Category Archives: Tinkering

Make a laser cut sphere bot (eggbot)

Posted on June 23, 2015 by robertwilkie

I looked a printing out the parts for an eggbot, and …well its alot of plastic for something that is “flat”.  The author here has a laser cut set of plans that looks like it would be easy to convert … Continue reading →

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Convert your 3D printer to be portable

Posted on June 23, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice build where the author converts his little printer to run off a battery.  Down side…well the driver (typically a computer) will need a battery too and STAY ON while the print is working.  Which could be hours.  I also … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, CNC/3D-printing, Misc-Life | 1 Comment

Cool laser cut and 3D printer based business cards

Posted on June 23, 2015 by robertwilkie

A bit bulky, but nice looking.  One thing to add…an LED. http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Business-Cards/

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Add this to the list of stuff I want to print out

Posted on June 22, 2015 by robertwilkie

I watched the video on this one, its pretty neat, the cylinder seems to fly thru the air better than a football.  And yes, this is on my list to print. http://3dprint.com/73490/vortex-tubular-wing-model/

Posted in CNC/3D-printing, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Add this to the list of stuff I want to print out

Use an encoder to tell if you have a print jam

Posted on June 17, 2015 by robertwilkie

Gotta say this is a good idea, the author uses an ATiny and a wheel to tell if the filament is mov ing or not, to detect jams in the print head. http://hackaday.com/2015/06/16/prevent-failed-prints-with-a-filament-speed-sensor/

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Use an RPi to controll your HVAC

Posted on June 17, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice build, simple board too, the author basically makes a shield, or hat for Raspberry Pi to help interface your heating/cooling systems.  If you already have a RPi, you can by the shield and materials four I think $50 US?  … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, RaspberryPi | Comments Off on Use an RPi to controll your HVAC

Make a ghetto hydrolysis (hydrogen/oxygen splitter)

Posted on June 16, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice build, the authors basically take a soda bottle, bucket, 2 PC heat sinks, a wall wart, and lots of glue from a glue gun to make hydrogen.  A few things I would change in this build is: tap or … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, water | Comments Off on Make a ghetto hydrolysis (hydrogen/oxygen splitter)

One serious homemade filter for a rain barrel

Posted on June 16, 2015 by robertwilkie

When I first saw this I thought, OK cool someone converted a 5 gal bucket into a simple rain catcher.  But…the author didn’t stop there, its got about 1/2 full of different materials to “filter” the water. http://www.instructables.com/id/Raincatcher/

Posted in Cheap, water | Comments Off on One serious homemade filter for a rain barrel

Convert a bike wheel into windpower

Posted on June 16, 2015 by robertwilkie

I have seen builds like this before, but not one that is written up.  Its a nice build thought a bit more work than I would have done, and I think I would have done a different way of putting … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Wind | Comments Off on Convert a bike wheel into windpower

Autopilot R/C boat

Posted on June 9, 2015 by robertwilkie

Interesting build where the author built an his own autopilot based boat.  Using homebuilt arduinos and GPS.  Pretty interesting build. http://hackaday.com/2015/06/01/simple-autonomy-with-an-rc-boat/

Posted in Arduino, Misc-Life, robots, water | Comments Off on Autopilot R/C boat