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:
3D Printed Template Makes Perfect Dovetail Joints
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/03/3d-printed-template-makes-perfect-dovetail-joints/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printed Flexure Shows Precision In Action
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/03/3d-printed-flexture-shows-precision-in-action/
Here’s an older but fantastic video that is as edifying as it is short. [Topias Korpi] demonstrates a 3D printed flexure with a dial indicator on one end, and an M3 screw on the other. As the screw is turned, the dial indicator moves steadily with roughly a 15:1 reduction between the movement of the screw and the indicator. Stable deflections of 0.01 mm are easily dialed in, and it’s neat seeing it work while the flexure itself shows no perceptible movement. A demonstration is embedded below the page break and is less than a minute long, so give it a watch and maybe get some ideas.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1424169
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wooden Keycaps Minus The CNC
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/03/wooden-keycaps-minus-the-cnc/
Tomi Engdahl says:
An Open-Source Rotational Casting Machine
https://hackaday.com/2011/09/15/an-open-source-rotational-casting-machine/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quick Tip Improves Seven-Segment LED Visibility
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/03/quick-tip-improves-seven-segment-led-visibility/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Track Your Cat’s Weight Through This Internet-Connected Litter Box
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/03/track-your-cats-weight-through-this-internet-connected-litter-box/
With feline obesity on the rise, keeping track of your cat’s weight is an important part of keeping them healthy. However, a weighing session can be anything from a routine job to a painful procedure, depending on your cat’s temperament. [Andy]’s cat Ellie is one of those who dislike being weighed, so in order to track her weight without drama [Andy] got creative and built an internet-connected weighing platform for her litter box.
The platform consists of two pieces of MDF held apart by two load cells, which are hooked up to an ESP8266. The ESP reads out the load cells and reports its findings to the Adafruit IO platform through its WiFi connection, sending updates to [Andy] whenever litter box use has been detected. The cat’s weight can be simply calculated by subtracting the weight of the unused litter box from the weight measured when it’s in use.
https://andybradford.dev/2022/06/02/internet-of-poop-how-and-why-i-built-a-smart-litter-tray/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Home Payphone
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/04/a-home-payphone/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Dangerously Delightful Homemade Rockets Of Thailand
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/04/the-dangerously-delightful-homemade-rockets-of-thailand/
Every once in a while, we here at Hackaday stumble across something that doesn’t quite fit in with all the other amazing hacks we feature, but still seems like something that our dear readers need to see as soon as possible. This video of homemade rockets in Thailand is one of those things.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnxNWDPMuCc
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Keyboard Can’t Get Much Smaller
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/04/diy-keyboard-cant-get-much-smaller/
The PiPi Mherkin really, really can’t get much smaller. The diminutive keyboard design mounts directly to the Pi Pico responsible for driving it, has a similar footprint, and is only about 9 mm thick. It can’t get much smaller since it’s already about as small as the Pi Pico itself.
Running on the Pi Pico is the PRK firmware, a keyboard framework that makes the device appear as a USB peripheral, checking the “just works” box nicely. The buttons here look a little sunken, but the switches used are available in taller formats, so it’s just a matter of preference.
https://www.40percent.club/2021/10/pipi-mherkin.html
https://github.com/picoruby/prk_firmware
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/04/ingenious-indigenous-artful-screw-conveyor/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Odd Inputs And Peculiar Peripherals: The GameBug Turns Your Breadboard Into A Game Console
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/05/odd-inputs-and-peculiar-peripherals-the-gamebug-turns-your-breadboard-into-a-game-console/
What’s more fun than playing video games? Designing your own video game hardware, of course! If you’ve followed these pages long enough you’ll have seen dozens of great examples of homebrew hardware, and perhaps been inspired to try such a project yourself. This often starts with assembling the basic bits onto a solderless breadboard, which is fine for programming but not so great for testing: squeezing pushbuttons into your breadboard works for basic debugging, but is not very user-friendly or reliable. A better solution can be found in [Dimitar]’s GameBug: a set of breadboard-compatible joypad-like controllers.
