Just like the garage computer explosion of the 70’s through the 80’s, which brought us such things as Apple, pong, Bill Gate’s hair, and the proliferation of personal computers, the maker movement is the new garage hardware explosion. Today, 135 million adults in the United States alone are involved in the maker movement.
Enthusiasts who want to build the products they want, from shortwave radios to personal computers, and to tweak products they’ve bought to make them even better, have long been a part of the electronics industry. By all measures, garage-style innovation remains alive and well today, as “makers” as they are called continue to turn out contemporary gadgets, including 3D printers, drones, and embedded electronics devices.
Making is about individual Do-It-Yourselfers being able to design and create with tools that were, as of a decade or two ago, only available to large, cash-rich corporations: CAD tools, CNC mills, 3D printers, low-quantity PCB manufacturing, open hardware such as Arduinos and similar inexpensive development boards – all items that have made it easier and relatively cheap to make whatever we imagine. For individuals, maker tools can change how someone views their home or their hobbies. The world is ours to make. Humans are genetically wired to be makers. The maker movement is simply the result of making powerful building and communication tools accessible to the masses. There are plenty of projects from makers that show good engineering: Take this Arduino board with tremendous potential, developed by a young maker, as example.
The maker movement is a catalyst to democratize entrepreneurship as these do-it-yourself electronics are proving to be hot sellers: In the past year, unit sales for 3D printing related products; Arduino units, parts and supplies; Raspberry Pi boards; drones and quadcopters; and robotics goods are all on a growth curve in terms of eBay sales. There are many Kickstarter maker projects going on. The Pebble E-Paper Watch raises $10 million. The LIFX smartphone-controlled LED bulb raises $1.3 million. What do these products have in common? They both secured funding through Kickstarter, a crowd-funding website that is changing the game for entrepreneurs. Both products were created by makers who seek to commercialize their inventions. These “startup makers” iterate on prototypes with high-end tools at professional makerspaces.
For companies to remain competitive, they need to embrace the maker movement or leave themselves open for disruption. Researchers found that 96 percent of business leaders believe new technologies have forever changed the rules of business by democratizing information and rewiring customer expectations. - You’ve got to figure out agile innovation. Maybe history is repeating itself as the types of products being sold reminded us of the computer tinkering that used to be happening in the 1970s to 1990s – similar in terms of demographics, tending to be young people, and low budget. Now the do-it-yourself category is deeply intertwined with the electronics industry. Open hardware is in the center in maker movement – we need open hardware designs! How can you publish your designs and still do business with it? Open source ecosystem markets behave differently and therefore require a very different playbook than traditional tech company: the differentiation is not in the technology you build; it is in the process and expertise that you slowly amass over an extended period of time.
By democratizing the product development process, helping these developments get to market, and transforming the way we educate the next generation of innovators, we will usher in the next industrial revolution. The world is ours to make. Earlier the PC created a new generation of software developers who could innovate in the digital world without the limitations of the physical world (virtually no marginal cost, software has become the great equalizer for innovation. Now advances in 3D printing and low-cost microcontrollers as well as the ubiquity of advanced sensors are enabling makers to bridge software with the physical world. Furthermore, the proliferation of wireless connectivity and cloud computing is helping makers contribute to the Internet of Things (IoT). We’re even beginning to see maker designs and devices entering those markets once thought to be off-limits, like medical.
