InstructablesArchive: Instructables

November 20, 2009

How-To: Open source intervalometer for Canon, Nikon cameras

peterdr intervalometer.jpg

Instructables user peterdr has put together a really excellent tutorial on how to build his CT-1 open-source hardware intervalometer for Canon and Nikon digital cameras. There's more info about the project at his personal website, and a parts kit is for sale on Amazon.com.

Posted by Sean Michael Ragan | Nov 20, 2009 02:05 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables, Photography | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 19, 2009

Solar-powered miniball

solarMiniBall.jpg

It may look like some futuristic Christmas tree ornament, but the miniball is part of the BEAM robot family of "rollers." A miniball is a motorized hamster ball that, sadly, you don't see in the wild too often. Solarbotics used to sell a miniball kit. This Instructable, by MAKE contributor and Solarbotics intern, Jérôme Demers, shows you how to make your own.


Solar Powered Miniball Wannabe


More:
How-To Tuesday: Make a Beetlebot
BeetleBot Revisited
Mousey the BeetleBot?

Posted by Gareth Branwyn | Nov 19, 2009 04:00 PM
Instructables, Robotics | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

How-To: Custom wooden case for wireless charging mat

wood charging mat.jpg

Instructables user jvalal didn't like the look of his Powermat inductive device charging station, so he stripped out the guts and "re-skinned" it with a handmade wooden case.

Posted by Sean Michael Ragan | Nov 19, 2009 02:00 PM
Cellphones, Crafts, DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (10) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 13, 2009

The EyeWriter

I'm thrilled to share the EyeWriter with you all:

Behold the latest ocular assault weapon from the Graffiti Research Lab, openFrameworks, The Fat Lab and The Ebeling Group: The EyeWriter. It is a low-cost eye-tracking apparatus + custom software that allows graffiti writers and artists with paralysis resulting from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to draw using only their eyes.

The goal of the hardware component of the EyeWriter project is to make the most simple and inexpensive eye-tracking head-set possible to use with the "EyeWriter" software suite. Obviously, there are numerous ways to make eye-tracking hardware. Many of these designs, especially those produced for academic research projects (Open Eyes ), have already been published openly on the internet.

Our functional design specifications are as follows:

1. The EyeWriter should be as inexpensive as possible
2. The fabrication and assembly of the system should require only common hand tools
3. Whenever possible components and parts should be available for purchase locally versus online
4. The camera should produce 640 x 480 NTSC video
5. The camera should be sensitive to near-field IR light
6. The camera should not auto-iris (or auto-iris should be disabled in the camera's driver).
7. IR LEDs should be used to illuminate the pupil

Beyond that its up to you... this instruction set details a solderless variation of the EyeWriter that uses a hacked PS3 Eye and a pair of stunnas we bought on Venice Beach and suggests other possible EyeWriter configurations.

Yes, that's right, watch TemptOne tag buildings (with light) even though he can only move his eyes. We live in the future, and this project makes me feel so warm inside. The whole project is open source.

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 13, 2009 11:06 AM
Culture jamming, DIY Projects, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 12, 2009

How-To: Make your EAGLE schematic into a PCB

eagleinstructable.jpg

Here's one to bookmark, it's a very thorough tutorial for converting your EAGLE circuit schematic into PCB layout suitable for etching by Instructables user westfw.

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 12, 2009 08:04 AM
Electronics, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 11, 2009

How-To: Pirate TV

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Jon Cohrs writes:

Tired of the blocky, JPEG-like resolution of digital television? Do you long for the days of RF modulation and regulated-yet-unregulated content? Do you simply have the desire to toss your converter box out the window and make use of those rabbit ear antennae that are just lying around? If so, then you might be interested in becoming a savior of analog television! This Instructable will show you how to create your own fully-fledged low-power analog television channel, with any video source(including your computer) as a source of content.

We created one that went live the minute analog tv went dead. We're still the only analog station in NYC, but please join us in making more!!

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 11, 2009 11:30 AM
Culture jamming, Instructables, Telecommunications | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 9, 2009

Awesome kidnapped mermaid costume

kidnapped_mermaid_costume.jpg

From Instructables user ModMischief comes a great tutorial on building this impossibly clever one-person trompe l'oeil costume. As she says, "[w]hy choose between dressing as a sexy mermaid or a scary pirate when you could be both!"

Posted by Sean Michael Ragan | Nov 9, 2009 02:00 PM
Halloween, Instructables, Wearables | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Etch at home: Wii Nunchuck Arduino adapter

wiinunchuckadapterinstru.jpg

Don't want to cut the cable on your Nunchuck or buy a teeny circuit board to do the trick when you have etching capability at home? Instructables user dany32412's Nunchuck Arduino adapter tutorial uses pretty much the same layout as Tod Kurt's, but you make it yourself!

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 9, 2009 11:00 AM
Arduino, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 5, 2009

Beautiful scrap wood butcher block table

scrap_wood_butcher_block_table_01.jpg scrap_wood_butcher_block_table_02.jpg scrap_wood_butcher_block_table_03.jpg

I love this. Instructables user wholman has gathered together a bunch of scrap wood from "dumpsters, back alleys, vacant lots, abandoned buildings, recycling yards, and architectural salvage centers" and laminated it together using all-thread. Then he's very carefully smoothed and polished only one side of the finished block, leaving the underside rough to show off the process. Beautiful.

