Make: Online: Maker Shed Store Archives

Archive: Maker Shed Store

July 3, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: Fire Piston Kit

The Fire Piston Kit is a neat physics experiment based on the heat created when air is rapidly compressed. Bill Gurstelle, author of Backyard Ballistics and Barrage Garage, created this kit for us. If you were at Maker Faire you might have seen him demonstrating his kit in the Maker Shed. [Thanks Bill!]

More about the Fire Piston Kit

July 2, 2009

LED Light Brick kits

Alden Hart, who wrote the LED Light Bricks project for MAKE, Volume 18, has put together a lovely little kit to make building the project much easier. And we're now offering them in the Maker Shed! The kit includes a printed circuit board, 20 bright LEDs, in red, green, blue, and yellow, a programmed PIC16F916 (which you can reprogram, if you like), a tilt switch, power supply, and everything else you need to complete the project (except the molding and casting components). The kit sells for $27.

Here's a link to the Digital Edition of the article in MAKE, Volume 18.
Here's a link to the Web Extras page with the full mold-making and casting article.
Here's a link to the Make: Online how-to on different ways you can construct molds.

In the Maker Shed:

LED Light Brick Electronics Kit
Our Price: $27.00
All the components you need to make the LED Light Brick circuit featured in MAKE, Volume 18. When assembled, the circuit board is ready to cast to make your finished glowing nightlight.

New in the Maker Shed: Desktop Onager

This Desktop Onager is constructed out of only wood and twine. That's right, no metal parts here! These types of war machines were the predecessors to cannons and modern artillery. This desktop model uses the torsion skein for all of its power. Using this ancient power mechanism, it can launch the wooden projectiles up to twenty feet.

More about the Desktop Onager

July 1, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: ArduPilot

The ArduPilot from the Maker Shed is a full-featured autopilot based on the Arduino open-source hardware platform. It uses infrared (thermopile) sensors for stabilization and GPS for navigation. Requires a GPS module and an infrared XY sensor (not included). The autopilot handles both stabilization and navigation, eliminating the need for a separate stabilization system. It also supports a "fly-by-wire" mode that can stabilize an aircraft when flying manually under RC control, making it easier and safer to fly. The hardware and software are all open source. The board comes with all the surface-mount parts already soldered, but requires the user to solder on connectors. Firmware is already loaded, but the autopilot software must be downloaded and loaded onto the board by the user.

More about the ArduPilot

In the Maker Shed: Arduino Projects Pack

Bridging the gap between the "real world" and your computer, the Arduino Projects Pack takes you further into the world of physical computing. We've included all sorts of cool electronic parts this time that help you delve deeper into the true capacity of the Arduino. You'll experience what the tens of thousands of engineers, designers, artists and hobbyists already know about this awesome and educational prototyping platform.

More about the Arduino Projects Pack

June 30, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: ARMmite PRO

The ARMmite PRO from the Maker Shed is a low-cost single board computer. It's perfect for small volume applications that require customization. The ARMmite PRO Features 21 TTL compatible digital I/Os shared with 7 10-bit A/D pins. Unleash the power of a 32-bit processor, running at 60 MHz to solve your control problem. Save time with built in support for PWM, SPI, 1-Wire, I2C, Pulse timing, Synchronous and Asynchronous serial protocols. Fully assembled, no soldering required!

More about the ARMmite PRO

June 29, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: ScrewShield for Arduino

The ScrewShield for Arduino is a "wing-format" shield that extends the Arduino pins to sturdy, secure, and dependable screw terminal blocks. The wing design allows you to extend just one or both sides ("analog" & "digital") of the Arduino, and still access the jumpers, LEDs, and buttons on the Arduino. Thanks to its extra-long header pins, the ScrewShield can be stacked above or below other shields. It's a must have for anyone who is experimenting with the Arduino.

More about the ScrewShield for Arduino

In the Maker Shed: Fiber Optics Kit

Learn the basics of fiber optics communications while you build this exciting kit. Transmit your voice or 1kHz signal through the fiber optic cable to a fiber optic receiver. Comes complete with all of the necessary components including the PC boards, microphone, speaker and fiber optic cable. Requires (2) 9-volt batteries.

More about the Fiber Optics Kit

June 26, 2009

In the Maker Shed: MAKE: Warranty Voider - Leatherman

Small enough to fit on your key chain, the MAKE Warranty Voider is the perfect companion for mobile fixing, hacking and MacGyvering. This is a limited offering with custom "MAKE: Warranty Voider" laser lovingly etched with care using a 35w laser.

More about the MAKE: Warranty Voider - Leatherman "Squirt" P4 (plier version)

June 22, 2009

SX-150 in the studio

After adding MIDI control via Arduino + DAC, MrBook cased up the added circuitry, creating a much needed wooden back panel in the process. The upgraded kit can be seen above getting along nicely with Ableton Live - good to see the lil' Gakken synth get the pro-style treatment. Check out his blog entry for info.

