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.
7,076 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/01/new-part-day-smallest-arm-mcu-uproots-competition-needs-research/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ted Yapo Puts “Boiling Stones” to Work as Ultra-Cheap Alternatives for Ball Lens Optical Couplers
https://www.hackster.io/news/ted-yapo-puts-boiling-stones-to-work-as-ultra-cheap-alternatives-for-ball-lens-optical-couplers-a221540b27cc
Able to focus light from an LED into an optical fiber, ball lenses are handy but expensive — but Yapo’s equivalents are a dime a dozen.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tectonica Synth
Synthesizer based on Wintel tablet
https://hackaday.io/project/183139-tectonica-synth
Details
- Based on Wintel tablet 10 inch, Intel Atom processor, 2 GB RAM, Windows 10 operating system
- Nektar Impact GX61 keyboard
- Gaming Keyboard – Jet.A Panteon T7 Backlit Keypad or Equivalent
- 7-Port Data Hub USB3 UH720 TP-Link
- Power supply 12v 80w
- Power supply 12/5v, 2,6A on DIN rail
- D-type stereo amplifier board 2×20 W
- Mixing console Behringer 302USB
- Car speakers 13cm
The frame of the synthesizer is assembled on screws from aluminum and plastic corners 1000 mm long, bought in the stores of Leroy Merlin, Castorama and the like.
Used aluminum corners 50x50x1000 mm, 20x40x1000 mm, PVC corners 20x30x1000 mm.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Geiger counter with Z1A tube
Cheap radiation measurement device (with Raspberry Pi Pico for HV generation)
https://hackaday.io/project/184266-geiger-counter-with-z1a-tube
This is more or less a blatant copy of this project:
https://hackaday.io/project/12933-esp8266-geiger-counter
However, I changed values of some components in order to get a Z1A counting tube work properly (without suggesting that these are the optimal parameters).
Here the technical data of the tube (according to the distributor):
> starting voltage 280…320 V
> working voltage 390 +/-10 V
> differential resistance 1.25 %/V
> max. discharge voltage >500 V
> max. radiation 15 R/h
> lifespan with 5 R/h. > 150 h
> dimensions (LxØ): ca. 65×7.5 mm
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mouse Fatigue Estimation by GSR & EMG Values w/ TF
https://hackaday.io/project/184236-mouse-fatigue-estimation-by-gsr-emg-values-w-tf
Collate forearm muscle soreness data on the SD card, build and train a neural network model, and run the model directly on Wio Terminal.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Another Geiger Counter
Geiger counter under glass dome using electro-mechanical pulse counter.
https://hackaday.io/project/184262-another-geiger-counter
I have created a Geiger counter based on the https://github.com/SensorsIot/Geiger-Counter-RadiationD-v1.1-CAJOE- schematics.
This counter uses a dob-50 Polish tube which is less sensitive than the common smb20 types. The count is recorded on a pulse driven electromechanical counter (5 digit). The plan is to have a second counter to count the overflows ie 99999 back to 00000 would trigger a count of one.
The electronics are powered by an old disk caddy supply which gives 5v and 12v supplies. 5v for Geiger supply and 12v for relay and pulse counter. I haven’t used any micro controller so far but may add one.
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB Temperature Logger With Some Extra Tricks
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/07/usb-temperature-logger-with-some-extra-tricks/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Variable Capacitor For Not A Lot
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/07/a-variable-capacitor-for-not-a-lot/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Vintage Multimeter Gets An LCD Transplant
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/08/vintage-multimeter-gets-an-lcd-transplant/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/04/hydrofoils-love-this-one-simple-trick/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Automated Chess Board Plays You
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/04/automated-chess-board-plays-you/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Glassblowing For The Lab
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/04/glassblowing-for-the-lab/
There was a time when ordering some glassware from a distributor meant making a sizable minimum order, sending a check in the mail and waiting weeks for a box full of — hopefully intact — glassware to arrive. In those days, blowing your own glassware from glass tubes was fairly common and [Wheeler Scientific] has been doing a series on just how to do that. Even if you aren’t interested in building a chemistry lab, you might find the latest episode on making a gas discharge tube worth a watch. There are several videos and you can see a few of them below.
