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:
Rubik’s Cube Solver Does It In 4.56 Seconds
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/02/rubiks-cube-solver-does-it-in-4-56-seconds/
Solving Rubik’s Cubes is a learnable skill. However, to compete at the top level, you’ll have to train hard. Speed cubers can solve a 3×3 cube in under ten seconds these days, after all. [aaedmusa] was a long way off that speed, but his robot is an absolute demon that solves at a rapid pace.
The robot relies on a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller to run the show, paired with its Ethernet kit for connectivity. It runs six stepper motors via TMC2208 drivers, enabling it to directly actuate each face of the cube. Purists will note, however, that the steppers are fitted with adapters that slot directly into modified center squares on the cube. A regulation Rubik’s, this is not.
https://www.instructables.com/Rubiks-Cube-Solver-2/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/01/building-an-energy-sword-replica-from-halo/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cat Skull For Internet Connection Divination
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/01/cat-skull-for-internet-connection-divination/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/01/modern-dance-or-full-body-keyboard-why-not-both/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Working With Old High-Voltage EPROMs Is Fussy
https://hackaday.com/2023/03/31/working-with-old-high-voltage-eproms-is-fussy/
EPROMs, those UV-erasable memory chips of the 80s and 90s, once played a crucial role in countless electronic devices. They’ve become relics of a bygone era, but for enthusiasts of vintage electronics, the allure of these light-sensitive devices remains strong. Today, we’re diving into [Kevin Osborn]’s nostalgic journey as he uncovers the secrets of old EPROMs loaded with Atari 7800 code.
High(ish) Voltage EPROM blast from the past
https://baldwisdom.com/eprom-blast-from-the-past/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/03/31/tiny-yet-functional-bike-built-from-scratch/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why A Community Hackerspace Should Be A Vital Part Of Being An Engineering Student
https://hackaday.com/2023/03/31/why-a-community-hackerspace-should-be-a-vital-part-of-being-an-engineering-student/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Creating A 3D Visualization Of Freely Moving Organisms Using Camera Array And Software Algorithm
https://hackaday.com/2023/03/31/creating-a-3d-visualization-of-freely-moving-organisms-using-camera-array-and-software-algorithm/
This system features a 9×6 camera grid, making for a total of 54 cameras which image the underlying surface.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/01/blender-and-openems-teamed-up-make-stunning-simulations/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blender And OpenEMS Teamed Up Make Stunning Simulations
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/01/blender-and-openems-teamed-up-make-stunning-simulations/
https://www.reddit.com/r/KiCad/comments/121qce1/openemsblender_simulations_and_renders_showcase/
Tomi Engdahl says:
I built an EDM machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CeCxkFVCdM
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rackrobotics/powercore-cut-through-solid-metal-with-edm?ref=ksr_email_creator_launch
https://hackaday.io/DerM4209
Tomi Engdahl says:
ESP8266 with 6 Relays unit with AI – No Code! (ESP8266 – ESP32) | CADIO Home Automation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VEvnnLPgxY
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/05/classic-film-camera-goes-digital-with-game-boy-tech/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/05/typewriter-mashup-becomes-120-year-old-teletype/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/05/tempus-nectit-a-diy-knitting-clock-with-instructions/
https://kylerank.in/tempus_nectit/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/05/a-soft-soldering-jig-for-hard-projects/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/05/no-home-cinema-is-complete-without-a-motorized-projector/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/03/pieeg-offers-affordable-brain-computer-interface/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/03/server-network-cards-made-extra-cool/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/03/an-ultra-low-power-dash-cam/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/03/truly-flexible-circuits-are-a-bit-of-a-stretch/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printed Selectric Typeballs
Finally!
