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November 1, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Chumby Guts

We still have a few more Chumby guts ready for you to hack, modify, or just make a cool enclosure and enjoy. What's a Chumby? Glad you asked! It's an amazing little piece of technology that lets you get what's best on the web and delivers it right to you on it's 3.5" touch screen LCD. You can play games, check the weather, twitter, news, music, and even watch YouTube videos. All of this is done via you home's wireless Internet connection. Get 'em while you can, we have limited stock and we will not receive any more this year...if ever.

Here's what comes in each kit:

3.5'' LCD (320hx240v 16bpp TFT) with Touch Screen
Texas Instruments TSC2100 Programmable Touchscreen Controller with Stereo DAC
Plastic Front Bezel
Gasket
Aluminum Frame
4 x Screws to attach Aluminum Frame to Front Bezel
350MHz Freescale iMX21 MC94MX21DVKN3 ARM9 controller Motherboard Circuit Card Assembly with Samsung 64MB SDRAM on 32-bit data path and Hynix HY27US 64MB NAND Flash ROM
Kionix KXP74-1050 3-axis accelerometer
Daughtercard Circuit Card Assembly
Three USB 2.0 full speed ports, one internal, two external
Chumbilical Flex Cable from Daughter card CCA to Motherboard CCA
Wifi Riser Circuit Card Assembly
USB Wifi Dongle based on the Xterasys 3135G 802.11g USB Wifi adapter (ralink chipset)
Flex Cable for Wifi Riser CCA to Motherboard CCA
3 x Screws for Wifi Riser CCA to Motherboard CCA
3 x Standoffs for screws for Wifi Riser CCA to Motherboard CCA
2 x 2W StereoSpeakers
4 x Screws for Speaker to Plastic Speaker Holder
Plastic Speaker Holder
Switch for Bend Sensor
Plastic Switch Holder
2 wire cable with 2 pin connector (from Daughterboard CCA to switch)
2 x Screws to Attach Switch to Plastic Switch Holder
12 V DC 1A Power Supply
Built-in microphone

(Note: actual parts may vary slightly due to manufacturing and availability)

October 29, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Creepy CRAFT Bundle

The Creepy CRAFT Bundle from the Maker Shed teaches you all about making ~~creepy~~ adorable hand-sewn mini monsters. Before you know it, these little creatures will overrun your entire house.

Start out your monster-making experience by reading the DIY hand-sewn, free-range, monster tutorial found in CRAFT, Volume 06. Next, crack open the DIY Mini Monster kit and make your first adorable little monster. When you're all done, use the included Maker's Notebook to sketch out some new designs.

October 28, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Danger Shield kit

The Danger Shield kit is a shield for the Arduino micro controller. It's has a variety of fun, and useful components including: 3 linear sliders, pushbuttons, temperature and light sensors, 7 Segment LED, a piezo buzzer, a knock sensor, and more!

October 27, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Chumby Guts

Yep, that's right, the Maker Shed has Chumby guts all ready for you to hack, modify, or just make a cool enclosure and enjoy. What's a Chumby? Glad you asked! It's an amazing little piece of technology that lets you get what's best on the web and delivers it right to you on it's 3.5" touch screen LCD. You can play games, check the weather, twitter, news, and music, even watch YouTube videos. All of this is done via you home's wireless Internet connection. Get 'em while you can, we have limited stock and we will not receive any more this year...if ever.

Here's what comes in each kit:

3.5'' LCD (320hx240v 16bpp TFT) with Touch Screen
Texas Instruments TSC2100 Programmable Touchscreen Controller with Stereo DAC
Plastic Front Bezel
Gasket
Aluminum Frame
4 x Screws to attach Aluminum Frame to Front Bezel
350MHz Freescale iMX21 MC94MX21DVKN3 ARM9 controller Motherboard Circuit Card Assembly with Samsung 64MB SDRAM on 32-bit data path and Hynix HY27US 64MB NAND Flash ROM
Kionix KXP74-1050 3-axis accelerometer
Daughtercard Circuit Card Assembly
Three USB 2.0 full speed ports, one internal, two external
Chumbilical Flex Cable from Daughter card CCA to Motherboard CCA
Wifi Riser Circuit Card Assembly
USB Wifi Dongle based on the Xterasys 3135G 802.11g USB Wifi adapter (ralink chipset)
Flex Cable for Wifi Riser CCA to Motherboard CCA
3 x Screws for Wifi Riser CCA to Motherboard CCA
3 x Standoffs for screws for Wifi Riser CCA to Motherboard CCA
2 x 2W StereoSpeakers
4 x Screws for Speaker to Plastic Speaker Holder
Plastic Speaker Holder
Switch for Bend Sensor
Plastic Switch Holder
2 wire cable with 2 pin connector(from Daughterboard CCA to switch)
2 x Screws to Attach Switch to Plastic Switch Holder
12 V DC 1A Power Supply
Built-in microphone

(Note: actual parts may vary slightly due to manufacturing and availability)

October 26, 2009

Get the upcoming MAKE, Volume 20, for $14.99, shipped!