In the Maker Shed:

Mkgk8-2
SX-150 Analog Synthesizer Kit

June 17, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Arduino Nano board

The Arduino Nano is a great solution for projects that don't have a lot of available space. It's breadboard friendly, and has integrated USB.

It has everything that Diecimila has (electrically) with more analog input pins and onboard +5V AREF jumper. Physically, it is missing power jack and power select jumper. Since the Nano is automatically sense and switch to the higher potential source of power, there is no need for the power select jumper.

More about the Arduino Nano board

June 16, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Mini Monster Kit

The Mini Monster kit from the Maker Shed makes an adorable hand-sewn monster that's one of a kind. Good for all skill levels. The kit uses the tutorial from Craft:06 and will yield one mini monster about 4" tall.

More about our Mini Monster Kit

June 15, 2009

How-To: Mini-Theremin kit mods

Randy shares steps for adding two key upgrades to the Mini-Theremin kit -

True, there are already directions to do both of these things in the accompanying magazine, but what sets this how-to apart is that it is in English. If like me you can't read Japanese and unlike me, you couldn't figure out what to do from the pictures alone, this should help. Basically, what I am doing is adding an audio out jack and also a bigger, sturdier telescoping antenna. This is a great improvement on the original.

I've added an 1/8" jack to mine as well, definitely a great idea for those who also own the Gakken SX-150 synth. Once 'jacked' the mini can act as a handsfree controller for the SX by way of its control input. Hmmm ... think I'll be adding one of theses sturdier antennae as well. Read the full instructable for much mini modding infos.

More:

Gakken Mini-Theremin

In the Maker Shed: Trip Glasses

Hack your Brain with the Trip Glasses in the Maker Shed! 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.

In the Maker Shed: Trip Glasses

Related:

Trippy RGB Waves Kit

June 10, 2009

In the Maker Shed: The Ballistic Bundle

Announcing our new bundles available exclusively in the Maker Shed. William "Bill" Gurstelle is an award-winning writer, licensed engineer, bestselling author and professional speaker (not to mention MAKE Magazine contributing editor and producer on Make: television). We like the guy, we like the way he thinks. We think you'll like him too, which is why we've created the Ballistic bundle.

The Ballistic Bundle includes:

Backyard Ballistics $16.95 value
Whoosh! Boom! Splat! $16.95 value
Make Vol. 3 $14.99 value
Barrage Garage Vol. 1 DVD $19.99 value

All for the discounted price of $48. That's an amazing 46% off the price if you purchased these items individually. Take advantage of this amazing deal before it's too late.

More about the Ballistic bundle in the Maker Shed

June 8, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Makers by Bob Parks

Makers is a beautiful hardbound book that introduces you to a brigade of citizen engineers making their own cameras, clocks, airplanes, submarines, musical instruments, weapons, medical equipment, energy- saving devices, robots, and houses. They create their own tools to explore the outer atmosphere, the deep sea, and the behavior of tiny flies in their backyard. It's a great peek into the lives of some really interesting people. It's also a great read after experiencing Maker Faire last weekend!

In the Maker Shed: Makers by Bob Parks

June 5, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Advanced Arduino Starter Kit

Much like the Arduino Starter Kit before it -- but better! Bridging the gap between the "real world" and your computer, the Advanced Arduino Starter Kit from the Maker Shed takes you further into the world of physical computing. We've included all sorts of cool electronic parts this time, along with our best selling Making Things Talk book by Tom Igoe, that help you delve deeper into the true capacity of the Arduino. You'll experience what the tens of thousands of engineers, designers, artists and hobbyists already know about this awesome and educational prototyping platform.

More about the Advanced Arduino Starter Kit

In the Maker Shed:

Arduino Family
Make: Arduino

June 4, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Getting Started with Arduino Kit

Bridging the gap between the "real world" and your computer, the Getting Started with Arduino kit from the Maker Shed is your starting point into the world of physical computing. Using the electronic parts included, along with our best selling Getting Started with Arduino book by Massimo Banzi, the co-founder of Arduino, you'll be ready to join the tens of thousands of engineers, designers, artists and hobbyists who have discovered this incredible and educational prototyping platform. Besides the DC plug and Battery pack, this kit requires no soldering whatsoever.

More about the Getting Started with Arduino Kit

In the Maker Shed:

Arduino Family
Make: Arduino

May 31, 2009

See it, touch it, hear it explained in the Maker Shed

At Maker Faire you can actually touch an amazing collection of books, kits, projects and more in the Maker Shed. Come on by for a demo of some of the kits, meet the designers and makers of the kits, learn to solder on your own gear. It is really nice to check out the things in the Maker Shed in person after seeing them on the site or in the Maker Shed Store. Meeting the makers of the kits and seeing the demos can help give some great ideas of what you can do for projects using the kits.

Dale Wheat and the tiny kits

Dale Wheat has been messing about with kits, making a tiny collection of AVR based blinky kits. They may be the most inexpensive kits in the Maker Shed, but these kits have lots of features programmed into them. Most of the ones he shows here use programmable chips, so if you don't like the programs that they come bundled with, you can rewrite them and make your own. Come on down to Maker Faire this Sunday and continue the fun.