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.
7,060 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/26/mearm-3-0-the-pocket-sized-robot-arm/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/26/desktop-edm-hack-chat/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Most Underrated Tool? (DIY or Buy) Ultrasonic Cleaner!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbIISdLQQKo
In this episode of DIY or Buy I will be having a closer look at a commercial Ultrasonic Cleaner and then also build my own DIY version. While doing so I will find out how they work, what they can clean, whether they are suitable for PCB cleaning and ultimately decide whether you should DIY one or Buy one
Let’s get started!
0:00 I HATE Cleaning!
1:44 Intro
2:37 First Look at Buy version
3:13 How does it Work?
4:37 Aluminum Foil Test
5:14 Basic Cleaning Tests
6:11 PCB Cleaning Tests
8:01 Buy Verdict
8:37 Building a DIY version
10:52 Testing the DIY version
11:29 Verdict
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Different Approach To EV Conversions
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/28/a-different-approach-to-ev-conversions/
While there are a lot of exciting electric vehicles finally coming to market, many of us feel nostalgic for the fossil cars of our youth. [Mihir Vardhan] restored his grandfather’s car with an unusual gas-to-EV conversion.
While this conversion starts in the usual fashion by pulling out the gas engine, [Vardhan] takes a different tack than most by not just bolting an electric motor up to the transmission. Instead, he and his crew removed the head and pistons from the petrol burner and bolted the electric motor to the top on an L-shaped bracket. Using the timing belt to transfer power to the crankshaft, there is no need to figure out additional motors for the A/C compressor or power steering pump, greatly simplifying implementation.
https://www.mihirvardhan.com/the-simplest-ev-conversion
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/28/do-everything-led-indicator-light-runs-from-4v-to-60v/
Tomi Engdahl says:
You Can 3D Print A 12,500 RPM Brushless Motor
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/28/you-can-3d-print-a-12500-rpm-brushless-motor/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/28/democratizing-space-one-picosatellite-at-a-time/
Tomi Engdahl says:
OpenMotion
Laser-cut motion stages
https://hackaday.io/project/191213-openmotion
The goal of the OpenMotion project is to develop and make freely available several laser-cut linear and rotary motion stage designs. The motion stages will use a common connection interface to enable combination of the stages into multi-axis positioning systems.
Tomi Engdahl says:
prism laser scanner
bringing additive manufacturing to the next level
https://hackaday.io/project/21933-prism-laser-scanner
Tomi Engdahl says:
Robot mounted tracking cam
Portable tracking system
https://hackaday.io/project/190480-robot-mounted-tracking-cam
Tomi Engdahl says:
Raspberry Pi is Vital to the Industry 4.0 Data Center
June 26, 2023
IT-OT integration in data-center applications brings streamlined communications to the industrial IoT, and the flexibility and software/hardware integration capabilities of Raspberry Pi can help make it all happen.
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/industrial/article/21268490/newark-raspberry-pi-is-vital-to-the-industry-40-data-center?utm_source=EG+ED+Connected+Solutions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS230621106&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.identpull=omeda|7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/191729-bi-generator-vertical-wind-turbine
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/29/know-snow-monitoring-snowpack-with-the-snotel-network/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/29/demo-relativity-for-a-c-note/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/06/29/build-a-diy-space-mouse-for-a-more-efficient-cad-workflow/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Boring AT-AT Toy Becomes Impressive Robot
James Bruton built his own robotic AT-AT that can actually walk.
https://www.hackster.io/news/boring-at-at-toy-becomes-impressive-robot-2df5baf2d94b
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://blog.arduino.cc/2023/06/20/james-bruton-builds-a-walking-at-at-robot/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/02/testing-futuristic-propeller-designs-with-a-3d-printer-and-a-solar-powered-boat/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/02/put-more-power-in-your-dental-hygiene-routine/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Time Machine Mk. 8
An attempt at a DIY watch focused on low-power, high performance operation
https://hackaday.io/project/191451-time-machine-mk-8
Tomi Engdahl says:
AT-AT or ‘All Terrain Armored Transport’
https://hackaday.io/project/191151-at-at-or-all-terrain-armored-transport
Creating a model of this iconic ‘vehicle’. With some animation. ( no, it won’t walk)
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mechanical Display
This is a mechanical display utilizing an array of pixel units driven by servos.