https://hackaday.io/project/190389-3d-printed-selectric-typeballs
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/04/new-expansion-module-brings-standard-slots-to-ancient-laptop/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Twelve inches of Art to see the stars
When the most manageable 12″ telescope comes in a hemisphere
https://hackaday.io/project/190368-twelve-inches-of-art-to-see-the-stars
Tomi Engdahl says:
Supercon 2022: Chris Combs Reveals His Art-World Compatibility Layer
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/04/supercon-2022-chris-combs-reveals-his-art-world-compatibility-layer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/04/3d-printed-post-modern-grandfather-clock/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/04/silkscreen-busy-put-labels-inside-pads/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/04/upgrade-your-voodoo-with-more-memory/
Tomi Engdahl says:
FORGET CHATGPT AND PLAY ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS WITH YOURSELF INSTEAD
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/06/forget-chatgpt-and-play-rock-paper-scissors-with-yourself-instead/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/07/share-your-projects-take-pictures/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.techlicious.com/blog/6-dangerous-tech-products/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/11/analog-anoraks-the-op-amp-contest-starts-now/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/elegant-evening-dress-sports-servo-actuated-flowers/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/the-challenges-of-producing-graphene-in-quantity/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/dual-extrusion-support-without-pva/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/the-eyes-have-it-with-this-solid-state-magic-eye/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Disabling Intel’s Backdoors On Modern Laptops
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/disabling-intels-backdoors-on-modern-laptops/
Despite some companies making strides with ARM, for the most part, the desktop and laptop space is still dominated by x86 machines. For all their advantages, they have a glaring flaw for anyone concerned with privacy or security in the form of a hardware backdoor that can access virtually any part of the computer even with the power off. AMD calls their system the Platform Security Processor (PSP) and Intel’s is known as the Intel Management Engine (IME).
To fully disable these co-processors a computer from before 2008 is required, but if you need more modern hardware than that which still respects your privacy and security concerns you’ll need to either buy an ARM device, or disable the IME like NovaCustom has managed to do with their NS51 series laptop.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/autopsy-of-a-drifting-thumbstick-reveals-all/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2013/08/27/building-a-high-end-usb-audio-dac/
Tomi Engdahl says:
NAILS vs. SCREWS…Which Should You Choose?! (Pros + Cons of Nails And Screws For Your Projects!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFq0LzoTSjg
NAILS vs. SCREWS…Which Should You Choose?! (Pros + Cons of Nails And Screws For Your Projects!)
Should you choose NAILS or SCREWS for your project? It’s the eternal question! This short video from The Honest Carpenter will explain some of the most basic differences–as well as the strengths and weaknesses–of screws and nails!
When it comes to FASTENING POWER, there’s not much competition–screws have vastly more fastening power than nails!
This is because screws have threads, which act as little pawls within a material. Screw threads prevent PULL-OUT and EXTRACTION forces.
Also, screws are REMOVABLE, which makes them the ideal option for any project which will need to be take apart someday.
Nails, on the other hand, are prone to losing some of their fastening power over time, especially when exposed to seasonal expansion and contraction.
However, nails have more SHEAR STRENGTH, which helps them resist the force of two objects sliding sideways across one another. Nails will bend slightly, but not break. (Screws are far more likely to break when exposed to shear forces.)
For this reason, nails of proper length are almost always required by code in nearly every framing application. This helps prevent hurricane winds and seismic vibrations from knocking houses down.
Screws are also more expensive than nails. And, they take longer to install.
Tomi Engdahl says:
I tried finding Hidden Gems on AliExpress AGAIN! (Part 4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjNOGm3sCOQ
Tomi Engdahl says:
Electronics Workshop Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBDrqGmTnQ
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/13/congratulations-low-power-winners/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/autopsy-of-a-drifting-thumbstick-reveals-all/
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/12/the-eyes-have-it-with-this-solid-state-magic-eye/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/13/custom-bluetooth-adapter-brings-1990s-car-phone-back-online/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/13/hackathon-wire-edm-build-really-works/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Low-Cost Display Saved By RP2040
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/14/low-cost-display-saved-by-rp2040/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/14/retro-gadgets-the-1983-pocket-oscilloscope/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/14/fail-of-the-week-car-starter-motors-arent-the-best-fit-for-ebikes/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/04/14/building-an-electron-microscope-for-research/