Of course, blowing glass is literally playing with fire, so be careful. Most important rule? Don’t inhale. Then again, for a lot of things, blowing glass doesn’t involve you actually blowing, but it is more like bending and shaping and — technically — what he shows is lampwork, not actual glassblowing, but that’s a technicality.
Scientific Glass Blowing Ep:5 How to make a Low pressure ampule / Gas discharge Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYEVXMYKBAc
In this episode, we take a look at how to make low-pressure gas ampules for element displays. While taking a look at the science behind why they glow.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/depraz-mouse-clone-has-a-usb-tail/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Small Is Too Small?
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/how-small-is-too-small/
Not a rhetorical question! This week we consider the most micro microcontroller: the HC32L110. It’s the new title holder of the smallest ARM Cortex M0+ part. But could you actually use it?
New Part Day: Smallest ARM MCU Uproots Competition, Needs Research
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/01/new-part-day-smallest-arm-mcu-uproots-competition-needs-research/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Miniature Motorized RC Car Is Massively Impressive
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/miniature-motorized-rc-car-is-massively-impressive/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Replica Minecraft Furnace Actually Powers The Game
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/replica-minecraft-furnace-actually-powers-the-game/
Tomi Engdahl says:
One Stepper Plus A Whole Bunch Of Magnets Equals A Unique Seven-Segment Display
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/one-stepper-plus-a-whole-bunch-of-magnets-equals-a-unique-seven-segment-display/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/robotic-tufting-gun-fires-off-cnc-textiles/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/06/putting-the-go-in-frisbee-golf-with-a-robot-launcher/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/07/pop-goes-the-mechanical-ping-pong-sculpture/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Solder To Aluminum, Easily
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/06/how-to-solder-to-aluminum-easily/
[Ted Yapo] shared a method of easily and conveniently soldering to aluminum, which depends on a little prep work to end up only slightly more complex than soldering to copper. A typical way to make a reliable electrical connection to aluminum is to use a screw and a wire, but [Ted] shows that it can also be done with the help of an abrasive and mineral oil.
Aluminum doesn’t solder well, and that’s because of the oxide layer that rapidly forms on the surface. [Ted]’s solution is to scour the aluminum with some mineral oil. The goal is to scrape away the oxide layer on the aluminum’s surface, while the mineral oil’s coating action prevents a new oxide layer from immediately re-forming.
After this prep, [Ted] uses a hot soldering iron and a blob of solder, heating it until it sticks. A fair bit of heat is usually needed, because aluminum is a great heat conductor and tends to be lot thicker than a typical copper ground plane. But once the aluminum is successfully tinned, just about anything can be soldered to it in a familiar way.
[Ted] does caution that mineral oil can ignite around 260 °C (500 °F), so a plan should be in place when using this method, just in case the small amount of oil catches fire.
https://twitter.com/tedyapo/status/1488918973039226880
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Injection Molder Built From A Cheap Pneumatic Press
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/06/diy-injection-molder-built-from-a-cheap-pneumatic-press/
[Kurt Schaefer] was watching YouTube videos of people making molds for injection molding purposes using what he considered to be the toy 3018 CNC machines, and looking at the results, decided he needed a piece of the action. However, once you have molds, the next obvious issue to address is lack of access to an injection molding machine. But these things are expensive. As luck would have it, you can get a nice-looking pneumatic press for less than $350, and with a little more money spent, [Kurt] found he could convert it into a functional injection molding machine (video, embedded below), and get some half-decent results out of it.
