The World’s Smallest Vacuum in an Altoids Tin
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/the-worlds-smallest-vacuum-in-an-altoids-tin/
There’s been a lot of Altoids tin hacks over the years, but a vacuum cleaner in a tin is something new. In [Toby Bateson]’s first project on Hackaday, he used simple household items to create a functioning vacuum cleaner to use for sucking crumbs out of your keyboard or paper …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/the-worlds-smallest-vacuum-in-an-altoids-tin/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/the-worlds-smallest-vacuum-in-an-altoids-tin/
There’s been a lot of Altoids tin hacks over the years, but a vacuum cleaner in a tin is something new. In [Toby Bateson]’s first project on Hackaday, he used simple household items to create a functioning vacuum cleaner to use for sucking crumbs out of your keyboard or paper …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/the-worlds-smallest-vacuum-in-an-altoids-tin/)
Flying Batteries for Drones
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/flying-batteries-for-drones/
Power is the bane of drone pilots. You’d like to fly longer which means a bigger battery. But a bigger battery will weigh more which leads to less flight time. You have to strike a balance and for most consumer drones that balance is about 20 minutes of flight time, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/flying-batteries-for-drones/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/flying-batteries-for-drones/
Power is the bane of drone pilots. You’d like to fly longer which means a bigger battery. But a bigger battery will weigh more which leads to less flight time. You have to strike a balance and for most consumer drones that balance is about 20 minutes of flight time, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/flying-batteries-for-drones/)
Using This Micro Deltesian is Easy For Children To Use
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/using-this-micro-deltesian-is-easy-for-children-to-use/
[Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi] submits this interesting printer he built for his daughter to use. He admits that the project started simply out of curiosity about the strange deltesian movement. In this configuration, the X and Z-axis are a delta mechanism while the Y-axis is a regular Cartesian bed on rails. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/using-this-micro-deltesian-is-easy-for-children-to-use/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/using-this-micro-deltesian-is-easy-for-children-to-use/
[Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi] submits this interesting printer he built for his daughter to use. He admits that the project started simply out of curiosity about the strange deltesian movement. In this configuration, the X and Z-axis are a delta mechanism while the Y-axis is a regular Cartesian bed on rails. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/using-this-micro-deltesian-is-easy-for-children-to-use/)
Quality Sound-Proof Cans From Personal Protective Equipment
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/quality-sound-proof-cans-from-personal-protective-equipment/
Working in a noisy office can be distracting. To combat the problem in his workplace [Rikard Anglerud] bought himself a pair of 3M ear defenders. They were good, but not quite good enough to completely extinguish the noise, so he inserted the drivers from a pair of cheap headphones and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/quality-sound-proof-cans-from-personal-protective-equipment/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/quality-sound-proof-cans-from-personal-protective-equipment/
Working in a noisy office can be distracting. To combat the problem in his workplace [Rikard Anglerud] bought himself a pair of 3M ear defenders. They were good, but not quite good enough to completely extinguish the noise, so he inserted the drivers from a pair of cheap headphones and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/12/quality-sound-proof-cans-from-personal-protective-equipment/)
DIY MIDI Looper Controller Looks Fantastic!
