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.
6,973 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/07/plastic-welding-revisited/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Op-Amp Challenge: Measuring PH, No Code Required
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/08/op-amp-challenge-measuring-ph-no-code-required/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/08/robotic-fox-is-part-dog-part-cat-just-like-the-real-thing/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Op-Amp Challenge: A Logic-Free BCD
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/08/op-amp-challenge-a-logic-free-bcd/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Gesture Sensor Teardown Reveals Intel Heritage
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/09/gesture-sensor-teardown-reveals-intel-heritage/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/09/retrotechtacular-a-closer-look-at-the-vt-proximity-fuze/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Recreating An Analog TV Test Pattern
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/09/recreating-an-analog-tv-test-pattern/
While most countries have switched to digital broadcasting, and most broadcasts themselves have programming on 24/7 now, it’s hard to remember the ancient times of analog broadcasts that would eventually stop sometime late at night, displaying a test pattern instead of infomercials or reruns of an old sitcom. They were useful for various technical reasons including calibrating the analog signals. Some test patterns were simply camera feeds of physical cards, but if you wanted the most accurate and reliable test patterns you’d need a Philips pattern generator which created the pattern with hardware instead, and you can build your own now because the designs for these devices were recently open-sourced.
[Matt] from [Matt’s TV Barn], as the name implies, has an interest in various television technologies, and this is such an iconic piece of machinery that can’t easily be purchased, so he set about recreating the signal generator on his own. All of the source for these cards can be found at this GitHub page for anyone interested, and most of the parts can still be found today. The main exception being the adjustable inductors, which [Matt] needed to build from scratch.
#7 – Building a Philips PT8631 pattern generator from scratch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqOodLWSI5g
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/09/the-pdp8-that-never-was-hollow-state-logic/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/09/magnetic-bubble-memory-brought-to-life-on-heathkit/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printing LEGO-like Blocks
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/10/3d-printing-lego-like-blocks/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Using FreeCAD To Replace OEM Parts
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/10/using-freecad-to-replace-oem-parts/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrzQDzkicA
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/10/crafting-ribbon-cables-for-retro-hardware/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/10/the-primordial-soups-on-with-this-modified-miller-urey-experiment/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/10/play-n64-games-the-right-way-with-this-classic-controller-adapter/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/11/modern-brownie-camera-talks-sd-and-wifi/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Time Machine Mk. 8 Is A Sleek Smartwatch With Retro Styling
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/11/the-time-machine-mk-8-is-a-sleek-smartwatch-with-retro-styling/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Interactive Book
A children’s book that will allow you to discover different sensors.
https://hackaday.io/project/191380-the-interactive-book
Tomi Engdahl says:
LinuxCNC-RIO
FPGA-Based PRU for Linux-CNC using free toolchain
https://hackaday.io/project/191246-linuxcnc-rio
Tomi Engdahl says:
6-Axis Robot from Scratch – Servo driven
I am currently building a 6 axis robot from scratch with 520 mm reach. It is servo driven and features absolut encoders on all axis.
https://hackaday.io/project/179783-6-axis-robot-from-scratch-servo-driven
Tomi Engdahl says:
THE 100 – The fastest 3D Printer
based on a printed frame.
The design is free, the parts needed are affordable and its easy to build
https://hackaday.io/project/190348-the-100-the-fastest-3d-printer
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mini Hyperloop – Magnetic Levitation Train
Magnetically Levitating and driving small scale version of a Hyperloop
https://hackaday.io/project/181257-mini-hyperloop-magnetic-levitation-train
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/13/a-super-cheap-turntable-build-for-photographic-purposes/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Arduino-Powered Missile System Uses Ultrasound To Aim
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/13/arduino-powered-missile-system-uses-ultrasound-to-aim/
In the real world, missile systems use advanced radars, infrared sensors, and other hardware to track and prosecute their targets. [Raspduino Uno] on YouTube has instead used ultrasound for targeting for an altogether simpler desktop fire control solution.
This fun build uses a common off-the-shelf USB “missile launcher” that fires foam darts.
Arduino Missile Defense Radar System | Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJpT10yvP3s&t=22s
Tomi Engdahl says:
BYU Rocketry – OpenRocket Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqe0lTp1WH0
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hacking Headaches: Keeping A Neurostimulator Working
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/13/hacking-headaches-keeping-a-neurostimulator-working/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Supercon 2022: [Liz McFarland] Builds Golden Wings, Shows You How
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/13/supercon-2022-liz-mcfarland-builds-golden-wings-shows-you-how/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/13/take-a-ride-in-the-bathysphere/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cheap USB Sniffer Has Wireshark Interface
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/13/cheap-usb-sniffer-has-wireshark-interface/
If you’ve done any development on USB hardware, you’ve probably wished you could peek at the bits and bytes as they pass through the data lines. Sometimes, it’s the only way to properly understand what’s going on. [ataradov]’s USB sniffer is built to do just that.