You know how, on those reality romance shows, every week, they say: "Get ready for the most exciting rose ceremony, ever!" Yeah, we don't know anything about that either, but that's what we hear they say.

Anyhoo... we probably sound the same, heralding each issue of MAKE as the best, most exciting issue EVER! But this upcoming issue (due on newsstands middle of Nov) REALLY is. I mean, look, it's got Adam Freakin' Savage on the cover! It's the "Kids of All Ages" issue, and who among us doesn't relate to that? There's a hydrogen rocket project, a laser in a lunchbox, plans for building a motorized, Arduino-powered phenakistoscope, an homage to maker toys of the 1960s, and a how-to on toilet-training your cat. A what? Okay, maybe that's not our finest moment. But look, it's Adam Savage!

If you want to pre-order a copy of Volume 20, and you do so in the Maker Shed before Oct 31st, the shipping is only one cent. That's the best issue of MAKE ever, for only $14.99.

If you want to subscribe to MAKE, here's an offer to get five issues for the price of four.

Bob Thompson on laboratory scales

Bob Thompson, our resident Make: Science Room lab geek, answered a question in the comments for the "Setting Up a Home Science Laboratory Part II - Gearing Up" topic, about buying digital scales. I thought it was worth posting here for the benefit of others.

Cynthia asked:
What would you recommend in the way of a digital scale for intermediate/high school science? I was thinking of purchasing one that was a 1000 g capacity with a 0.1 sensitivity. Could this both serve chemistry and physics, etc.?

Bob's reply:
Good question. The two big trade-offs in buying a balance are capacity and resolution. Ideally, we'd all like an inexpensive balance with 0.0001 gram resolution, but unfortunately, there aren't any such animals.

The balance I chose two or three years ago for my own home lab is the desktop MyWeigh iBalance 201, which has 200 gram capacity and 0.01 gram (centigram) resolution. That's still a current model, and is available in Maker Shed and elsewhere. However, it's also a $100+ balance.

If you're looking for something a bit less pricey, Maker Shed also carries a portable $33 electronic balance (on sale through 10/31 for $29) that has the same 200 gram capacity and 0.01 gram resolution. I have one of those as well, and it's a very nice little scale. I suspect it probably isn't quite as durable as the i201, but OTOH, it's less than a third the price. (It's also useful around the house. My wife just used it yesterday to see if she needed to put a second stamp on an envelope.)

My take on this is that 200 g is sufficient capacity. Almost any experiment you do that would use the 1000 g capacity of the balance you're considering can be scaled down to work within the 200 g capacity of these balances. OTOH, having 0.01 g resolution instead of 0.1 g resolution is very nice, particularly for chemistry.

It'll also save you money on chemicals. For example, if you need to make up a solution to a particular accuracy, being able to weigh out (say) 7.87 g of the chemical and making up 100 mL of solution is cheaper than having to weigh out 78.7 g of the chemical and make up 1,000 mL of the solution.

This way to the Make: Science Room >>

New in the Maker Shed: ProtoShield for Arduino Kit

The ProtoShield for Arduino kit is an open-source prototyping shield that makes developing new ideas on your Arduino even easier. The shield has plenty of room for attaching a breadboard, DIP components, headers, and more.

October 25, 2009

Maker Shed weekly wrap-up

This week we added a few new products to our lineup. One of our favorites is the Ethernet Shield for Arduino. It's a great way to connect your Arduino (think Twitter) to the web. Also, we added a quick video demo of the Cross Copter EX from Gakken. Are there any kits in the Shed that you would like to see us demo? Let us know in the comments. Thanks!

October 23, 2009

50% OFF Maker's Notebooks and MAKE Halloween

From now until midnight Sunday, you can pick up our Maker's Notebook or MAKE: Halloween Special Edition at a special discount. How much? How's 50% off! Pick up one, or both, and start planning your Halloween inspired projects.

Our Halloween Special Edition brings you 40-plus DIY projects for the holiday that's made for makers. From the craftiest costumes to amazing animated props and the latest in computer-controlled haunted house effects.

Don't forget to check out the official Maker's Notebook page for more information, modifications, and reviews.

In the Maker Shed: Arduino Ethernet shield

The Arduino Ethernet shield allows an Arduino board to connect to the Internet using the Ethernet library. Connect the shield to your computer or a network hub or router using a standard Ethernet cable (CAT5 or CAT6 with RJ45 connectors).

