I can’t think of a better name for a person who build pole cameras than Polster. And fortunately for Jim, that is his last name. In addition to being the proprietor of Longshot Camera Systems, Jim is also a broad spectrum maker.
The “Cat Scratch” cardboard scratching toy for cats by SUCK UK is fashioned in the shape of a DJ turntable, with concentric rings of corrugated cardboard (which cats love to scratch) serving as the proverbial record. The turntable part is just for show, but it is a novel idea that (likely unintentionally) harkens back to an experimental instrument called the Savart’s Wheel.
The LinkM, from the Maker Shed, is a USB adapter for BlinkM Smart LEDs that addresses two of the most frequently-requested features: It enables you to program your BlinkM (or MaxM or MiniM) without setting up a separate I/O board, such as an Arduino, and it lets you program or control multiple BlinkMs simultaneously.
Tyto Alba is an art car made from the remnants of 25 bicycles, along with an owl figurehead fashioned from leather feathers. Brother John and Sister Sharon combine their skills of mechanical engineering and leather shoemaking to showcase their creation at Maker Faire Bay Area 2011.
Hunter McCurry brought the Pullcordion to Maker Faire Bay Area 2011. This handmade mechanical musical instrument is played by pulling on strings that are attached to pieces of dryer ventilation tubing with harmonica reeds mounted on them.
Whenever there’s an available surplus of watch parts it seems that makers tend to gravitate toward constructing vehicular creations: motorcycles, mopeds, etc. We’ve covered these kinds of slick, brassy machines in the past, and Blogger user 2nde VIE (2nd Life) follows where other such makers left off, but then veers into creature territory. He uses the discarded parts to make clockwork owls, turtles, and other entities that have a whimsy that’s all their own. [via Recyclart]
The freshly updated PowerSwitch Tail II is now available in the Maker Shed. For those that are not familiar with it, the PowerSwitch Tail allows you to switch 120v AC loads on and off from a microcontroller, without worrying about the hazards of household current. The new version allows you to control up to 15 amps of current (50% more than the original) using a 3-12 vdc (3-30ma) control signal meaning you can control it as easy as you would an LED.
