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.
7,114 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/12/spin-the-video-track-with-a-mechanical-flair/
One of the most difficult user interfaces to get right is video editing. It is complex and fiddly with large amounts of precision required even after four or five hours of straight editing. Seeking to bring some of that interface out into the real world, [Zack Freedman] built a mechanical video editing keyboard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72a85tWOJVY&feature=youtu.be
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/10/homemade-gear-cutting-indexer-blends-art-with-engineering/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/08/educational-robot-teaches-with-magnets-and-servos/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/08/light-tracking-robot-relies-on-ldrs/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Current Sensor Makes Intriguing Use Of Concrete
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/08/current-sensor-makes-intriguing-use-of-concrete/
Getting a product to market isn’t all about making sure that the product does what it’s supposed to. Granted, most of us will spend most of our time focusing on the functionality of our projects and less on the form, fit, or finish of the final product, especially for one-off builds that won’t get replicated. For those builds that do eventually leave the prototyping phase, though, a lot more effort goes into the final design and “feel” of the product than we might otherwise think. For example, this current sensor improves its feel by making use of cast concrete in its case.
The current sensor in this build is not too much out of the ordinary. [kevarek] built the sensor around the MCA1101-50-3 chip and added some extra features to improve its electrostatic discharge resistance and also to improve its electromagnetic compatibility over and above the recommended datasheet specifications.
Isolated +-50 A current sensor
Very simple +-50 A isolated current sensor with 1.5 MHz bandwidth based on Anisotropic Magneto Resistive sensor technology (MCA1101-50-3).
https://hackaday.io/project/174553-isolated-50-a-current-sensor
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/10/procedural-barcode-synth-is-as-simple-as-black-and-white/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/09/uva-aims-to-be-more-than-just-one-tool/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Shoot A Great Project Video
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/09/how-to-shoot-a-great-project-video/
Creating projects is fun, but the real value, as far as the imaginary Internet points are concerned, is how well you show them off for the clout. Taking a few snaps is fine, but if you want to produce a quality video of your project, it pays to put some thought and effort into the process.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/16/benchtop-injection-molding-for-the-home-gamer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Simplest Electromagnetic Train. Race between AA Batteries. And DIY Simple Electric Train
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=7jqImhd8Ggc
Which of the batteries do you think will be the fastest ? You can be very surprised at the result.
If you like trains, then the simple electric train will be very enjoyable for you .The electromagnetic track is very fun.
you need these three parts to making the track.
1. copper wire raw
2. battery ( AAA, AA or C )
3. and two neodymium magnets ( it must be larger in diameter than battery )
If you have all the components so fun can start.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Computer screen teleprompter
https://hackaday.io/project/175453-computer-screen-teleprompter
This is a simple 3D printed teleprompter that reflects part of your computer screen directly in front of your webcam
This 3D printed teleprompter allows you to maintain eye contact with your webcam while video chatting with a person on screen, or while reading text into the camera. It allows you to avoid the shifty glances downward at your screen to read your notes. It requires one 6″x4″ mirror, and one 6″ x 4″ piece of clear plastic, which can be purchased online for < $2 each.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.joshuacasper.com/aa/sustain-pedal-circuit/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Topic: keyboard sustain pedal (Read 5136 times)
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=79815.0
How To Build A DIY MIDI Sustain Pedal Circuit
https://ask.audio/articles/how-to-build-a-diy-midi-sustain-pedal-circuit
Tomi Engdahl says:
Making A 3D Printed DSLR Camera Mount Even Better
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/28/making-a-3d-printed-dslr-camera-mount-even-better/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Massive Battle Bot Needs Equally Chunky Custom-Molded Wheels
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/29/massive-battle-bot-needs-equally-chunky-custom-molded-wheels/
We’ve all run into situations where the right part for the job isn’t something that you can just buy off the shelf. In a lot of cases, 3D-printing is the cure for that problem, but sometimes you need to go big with tough parts for a tough job. These custom molded urethane battlebot wheels are a great example of that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgznRSDI7W8
Tomi Engdahl says:
Capacitive discharge spot welder
Small spot welder with maximum discharge energy 75 Ws (J).
