Make: Online: MAKE Video Archives

Archive: MAKE Video

August 28, 2009

Fascination: Adam Summers

Introducing Make's Fascination series: Adam Summers' Fascination with Sharks! Editor and Publisher Dale Dougherty writes:

What fascinates you about science and technology? Do you remember something that caught your interest as a kid and fascinated you? What fascinates you today in the work you do? These are basic questions that get at how we're personally motivated to explore, learn and ultimately create new ideas. I wanted to ask a group of scientists and technologists these questions and present their answers in this Fascination video series. I hope you find them and their stories as fascinating as I do.

This summer, O'Reilly organized an event with Google and Nature called SciFoo where scientists from around the world are invited to a open-ended, unstructured event on the Google Campus in Mountain View, California. At SciFoo, I interviewed a dozen or so scientists and/or technologists across a range of disciplines and interests. I wanted to know what fascinated them as a child and how that might be connected to work they do today. Each one of them demonstrates the truth of Emerson's maxim: "Nothing great is achieved without enthusiasm."

The first interview in the series is Adam Summers who works in the field of Comparative Biomechanics, a field he didn't know existed when he graduated from college. He didn't even graduate in biology. It wasn't until he found himself collecting fish on the Great Barrier Reef as a self-proclaimed "bum" that he discovered that he wanted to become a biologist. Now, "I'm interested in how sharks swim fast." Sharks don't have a rigid skeletal structure like bony fishes. "Comparative Biomechanics is one of those fields at the interface" between disciplines, says Adam.

Fascination with Sharks: Adam Summers.

Weekend Project: Barrel Water Collector

Save money while helping the environment with this rustic, wine barrel water collector.
Thanks go to Chris & Michri Barnes for the original article in MAKE, Volume 18.
To download The Barrel Water Collector click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Check out the complete Barrel Water Collector article in MAKE, Volume 18
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

August 21, 2009

Weekend Project: Stun Gun Potato Cannon

Launch potato projectiles 200+ yards with this stun-gun triggered, high-powered potato cannon
with see-thru action.
Thanks go to William Gurstelle for the original article in MAKE, Volume 03.
To download The "Nightlighter" Stun Gun Potato Cannon video click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete "Nightlighter" Stun Gun Potato Cannon article in MAKE, Volume 03 "Nightlighter"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

August 18, 2009

MAKE Volume 19: Robots, Rovers, and Drones

MAKE, Volume 19 features a special section on robots. Learn how to make a model plane with an autopilot and a small built-in robot brain. We also show you how to make a comfortable plywood chair, a bicyclist's vest that shows how fast you're going, and projects that introduce you to servomotors. There's a free downloadable papercraft diorama featuring a robot picnic with his human and feline friends. MAKE, Volume 19, on newsstands today!

Subscribe to MAKE, or log in to check out the Digital Edition.

Subscribe to the MAKE Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

August 14, 2009

Weekend Project: Electric Cigar Box Guitar

Build your own 3-string, electrified cigar box guitar and make some sweet sounds.
Thanks go to Ed Vogel for the original article in MAKE, Volume 04.
To download The Cigar Box Guitar MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Cigar Box Guitar article in MAKE, Volume 04 "Cigar Box Guitar"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

August 7, 2009

Weekend Project: DIY Teleprompter

Get rid of those cue cards and make a low-cost teleprompter for pro results
Thanks go to Brian Lawler for the original article in MAKE, Volume 02.
To download The DIY Teleprompter MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete DIY Teleprompter article in
MAKE, Volume 02 "No More Cue Cards" and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

July 31, 2009

Weekend Project: Covert Wireless Listening Device

Install a sneaky bug in a book or any small covert object. I used an old vcr tape to capture secret surveillance.
Thanks go to David Simpson for the original article in MAKE, Volume 16.
To download The Covert Wireless Listening Device MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Covert Wireless Listening Device article in
MAKE, Volume 16 "Covert Wireless Listening" and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

July 24, 2009

Weekend Project: Head Mounted Water Cannon

Make the ultimate soaking weapon for this summer's water warfare! No squirt gun even comes close.
Thanks go to John Young for the original article in MAKE, Volume 07.
To download The Head Mounted Water Cannon MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Head Mounted Water Cannon article in
MAKE, Volume 07 "Head Mounted Water Cannon" and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

July 17, 2009

Collin's Lab Notes: Exploratory IC torching

After a recent post on the topic, I decided to experiment with a bit of IC decapping by way of propane torch. My first chip roast went relatively well allowing access to the precious chip within. I imagine a more evenly distributed & thorough torching would have made the hammer unnecessary - but I was happy with it as a first try.