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/diy-midi-looper-controller-looks-fantastic/
Due to pedalboard size, complicated guitar pedals sometimes reduce the number of buttons to the bare minimum. Many of these pedals are capable of being controlled with an external MIDI controller, however, and necessity being the mother of invention and all, this is a great opportunity to build something and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/diy-midi-looper-controller-looks-fantastic/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/diy-midi-looper-controller-looks-fantastic/
Due to pedalboard size, complicated guitar pedals sometimes reduce the number of buttons to the bare minimum. Many of these pedals are capable of being controlled with an external MIDI controller, however, and necessity being the mother of invention and all, this is a great opportunity to build something and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/diy-midi-looper-controller-looks-fantastic/)
Not All 7-Segment Displays Are Electronic
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/not-all-7-segment-displays-are-electronic/
There are a variety of means by which numbers can be displayed from an electronic circuit, and probably the most ubiquitous remains the seven-segment display. Take seven LEDs, lamps, LCDs, VFD segments or mechanical flip-dot style units in the familiar rectangular figure eight, and your microcontroller or similar can display …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/not-all-7-segment-displays-are-electronic/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/not-all-7-segment-displays-are-electronic/
There are a variety of means by which numbers can be displayed from an electronic circuit, and probably the most ubiquitous remains the seven-segment display. Take seven LEDs, lamps, LCDs, VFD segments or mechanical flip-dot style units in the familiar rectangular figure eight, and your microcontroller or similar can display …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/not-all-7-segment-displays-are-electronic/)
Prusa Unveils New Mini 3D Printer, Shakes Up The Competition
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/prusa-unveils-new-mini-printer-shakes-up-the-competition/
For the last couple of years, consumer desktop 3D printer choices in the under $1,000 USD range have fallen into two broad categories: everything bellow $500 USD, and the latest Prusa i3. There are plenty of respectable printers made by companies such as Monoprice and Creality to choose from on …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/prusa-unveils-new-mini-printer-shakes-up-the-competition/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/prusa-unveils-new-mini-printer-shakes-up-the-competition/
For the last couple of years, consumer desktop 3D printer choices in the under $1,000 USD range have fallen into two broad categories: everything bellow $500 USD, and the latest Prusa i3. There are plenty of respectable printers made by companies such as Monoprice and Creality to choose from on …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/prusa-unveils-new-mini-printer-shakes-up-the-competition/)
Nixie Clock Failure Analysis, [Dalibor Farný] Style
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/nixie-clock-failure-analysis-dalibor-farny-style/
We’ve become sadly accustomed to consumer devices that seem to give up the ghost right after the warranty period expires. And even when we get “lucky” and the device fails while it’s still covered, chances are that there will be no attempt to repair it; the unit will be replaced …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/nixie-clock-failure-analysis-dalibor-farny-style/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/nixie-clock-failure-analysis-dalibor-farny-style/
We’ve become sadly accustomed to consumer devices that seem to give up the ghost right after the warranty period expires. And even when we get “lucky” and the device fails while it’s still covered, chances are that there will be no attempt to repair it; the unit will be replaced …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/nixie-clock-failure-analysis-dalibor-farny-style/)
Shapeshifter – An Open Source Drum Machine
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/shapeshifter-an-open-source-drum-machine/
With microcontrollers growing ever more powerful each new generation, things that were mere pipedreams before are now readily possible. The Shapeshifter drum machine is a perfect example.
Shapeshifter’s design is open-source, with everything available on Github for the curious musical tinkerers out there. The device is built around a PCB …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/shapeshifter-an-open-source-drum-machine/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/shapeshifter-an-open-source-drum-machine/
With microcontrollers growing ever more powerful each new generation, things that were mere pipedreams before are now readily possible. The Shapeshifter drum machine is a perfect example.