https://hackaday.io/project/174392-capacitive-discharge-spot-welder
Primary purpose of this device is to weld solid wires from nickel or copper (nominal diameter 1 mm) to metal specimens for non-destructive testing using potential drop technique.Spot welder is also very useful for producing your own battery packs and mechanical prototypes (housings, boxes, small mechanical parts
Tomi Engdahl says:
MIT’s Crab-Inspired Robot HERMITS Can Dock with “Mechanical Shells” for a Variety of Tasks
https://www.hackster.io/news/mit-s-crab-inspired-robot-hermits-can-dock-with-mechanical-shells-for-a-variety-of-tasks-a46dac57efb5
A Raspberry Pi-powered swarm control system and a selection of 3D-printed “shells” let these toio robots customize themselves to a task.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/flectile-3d-printable-wearable-actuators-ecc9a72d15c8
Tomi Engdahl says:
Glen Akins Knows a Thing or Two About Glorious Looking USB Peripherals!
https://www.hackster.io/news/glen-akins-knows-a-thing-or-two-about-glorious-looking-usb-peripherals-6aeca886f2c2
Glen Akins is breathing new life into high-quality, old tech. Take a read through to see how with his own custom USB HID controller!
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Clever CMOS Sensor Breakout Sits at the Heart of a Custom Crafted Camera!
Niklas Fauth shares his picture-perfect CMOS image sensor breakout board, forming the heart of a custom camera system.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-clever-cmos-sensor-breakout-sits-at-the-heart-of-a-custom-crafted-camera-dcf2bf05c3d5
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Custom Circular Circuit Board Gives USB Control to Your Canon EOS Electronic Focus Optics!
In this first of two articles, we take a look at a clever custom Cannon lens controller circuit from Jan Henrik Hemsing.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-custom-circular-circuit-board-gives-usb-control-to-your-canon-eos-electronic-focus-optics-ec181ba1b6b0
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-arcade-cabinet-was-made-for-a-toddler-6b3066664c07
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/james-bruton-built-a-guitar-like-synthesizer-with-barcodes-in-place-of-the-strings-5046e860480a
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://circuitdigest.com/electronic-circuits/solar-phone-charger-circuit-diagram
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Device Kills Mosquitoes Using the Ultrasonic Power of Cardi B’s Music
Constructed’s tutorial explains how to build a device that will kill mosquito larvae using the ultrasonic power of Cardi B’s music.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-device-kills-mosquitoes-using-the-ultrasonic-power-of-cardi-b-s-music-2e2abe21f8ee
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ali Slim’s All-in-One Isolated USB Bus Adapter Heads to Crowd Supply with a Two-Board Giveaway
Adapter board includes isolated USB, UART, CAN, RS485, RS232 connectivity, plus a handy switchable power supply.
https://www.hackster.io/news/ali-slim-s-all-in-one-isolated-usb-bus-adapter-heads-to-crowd-supply-with-a-two-board-giveaway-1a39a3215f4d
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-machine-tests-the-tensile-strength-of-materials-by-automatically-pulling-them-apart-1714c8d3c80b
Tomi Engdahl says:
This 3D-Printed Bot Is Ready for Battle
Here’s how you can design and build your own combat robot using Tinkercad.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-3d-printed-bot-is-ready-for-battle-192e3644bde0
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://circuitdiagrams.in/robotics-projects/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/05/hardware-store-hydroponics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/researchers-develop-soft-robots-capable-of-catching-flies-914fa269c182
Tomi Engdahl says:
Web Log: Cheap electric thrills with Big Clive
YouTube clips which show you a techno enthusiast getting under the skin of devices
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/web-log-cheap-electric-thrills-with-big-clive-1.2660090?mode=amp
Tomi Engdahl says:
Arduino Robotics (Technology in Action)
https://sites.google.com/view/arduino-robotics
Tomi Engdahl says:
This DIY Robot Cat Moves and Acts Like Its Real-Life Counterpart
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-diy-robot-cat-moves-and-acts-like-its-real-life-counterpart-71491b9d973b
Not satisfied with current robot pets on the market, one tinkerer decided to make his own purrfect companion.