Build an Injection Molding Machine From a Cheap Pneumatic Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a7usMe_K38
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/05/an-infinity-gem-that-didnt-make-the-cut-the-flavor-stone/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Chip To Bridge The USB 2 – USB 3 Divide
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/07/a-chip-to-address-the-fundamental-usb-3-0-deficiency/
On Twitter, [whitequark] has found and highlighted an intriguing design – a breakout board for the VL670, accompanied by an extensive yet very easy to digest write-up about its usefulness and inner workings. The VL670 is a chip that addresses a surprising problem – converting USB 2.0 signals into USB 3.0.
https://twitter.com/whitequark/status/1410207408371245062
VL670 is a USB SuperSpeed transaction translator; it lets you connect a USB 2 only device to a USB 3 only host through sorcery.
it’s a fairly little known ASIC and, until now, there hasn’t been an OSHW development board for it. especially not one this cute!
Tomi Engdahl says:
Submersible motor winding. V8 15 HP 3 Phase 24 slot Full rewinding connection + winding data
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP-KQmtth8A
Submersible Rewinding. V8 15 HP 3 Phase 24 slot Full rewinding connection + winding data
This video 3 phase 15 hp 2800RPM submersible rewinding +connection, winding diagram.
Rewinding video step by step tutorial
Galactic Green says:
Real clear internet site, thank you for this post.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Light Guide Hiding In Your Extrusion
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/08/the-light-guide-hiding-in-your-extrusion/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Extreme Espresso, Part 2: An Inductive Water Level Sensor
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/08/extreme-espresso-part-2-an-inductive-water-level-sensor/
Tomi Engdahl says:
There’s More In A Cardboard Box Than What Goes In The Cardboard Box
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/08/theres-more-in-a-cardboard-box-than-what-goes-in-the-cardboard-box/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Modern CPUs Are Smarter Than You Might Realize
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/09/modern-cpus-are-smarter-than-you-might-realize/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bringing The Art Of Origami And Kirigami To Robotics And Medical Technology
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/09/bringing-the-art-of-origami-and-kirigami-to-robotics-and-medical-technology/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/09/upgraded-3d-printed-tank-gets-better-drivetrain-and-controls/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/10/short-circuit-tracer-for-a-buck/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Convert Your MULTIMETER into an accurate SHORT CIRCUIT TRACER Finder for less than $1 Build This DIY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_2GGNr4q1s
LER #204 Want a powerful easy to use Short Circuit Tracer but can’t afford the price tag? Here is how to convert a multimeter into a powerful and accurate short circuit locator for less than $1!
MicroOhm Meter Short Circuit Finder Review Comparison Vici VC480C+ vs YR2050 Milli Low Ohms Meter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCHM_svGO4Y&t=0s
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tämä mies on nero! Korjaa rikkoutuneet muovit muovihitsausmenetelmällä
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXkEClYNQNY
Monet kodin ja työpajan esineet ovat muovia. Nämä muovit venyvät ja hajoavat ajan myötä, ja useimmat ihmiset heittävät pois rikkoutuneiden muoviesineidensä. Koska muovi on kuitenkin helposti sulava materiaali, voit korjata sen helposti muovihitsauksella tai juottamalla. Jos sinulla on rikkinäisiä muoviesineitä ja haluat heittää ne pois, muista katsoa tämä video Korjaa rikkoutuneet muovisi muovihitsausmenetelmällä ja opi korjaamaan rikkoutuneita, halkeilevia muoviasi.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/13/minipc-surgery-makes-it-50-cooler/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Reversible Ventilation Hack Keeps The Landlord Happy
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/13/reversible-ventilation-hack-keeps-the-landlord-happy/
When a person owns the home they live in, often the only approval they need for modifications is from their significant other or roommate. In the worst case, maybe a permit is required. But those who rent their dwellings are far more constrained in almost every case, and when it comes to environmental controls, they are most decidedly off limits. Unless you’re a resourceful hacker like [Nik], that is, who has seamlessly integrated his apartment’s ventilation system into his smart home controller — all without any permanent modifications!
The controller itself only gives three settings to vent the apartment: Low, Medium, High, and then High for 30 minutes, with all modes having to be actuated with a manual button press. [Nik] wanted automation and integration with his smart home.
Smart Apartement Ventilation
https://hackaday.io/project/184366-smart-apartement-ventilation
Conversion of the existing apartment ventilation. Implemented with an ESP8266.