Image source: The world is ours to make: The impact of the maker movement – EDN Magazine
In fact, many parents have engaged in the maker movement with their kids because they know that the education system is not adequately preparing their children for the 21st century. There is a strong movement to spread this DIY idea widely. The Maker Faire, which launched in the Bay Area in California in 2006, underlined the popularity of the movement by drawing a record 215,000 people combined in the Bay Area and New York events in 2014. There’s Maker Media, MakerCon, MakerShed, Make: magazine and 131 Maker Faire events that take place throughout the world. Now the founders of all these Makers want a way to connect what they refer to as the “maker movement” online. So Maker Media created a social network called MakerSpace, a Facebook-like social network that connects participants of Maker Faire in one online community. The new site will allow participants of the event to display their work online. There are many other similar sites that allow yout to present yout work fron Hackaday to your own blog. Today, 135 million adults in the United States alone are involved in the maker movement—although makers can be found everywhere in the world.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
My DIY Version of the Muzata Spotless LED Diffuser Channel – 8 Feet Long!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps_pDbdvqZA
Tomi Engdahl says:
Auto tracking camera
A camera that tracks a person & counts reps using *AI*.
https://hackaday.io/project/162944-auto-tracking-camera
Tomi Engdahl says:
Geiger counter
Radiation measurement device w/ Raspberry Pi Pico and STS-5 tube
https://hackaday.io/project/184266-geiger-counter
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wee Bug
Fluffbug but smaller
https://hackaday.io/project/188909-wee-bug
Tomi Engdahl says:
Circuit Candy Hearts
Instructions for all 5 Circuit Candy Hearts
https://hackaday.io/project/189305-circuit-candy-hearts
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/26/exploring-the-hall-effect-for-haptic-feedback-ps4-joysticks/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Casting Custom Resin Buttons For The Steam Deck
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/26/casting-custom-resin-buttons-for-the-steam-deck/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Binary Watch Rocks A Bare PCB With Pride
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/26/binary-watch-rocks-a-bare-pcb-with-pride/
Tomi Engdahl says:
how to make liquid crystal display at your home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8D3SuZpI-0
Tomi Engdahl says:
Converting Wired Headphones Into an Open Source Bluetooth Alternative
See the process of how Clem Mayer from element14 Presents was able to create an open source board for adding Bluetooth to headphones.
https://www.hackster.io/news/converting-wired-headphones-into-an-open-source-bluetooth-alternative-7db69767456d
Tomi Engdahl says:
Analog telephone exchange
https://skagmo.com/page.php?p=projects/42_pbx
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FEATURE
THE INNER BEAUTY OF BASIC ELECTRONICS
Open Circuits showcases the surprising complexity of passive components
https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-circuits
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/27/esp8266-coaster-keeps-your-drink-warm/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/27/led-air-vent-gauges-are-a-tasteful-mod-for-the-mazda-miata/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cut Your Own Gears With This DIY Machine
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/27/cut-your-own-gears-with-this-diy-machine/
You can buy gears off the shelf, of course, and get accurately machined parts exactly to your chosen specification. However, there’s something rugged and individualist about producing your own rotating components. [Maciej Nowak] demonstrates just how to produce your own gears with a homemade cutting tool.
The cutting tool for the job is an M16 machine tap, chosen for the smaller flutes compared to a hand tap. This makes it more suitable for cutting gears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP3EHZ-S0sY
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/28/the-times-they-are-a-chaining/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Toroidal Propellers Make Drones Less Annoying
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/28/toroidal-propellers-make-drones-less-annoying/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/28/an-atomic-pendulum-clock-accurate-enough-for-cern/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D-Printed Servo Motor Has 360 Degrees Of Rotation
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/28/3d-printed-servo-motor-has-360-degrees-of-rotation/
https://www.instructables.com/3D-Printed-Servo-Motor/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/28/creative-vandalism-the-kitt-way/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Illuminate Your Benched Things With This Death Stranding Lamp
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/29/illuminate-your-benched-things-with-this-death-stranding-lamp/
Pinkman] creates a smart RGB table lamp based off of the “Odradek device” robot arm from the video game “Death Stranding”.
