Welcome
Dale Dougherty
Computers in the mist.Page 08
Make: Volume 36 – Boards
MAKE Volume 36 takes a look at the exploding market of boards and microcontrollers. Powerful and easy to use, microcontrollers allow anyone to add sophisticated interactivity to their projects, and Arduino and Raspberry Pi have ushered in a whole new generation boards tailor-made for making. In this issue, we take a deep dive into the world of boards and add-ons that are fueling a new smart device revolution. From workshop hobbyists to entrepreneurial innovators pushing accessible technology to new levels.
Which board is right for you? This issue issue delves into:
- The best boards for your build. What they do and why you might want to use them.
- Microcontrollers for the next generation: Ultra- miniaturization, wireless, and multi-function shields.
- Add-ons for boards
- Upcoming boards with estimated release dates and previews.
But the issue goes beyond boards and includes projects that show you how to make your own hard cider with a juicer, a simple table that can be built in two hours, an interview with New Zealand kite-maker Peter Lynn, and the making of tiger gates in the London Zoo.
To jump into the world of boards, take a look at Which Board is Right for Me?
Table of Contents
Columns
Reader Input
Siphon logic, DTV antennas, Arduino sound synthesis, and Japanese toolboxes galore.Page 10
Making the Future with Arduino
Massimo Banzi
People over megahertz.Page 12
Wearable Tech
Syuzi Pakhchyan
Experiments in 3D-printed fashion.Page 16
Made on Earth
Goli Mohammadi
AT-AT liquor cabinets, big-rig sculptures, pole-dancing robots, and more from makers in our community.Page 20
Features
New Zealand Kite Maker
Jon Kalish
Peter Lynn’s vision for the future hangs from a string.Page 26
Tigergate
Tim Hunkin
Building gates for the London Zoo’s tigers proves onerous.Page 32
Kickscooter Kickstarter
Taylor Levy
From maker to manufacturer: rethinking how we scale the stuff we make.Page 38
Maker Hangar Profile
Goli Mohammadi
17-year-old Lucas Weakley on building an R/C plane video series.Page 42
LightUp: From Maker to Pro
Andrew Terranova
Two California kids with a bright idea, making it happen.Page 44
Pick Your Brain
Board Games
Loads of new microcontrollers and single-board computers vie for your attention.Page 46
Which Board is Right for Me?
Alasdair Allan
A field guide for choosing a brain for your project.Page 48
Anatomy of a Board
Matt Richardson
Matt Richardson’s illustrated board glossary.Page 50
Now What, Noobs?
Four projects to bring your Arduino to life.Page 61
The Board Room
Make: Editors
Meet nine new boards and the cool projects you can make with them.Page 62
The Story of Pinoccio
Sally Carson
How two makers brought their board to life.Page 66
Cloudfridge
Get started in the Internet of Things by automating your icebox.Page 70
Onion Pi Project
Hack your Raspberry Pi into an anonymizing Tor proxy!Page 74
Android/Arduino LED Lighting
Make RGB LEDs glow any color with a finger swipe.Page 80
Projects
Skill Builder: Make Your Own Damn Board
Using EAGLE to design a bare-bones Arduino board.Page 84
Nuclear Fusor
Stett Holbrook
Build yourself a star in a jar.Page 90
Desktop Foundry
Bob Knetzger
Cast itty-bitty metal items with a DIY miniature foundry.Page 100
Capstan Kite Winder
Albert Den Haan
Make a powerful kite line winder using a lawnmower wheel and some ingenuity. Page 108
Shrink-Film Gaming Minis
Sean Michael Ragan
Faster than figurines, tougher than cardboard, and way more fun to make. Page 112
1+2+3: Smartphone Test Signal Generator
Jacob Beningo
Perfect for testing inputs on a new hardware design.Page 115
Laser Projection Microscope
Sean Michael Ragan
Laser pointer + drop of water = microbial movie theater!Page 116
Electronics: Fun & Fundamentals
Clever off-label uses for the underappreciated triac.Page 120
Two-Hour Table
Tom Parker
Making haste with tasteful tapers. Page 124
1+2+3: $5 Smartphone Projector
Danny Osterweil and Photojojo
Turn your mobile device into an inexpensive projector.Page 127
Vinyl Silk-Screen Printing
Chris Connors
Silk-screen without chemicals or a darkroom.Page 128
Homebrew
Caleb Kraft
A homemade teardrop camper trailer.Page 131
Kitchen-Table Cider Making
Dr. Nevin J. Stewart
Forget messy presses — use modern centrifugal juicers.Page 132
Lite-Brite LED Clock
Build this programmable Arduino-powered desk clock.Page 135
Country Scientist
Forrest M. Mims III
How to use LEDs to detect light.Page 136
Toy Inventor's Notebook
Make a combination corkboard/chalkboard.Page 139
Hedge Maze Area Rug
Sean Michael Ragan
Give your rug a haircut.Page 140
Remaking History
William Gurstelle
Squire Whipple and the truss bridge.Page 142
Toolbox
Multitools, butt connectors, borescopes, and books.Page 146
New Maker Tech
The latest tools in 3D printing, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi. Page 154
Makey the Robot
Rising above the daily traffic grind.Page 160