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printing Snap Fit Joints
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/14/3d-printing-snap-fit-joints/
Tomi Engdahl says:
MultiBot CNC v2
https://hackaday.io/project/176110-multibot-cnc-v2
A low cost 3D printed CNC that can be built with minimal tools yet is capable of great things.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Missions: the Sole of Mission St.
https://hackaday.io/project/165333-missions-the-sole-of-mission-st
A Novel Method of User Input.
A real-time Gait Analyzer.
A Passive and Continuous body-weight Scale.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pilot – Sound Reactive Neopixel Lamp
Desktop Sound Reactive Lamp featuring two 12bit Sound Reactive Neo-Rings
https://hackaday.io/project/184291-pilot-sound-reactive-neopixel-lamp
Tomi Engdahl says:
Multichannel Audio DSP Field Mixer Recorder
https://hackaday.io/project/7041-multichannel-audio-dsp-field-mixer-recorder
bluetooth app controlled professional portable DSP mixer.balanced audio IO,phantom power,flexible routing,ISO recording. timcode. AVB audio.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Soil moisture measurement device
Visual control of soil moisture (with Raspberry Pi Pico)
https://hackaday.io/project/178522-soil-moisture-measurement-device
Tomi Engdahl says:
The NumiChronoTron Clock
Stempunk-inspired retro-digital timepiece!
https://hackaday.io/project/184263-the-numichronotron-clock
Nixie tubed Angle Gauge
An angle gauge with nixie tubes.
https://hackaday.io/project/184322-nixie-tubed-angle-gauge
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/12/build-yourself-a-weather-reporting-diorama/
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/11/making-a-locket-from-a-coin/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/11/you-can-build-your-own-sushi-train/
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/11/a-wireless-headphone-charger-without-the-wireless/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/12/modular-pockit-computer-is-more-than-meets-the-eye/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Soft Thumb-Sized Vision-Based Touch Sensor
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/12/a-soft-thumb-sized-vision-based-touch-sensor/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Make Laser-cut Decals On The Cheap
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/12/how-to-make-laser-cut-decals-on-the-cheap/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Make It Compatible
https://hackaday.com/2022/03/12/make-it-compatible/
I’m probably as guilty as anyone of reinventing the wheel for a subpart of a project. Heck, sometimes I just feel like working on a wheel design. But if that’s the path you choose, you have to think about whether or not it’s important that others can replicate your project. The nice thing about a bog-standard wheel is that everyone has got one.
The case study I have in mind is a wall-plotter project that appeared on Hackaday this week. It’s a really sweet design, and in many ways would be an ideal starter project. I actually need a wall plotter (for reasons) and like a number of the choices made. For instance, having nearly everything, including the lightweight geared steppers on the gondola makes it easy to install and uninstall — you just pin up the timing belt from which it hangs and you’re done. Extra weight on the gondola helps with stability anyway. It’s open source and based on the Arduino libraries, so it should be easy enough to port to whatever microcontroller I have on hand.
But the image-generation toolchain is awkward, involving cutting and pasting into a spreadsheet, which generates a text file in a custom plotting micro-language. Presumably the designer doesn’t know about Gcode, which is essentially the lingua franca of moving machines, or just didn’t feel like implementing it. Where in Gcode, movement commands are like “G1 X100 Y50”, this device expects “draw_line(0,0,100,50)”. They’re essentially equivalent, but incompatible.
I totally understand that the author must have had a good time thinking up the movement commands and writing the spreadsheet that translates SVG files into them. I’ve been there and done that! But if the wall plotter spoke Gcode instead of its own dialect, it would slot instantly into any number of graphics processing workflows, which would make me, the potential user, happier.
When you are looking at reinventing the wheel, think about your audience. If you’re the only person likely to see the project, go ahead and scratch whatever itch you’ve got. You’ll learn more that way. But if you want to share the project with as many people as possible, adhering to the most widely used standards is a good choice for your users, even if it is less fun than dreaming up your own movement language.