Death Stranding Desk Lamp
A smart table lamp based on the Death Stranding Odradek device, the lamp consists of a combination of five individual light-emitting blades,
https://www.hackster.io/wyx269263336/death-stranding-desk-lamp-ae5f71
Tomi Engdahl says:
Opening A Safe With A Stepper Motor And DIY Auto-Dialer
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/29/opening-a-safe-with-a-stepper-motor-and-diy-auto-dialer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/29/self-watering-planters-reuse-household-jars/
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Automatic On Air Light Prevents Distractions During Online Meetings
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/29/automatic-on-air-light-prevents-distractions-during-online-meetings/
Remote working has become so normal that even important meetings are now routinely held online. But for those working from home there’s always the risk of pets or flatmates entering the room right when you’re in a heated argument with your boss or presenting your results to an important client. To overcome this problem, [Hans Scharler] designed a system that lights up a big “ON AIR” sign whenever he’s in an online meeting. Although his cat might still disregard it, any human housemates will now know not to disturb him.
On Air Light 2023: Easy DIY Status Light for Microsoft Teams and Zoom
https://nothans.com/on-air-light-2023
The Idea
I want a light that turns on when my webcam turns on. I want the light to turn off when my camera turns off. The idea is that my camera is on when I am in an online meeting. The light is a good indicator to everyone including myself that I am in a meeting.
The System
In order to turn a light on and off, I need a script that monitors my webcam for activity. This script will then send the status of my webcam to ThingSpeak, a cloud IoT platform that allows you to save and retrieve sensor data. Then, the on-air light controller will read the data from ThingSpeak and turn the light on if my camera is on.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ambient Display Tells You If Borealis Is Coming To Town
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/29/ambient-display-tells-you-if-borealis-is-coming-to-town/
https://www.instructables.com/Pull-and-Ambiently-Display-Data-From-Any-Website-O/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Surgery On An LED To Preserve Vintage Aesthetics
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/29/surgery-on-an-led-to-preserve-vintage-aesthetics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/01/diy-adjustable-wrench-nuts/
Tomi Engdahl says:
1000 Aluminium Cans Cast Into A Guitar
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/30/1000-aluminium-cans-cast-into-a-guitar/
Aluminium cans are all around us, and are one of readily recyclable. While you can turn them into more cans, [Burls Art] had other ideas. Instead, he turned roughly 1000 cans into a custom aluminium guitar.
I Melted 1000 Cans Into A Guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7rMivsFtJU
Tomi Engdahl says:
Converting A Sink To An Ultrasonic Cleaner
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/30/converting-a-sink-to-an-ultrasonic-cleaner/
Building a Laundry Sink Ultrasonic Cleaner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDO3lxP4PO0
Tomi Engdahl says:
RF Spectrometer Sees Inside
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/30/rf-spectrometer-sees-inside/
Spectrometry is a well-known technique or, more correctly, a set of techniques. We usually think of it as the analysis of light to determine what chemicals are producing it. For example, you can tell what elements are in a star or an incandescent based on the spectrum of light they emit. But you can also do spectroscopy with other ranges of electromagnetic radiation. [Applied Science] shows how to make an RF spectroscope. You can see the video below.
An oscilloscope-resident function generator creates a signal that he feeds to an amplifier because you need a fair amount of power going out. However, you also need to sense a very tiny amount of power coming back, and that requires a special circuit that will block high-power signals while passing low-level signals.
Identify chemicals with radio frequencies – Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (MRI without magnets)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO_EHceV9sk
Tomi Engdahl says:
Let This Minimal Desktop Weather Display Point The Way
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/let-this-minimal-desktop-weather-display-point-the-way/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/a-reverse-polish-calculator-for-your-keychain/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wooden Smartphone Sleeve Keeps You On Task
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/wooden-smartphone-sleeve-keeps-you-on-task/
Smartphones are amazing tools, but sometimes they can be an equally amazing time suck. In an effort to minimize how much precious time goes down the drain, [Lance Pan and Zeynep Kirmiziyesil] decided to make a functional and beautiful smartphone sleeve to keep you on task.
Most modern smartphones have some form of Do Not Disturb mode available, but having the phone visible can still be an invitation for distraction. By tucking the phone into an accessible but less visible sleeve, one can reduce the visual trigger to be on the phone while keeping it handy in the even of an emergency.
