Clicky Computer [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: a Pi clicker, a credit card-sized cyberdeck, losing all your marbles and a better tape measure.
The Ceiling’s the Limit [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: a dorm room drone show, a tiny volumetric display, a new look at screen printing, and bullying robots.
Circus Cyborg [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update: a knife-throwing robot, snakes with legs, the simplest camera slider ever, metal 3d printing, learning new skills, and a new spin on a classic tool.
Surfing with the Bern [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update, the most expensive rip surf ever made, some huge news from Raspberry Pi, thin floating shelves, clever mechanisms, making cut lists and foaming TPU.
Counter Rhythm [Maker Update]
This week on Maker Update, a test machine gets its groove back, the winner of the 2020 Hackaday Prize, 3d printed HOTAS, Controller teardowns, perfect circles, cutting felt with a table saw.
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.
Barcelona is for Makers [Maker Update #74]
This week on Maker Update, a mechanical hummingbird, the 2018 Hackaday Prize, a tour of Fab Lab Barcelona, casting metal from 3D prints, and getting started with Arduino without an Arduino. This week’s Cool Tools is 3M Virtua CCS Protective Eyewear.