -
"This was a project I did for my electronics art class. A bend sensor along one of the stems of a highly heliotropic plant is attached to a servo motor. When the plant passes a certain threshold as it leans toward the light, the servo turns it 180°, requiring it to begin its stretch over again, always leaning, always straightening.
Here's my arduino and breadboard. The two lines leading out the bottom are the bend sensor. I can put up the arduino code if anyone is interested, but it's pretty simple. " - Link.
Related:
From the pages of MAKE:
- Hack Your Plants! by Robert Luhn. Play God in your garden--create custom fruits, flowers, veggies, and more. MAKE 07 - Page 72. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 15, 2006 09:13 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
MAKE: Daisy MP3 player winner @ We Make Money Not Art...
Reg writes in with the winner of the "About" page contest at we-make-money-not-art.com
"We-Make-Money-Not-Art brings our passion for contemporary media-based art news directly to you - featuring a panoply of compelling artists, conferences, exhibitions and happenings from across the globe.
Providing comprehensive articles on global goings-on, from night-club-based installations in Manchester to academic conferences in Madrid, WMMNA covers a genuinely diverse range of events from around the world. Frequent interviews bring the artists and their creative-output a step closer to readers: providing a captivating insight into media-art practices and forthcoming creative-work. Besides interviews and event coverage are frequent updates, highlighting contemporary art works and artists of interest.
WMMNA ensures that your finger is always on the pulse of media-art." - Link.
Olly Farshi won the MAKE: Daisy open source MP3 player, congrats! Bre will have a Weekend project to check out with the player shortly, so stay tuned!
Related:
- Daisy MP3 Player - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 15, 2006 07:46 PM
Announcements, DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
HOW TO - Make the ultimate 18v Bike Light!
Douglas.mauro writes -
"Mountain Biking at night (or early morning) is a true blast.. Using headlamps has been the only real choice short of spending some coin on a true bike light (some of these puppies cost >$500!!).
While the lack of light never stopped us from riding, the glory of having a MEAN bike light was calling me out." - Link.
Related:
- Antique bike light LED mod - Link.
- HOW TO - Make a Bike light holder/connector for .... - Link.
- DIY solar bike light - Link.
- HOW TO - Blinking cruiser bike light - Link.
- Tape case bike light - Link.
- HOW TO - Make a solar bike light - Link.
- HOW TO - Make a 40-LED bicycle light - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 15, 2006 03:54 PM
Bicycles, DIY Projects, Electronics, Transportation |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
Nixie Tube powered from a disposable camera
Clever - Matt is using a simple power supply from a $5 one use camera to power a Nixie Tube, he writes -
"A Nixie Tube is a glass enclosure with what I believe to be neon in the inside. There is an anode with 10 elements, each representing 0-9. These were used before the 1970's when the LCD and LED did not exist.
I found some at the local surplus electronics shop, tore a power supply from a disposable camera and had success getting it to fire; they're pretty great and I intend to make a killer clock." - Link.
Related:
- Single tube Nixie clock - Link.
- Maker of the day - David Forbes, Nixie-display clocks ... - Link.
- HOW TO - Powering Nixie Tubes... - Link.
- Tiny Nixie clock - Link.
- The most accurate nixie clock - ATOMIC!.. - Link.
- Nixie clocks & kits for collectors and designers - Link.
- Nixie clock gallery - Link.
- More! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 15, 2006 02:39 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
Mask video system build - amazing costumes
Wow, Lionel has a breakdown of the I-Theater glasses to make a stereo vision unit for a costume mask...- Link.
Related:
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 15, 2006 10:56 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
HOW TO - Build an "Air laser"
Hubert writes -
"We describe a very simple laser: no special gas, no chemical products, no vacuum and no glass work! This Nitrogen laser uses normal air at atmospheric pressure. All you need is some metal parts and an about 10 kV 1 mA adjustable High tension DC source." Thanks Gnomic! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 15, 2006 09:54 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Page 66 of 143 << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 >>
Features and more @ MAKE!
MAKE @ The NYC Toy Fair 2008 - Covering DIY!HOW TO - Build the arms of assistance.
MADE in Japan - Part I.
MADE in Japan - Part II.
MADE in Japan - Part III.
Make store - Blinky bug kit - Blink!
Make store - Loud Objects Noise Toy Kit
Makers - MAKE Flickr pool contest. Win cool stuff!
Makers - Join the MAKE Facebook page - Meet other makers.
MAKE on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet!
What you're reading in MAKE - Data!
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher
Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT
Becky Stern
Culture jammer
Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker
Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker
Current Podcast
AHAB High Altitude Ballooning - Best of Weekend Projects
mp4|mov|hd|3gp|3g2|itunes This week on Best of Weekend Projects, we look back at part two of the AHAB (High Altitude Balloon Adventure). In this epic Bre & Co. travel to Eastern Washington to launch a GPS and camera enabled balloon...
More...