Sam – NFC Smartphone Automation Mate
https://www.instructables.com/Sam-NFC-Smartphone-Automation-Mate/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Find SWD Points Quickly, No Extra Hardware Needed
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/find-swd-points-quickly-no-extra-hardware-needed/
Say you’re tinkering with a smart device powered by a CPU that uses Serial Wire Debug (SWD), but doesn’t mark the testpoints. Finding SWD on a board — how hard could it be? With [Aaron Christophel]’s method, you can find the SWD interface on a PCB within a few minutes’ time. All you need is two needles, a known-to-be-ground connection, an SWD dongle of some kind, and a computer with an audio output. What’s best — you could easily transfer the gist of this method to other programming interface types!
The idea is simple: you wire the ground up, connect the needles to SWDIO and SWCLK, launch [Aaron]’s Python script, then start poking around all the unnamed test points. The script runs JLink software to probe for SWD devices attached to the probes — if an SWD interface isn’t found, it beeps idly, but as soon as the device is detected, your computer will start beeping at you in a lively manner.
Quick tip finding an unknown Debug interface pinout (SWD) shown on the MiBand with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6hGHZEtEE0
Tomi Engdahl says:
Handmade GPS Tracker Keeps An Eye On Adventurous Cats
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/handmade-gps-tracker-keeps-an-eye-on-adventurous-cats/
Tomi Engdahl says:
SteamDeck: Become Printer
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/steamdeck-become-printer/
Wonderful things happen when we read the documentation. For instance, we’ve all seen a Raspberry Pi work as an Ethernet adapter over USB, or a ESP32-S2 presenting as a storage device. Well, [parkerlreed] has made his Steam Deck work as a USB printer after reading the Linux kernel docs on the USB gadget configuration, and all it took was some C code and a BIOS setting change.
https://gist.github.com/parkerlreed/17409aecfe6b6174c4042bdc66de76d9
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/31/a-new-analog-and-crt-neck-board-for-the-macintosh-se/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/01/chipwhisperer-adapter-helps-reverse-engineer-a-controversial-game-cartridge/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Not A Pot, Not An Encoder: Exploring Synchros For Rotational Sensing
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/01/not-a-pot-not-an-encoder-exploring-synchros-for-rotational-sensing/
We’re all familiar with getting feedback from a rotating shaft, for which we usually employ a potentiometer or encoder. But there’s another device that, while less well-known, has some advantages that just might make it worth figuring out how to include it in hobbyist projects: the synchro.
If you’ve never heard of a synchro, don’t feel bad; as [Glen Akins] explains, it’s an expensive bit of kit most commonly found in avionics gear. It’s in effect a set of coaxial transformers with a three-phase stator coil and a single-phase rotor. When excited by an AC reference voltage, the voltage induced on the rotor coil is proportional to the cosine of the angle between the rotor and stator. It seems simple enough, but the reality is that synchros present some interfacing challenges.
https://bikerglen.com/blog/building-a-synchro-to-digital-converter/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Comparing Cheap Capacitative Soil Moisture Sensors With Commercial Sensors
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/01/comparing-cheap-capacitative-soil-moisture-sensors-with-commercial-sensors/
When your residence has soil moisture sensors embedded that were dictated by your friendly neighborhood HoA, you may start asking questions about the system used. That’s what [Modest Maker] did and the resulting findings along with an attempt to beat the commercial system with some cheap capacitive sensors, are covered in a recent video that’s also embedded below. Part of the motivation here was that the commercial system in the community was not clearly installed properly.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/01/electron-microscope-conversion-hack/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/01/electronic-shoe-explores-alleged-chess-misbehavior/
https://teddywarner.org/Projects/VonNiemannProbe/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D printed BLDC servo with 30Nm torque ($60)
https://hackaday.io/project/189339-3d-printed-bldc-servo-with-30nm-torque-60
This is a high-torque yet affordable servo motor
including a low KV BLDC motor, 3d printed planetary gearbox, and BLDC
Tomi Engdahl says:
Long-Range IOT Everywhere!
https://hackaday.io/project/182274-long-range-iot-everywhere
Adding wireless communication to any electronics project
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pose2Art: SmartCam to TouchDesigner, Unity via OSC
https://hackaday.io/project/188345-pose2art-smartcam-to-touchdesigner-unity-via-osc
Create an AI Camera run on small ‘edge’ device that extract Pose and sends tracked points via OSC to TouchDesigner and Unity for ART!