GameBug
GameBug is a pair of breakout boards for everyone who is making his own games.
https://hackaday.io/project/184026-gamebug
GameBug is an open hardware project (BG000080) for game enthusiast. It consist of 2 breakout boards that you can put on a breadboard. This way you can turn your breadboard into awesome game controller or a hand held console.
First thing first GameBug has 2 analog joysticks form Adafruit. Then there are 4 directional buttons on each pad from OMRON. The red buttons have really nice long travel and are joy to play with. On the top a shoulder buttons are located. Last but not least there are 4 selector switched with individual LEDs indicators. All the digital inputs without the selector switches are hardware debounced so you don’t have to worry about double press or false presses.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Universal TFT Display Backpack Helps Small Displays Shine
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/04/universal-tft-display-backpack-helps-small-displays-shine/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/02/surprisingly-stomp-able-soft-switches/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Gaze Inside These Nanopower Op-Amps
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/04/gaze-inside-these-nanopower-op-amps/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bulk Material — What IS This Stuff, Anyway?
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/01/bulk-material-what-is-this-stuff-anyway/
I hope last week’s introduction to bulk material handling got you all thinking up amazing hacks, and we’ll soon be reporting on DIY Cap’n Crunch Robots galore. This week we’ll look at how to measure particle sizes, separate particles, and even grind them up when you need to.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/180700-luxe-gen-6
A robotic arm using low cost 3d printed linear actuators and 3d printed parts, with optional all-metal upgrades. Most of the parts are designed to be able to be CNC plasma cut with no complex shapes or overhangs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Spring-Loaded Digital Movie Camera
https://hackaday.io/project/184748-a-spring-loaded-digital-movie-camera
Digitize a vintage 8mm camera. Not for the sake of convenience, but for the enjoyment of video recording.
Tomi Engdahl says:
All About Laptop Keyboard Reuse
Reverse-engineering laptop keyboards: theory, hardware, and sharing
https://hackaday.io/project/166665-all-about-laptop-keyboard-reuse
Tomi Engdahl says:
Automatic Room Light Controller
https://hackaday.io/project/185737-automatic-room-light-controller
This is a very advantageous yet easy to make project.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Laser device for neutralizing – mosquitoes
Low-cost device for control mosquitoes, weeds, pest etc
https://hackaday.io/project/185652-laser-device-for-neutralizing-mosquitoes
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/06/outline-2022-everyone-should-go-to-a-demo-party/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Using A LIDAR Sensor To Monitor Your Mailbox
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/06/using-a-lidar-sensor-to-monitor-your-mailbox/
The inconvenience of having to walk to your mailbox to check for mail has inspired many hackers to install automated systems that let them know when the mail has been delivered. Mailbox monitors have been made based on several different mechanisms: some measure the weight of the items inside, some use cameras and machine vision, while others simply trigger whenever the mailbox’s door or flap is moved. When [Gary Watts] wanted to install a notification system for his 1940s brick letterbox, his options were limited: with no flap or door to monitor, and limited space to install mechanical contraptions, he decided to use a LIDAR sensor instead.
Probably best-known for their emerging application in self-driving cars, LIDAR systems send out a laser pulse and measure the time it takes for it to be reflected off a surface. In the case of [Gary]’s mailbox, that surface is either the brick wall or a letter leaning against it. Since letters are inserted through a vertical slot, they will usually be leaning upright against the wall, providing a clear target for the laser.
https://www.inspectmygadgets.com/a-lidar-based-letterbox-notifier/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Solar Frame From Scratch
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/06/a-solar-frame-from-scratch/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Automate Parts Kitting With This Innovative SMD Tape Slicer
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/07/automate-parts-kitting-with-this-innovative-smd-tape-slicer/
Nobody likes a tedious manual job prone to repetitive stress injury, and such tasks rightly inspire an automated solution. This automatic SMD tape cutter is a good example of automating such a chore, while leaving plenty of room for further development.
