How to Create a Power Supply out of a Wall Wart
Chris Connors shows how to modify a wall wart to equip it with alligator clips, giving you the ability to power a project breadboard right from the wall socket.
Technology
Meet the new Class of HAXLR8R Startups
The 2013 class of HAXLR8R startups showed their stuff to a crowd of reporters, investors, and fellow hardware hackers at San Francisco’s Runway yesterday. The demo day event drew more than 100 people and was part coming out party and part fundraising pitch. The startups has all just returned from 111 days in China and many launched crowdfunding campaigns to coincide with the event.
The Duality of the Physical and Digital Worlds
With easy-to-use 3D printers and 3D software, we’ve come a long way in giving everyone the tools to create with confidence. Yet for most people one piece was still missing: the ability to bring physical objects into the digital world and to complete the transaction, inextricably linking the two worlds so that anyone could use one to influence the other.
A Maker’s Education in Santiago
A few months ago, I applied to a little known, first iteration program, called Exosphere. I quit my job in corporate finance, sold most of my belongings, and decided to venture to Santiago, Chile to experience something that I thought would change my life. To my extreme satisfaction, this program has exceeded every expectation that I held in my heart and mind. It has been intensely challenging, but I wouldn’t prefer it any other way.
A Sneak Peek from Santiago: Lights, Bikes, and Clouds
Buenos días from Santiago, Chile where preparations are well under way for the second Santiago Mini Maker Faire.
Reflow Oven That Signals When It’s Done
Ray Wang’s modified his reflow toaster oven with a temperature probe controlled by an Arduino Pro, as well as an automatic door opener and auto-activating fan to reduce cool-down time.
Animatronics Kits for Learning
I just stumbled across the Star★Bot animatronic platform kit out of the community of makers in Florida. It’s designed for kids to “create animatronic robots and learn microcontrollers, mechanics and papercraft.” Its Kickstarter campaign ends in a few hours! Pat Starace developed the kits at FamiLAB “Central Florida’s provider of space, tools, and community for creative technical learning and projects.” (All the organizers for the Orlando Mini Maker Faire met at FamiLAB.)