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Wire Harness Wrapping Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QL1QaIwMwk
In this video, I have made a wire harness tape wrapping machine. It is a very simple project – but will help a lot if you are working with wires a lot.
If you’re looking for a simple and easy way to wrap wire harnesses, then this machine is for you! This machine is easy to use, and won’t take up much space. If you’re looking for a way to improve your wire wrapping, then this is the video for you!
Tomi Engdahl says:
6 TYPES OF SCREWS Every DIYer Needs To Have! (Plus Which Screws NOT TO BUY!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG6FJCWYeRU
Tomi Engdahl says:
These Are The BEST DRYWALL ANCHORS EVER! (Homeowners + DIYers Should Keep These Sheetrock Anchors!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys6VbiFiAUU
These Are The BEST DRYWALL ANCHORS EVER! (Homeowners + DIYers Should Keep These Wall Anchors Around)
I don’t use drywall anchors often. As I’ve said on the channel, I feel that they sometimes give people a false sense of confidence that what they’re mounting to a wall is truly secure.
BUT, sheetrock anchors can be very handy for small, lightweight wall-mounting. And when I need to use them, I always reach immediately for SELF-DRILLING DRYWALL ANCHORS.
Self-drilling sheetrock anchors come in plastic and metal. I prefer the plastic anchors.
They’re screw-shaped, with a sharp point on one end, and a phillips slot on the head. To install self-drilling anchors, you simply press them to your drywall surface and turn them with a SCREWDRIVER, or DRILL, or DRIVER.
The point acts like a cutter head, boring through the drywall paper. When it punches through, the anchor sinks to the threads. As you turn it into the drywall surface, the threads bore their way in, cutting their own channels.
Drive until the drywall anchor is flush, then stop!
Be sure to use the supplied screws. These have the right gauge and thread count for the sheetrock/drywall anchor in question.
That’s how you use self-drilling drywall anchors!
Tomi Engdahl says:
7 Best And WEIRDEST Ways To FIND A STUD (#7 is the strangest!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhpuC_Gy-yI
How to Use a Stud Finder, Updated for 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTnlU-4cP0w
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6 Household Products UNDER $10 That You Need! (#1 Should Be In Every Home! PROTECT YOUR HOUSE!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–TEBkkLzrk
6 Household Products UNDER $10 That You Need! (#1 Should Be In Every Home! PROTECT YOUR HOUSE!)
Not every home improvement has to cost a lot of money. There are a ton of simple items on the market that can improve and protect your home for very little cost. This short video from The Honest Carpenter will explain 6 household products under $10 each that every home needs!
#1: Security Strike Plates: a great improvement over typical strike plates, these plates come with longer screws that fasten at stronger positions.
#2: Stain Blocking Spray: for water spots on ceilings, or pet/child marks on walls, stain-blocking primer is the easiest best option.
#3: Faucet Protectors: for temperate areas, these simple foam covers can save exterior water spigots from costly frozen/burst pipes.
#4: Furniture Feet Pads: if you have sensitive hardwoods or linoleum floors, use foam or rubber furniture pads on the feet–especially things that people sit or lay on.
#5: Wall Protector Pads: position these soft pads on walls where door and cabinet hardware are prone to slamming.
#6: Door Corner Seals: Block out light gaps, air gaps, and bug gaps with these little foam wedges that attach to your lower door jamb.