Category Archives: Teaching and Learning

Simple Stirling Engine build

Posted on January 9, 2024 by robertwilkie

Could be a nice build to do with kids to show how a Stirling Engine works. https://www.instructables.com/Stirling-Engine-DEF-Eindproject-Groep-43/

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Make a tower from cereal boxes

Posted on August 25, 2023 by robertwilkie

Nice build for with kids. Done similiar stuff for castles too. https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Turn-Cereal-Boxes-Into-a-Wizard-Tower/

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The poor mans self balancing robot

Posted on May 18, 2023 by robertwilkie

Neat build, could be something nice to do with kids. https://www.instructables.com/Wheeled-Self-Balancing-Robot-With-Arduino-Uno-L293/

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Cool homemade wind tunnel

Posted on April 27, 2023 by robertwilkie

This was built mostly for kids. Its a nice build where kids can put stuff inside the tube and watch it go up. https://hackaday.com/2022/02/18/homemade-toy-wind-tunnel-blows-really-well/

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Making a simple variable capacitor

Posted on April 24, 2023 by robertwilkie

Clever build with 3D printed parts and some PCB boards. Good way to teach variable capacitance to folks. https://hackaday.com/2022/03/07/a-variable-capacitor-for-not-a-lot/

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The poor person’s bubble machine

Posted on April 3, 2023 by robertwilkie

I got a kick out of this one, the Author basically glues on cheap wands from dollar store bubbles and puts them on a disk that spins and blows out bubbles. https://content.instructables.com/F29/G4Q2/L2UG7ZQL/F29G4Q2L2UG7ZQL.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&width=320&md=60c59b8a36a83959e7494958dcaa84c8

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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

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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/

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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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Big 7 segment display

Posted on October 20, 2022 by robertwilkie

Need to make your own scoreboard, this is a nice build to start from, the large display uses an arduino to control it and the 2 digit display the author made was for timing swim trials. https://hackaday.com/2022/07/27/you-can-build-a-giant-7-segment-display-of-your-very-own/

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