Make: Online: Weekend Projects Archives

Archive: Weekend Projects

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.

July 1, 2009

Make: Projects - More on making Light Bricks

By Alden Hart

The "LED Light Brick" project in MAKE, Volume 18 has generated lots of good feedback for us, so we went back and asked Alden to explore a few variations on the theme of the brick casting itself, how you might be creative with it. This article is the result. Be sure to check out the original piece in MAKE, Volume 18, and also the on-line supplement containing specific casting instructions. --SMR

From the pages of MAKE

Some Experiments in Mold Making

A lot of the fun of the Light Brick is trying out different molds. Some very different effects can be achieved depending on the mold you make. This post explores some mold making options and experiments.

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June 26, 2009

Make: Projects - Shrinky-dink gaming minis

Even as we approach the cultural apocalypse of ubiquitous, fully immersive, photo-real multiplayer video game environments, there are still those of us who like to play board or tabletop games. The communal wargaming experience, for instance, is very different from playing a networked MMORPG or turn-based strategy game. Whereas WarCraft or Xbox Live is kind of like hanging out with your buds watching TV, actually getting together and playing a board game is more like a real party. There's usually music and snacks and beverages and lots of gregarious BS-ing of a type that just isn't as practical over a network line. Manipulating the physical game pieces is also satisfying in a way that virtual objects have yet to achieve, and probably won't for some time to come.

A lot of folks who are into tabletop gaming eventually end up making their own pieces, for one reason or another. They may be making a custom army to compete in a wargame with established rules, or they may be making up their own game for which no commercial pieces are available. For these folks there's an array of techniques available. The simplest, as in wargaming days of yore, is to use illustrated paper or cardboard "chits" that lay flat on the gaming surface. A step up from that involves buying or making bases so your cardboard heroes can stand upright, which not only makes them look better but makes them much easier to manipulate. If the cardboard approach is too wimpy for you, you can always purchase commercial 3D miniature figures and paint and/or customize them to suit your taste.

Polyolefin shrink film presents an intermediate approach to original miniature design, midway between cheap paper or cardboard cutouts and fully dimensional figurines. Shrinky-dinks are much more durable than card stock, and unlike store-bought figurines, they are completely customizable. Best of all, you can make all your artistic mistakes at the software level, where they're easy to fix.

Materials:

Inkjet ink
Inkjet friendly shrink film
Small binder clips, one for each mini you intend to make

Tools:

Computer with color inkjet printer and appropriate software (if you're designing your own art)
Oven
Cookie sheet with cardboard insert to fit
Paint pen
Scissors/pen knife/paper cutter to cut out dinks

Step 1: Design your dinks

The best way to determine the expected shrinkage of your film is by experiment. Print a square of known dimension, cut it out, shrink it, and measure the new size. The ratio of the "after" dimensions to the "before" dimensions gives the expected shrink percentage. Every film I've ever seen also includes an approximate shrink ratio in the directions, and if you're not an accuracy freak it's probably safe to assume it's correct. The clear film I used shrinks by about 50%, meaning that the designs as printed need to be about twice as big, in each dimension, as the desired miniature size. Note that if you intend to use bases you need to be sure to leave an empty "tab" at the bottom of each image so the base can be attached without obscuring the art. If you're using binder-clip bases (see below), I recommend the small (3/4") size. These have a real "footprint" of 3/4" x 1/2", so scaling up for 50% shrink film gives a 1.5" x 1" pre-shrink area to allow for during the design of each piece.

If you don't want to design your own minis, or you just want to experiment with the technique, I've put together a set of markers for the deluxe edition of Steve Jackson's famously awesome future war-game, OGRE. You can download a .PDF of my OGRE marker designs here, ready to print onto five 8.5" x 11" sheets of 50% shrink film.

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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 13, 2009

Tessellating lizard pavers

[Editor's Note: There used to be a post here about some Escher-esque molds for creating tessellating gecko-patterned paving stones out of concrete. The creator of the molds got all 20th century (19th century?) on us and demanded that we take down the post (something about needing to negotiate a contract and cut a deal before publishing anything on the Web). We've removed all direct references to his product, but left up the post to retain the comments. We apologize for the inconvenience.]