Shapeshifter’s design is open-source, with everything available on Github for the curious musical tinkerers out there. The device is built around a PCB …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/shapeshifter-an-open-source-drum-machine/)
Hackaday Links: October 13, 2019
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hackaday-links-october-13-2019/
Trouble in the Golden State this week, as parts of California were subjected to planned blackouts. Intended to prevent a repeat of last year’s deadly wildfires, which were tied in part to defective electrical distribution equipment, the blackouts could plunge millions in the counties surrounding Sacramento into the dark for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hackaday-links-october-13-2019/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hackaday-links-october-13-2019/
Trouble in the Golden State this week, as parts of California were subjected to planned blackouts. Intended to prevent a repeat of last year’s deadly wildfires, which were tied in part to defective electrical distribution equipment, the blackouts could plunge millions in the counties surrounding Sacramento into the dark for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hackaday-links-october-13-2019/)
What the Scale? Mouse teardown throws up a few surprises
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/what-the-scale-mouse-teardown-throws-up-a-few-surprises/
[Eric Weinhoffer] and his colleagues did a great comparative tear down of the MX Master 3 and the MX Master 2S mice from Logitech. Tear down’s are great fun and often end up teaching us a lot. Looking at the insides of a product can tell us a great deal …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/what-the-scale-mouse-teardown-throws-up-a-few-surprises/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/what-the-scale-mouse-teardown-throws-up-a-few-surprises/
[Eric Weinhoffer] and his colleagues did a great comparative tear down of the MX Master 3 and the MX Master 2S mice from Logitech. Tear down’s are great fun and often end up teaching us a lot. Looking at the insides of a product can tell us a great deal …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/what-the-scale-mouse-teardown-throws-up-a-few-surprises/)
Hacking Broken Plastic Parts without a 3D Printer
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hacking-broken-plastic-parts-without-a-3d-printer/
We’ve all encountered the odd plastic part that is broken and unobtainable. Sure, 3D printers can print big replacement parts, but sometimes you just need to rebuild a very specific piece. [AkBkukU] shows off a technique for doing just that using a process you could almost call manual 3D printing. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hacking-broken-plastic-parts-without-a-3d-printer/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hacking-broken-plastic-parts-without-a-3d-printer/
We’ve all encountered the odd plastic part that is broken and unobtainable. Sure, 3D printers can print big replacement parts, but sometimes you just need to rebuild a very specific piece. [AkBkukU] shows off a technique for doing just that using a process you could almost call manual 3D printing. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/13/hacking-broken-plastic-parts-without-a-3d-printer/)
Get Dirty In Your Quest For Power!
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/get-dirty-in-your-quest-for-power/
A fascinating oddity in the list of potential alternative power sources is the microbial fuel cell, in which the chemical reactions of micro-organisms digesting their food are harnessed to harvest electrons and thus generate electrical current. We’d like to know more, so [Williamolyolson]’s soil microbial fuel cell is a particularly …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/get-dirty-in-your-quest-for-power/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/get-dirty-in-your-quest-for-power/
A fascinating oddity in the list of potential alternative power sources is the microbial fuel cell, in which the chemical reactions of micro-organisms digesting their food are harnessed to harvest electrons and thus generate electrical current. We’d like to know more, so [Williamolyolson]’s soil microbial fuel cell is a particularly …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/get-dirty-in-your-quest-for-power/)
Gutted Hoverboard Becomes Formidable Track-Drive Robot
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/gutted-hoverboard-becomes-formidable-track-drive-robot/
When “hoverboards” first came out, you may have been as disappointed as we were that they did not even remotely fulfill the promises of Back to the Future II. Nothing more than a fancified skateboard, hoverboards are not exactly groundbreaking technology. That doesn’t mean they’re not useful platforms for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/gutted-hoverboard-becomes-formidable-track-drive-robot/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/gutted-hoverboard-becomes-formidable-track-drive-robot/
When “hoverboards” first came out, you may have been as disappointed as we were that they did not even remotely fulfill the promises of Back to the Future II. Nothing more than a fancified skateboard, hoverboards are not exactly groundbreaking technology. That doesn’t mean they’re not useful platforms for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/gutted-hoverboard-becomes-formidable-track-drive-robot/)
Military Gliders are Making a Comeback, This Time in Unmanned Form
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/military-gliders-are-making-a-comeback-this-time-in-unmanned-form/
Sun Tzu said, “The line between disorder and order lies in logistics.” This is as true in the modern world as it was 2500 years ago, and logistics have helped win and lose many wars and battles over the centuries. To this end, Logistical Gliders Inc. is developing one-time use, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/military-gliders-are-making-a-comeback-this-time-in-unmanned-form/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/military-gliders-are-making-a-comeback-this-time-in-unmanned-form/
Sun Tzu said, “The line between disorder and order lies in logistics.” This is as true in the modern world as it was 2500 years ago, and logistics have helped win and lose many wars and battles over the centuries. To this end, Logistical Gliders Inc. is developing one-time use, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/military-gliders-are-making-a-comeback-this-time-in-unmanned-form/)
The MorningRod Wants Your Mornings Easier, Not Harder
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/the-morningrod-wants-your-mornings-easier-not-harder/
Curtains are about as simple as household devices get, but they can be remarkably troublesome to automate. Everyone’s window treatments slightly different, which frustrates a standardized solution. [dfrenkel] has a passion for DIY and wanted his mornings flooded with sunlight for more peaceful awakenings, so the MorningRod Smart Curtain Rod …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/the-morningrod-wants-your-mornings-easier-not-harder/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/the-morningrod-wants-your-mornings-easier-not-harder/
Curtains are about as simple as household devices get, but they can be remarkably troublesome to automate. Everyone’s window treatments slightly different, which frustrates a standardized solution. [dfrenkel] has a passion for DIY and wanted his mornings flooded with sunlight for more peaceful awakenings, so the MorningRod Smart Curtain Rod …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/the-morningrod-wants-your-mornings-easier-not-harder/)
Hacking Diabetes Hack Chat
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/hacking-diabetes-hack-chat/
Join us on Wednesday, October 16 at noon Pacific for the Hacking Diabetes Hack Chat with Dana Lewis!