DIY SMD Resistor cutting machine | Arduino project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PTbTDX6mIU
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/07/a-breath-of-fresh-air-for-some-arcade-classics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
uECG – a very small wearable ECG
https://hackaday.io/project/164486-uecg-a-very-small-wearable-ecg
It’s cheap, doesn’t use a specialized heart rate AFE and can blink LEDs with your pulse
Tomi Engdahl says:
LittleZone
https://hackaday.io/project/185693-littlezone
A tribute to 1980′s Battlezone. The game’s demo mode on an Arduino+LCD, using the same techniques I used for ElitePetite.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sci-Fi 3D Printed Mask With Transparent Display
A Sci-Fi 3D Printed Winter Soldier Mask With Transparent Displays
https://hackaday.io/project/185638-sci-fi-3d-printed-mask-with-transparent-display
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/185224-opendendrometer
Tomi Engdahl says:
BinPal – the friendly recycling reminder
BinPal is a happy WiFi fridge magnet that helps you recycle!
https://hackaday.io/project/185708-binpal-the-friendly-recycling-reminder
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D-Printed Power Loom Shows How Complex Weaving Really Is
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/07/3d-printed-power-loom-shows-how-complex-weaving-really-is/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILMc5qj1lyg
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/07/the-wonderfully-weird-wireframe-game-boy-that-actually-works/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/07/2022-hackaday-prize-reuse-recycle-and-revamp-all-the-things/
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Injection Moulding – Plug Connector Pairing Bands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhO1gz0LMrQ
A 50 micron channel vents 10 cubic centimetres in less than a second!
How to assemble a plastic injection mold?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWi1vtfmMVk
This video show the detail how to assemble a plastic injection mold.Mold assembly is not only very important process for mold building,but the last process.tool maker can check each spare parts’s quality,function and movement.
diy homemade pneumatic injection molder by Tekca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwVQPC-ZBE
Tomi Engdahl says:
Injection Molding Animation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1U9W4iNDiQ
A tronicarts 3D-animation which shows the injection molding process.
The video shows: the finished plastic part, the injection molding tool, the machine, the injection process and the ejection of the part.
INSERT MOLDING vs OVERMOLDING | Two-Shot Injection Molding EXPLAINED – Serious Engineering – Ep16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6J07KPoDDk
In this episode Gordon discusses the difference between Insert Molding and Two-Shot Injection Molding (aka) Overmolding (aka) 2K Molding, their advantages and drawbacks and how to select the right process based on the nature of your project.
This process combines PLASTIC and METAL! – Insert Molding #shorts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz1SAJD7QHs
This incredible process combines plastic and metal. Insert injection molding is the process of molding or forming plastic parts around other, non-plastic parts, or inserts. The inserted component is most commonly a simple object, such as a thread or rod, but in some cases, inserts can be as complex as a battery or motor.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How We Made A TINY Injection Molding Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtcJAaYVMAg
DIY desktop injection molding is finally a reality! We built an extremely small and easy-to-use desktop size plastic injection machine, and we’re calling it (drum roll please)… INJEKTO! We tested it using molds created on our DIY CNC machine and it worked perfectly.
Although this initial prototype gives us proof of concept, there are still some flaws that must be addressed to create a perfect injection molding machine. We are working on developing an enhanced 2nd version of this DIY desktop injection molding machine and can’t wait to share it with all of you!
DIY Injection Molding with Resin Printed Mold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odo0W41HwVc
I made this DIY injection molding to test out the durability of Fabxxible high temp printer resin made for molding which can witstand 350 degree celcius with the harness of 95D.
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Precision milliohm meter by popular request with circuit diagram.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdVU9VYUCRE
Couple of mistakes in the video , this is a milliohm meter and I have referred to it a couple of times as a millivolt meter .
A lot of people requested details of how I made this milliohm meter, after a couple of weeks looking I have now found the magazine I made it from , if you want to see it in action please check out my earlier videos from a couple of weeks ago .
Tomi Engdahl says:
Unorthodox Toolbox Switcheroo: Barbecue!
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/08/unorthodox-toolbox-switcheroo-barbecue/
Despite all the progress in cooking methods over the past millennia, nothing can ever replace the primeval sensation of staring into the embers as your food slowly gets ready. Barbecues are the obvious choice to satisfy this cave nostalgia, and while size might matter in some cases, sometimes you just want the convenience of being able to take your grilling device to the beach, park, or just really anywhere but home. Other times you’re [Laura Kampf] and don’t want to use an old toolbox for storing tools.
