In the Maker Shed: Microcontroller Quick Launch Pack
Are you interested in starting out with Arduino but don’t know which kit to get? Check out the Microcontroller Quick Launch Pack from the Maker Shed! It’s the perfect “in between” kit for Arduino.
Tools
The Switch to Electric Car Kits
Recently, I visited Switch Vehicles, which is near the MAKE office in Sebastopol. They have produce a three-wheel electric car, which will be sold as a kit later this year. I met the founders, Peter Oliver, Jim McGreen, and Mark Perlmutter in what was formerly a Ford dealership and now is occupied by a variety of makers, mechanics, and entrepreneurs.
Tool Review: Dymo Metal Embossing Tapewriter
Embossed aluminum is pretty much the ultimate labeling material. Without wanting to be morbid, there is a reason why military services around the world choose it for personnel identification tags. Secured with mechanical fasteners, instead of adhesives, an embossed aluminum label will stand up for years against water, extremes of heat and cold, prolonged direct sunlight, and any organic solvent you care to throw at it. This is a true “industrial-grade” labeling tool, and if you can snag a used one for a reasonable price, you can expect a lifetime of use from it.
Open Source Soldering Iron Driver
Continuing with the theme of OSHW bench equipment, Serbian hacker Bogdan Kecman built his own open source soldering iron driver that works with any iron with an RTD or thermocouple sensor. Bogdan has KiCad files for his board on the above site, which is in Serbian. [via Dangerous Prototypes]
Pretty Tools Work Better
So says New Jersey tumblogger Wilbur Pan, who had this no-longer-cheap engineer’s square hand-engraved by artist Catharine Kennedy: “Before anyone asks, yes, this square does let me mark lines better after the engraving. I am sure of that.”
Building The MakerGear Mosaic 3D Printer Part VII: The Electronics
This is the seventh and final installment of my ongoing series on building the MakerGear Mosaic 3D printer. This part covers installation and wiring of the electronics that control the printer. First, the Arduino and attached RAMP shield are mounted on the printer frame. Second, connections from the build platform wiring harness, the extruder wiring harness, and other components are clipped to the PCB. Finally, the power supplies are connected, and formal assembly of the printer is complete.
Tape Measure Notepad
If you ever had a project with a lot of measuring in one area, with a lot of cutting in another, you’ll do this to your measuring tape. (Ever put up drywall?) By simply sanding the shine off of the plastic casing on a measuring tape, you have a writeable and erasable surface to jot down those numbers.