Props to Steve for submitting this.

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.

May 29, 2009

Easy DIY wood steaming cabinet

Turns out you can bend lumber into some pretty amazing shapes if you first soften it by exposure to steam. Just how long it needs to "soak" in the steam varies with the species and thickness of the wood in question, but the necessary equipment is dirt cheap. This great tutorial over at the Dewalt website explains how to build a wood steaming cabinet from a few bucks worth of materials. Author, engineer, and carpenter Tony Maund says:

This entire project took about 4 hours to make and cost less than $20. This should last a number of years or more.

A piece of inexpensive, easy, homebrew equipment that will last for years and let me do amazing new things with wood? Where do I sign?

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 15, 2009

Weekend Project: Mooftronic Mini Synth

Make some crazy sounds from a teensy-tiny musical instrument.
Thanks go to Brian McNamara for the original article in MAKE, Volume 15.
To download The Mooftronic Mini Synth MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Mooftronic Mini Synth article in MAKE, Volume 15.
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

May 8, 2009

Weekend Project: $10 Pseudoscope

Build an amazing optical toy that plays tricks on your brain.
Thanks go to Rob Hartmann for the original article in MAKE, Volume 05.
To download The $10 Pseudoscope MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete $10 Pseudoscope article in MAKE, Volume 05 "$10 Pseudoscope"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

May 2, 2009

Weekend Project: Animal Detector

Make a varmint detecting webcam that captures rascally rabbits in your backyard.
Thanks go to Bob Goldstein for the original article in MAKE, Volume 17.
To download The Animal Detector MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Animal Detector article in MAKE, Volume 17 "Animal Detector"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.
Check out animals caught on video at Bob Goldstein's blog.

April 24, 2009

Weekend Project: Strung Out

Make a unique one-string, electric or bass guitar out of PVC and wood.
Thanks go to Tom Zimmerman for the original article in MAKE, Volume 09.
To download The Strung Out MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Strung Out article in MAKE, Volume 09 "Strung Out"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

April 19, 2009

Weekend Project: The Stealth Mic

Make a set of sneaky earbuds that record what you hear. They create a binaural effect
when played back wearing headphones.
Thanks go to Bill Byrne for the original article in MAKE, Volume 17.
To download The Stealth Mic MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Stealth Mic article in MAKE, Volume 17 "The Stealth Mic"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

April 10, 2009

Weekend Project: The Truth Wristband

Are you telling the truth? This fun and easy to build kit uses the galvanic skin response to become your very own personal lie detector.
In the Maker Shed:

More about the Truth Wristband Kit

To download The Truth Wristband MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

April 3, 2009

Weekend Project: The Powerfake

Take an old outdated PS/2 ball mouse and turn it into a handy multimedia controller.
Thanks go to Daniel Walker for the original article in MAKE, Volume 17.
To download The Powerfake MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Powerfake article in MAKE, Volume 17 "The Powerfake"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

March 27, 2009

Weekend Project: Flash Memory Hard Drive

Take an old outdated hard drive and teach it new secret tricks by increasing it's capacity and speed.
Thanks go to Brian Nadel for the original article in MAKE, Volume 17. And to "gmgfarrand" for the original Instructable.
To download The Flash Memory Hard Drive MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Flash Memory Hard Drive article in MAKE, Volume 17 "Flash Memory Hard Drive"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

March 20, 2009

Weekend Project: DIY Stilts

Rise to new heights with these custom built peg stilts.Thanks go to Molly Graber & Chris Merrick for the original article in CRAFT, Volume 08.
To download The DIY Stilts MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete DIY Stilts article in CRAFT, Volume 08 "DIY Stilts"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

March 13, 2009

Weekend Project: Spider Rifle

Make a humane, compressed-air-powered bug trapper that removes unwanted, tiny pests from your world .Thanks go to Matt Lind for the original article in MAKE, Volume 06.
To download The Spider Rifle MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.