Posted by Sean Michael Ragan | Nov 5, 2009 12:00 PM
Crafts, Furniture, Green, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

AIRduino guitar

Ever wished that when you play air guitar, it would make real sounds instead of just the ones from your best death metal face? David Fournier, Jean-Louis Giordano, Monireh Sanaei, Maziar Shelbaf and Gustav Sohtell are here to help. They build the AIRduino guitar, a wearable virtual instrument. Open source with full documentation, naturally. [via Fashioning Technology]

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 5, 2009 11:00 AM
Arduino, Instructables, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 4, 2009

Ikea hack bookshelf bench

randygormshelf.jpg

Randy Sarafan writes:

The nice thing about IKEA furniture is that it is cheap and easy to hack. In other words, lets say that you were to buy two cheap $30 Gorm shelving units and assembled them to discover them that one was crooked. Well then, it would be really easy to spend an afternoon converting the crooked one into a solid, stylish and symmetric bookshelf bench. As you probably just guessed, this Instructable will show you how to convert a Gorm shelving unit into a bookshelf bench. With a few extra peices of hardware and a couple of basic power tools, you could be on your way to relaxation and organization all at the same time.

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 4, 2009 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Furniture, hacks, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Transformers Soundwave costume

soundwave_costume.jpg

Pretty amazing costume build tutorial from Instructables user Incrxtc.

Posted by Sean Michael Ragan | Nov 4, 2009 06:00 AM
Halloween, Instructables, Wearables | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 3, 2009

District 9 SPLAT gun replica prop

district_9_prop_gun.jpg

Instructables user msraynsford presents this detailed tutorial on how to build a prop replica of one of those District 9 guns that makes intelligent, loving, civilized creatures explode with a nauseating SPLAT. I want one!

Posted by Sean Michael Ragan | Nov 3, 2009 09:01 AM
Halloween, Instructables, Wearables | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

LED Binary Clock

F0HN34OG1BBC1K3.MEDIUM.jpg 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:
Makershedsmall
IMG_8950.JPG
In the Maker Shed: DIY Design Electronics Kit

Posted by Marc de Vinck | Nov 3, 2009 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 2, 2009

Bicycle handlebar brake lighting



MAKE subscriber Justin Shaw has posted a project on Instructables for a bike brake lighting system that features lights on the ends of a bicycle's handlebars, controlled by an Arduino and a Pololu 3-axis accelerometer. He's even offering a $35 prize to the first person who follows his plans and posts proof of a successful build.


Bar End Brake Light: BEBL

Posted by Gareth Branwyn | Nov 2, 2009 05:30 PM
Arduino, Bicycles, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (7) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 30, 2009

Remote control color-changing pumpkin

remote_control_color_changing_pumpkin.jpg

Ian Lesnet submitted this cool hack-'o-lantern to our Make: Halloween Contest 2009. There's an Instructable here, a Flickr set here, and YouTube video here. It's a color-changing pumpkin full-court media press! The build uses a ShiftBrite RGB LED module, IR receiver, universal remote control, and a PIC18F2550 as the brains of it all.

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 Sean Michael Ragan | Oct 30, 2009 11:47 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Halloween, Instructables | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Talking Arduino Halloween skeleton

Samuel Seide brings us this animatronic talking skull Instructable. It's motion-activated and uses a Waveshield kit for sound. [Thanks, Sam!]

More from Sam Seide:

In the Maker Shed:

Makershedsmall

waveshield_crop_cc.jpg

Arduino WaveShield Kit

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 Sean Michael Ragan | Oct 30, 2009 08:47 AM
Arduino, Electronics, Halloween, Instructables, Robotics | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 29, 2009

DIY netbook stand

netbook_stand.jpg

This sturdy, portable DIY netbook stand is perfect for smaller models between 7-10 inches. [via liliputing]


In a nutshell, all you need are two IKEA shelf brackets, a drawer handle to hold them together, and some vinyl cabinet brackets to keep the laptop from sliding. You'll also need a drill, screwdriver, and hammer, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict you've already got those lying around.

Posted by Adam Flaherty | Oct 29, 2009 04:00 AM
Gadgets, Instructables, Mods | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 28, 2009

Ghostbusters proton pack with friggin' lasers

Ghostbusters Pack Arduino Lasers.jpg

From instructables user depotdevoid comes this awesome Ghostbusters costume tutorial. Besides the proton pack, he made a trap, a pair of "ecto goggles," and the obligatory jumpsuit. "Aim for the flattop!"

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 Sean Michael Ragan | Oct 28, 2009 12:00 PM
Arduino, Electronics, Halloween, Instructables, Wearables | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 27, 2009

How-To: Massive DTV antenna

giantdtvantenna.jpg

Instructables user deceiver lives in southern Maine and needed a big DTV antenna to pick up signals from up to 60 miles away, so he build Big Bertha, a giant dtv antenna, and shows your inquiring minds how to do the same.

More:

Posted by Becky Stern | Oct 27, 2009 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Instructables, Telecommunications | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

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