Category Archives: Tinkering

Building an RPi Weather Station

Posted on May 14, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice write-up on a build of a solar powered Weather Station controlled by a Raspberry Pi.  There is allot of hardware components to this build.  No idea on the cost, but it doesn’t look like it would be under $100.  … Continue reading →

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3D print your own cool electric motor

Posted on May 14, 2015 by robertwilkie

If you have a 3D printer, some copper based foil, this would be a cool project to do with kids. http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrostatic-Motor/

Posted in CNC/3D-printing, Misc-Life, Teaching and Learning | Comments Off on 3D print your own cool electric motor

Another neat kid wind project

Posted on May 13, 2015 by robertwilkie

Found this windproject for kids that is pretty neat (and cheap) to build.  I like the PVC stand for the motor mount.  It also allows for the wires for the motor to go to a different exit point to try … Continue reading →

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OK I will be printing this out

Posted on May 12, 2015 by robertwilkie

OK this will be in the queue to print out.  Its a neat project that turns a dremel into a far reaching flying ring. http://makezine.com/projects/make-38-cameras-and-av/dremel-devil/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=%24{feed}&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+%24{makezineonline}+%28%24{MAKE}%29&utm_content=%24{GoogleReader}

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Chip, the $9 computer

Posted on May 8, 2015 by robertwilkie

Not including power supply, etc.  But still, this could be an RPi killer depending on how it goes.  I haven’t pledged yet, but will be keeping my eye on it.  Down side, HDMI is $24 (which puts it in RPi … Continue reading →

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El-Cheap-o CNC build

Posted on May 8, 2015 by robertwilkie

This was too much to pass up.  I think the author got most of the parts from junk, but it looks like it would work pretty good overall.  Maybe $100 in materials (including the controller/power supply).  I love the use … Continue reading →

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Interesting 3D printed Windpower Turbine

Posted on May 8, 2015 by robertwilkie

Interesting build for small 3D printers to make in parts.  My 2 cents, I am not so sure how well ABS will hold up to outdoors. http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Wind-Turbine-uses-Bamboo/

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

How to build tank treads with bike chains and still use gears to drive them

Posted on May 7, 2015 by robertwilkie

Nice idea where the author doubled up the chains so that one side could be driven with a gear, and the other side have bolted tracks on it.  The downside, you have to break each ligament in the chain and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, robots | Comments Off on How to build tank treads with bike chains and still use gears to drive them

Kickstart a bra for …big ones

Posted on May 7, 2015 by robertwilkie

Interesting how 3D printing has made new designs available.  This is  an interesting project that is being kickstarted for big girls.  They did most of there prototyping with 3D printers.  Of course at $100 a whack…. http://www.3ders.org/articles/20150507-trusst-lingerie-redefines-bras-through-a-revolutionary-3d-printed-support-system.html

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CoreOS is building a Docker Killer

Posted on May 6, 2015 by robertwilkie

Apparently there are those that already feel Docker is getting too bloated… So there is a new container runtime tool called Rocket in the works.  Looks interesting. https://coreos.com/blog/rocket/

Posted in Cloud | Comments Off on CoreOS is building a Docker Killer