Maker Project Lab
November 9, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Let’s Hack Alexa into a Fish [Maker Update #10]

This week on Maker Update: making your own Alexa-Powered Billy Bass, the rise of the modular swarm bots, DIY candy dispensers, 3D printed Thanksgiving accessories, and a good excuse for a blow torch.

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November 2, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Warping Infinity Mirrors and Disposable Drones [Maker Update 09]

This week on Maker Update, an infinity mirror that bends, a single-motor miniature drone, a no-weld go-kart, mechanical iris goggles, and more.

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October 26, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The $500 CNC Router That’s Too Good To Ignore [Maker Update #08]

This week on Maker Update: a fog machine for your pocket, a CNC for under $500, flipdots, fidgets, contests, Maker books and Maker Faires. 

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October 19, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maker Update #07: Put On Your Drinking Dress

This week on Maker Update we’ll take a look at a DIY cocktail robotic dress designed by Anouk Wipprecht. We’ll take a look at a new online 3D design tool from SketchUp and a new 3D printer from Ultimaker. Learn how to quickly create your own prop Star Wars Gonk droid, as well as an interactive Stranger Things alphabet wall. Tips on storing small components (and getting rid of them), new product announcements, and the latest Maker Faires for the upcoming weekend.

SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/c/makerprojectlab?sub_confirmation=1

SHOW NOTES
-=-=-=-=-
Project of the Week
Anouk’s Cocktail Dress Instructable
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-MAKE-YOUR-OWN-ROBOTIC-COCKTAIL-DRESS/

News
SketchUp in Browser: MySketchUp (Open Beta)
http://www.sketchup.com/products/my-sketchup

Ultimaker 3 announced
https://ultimaker.com/en/products/ultimaker-3

Projects
Arduino-Powered Stranger Things Wall
http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Based-Stranger-Things-Lights/

Gonk Droid Prop from Junk
http://www.instructables.com/id/GONK-Droid-From-Junk/

Tools/Tips
BooSTick
https://www.adafruit.com/products/3265?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=videodescrip&utm_campaign=newproducts

Teensy 3.6
https://www.adafruit.com/products/3266?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=videodescrip&utm_campaign=newproducts

Teensy 3.5
https://www.adafruit.com/products/3267?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=videodescrip&utm_campaign=newproducts

Small Parts Organization
http://makezine.com/2016/10/15/small-parts-organization-in-the-shop/

Too Good to Throw Away
http://hackaday.com/2016/10/13/too-good-to-throw-away-dealing-with-an-out-of-control-junk-hoard/

Maker Faires
http://makerfaire.com/map/
October 22, 2016 Derby Mini Maker Faire Derby, Derbyshire UK
October 22, 2016 Fredonia Mini Maker Faire Fredonia, New York USA
October 22, 2016 Shreveport Mini Maker Faire Shreveport, Louisiana USA
October 22 + 23, 2016 Maker Faire Orlando Orlando, Florida USA
October 23, 2016 East Bay Mini Maker Faire Oakland, California USA
October 21 + 22 + 23, 2016 Maker Faire Shenzhen Shenzhen China
October 23, 2016 Bengaluru Mini Maker Faire Bengaluru India

October 12, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maker Update #06: Garbage Ghosts & Key Bangers

This week’s Maker Update is dedicated to taking your Halloween up a notch, with tips on costume resources, cheap and easy (and scary) DIY ghosts, 3D printed cosplay props, and site recommendations for professional haunted house props and controllers.

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October 5, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maker Update #05: Love Conquers Arduino

This week on Maker Update: How to Make a 3D Map from cardboard, Arduino Makes up with Arduino, an orbiting time-lapse rig, maker contests, Maker Faires, and 3D printed designs to fuel your coffee addiction.

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September 28, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maker Update #04: The Year’s Most Controversial DIY

This week on Maker Update! The most controversial DIY project of the year, a desk fan that can see your face, glowing horns, animated knots, and a 3D printed boat battle.

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September 21, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maker Update #03: Robots, Skulls and Middle Fingers

This week on Maker Update, a robot dog that probably won’t kill you, a skull made out of string, a lamp made out of veneer, and ways to measure things with parts of your body.

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September 14, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maker Update #02

Here we go again. I don’t want to jinx it, but I think I’m getting the hang of this. Let me here from you on the YouTube comments page or by emailing me. Here are the show notes:

Project of the Week
Micro Sketch by Fernando Jerez
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1668472

News
Wazer announced
https://makezine.com/2016/09/13/wazer-desktop-waterjet-cutter/

Make Launches Comunity Projects Page (powered by Hackster.io)
https://community.makezine.com/share/?utm_source=makezine&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=launch-blog
http://makezine.com/2016/09/08/share-your-project/

Projects
DIY Steel Pipe Toilet Paper Holder by PhilL42 (Now GermanSize)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-DIY-Steel-Pipes-Toilet-Paper-Holder/?ALLSTEPS
3D Print onto a t-shirt by Sahrye Cohen, Hal Rodriguez
https://community.makezine.com/share/sahrye-cohen-hal-rodriguez/3d-print-directly-onto-your-t-shirt-e0622d?ref=platform&ref_id=18265_trending___&offset=5 
Vintage Intercom Echo by Nick Brewer
https://community.makezine.com/share/nick-brewer/vintage-intercom-echo-5d90bd?ref=platform&ref_id=18265_trending___&offset=24

Tools/Tips
3D Printed Pegboard adapters https://www.thingiverse.com/glitchpudding/collections/pegboard/page:1

Contests Ending Soon
http://www.instructables.com/contest/

Wood http://www.instructables.com/contest/wood
Backyard http://www.instructables.com/contest/backyard
Caning & Pickling http://www.instructables.com/contest/canningpickling

Maker Faires
http://makerfaire.com/map/

5th Mini September 17 + 18, 2016 Seattle Mini Maker Faire Seattle, Washington USA
2nd Mini September 17, 2016 Wilson County Mini Maker Faire Floresville, Texas USA
4th Mini September 17, 2016 Nashville Mini Maker Faire Nashville, Tennessee USA
1st Mini September 17 + 18, 2016 Zürich Mini Maker Faire Zürich Switzerland
1st Mini September 17, 2016 Sherbrooke Mini Maker Faire Sherbrooke, Quebec Canada
1st Mini September 18, 2016 Southcoast MA Mini Maker Faire Fall River, Massachusetts USA

Donald talks at EBMF Sun, OCT 23rd
http://eastbay.makerfaire.com/

September 13, 2016 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News Tags: , , , , , , , ,

My Favorite 5 Kits for Makers

My selection of tools needed for the TV-B-Gone build.

I have no shame admitting that I love making kits. Hell, I even get a sick satisfaction from making Ikea furniture. There’s just something nice about a project that’s been well thought out, with the instructions and all the pieces you need laid out for you.

So, to put my love of kits to good use, I figured I’d dedicate a page to this site to my running list of what I think are the five best kits for makers (of any age or skill level). You can find the top navigation bar of this site (tucked under Projects), or by clicking this link here.

If you have a kit you’d like to suggest adding to the list, I want to hear about it. Contact me.

Also, in full disclosure, I (theoretically) get a little cut of the money from the Amazon links on this page. So if you feel like supporting me, indulge yourself in buying a kit from the list. Thanks.

 

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