A company in the UK is taking vintage Mini automobiles and turning them into a desk. The desk retails for about £2500 which converts to about $4,422. For more information: ministatements@btinternet.com Gives new meaning to the morning commute! Link.
Jake posted up an Instructable for our mousebot “Mousebot from Make vol 2 is a fun introduction to robotics. So fun that I’ve created this expanded documentation of a Mousey build from start to finish, with a few extra little tips you won’t find in the mag. This how-to is best understood after reading the original article from page 100 of Make vol 2 however it is probably not required. Mousebot is a simple bot that uses two “eyes” to sense light and then turns towards the light. A single large “whisker” is mounted on the front of the mouse to detect collisions.” Link.
Pat from the Manufacturers’ Blog writes “Ah, the tiny but mighty microchip. So small yet so powerful, so central to our everyday life. This week we have an excellent animation from the good folks at NAM member Applied Materials, the largest supplier of manufacturing systems and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1967 and honchoed for years by the legendary Jim Morgan — winner of the National Technology Medal, among scores of other honors — they produce microchips here and around the globe.” [via] Link.
Stefan writes “A nice detailed description of Oregonian Adrian Carbine’s record-setting amateur rocket flight. Powered by twin “N” motors, the two-stage model soared to over 40,000 feet. Dimensions: Length: 17’4″, sustainer dia: 4.25″, booster dia: 4.6″. Pad weight: 96.5 lbs. Weight without motors: 43.5 lbs (including parachutes, tubular nylon, electronics, avionics bays, CO2 systems, etc.). The entire airframe weighed 28 lbs empty.” Link.
Here is this week’s “Cool Stuff Being Made”! – “…from aerospace to zippers, a lot things we use and interact with these days are made with investment cast parts. Surgery tools, golf equipment and lots of things that the military use all rely on the investment cast process. The investment cast process begins with plastics (Yes, Mr. Robinson, there “is a great future in plastics!”) to create near net shape metal parts that require minimal surface treatment. Investment cast parts come in all shapes and sizes, from fractions of an ounce to several tones.” Link.
Here’s MAKE on Talk of the Nation, December 28, 2005 “Looking for new furniture, clothes or a remodeled house? Maybe it’s time to “Do It Yourself.” A peak at the curious and creative world of DIY. Guests: Shoshana Berger, editor in chief of ReadyMade magazine. Mark Frauenfelder, editor in chief of Make magazine. Tom Silva, general contractor on PBS’ home improvement show, “This Old House”.” Link.
Excellent video on how fiber optics are made – “…”At the Speed of Light” is inspirational on any number of levels. It describes what Corning calls “the union of glass and light”. Developed in the 70’s by a trio of scientists — Drs. Keck, Maurer and Schultz — who went on to win the National Medal of Technology for their efforts, it is truly remarkable. They are making fibers thinner than a human hair. The single mode fiber is a mere 8 microns thick. One micron is one-millionth of a meter.” Link.
