Tag: Diy

We’ve seen programmable electronics that use magnets or Bluetooth instead of wires and solder to connect its parts. But those kits are mainly meant for beginners, and are not as powerful or versatile as more advanced computers such as the Raspberry Pi or Arduino boards.

This sweet wearable Ultron mask was made through the combined efforts of Jacob Morin, Michael Ruddy of Hero Complex, and Sean Shaw of Shawshank Cosplay and Props. Jacob made the 3D model, Michael printed the helmet and Sean made the final mask based on the 3D printed one. Michael used a gMax 1.5XT

Engineering student/maker/currently selected character Daniel Harari can make his feelings unequivocal with his DIY The Sims Plumbob. The battery-powered accessory has RGB lights that he controls with an Android app via Bluetooth. I think he’s in a good mood. Daniel used Thingiverse user Jigsawnz’ 3D model for the Plumbob itself.

Paperformed makes a variety of papercraft models that it sells as DIY kits. Two of its most advanced kits are the Changeable Robots. They’re scale models clearly inspired by Transformers, and like Hasbro’s toys these bots have humanoid and vehicle forms. The Racing Warrior is made of 202 parts and transforms into a race car and a dual sword-wielding warrior.

We already have 3D printers that can make objects out of metal or metal composites, but if all you want is a metal coating then the Orbit1 might be for you. It’s a compact electroplating machine that can coat small objects with a variety of metals. While there are plenty of existing systems for electroplating objects, they’re generally bulky, messy and difficult to use.

Between the Arduino, Raspberry Pi and other development boards, it seems like makers already have more than enough small computers to choose from. But Onion Corporation believes its upcoming Omega will be welcomed with open arms because it will be familiar to both experienced programmers and people who have no knowledge of programming. The first thing you notice about the Omega is that it’s tiny.

Like many makers, Instructables member Gizmologist was running out of room on her workbench because of all her projects. So she decided to make a compact and self-contained toolkit to test electronics. She ended up packing an Arduino Uno, a breadboard, a voltage regulator and a capacitor substitution board in a small plywood box that still has lots of room for other tools. Gizmologist’s portable work station measures 8″x 6″x 1.75″.

Protect your valuables using LEGO bricks – by making a safe with them. You know you have a ton laying around and hey, it beats stepping on them. This video will teach you how to take your leftover LEGO bricks and turn them into a secret safe.

I love games where you get to battle it out with giant robot mechs. I grew up on MechWarrior and loved that game. However, I have never been a console gamer, which explains why I have never heard of Steel Battalion. 

Mark Nathan Willetts submitted his prototype for an Alien Power Loader set to LEGO Ideas, but they rejected it because of the franchise’s violent nature. Which I find weird given that LEGO approved the Exo Suit.

Mechanical keyboards are popular among gamers and programmers. Redditor wildpanic outgeeked them all by making his own keyboard. Inside the 3D printed case and keycaps are Cherry MX Green switches, 1N4148 diodes and a Teensy microcontroller, which wildpanic connected using 20 gauge copper wire. In case you were wondering, the center four keys on wildpanic’s keyboard replace the standard spacebar. You can download wildpanic’s keyboard frame 3D file on his Thingiverse page.

If you love Evil Mad Scientist’s Eggbot, check out Makeblock’s mDrawBot. It’s a modular kit that you can assemble into one of four different forms, each suited to drawing on a particular surface. mEggbot draws on ellipsoidal surfaces just like Eggbot, mScara draws on horizontal surfaces, mSpider draws on vertical surfaces and mCar is a three-wheeled robot car that is essentially a mobile version of mScara. Thanks to its modular nature, the mDrawBot can use a variety of drawing implements, including pens, chalk and even a laser engraver.

When he was a kid, Instructables member Andrew Hannay had a 1980 Nintendo Game & Watch game called Vermin, which was also released by Time Out under the title Exterminator. He sold the handheld on eBay, but lately he’s been itching to play it and other Game & Watch games. 

Redditor Lauri Hakkarainen aka b10nik wanted to have an excuse to buy a mechanical keyboard, so he thought of turning it into a computer by installing a Raspberry Pi 2 inside. Even though his Project Kiiboard turned out to be a bit complicated, you wouldn’t think that from looking at the unassuming computer, which practically looks just like its unmodified form. Lauri used a WASD V2 mechanical keyboard as Project Kiiboard’s base.

Kegan Holtzhausen’s custom modular controller for Kerbal Space Program has his fellow Kerbalnauts over the Mun. He calls it the Psimax CS40 Telemetric Joystick. Adjust your pocket rocket’s pitch and read on. Kegan used a Retex Abox enclosure to house the controller’s modules and then 3D printed the top plates.

After the 2011 tsunami in Japan, designer Chris Robinson and his friends bounced around ideas for ways to survive such a disaster. One of their ideas was for a spherical escape vessel. After doing a bit of research, Chris decided to pursue the idea by actually building it.