To sniff high-speed USB communications, the device relies on a Lattice LCMXO2 FPGA and a Cypress CY7C68013A microcontroller, paired with a Microchip USB3343 USB PHY. This setup is capable of operating at data rates of up to 40-50 MB/s, more than enough to debug the vast majority of USB peripherals on the market.
If you need this tool, spinning up your own is straightforward. Gerber files are available and the required components can be bought off the shelf. Once assembled, you can program the chips via USB, with no external hardware programmer required.
https://github.com/ataradov/usb-sniffer
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to make the best DIY back probes in 2 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaOEWhtoh1E
Here is how I make back probes for electrical testing.
I use .56mm Guitar string cut at 1.5 inches
Non insulated butt connectors
Shrink tube
and alligator clips.
Here is a link to the Alligator clips used in this video, it is a 10 piece kit that we will cut in half to make up to 20 backprobes.
https://amzn.to/3j4mK4B
Tomi Engdahl says:
IKEA LACK Table Becomes Extremely Affordable DIY Copy Stand
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/16/ikea-lack-table-becomes-extremely-affordable-diy-copy-stand/
A copy stand is a tool used to capture images of photos, artwork, books, and things of a similar nature. It holds a camera perpendicular to a large and flat surface, upon which the subject rests.
A threaded rod provides effective vertical adjustment.
They are handy, but there’s no need to spend a lot when [BlandPasta]’s DIY copy stand based on a cheap IKEA LACK table can be turned into an economical afternoon project with the help of simple hardware and a few 3D printed parts.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6011639
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/16/hinged-parts-for-the-8th-grade-set/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/16/thermal-camera-reviewed/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/17/clock-project-doesnt-require-a-decision/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/17/kinefox-tracks-wildlife-for-a-lifetime/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/17/get-in-over-your-head/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tetrinsic [gd0041]
A motorised, force sensitive, haptic and Bluetooth-enabled slide encoder with either an LCD backlit or solar cell surface.
https://hackaday.io/project/184180-tetrinsic-gd0041
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Mech/Exoskeleton suit.
Mechs are not viable, nor cheap, so I will try to design and build one alone anyway.
https://hackaday.io/project/188391-diy-mechexoskeleton-suit
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/191241-automatic-water-bottle
Tomi Engdahl says:
Warema WMS Stick (USB) to wireless gateway
Transforming the WMS Stick to a wireless gateway to be used in home assistant
https://hackaday.io/project/191052-warema-wms-stick-usb-to-wireless-gateway
Tomi Engdahl says:
Baffa-X2: MSX2+ Compatible Computer
Project codename “Baffa-X2″ is a set of boards to make a MSX2+ Clone for Baffa-2 Homebrew Computer
https://hackaday.io/project/191545-baffa-x2-msx2-compatible-computer
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Remoteduino Nano Is A Tiny IR Remote That’s Truly Universal
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/18/the-remoteduino-nano-is-a-tiny-ir-remote-thats-truly-universal/
Universal remotes are extremely convenient if they work correctly. But setting them up can be quite a hassle: often, you need to browse through long lists of TV models, key in the codes on the remote with just a blinking LED as confirmation, and then pray that the manufacturer included the correct codes for all your equipment. IR isn’t a very complicated technology, however, so it’s perfectly possible to roll your own universal remote, as [sjm4306] shows in his latest project, the Remoteduino Nano. It’s a fully programmable IR remote that gives you maximum flexibility when emulating the codes for those obscure A/V systems scattered around your home.
The remote runs on an ATmega328p in a tiny QFN package, which drives a standard 5 mm IR LED through a transistor. Eight buttons are available to the user, which can be freely mapped to any desired code. A five-pin header is included to program the ATmega through its serial port. However, this was mainly done to help debug – a user who only needs to program the device once would typically use a pogo-pin-based adapter instead.
Remoteduino Nano
https://hackaday.io/project/191518-remoteduino-nano
Tiny DIY programmable IR remote that’s based off the arduino uno (backwards compatible with my orginal Remoteduino project)!
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/18/a-simple-guide-to-bit-banged-i2c-on-the-6502/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/16/persistence-pays-in-ti-99-4a-cassette-tape-data-recovery/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/16/these-illusions-celebrate-exploiting-human-senses/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ferrofluid Drum Synth Dances To The Beat
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/15/ferrofluid-drum-synth-dances-to-the-beat/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Retrotechtacular: Circuit Potting, And PCBs The Hard Way
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/15/retrotechtacular-circuit-potting-and-pcbs-the-hard-way/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/15/light-meets-movement-with-a-minimum-of-parts/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/15/new-wearable-detects-imminent-vocal-fatigue/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Clay Makes For DIY Power Source, Just Add Water
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/15/clay-makes-for-diy-power-source-just-add-water/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/14/updated-oshw-flash-drive-keeps-data-safe-fingers-dry/