DIY Projects

HOW TO – Build a utility trailer

HOW TO – Build a utility trailer

Trailer 153Here’s a detailed log of how to build a utility trailer. Includes a free AutoCAD drawing, materials list, parts list, as well as lots of pictures. Glen writes “I needed a trailer to haul around a snowmobile so I decided that I might get better use out of a general utility trailer instead of a snowmobile trailer. I checked the local trailer retailers and found that the going rate for a 5′ x 10′ utility trailer was around $1,300 Cdn. The trailers weren’t very strong and were made mostly from light angle iron. Always looking for a good project, I decided to build one instead.” Link.

DIY cement casting…

DIY cement casting…

Sill Mould0022From the folks who brought us the homemade sheet-rock lifter – cement casting with forms…“I designed these window sills as a DIY solution as to what to do with 200 plus windows we had to rebuild, this saved us from having to restore the brickwork that was damaged from years of neglect and weather. The most obvious solution would have been to restore the brick and slap a piece of wood on top. Instead I created a mould that was fastened to the wall and the sills were cast in place.” Thanks Frank! Link.

HOW TO – Convert a computer ATX power supply to a lab power supply…

HOW TO – Convert a computer ATX power supply to a lab power supply…

Atx-To-Lab-Psu-2Here’s another great how to on converting an ATX power supply to a lab power supply, Abizar writes “Computer power supplies are US$15 but lab power supplies are US$100+. By converting the cheap (free) ATX power supplies that can be found in any discarded computer you can get a phenomenal lab power supply with huge current outputs, short circuit protection, and very tight voltage regulation.” Link. See previous.

Burnstation – DIY audio sharing…

Burnstation – DIY audio sharing…

Gamepadbs“BURN STATION is a mobile copying station which – as it travels through suburban spaces – supports the free distribution music and audio. It is software as well as a local network. But above all BURN STATION is a social event which congregates people together to listen, select and copy net label and net radio audio files with a Copyleft Licence.” [via] Link to project and link to downloads to build your own.

HOW TO – Computer-controlled music-synchronized flashing tree lights

HOW TO – Computer-controlled music-synchronized flashing tree lights

TreelightsGreat holiday Instructable! “Use solid-state relays to blink the lights on your tree in time with music. String lots of lights onto the tree. Use as many sets as you like, but arrange them such that there are three light regions, each with a separate plug. Run these three plugs down the trunk so they can easily be attached to the light controller. Up to three strings of lights can usually be linked in series, so you can almost certainly cover even big trees. Plug light strings into the controller you built for Halloween (MAKE 03). Attach computer and sound system…” Link.

Open DMX USB Interface

Open DMX USB Interface

Box ViewHere’s an excellent “open” hardware project for controlling lighting/effects systems – you can build your own, buy an assembled kit or improve the design and modify source code – “This DMX USB interface is based on the FTDI 232BM chip, it’s a USB to serial converter. Using a simple application on a PC you can send and receive DMX512.” Thanks Ladyada! Link.

Cubatron -3D color display

Cubatron -3D color display

CubatronMeet the Cubatron, it’s not Castro on a light cycle, it’s the world’s largest true 3D color graphics display. Assuierupe has a very cool Flickr photo set “The coolness of this display hack is difficult to convey via static images, but check out the project page for a couple of videos of the device in action. The device was built by Mark Lottor for Burning Man, and now takes up a corner of his Menlo Park living room.” Link to photos. Project page.