Tomi Engdahl says:
DiY invisibility shield
https://www.facebook.com/199098633470668/posts/8294130263967424/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A DIY Wind Tunnel for Your Desktop
Mark Waller’s homemade airflow testing rig produces amazing photographic results.
https://www.hackster.io/news/a-diy-wind-tunnel-for-your-desktop-552ab4b3d5da
Tomi Engdahl says:
MyNOR Is a Single-Board Computer Built with a CPU Using a Single NOR Gate
Instead of an ALU, MyNOR’s CPU uses two transistors and 1 resistor for six instructions.
https://www.hackster.io/news/mynor-is-a-single-board-computer-built-with-a-cpu-using-a-single-nor-gate-4005e16f01c6
Tomi Engdahl says:
How DIY technologies are democratizing science
Open science and 3D printing are making it easier than ever for researchers to embrace do-it-yourself lab tools.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03193-5
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.redhat.com/en/open-source-stories/farming-for-the-future
Tomi Engdahl says:
High-Speed Spectrometer Built With Cheap Linear CCD
https://hackaday.com/2020/11/21/high-speed-spectrometer-built-with-cheap-linear-ccd/
If you’ve ever dreamed of building a proper spectrometer, it looks like the ESPROS epc901 CCD sensor is absolutely worth your attention. It’s fast, sensitive, easy to interface with, and at just $24 USD, it won’t break the bank. There’s only one problem: implementing it in your project means either working with the bare 2×16 0.5 mm pitch BGA device, or shelling out nearly $1,400 USD for the development kit.
Thankfully, [Adrian Studer] has come up with a compromise. While you’ll still need to reflow the BGA to get it mounted, his open hardware breakout and adapter boards for the ESPROS epc901 make the sensor far easier to work with.
It’s not just a hardware solution either, he also provides firmware code for the STM32L4 based Nucleo development board and some Python scripts that make it easy to pull data from the sensor. The firmware even includes a simple command line interface to control the hardware that you can access over serial.
https://github.com/astuder/epc901
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why You Need To Finish
https://hackaday.com/2020/11/21/why-you-need-to-finish/
Tomi Engdahl says:
It is appropriate that, 10 years after the first Open Hardware Summit, open source hardware was a key part of the initial Covid-19 response. Engineers, designers, and medical professionals collaborated from around the world to design and deploy medical equipment to meet the world’s unprecedented need. In many ways, this is exactly what participants had in mind during the first open hardware workshop organized by Ayah Bdeir and held in the Eyebeam art space in October of 2010….
https://makezine.com/2020/12/07/oshw-turns-10-lessons-learned-over-a-decade-of-open-hardware/
Tomi Engdahl says:
This guy is converting a toy into the smallest remote control car in the world. Thanks to @diorama111
https://fb.watch/2flvA7po5Z/
Tomi Engdahl says:
This DIY Wind Simulator Improves the Immersion of Racing Games
To enhance his racing sim immersion, particularly when driving open-air cars, Patrick Williams built this fantastic wind simulator.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-diy-wind-simulator-improves-the-immersion-of-racing-games-5e9fe7a1e013
This wind simulator is, essentially, just a pair of big fans that blow towards the player. But the speed of those fans is actually linked to the car’s speed within the racing sim. Williams plays those sims while wearing an HTC Vive virtual reality headset, which provides complete visual immersion.
https://600000.ml/post/building_a_simracing_wind_simulator/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/electronichobycircuits/permalink/3833055576719123/
Hello everyone, below you will find the links to a small test done
with the Hamamatsu spectroscope C12880MA and my SharkDuino+ board.
In the video you can see different light sources analyzed, the objective of the spectroscope takes up the monitor of my PC
and I often use my hand to reflect the light to be analyzed, the spectroscope is in fact very sensitive.
The developed board is inspired by Arduino but is really very different ….
Here you find the links:
The board: https://www.officinaturini.com/sharkduino-.html
The schematic: https://www.officinaturini.com/files/otStudio/examples/SHKSPECT_L3.pdf
The program: https://www.officinaturini.com/files/otStudio/examples/miniSpectrometer.html
And below you see the video … Thanks
Tomi Engdahl says:
This is a simple Arduino compatible breakout for the Hamamatsu C12880MA MEMS Micro-spectrometer which is used to detect wavelengths of light (i.e. colors) and their intensities.
https://groupgets.com/manufacturers/getlab/products/c12880ma-breakout-board
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://groupgets.com/manufacturers/hamamatsu-photonics/products/c12880ma-micro-spectrometer
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Lost History of Socialism’s DIY Computer
https://jacobinmag.com/2020/08/computer-yugoslavia-galaksija-voja-antonic
Tomi Engdahl says:
Maker Faire Goes Online With A New Social Network For Makers Called MakerSpace
https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/12/maker-faire-goes-online-with-a-new-social-network-for-makers-called-makerspace/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://elabz.com/laser-diode-power-output-based-on-dvd-rrw-specs/