Mixed to Perfection [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: a cocktail machine that keeps it simple, kinetic art in four dimensions, an illuminated ring, and a laser-shooting sweater.
All Eyes On Me [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: a necklace with a staring problem, a laser powered mosquito swatter, moire play, and a giant 3D printed mechanical hand.
Ornament of Doom [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: vintage gaming for your tree, a snowflake made from LED noodles, making for fun, and the Alpakka open source gamepad.
Robot Regularity [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: a plastic excreting art bot, DiResta’s mini morbid mobile, glowing jewelry, invisible ink, and 3D printed repairs.
G-code Wuz Here [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update, graffiti CNC, a commitment to carbonation, a laser cut haunted house, a face-detecting leaf blower, and going Gaga for Halloween.
Jam On It [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update, wearable microphone jammers, reinventing retro tech, moving mirrors, 3D printed turntables, digital Super 8, and a circuit sculpture radio.
Drum Break! [Maker Update #195 *Adafruit Edition*]
This month on Maker Update, a 3d printed drummer, Adafruit at the newsstand, going live, a voting calendar, an eyeball shootout and a panic button for all your Zoom calls.
Best Electronic Soldering Badge Kits For Classrooms
Learning how to solder is a right of passage for any maker. Personally, I remember holding out for the longest time, relying on alligator clips and breadboard jumpers to complete beginner projects and simple circuits. Soldering is intimidating, and the prospect of mangling a project while you learn the basics technique can compound the anxiety.
The best way I’ve found to dip your toe in to learning to solder is with a fun, inexpensive soldering badge kit. These come in dozens of varieties, with a wide range of cost, which I’ve outlined here.
Boil them down, they’re essentially a simple LED circuit, powered by a coin cell battery. For both students and instructors, they offer a quick project with a high payoff. Plus, you literally get to wear your new skill as a badge of accomplishment. How cool is that?
For a look at ore advanced kits for beginning makers, check out our current list of the Top 5 Best Kits for Makers.
Split-Flap Attack [Maker Update #73]
This week on Maker Update, rolling your own split-flap display, the unholy union of Furby and Alexa, customized fan grilles and a walnut box with a foam core secret. This week’s Cool Tool is the Joe Knows Electronics Resistor Starter Kit.
Nintendo’s Cardboard Kits [Maker Update #68]
This week on Maker Update, a 3D printed thermal camera, Nintendo Switch gets making with Labo, an 8-note harp with only one string, Scratch 3.0, and making CNC designs by hand. This week’s Cool Tool is the Neiko Mini Ratcheting Screwdriver.