Now I find myself in need of better optics - anyone have any microscope recommendations?

Download the m4v file or subscribe in iTunes

Update:Already some very helpful tips rolling in! -

Marc writes -

The hottest part of a flame is the tip of the inner cone (blue part). You should never touch the cone to the work-piece. (sorry, I majored in product design - metals)

Duely noted & Thnx!

Keith writes -

Boy Scout tip -- be careful heating porous rock and concrete. If it has a high moisture content and the water boils faster than it can be driven out, the rock could potentially explode.

It certainly doesn't look like that was an issue here, but one might recommend baking the moisture out at < 100°C for a while before torching.

Another reason I should've stayed in scouts - good point.

Weekend Project: Noisemusick Kit

Make some crazy musical noise with this 555 Timer-based Noisemusick Kit. Watch the video to see it in action and pick up your own at the Maker Shed.

In the Maker Shed:

In the Maker Shed: 555 Noisemusick Kit
To download The Noismusick Kit MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

July 13, 2009

MAKE presents: The Integrated Circuit

A brief introduction to the technology that makes it possible for today's electronics to do so much with very little space - the IC (aka microchip)!

Download the m4v file or subscribe in iTunes

July 10, 2009

Weekend Project: Kinetic Remote Control

Get rid of your batteries and power your remote control with just a shake.
Thanks go to Dhananjay Gadre for the original article in MAKE, Volume 12.
To download The Kinetic Remote Control MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Kinetic Remote Control article in MAKE, Volume 12 "Kinetic Remote Control"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

July 3, 2009

Weekend Project: Fire Piston

Make your own fire starter that uses compressed air and burns at 500 degrees!
Thanks to Bill Gurstelle for showing us this at Maker Faire.
To download The Fire Piston MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Pick up your own Fire Piston Kit in the Maker Shed.

June 26, 2009

Weekend Project: Potato Gatling Gun

Here is a brand new version of the popular potato cannon built by the DeRose family
and shown at this years Maker Faire. Check out their website for more details.
To download The Potato Gatling Gun MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

June 19, 2009

Weekend Project: Arduino Rumble Robots

Learn how to modify the classic Rumble Robot toy with an Arduino. Thanks go to
Dino Segovis for this Weekend Project from Maker Faire.
To download The Arduino Rumble Robots MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

June 12, 2009

Weekend Project: Frankenstein Prototypes

Designing and offering a new invention usually requires making a model
of what you have created. Perry Kaye explains the art of Frankenstein Prototyping
and shows us a new invention and how he built it in this Weekend Project from Maker Faire.

June 5, 2009

This is Maker Faire - The world's largest DIY festival

A fast moving look at the best of Maker Faire 2009. If you love to MAKE, create, learn, invent, CRAFT, recycle, act up, think, play and be inspired by celebrating arts, then start making plans for the next Maker Faire.

Next week: A new series of Weekend Projects from Maker Faire begins!

May 29, 2009

Weekend Project: $14 Video Camera Stabilizer

Make this low-cost camera stabilizer for smooth, professional looking video.
Thanks go to Johnny Lee for the original article in MAKE, Volume 01.
To download The $14 Video Camera Stabilizer MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Check out the complete $14 Video Camera Stabilizer article in MAKE, Volume 01.
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

May 22, 2009

Weekend Project: Super TV-B-Gone

Are you sick of blaring TV's? Wish you could do something about it?
Well you can with the this devious ultra-high-power version of the popular TV-B-Gone.
Watch the video to see it in action and pick up your own at the Maker Shed.
In the Maker Shed:

In the Maker Shed: Super TV-B-Gone kit
To download The Super TV-B-Gone MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Thanks to Mitch Altman for inventing this amazing gadget.

May 16, 2009

Make: television Episode 10

Here's another chance to see Make: television - Episode 10

Visit SparkLab founder and designer Syuzi Pakhchyan, a maker who explores the new frontier of high tech and fashion with her space age handiwork. In the Workshop, John Park shows us how to build a guitar out of a piece of wood, some string, nails and a cigar box. Then he "makes it rock" by wiring it to a buck-fifty cassette-player amp. In a Hidden Treasures segment, Mister Jalopy opens up his Chevy Camaro's cassette player to show us the beauty and value of clear schematics for makers like him. The Maker Channel features a sunlight-triggered poem, a pedal-powered blender, a time lapse photography rig, and a handmade theremin.

Get the m4v, subscribe in iTunes, or watch in HD on Blip.

Read full story