https://hackaday.io/project/191613-mechanical-display
Tomi Engdahl says:
Solar Powered Well Water Level Monitor
After some dry summers our well level has dropped significantly, so this allows us to monitor the well water level & send alerts.
https://hackaday.io/project/191693-solar-powered-well-water-level-monitor
Tomi Engdahl says:
Practical Power Cycling
Sustainable* electricity you make yourself!
*for as long as you’re willing to sustain.
https://hackaday.io/project/191731-practical-power-cycling
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/02/pill-bugs-and-chitons-get-jobs-as-tiny-grippers/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/02/watching-paint-dry-for-over-100-years/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Presence Sensor Locks Computer When You Step Away
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/02/presence-sensor-locks-computer-when-you-step-away/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/02/saying-goodbye-to-don-lancaster/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/03/cooling-paint-you-can-actually-make/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/03/the-chess-computer-from-1912/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/190629-positivity-pusher-infinite-affirmation-generator
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/191213-openmotion
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bipolar Membrane Energy Harvester
Harvesting energy from PH gradients
https://hackaday.io/project/191101-bipolar-membrane-energy-harvester
Tomi Engdahl says:
Soil moisture measurement device
Control (visual and IoT) of soil moisture or air humidity w/ Raspberry Pi Pico
https://hackaday.io/project/178522-soil-moisture-measurement-device
Tomi Engdahl says:
Solapodz
A range of wood based solar lights & USB chargers; no plastic moulding, using repurposed batteries, for manufacture in developing nations.
https://hackaday.io/project/191769-solapodz
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/04/quetzal-1-satellite-goes-open-source/
Tomi Engdahl says:
2023 Cyberdeck Challenge: Reviving The First Notebook Computer
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/04/2023-cyberdeck-challenge-reviving-the-first-notebook-computer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Audio Imaging With A Phased Array Microphone
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/04/3d-audio-imaging-with-a-phased-array-microphone/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Dusty Boat Anchor Back From The Brink
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/04/a-dusty-boat-anchor-back-from-the-brink/
https://hackaday.io/project/191808-heathkit-sb200-barn-find
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/03/3d-printing-food-hack-chat/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Dusty Boat Anchor Back From The Brink
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/04/a-dusty-boat-anchor-back-from-the-brink/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/cheap-ham-radio-improves-the-low-end/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/a-faulty-keyboard-from-a-single-led/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/animatronic-alexa-gives-amazons-echo-a-face/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/gearing-up-with-the-2023-hackaday-prize/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Exploring A New Frontier: Desktop EDM Is Coming
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/exploring-a-new-frontier-desktop-edm-is-coming/
To say that desktop 3D printing had a transformative effect on our community would be something of an understatement. In just a decade or so, we went from creaky printers that could barely extrude a proper cube to reliable workhorses that don’t cost much more than a decent cordless drill. It’s gotten to the point that it’s almost surprising to see a project grace these pages that doesn’t include 3D printed components in some capacity.
Cooper Zurad
There’s just one problem — everything that comes out of them is plastic. Oh sure, some plastics are stronger than others…but they’re still plastic. Fine for plenty of tasks, but certainly not all. The true revolution for makers and hackers would be a machine that’s as small, convenient, and as easy to use as a desktop 3D printer, but capable of producing metal parts.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/probably-the-cheapest-lens-you-will-ever-use/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/05/a-tale-of-two-lamps/
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Block Of Rubber Can Count To Ten
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/06/this-block-of-rubber-can-count-to-ten/
Physicists develop a metamaterial that can count
https://phys.org/news/2023-07-physicists-metamaterial.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/07/06/tentacle-robot-is-like-an-elephant-trunk/