I turned a Toolbox into a BBQ!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4pSovPBgME
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cheap vs Expensive Welders: Don’t they all do the same thing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIC3yWF8qvo
How much should you spend on tools? Here’s my take on it after looking at these 4 inverter stick welders.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Want to get better at hydro dipping? Stop Doing This!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iTKm293nnk
Hydro Dipping a Guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=415jzRM8RBo
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Spray Paint A Guitar – Start to Finish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP3dx8a-iDA
DISCLAIMER: I have learned that spraying lacquer in that close of proximity to a regular box fan could be dangerous. I recommend that you not run the fan like I say in the video, or at least do your own research.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/09/throw-out-that-box-no-build-a-shelving-unit/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mouse Charging Mod Shows Even Simple Hacks Can End Up Complex
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/09/mouse-charging-mod-shows-even-simple-hacks-can-end-up-complex/
Hardware hacks have something in common with renovations that involve taking down a wall: until one actually gets started and opens things up, there’s no telling what kind of complications might be lurking. [voussoir] has a project that demonstrates this nicely: modifying a rechargeable mouse to use USB-C instead of micro-B turned out to have quite a few little glitches in the process. In fact, changing the actual receptacle was the simplest part!
On one hand, the mouse in question seems like a perfect candidate for easy modification. The enclosure isn’t too hard to open, there is ample space inside, and USB is used only for recharging the battery. So what was the problem? The trouble is something familiar to anyone who has worked on modifying an existing piece of hardware: existing parts are boundaries to hacking work, and some are less easily modified than others.
Modding a rechargeable mouse to USB-C
https://voussoir.net/writing/mouse_usbc_mod
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Compu-tor Is A Raspberry Pi Laptop In A Mahogany Case
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/09/the-compu-tor-is-a-raspberry-pi-laptop-in-a-mahogany-case/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Case For Designer Landline Phones
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/09/the-case-for-designer-landline-phones/
Long before the idea of hot dog-shaped iPhone cases, Otter Boxen, or even those swappable Nokia face plates, people were just as likely to express themselves with their landline phones. Growing up at my house in the 80s, the Slimline on the kitchen wall was hidden inside a magneto wall set from the early 1900s, the front of which swung out to reveal the modern equipment behind it.
Back when phones still belonged to Ma Bell, she eventually went from the black truncated pyramid of the 1930s desk phone to all kinds of offerings like the princess phone, the Sculptura (or doughnut phone), and the stowaway models which turned the device into either a secret stationery/stationary stash box-looking thing, or a miniature roll-top desk. This landline phone madness all started in 1954, when AT&T released the classic “500” desk phone in five glorious colors: white, beige, green, blue, and pink. But the real freedom came from a ruling in 1975 that opened the doors for all kinds of designs.
A Clear Competitor
And then there was ITT Teleconcepts. This Connecticut-based company were pioneers in the designer telephone arena, taking genuine POTS-worthy guts branded with ITT or Stromberg Carlson or GTE/Automatic Electric and enclosing them in interesting and often transparent forms.
If you like weird phones, don’t dismay — these interesting Teleconcepts units weren’t as rare as some say they are, and they don’t all cost hundreds of dollars today. Although they have handwritten tags on the bottoms that make it seem like they were crafted one at a time by an artist, these phones were in fact mass produced. They’re out there, and they don’t always go for hundreds of dollars.
Analog landline phones are pretty darn simple, especially compared with a modern cell phone. So what about the home gamer of decades past? Surely there were a few people out there putting phone guts into interesting enclosures, and the mind reels with the possibilities.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/09/revolving-doors-arent-just-annoying-theyre-energy-saving-too/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/09/live-floppy-music-adds-elegance-to-any-event/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Injekto Injection Machine Reaches 2.0
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/08/injekto-injection-machine-reaches-2-0/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/08/live-subtitles-for-your-life/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Handling Bulk Material: The Spice Must Flow!
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/08/handling-bulk-material-the-spice-must-flow/