Category Archives: Tinkering

Build a concrete CNC

Posted on January 11, 2023 by robertwilkie

Nice build, price is not too bad at first (under a grand) UNTIL you add in the concrete mixer and pusher…thats 4500$ alone…. https://medium.com/@Nik_chen/how-to-assemble-your-own-concrete-3d-printer-4e6da490b6e6

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Cool segmented “nanoleaf” like build

Posted on December 20, 2022 by robertwilkie

This is a neat build, basically its like a nanoleaf, but the “leaf” part is more like the segment you would use in a digital display, so you can combine those to make digits, or other shapes. https://www.hackster.io/news/these-nanoleaf-inspired-modular-lights-can-team-up-to-create-a-wall-mounted-four-digit-display-7a985c77ce68

Posted in Arduino, Teaching and Learning | Comments Off on Cool segmented “nanoleaf” like build

Make a beer can steam engine

Posted on December 19, 2022 by robertwilkie

Nice build, not so sure how the author gets water into the can, but its a clever (and cheap) way to show steam power https://hackaday.com/2022/10/27/a-steam-engine-for-empty-beer-cans/

Posted in Cheap, Teaching and Learning, water | Comments Off on Make a beer can steam engine

Giant rope shooter

Posted on December 15, 2022 by robertwilkie

Pretty cool build with some bike wheels, rope, and a washing machine motor. The author has a loop that is constantly shooting the rope out at a high speed. https://hackaday.com/2022/01/01/attack-of-the-eighty-foot-string-shooter/

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Two Servo drawbot

Posted on December 14, 2022 by robertwilkie

This is a bit of a ghetto build, and instead of using steppers, the author uses servos to drive the x/y. https://www.instructables.com/Two-Servo-and-Drawer-Rail-Pen-Plotter/

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Some power saving projects

Posted on December 12, 2022 by robertwilkie

A couple times of the year I look at power projects to generate my own electricity. Hasn’t happened yet, I do like this one with arduino to control charge and windpower ( https://www.hackster.io/news/the-best-diy-renewable-energy-projects-on-hackster-e70d36bc05af

Posted in My Projects, solar, Wind | Comments Off on Some power saving projects

Turning an RPi into a crypto miner

Posted on December 9, 2022 by robertwilkie

OK I am not sure if this would be worth it besides the learning part, as how underpowered a RPi is, still a nice writeup and if you have a RPi that can run on its own generated power, maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in RaspberryPi | Comments Off on Turning an RPi into a crypto miner

Nice plotter build

Posted on December 8, 2022 by robertwilkie

Pretty fast plotter too. https://hackaday.com/2022/06/19/this-arduino-pen-plotter-is-built-for-speed/

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Using hoverboard motor for wind power

Posted on November 30, 2022 by robertwilkie

I like this build, pretty simple (thought doesn’t have the vanes yet). And a slow spin already cranks out some impressive voltage https://www.pinterest.com/pin/714805772084375932/

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, Wind | Comments Off on Using hoverboard motor for wind power

Multipurpose table saw sled

Posted on November 18, 2022 by robertwilkie

I like this build, but a few things I would add is a tape measure on the top of the backstop, a “stop” for repeat cuts, and a sliding bar on the backstop to add stuff to the sled. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc-Life, Tools, woodworking | Comments Off on Multipurpose table saw sled