When your child is newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), everyone is quick to point out, “It’s a great time to be a diabetic.” To some degree, that’s true; thanks to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/hacking-diabetes-hack-chat/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/hacking-diabetes-hack-chat/
Join us on Wednesday, October 16 at noon Pacific for the Hacking Diabetes Hack Chat with Dana Lewis!
When your child is newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), everyone is quick to point out, “It’s a great time to be a diabetic.” To some degree, that’s true; thanks to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/hacking-diabetes-hack-chat/)
Linux Fu: Python GUIs for Command Line Programs (Almost) Instantly
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/linux-fu-python-guis-for-command-line-programs-almost-instantly/
Not every programmer likes creating GUI code. Most hacker types don’t mind a command line interface, but very few ordinary users appreciate them. However, if you write command line programs in Python, Gooey can help. By leveraging some Python features and a common Python idiom, you can convert a command …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/linux-fu-python-guis-for-command-line-programs-almost-instantly/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/linux-fu-python-guis-for-command-line-programs-almost-instantly/
Not every programmer likes creating GUI code. Most hacker types don’t mind a command line interface, but very few ordinary users appreciate them. However, if you write command line programs in Python, Gooey can help. By leveraging some Python features and a common Python idiom, you can convert a command …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/linux-fu-python-guis-for-command-line-programs-almost-instantly/)
A (Mostly) 3D Printed Servo/Gear Reduction
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/a-mostly-3d-printed-servo-gear-reduction/
This servo/gear reduction was assembled with almost all 3D-printed parts. Apart from a brushed 36 V DC-motor, a stainless steel shaft, and screws for holding the servo together, the only other non-printed part is the BTS7960B motor driver.
Some interesting stats about the plastic servo – its stall torque is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/a-mostly-3d-printed-servo-gear-reduction/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/a-mostly-3d-printed-servo-gear-reduction/
This servo/gear reduction was assembled with almost all 3D-printed parts. Apart from a brushed 36 V DC-motor, a stainless steel shaft, and screws for holding the servo together, the only other non-printed part is the BTS7960B motor driver.
Some interesting stats about the plastic servo – its stall torque is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/a-mostly-3d-printed-servo-gear-reduction/)
This Dry-Ice Powered Fog Machine Is Perfect For Halloween
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/this-dry-ice-powered-fog-machine-is-perfect-for-halloween/
The leaves are turning brown, and the spookier season is upon us. If you’re currently working up plans for a top-notch Halloween party, you would do well to consider building a fog machine like this unit from [DIY Machines]!
This fog machine is based around dry ice, so you’ll need …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/this-dry-ice-powered-fog-machine-is-perfect-for-halloween/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/this-dry-ice-powered-fog-machine-is-perfect-for-halloween/
The leaves are turning brown, and the spookier season is upon us. If you’re currently working up plans for a top-notch Halloween party, you would do well to consider building a fog machine like this unit from [DIY Machines]!
This fog machine is based around dry ice, so you’ll need …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/14/this-dry-ice-powered-fog-machine-is-perfect-for-halloween/)