October 22, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Snap Circuits Jr. kit

Curious young minds can learn the basics of electronics with the Snap Circuits Jr. kit from the Maker Shed. You can build more than 100 projects with this award-winning kit including sound effects, alarms, touch circuits, and games. No soldering is required. It's a great way to teach your kids about electronics!

October 21, 2009

Review of the Gakken SX-150

Can anyone translate this review of the Gakken SX-150? At the end of the video it receives a 4-star rating, so we guess he likes it? If anyone knows more about this video, or any of his other 940 YouTube videos, let us know. Yeah, I said 940 videos! Check out his review of blue beer, Amazon manga, and the Korg Wavedrum. Fun!

October 20, 2009

45 Seconds in the Maker Shed: Gakken Cross Copter EX

The Gakken Cross Copter EX has two contra-rotating rotors, driven by one small electric motor that's connected via a cord to the hand-powered generator. Build one of three different configurations, or try one of your own!

Easy to build -- instructions are in Japanese but feature highly detailed assembly pictures (sorry, no English translation at this time). MAKE is proud to be the exclusive distributor in North America for these brilliant kits from Gakken.

Note: The original video is 45 seconds long....YouTube seemed to add a second just to make us look silly!

October 19, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: Plug-in Breadboard Power Supply 3.3V/5V

This is very simple breadboard power supply kit that takes power from a DC wall wart and outputs a selectable 5V or 3.3V regulated voltage. The .1" headers are mounted on the bottom of the PCB for simple insertion into a breadboard.

October 17, 2009

Maker Shed weekly wrap-up

We added a lot of new products, and a few new bundles, to the Maker Shed this week, and more are on the way. Let us know if there are any particular kits you would like to see us build, or if you have any questions about other products in the Maker Shed. Thanks!

It's been a while since we had all of our Gakken kits in stock. They sell out fast, and it takes some time to get them shipped from Japan. In this last shipment we added a few new kits. Check out the Poulsen's wire recorder kit, 4-Bit Microcomputer, and the Gennai Hiraga's Spark Generator. In the following weeks we will be posting videos how-to's of all these new kits.

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October 15, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: Poulsen's wire recorder kit

The Poulsen's Wire Recorder Kit from the Maker Shed uses a wire and the power of magnetism to record your own voice! Record and play back sound on almost any metal that can be magnetized -- a wire, scissors, a knife, an escalator? Try it!

October 14, 2009

In the Maker Shed: Sneaky Green Uses for Everyday Things

Sneaky Green Uses for Everyday Things by MAKE Magazine contributor Cy Tymony combines the sneaky fun of his 'Sneaky Uses' series with the growing interest in green living. The result is an easy-to-practice manual for conserving energy.

Features

The book includes 40 projects using green techniques with step-by-step instructions, as well as illustrations and directions for an Earth-friendly existence.
Projects are enjoyable for kids and also engaging for adults.
Made from 100 percent usable information that really does conserve energy and improve the way we live.
Contains sneaky things we can do to go green and includes a helpful energy reduction section that is full of tips and resources, making energy conservation easy.

October 13, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: Creepy CRAFT Bundle

The Creepy CRAFT Bundle from the Maker Shed teaches you all about making ~~creepy~~ adorable hand-sewn mini monsters. Before you know it, these little creatures will overrun your entire house.

Start out your monster-making experience by reading the DIY hand-sewn, free-range, monster tutorial found in CRAFT, Volume 06. Next, crack open the DIY Mini Monster kit and make your first adorable little monster. When you're all done, use the included Maker's Notebook to sketch out some new designs.

Halloween Special: Use promo code "SAMHAIN" at checkout and receive FREE 3 day FedEx on our Creepy CRAFT Bundle (contiguous US only).

October 12, 2009

New in the Maker Shed: FX Master Bundle - 5 DVDs

The FX Master Bundle includes all 5 of our Effects Master Class DVDs! Each DVD is 3 hours long and packed with lessons taught by professional artists, most of whom work in Hollywood at effects houses including Stan Winston Studio, Spectral Motion, KNB and Motion Picture F/X, and teach part-time at Los Angeles-area effects schools like Westmore Academy, Makeup Designory, FX School and USC.

Halloween Special: Use promo code "SAMHAIN" at checkout and receive FREE 3 day FedEx on our FX Master Bundle (contiguous US only)

New in the Maker Shed: Gennai Hiraga's Spark Generator

Hiraga Gennai (1729-79) was an Edo period Japanese pharmacologist, physician, author, painter, and inventor of the Erekiteru (electrostatic generator). The Gennai Hiraga's Spark Generator kit in the Maker Shed replicates his early work in creating static charges.

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