Fun With A 200-kW Fiber Laser
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/02/fun-with-a-200-kw-fiber-laser/
We’ve all heard the “Do not stare into laser with remaining eye” joke. It’s funny because it’s true, as pretty much any laser a hobbyist can easily come by permanent damage to eyes unless the proper precautions are taken. But a fiber laser with 200kW peak power is in another …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/02/fun-with-a-200-kw-fiber-laser/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/02/fun-with-a-200-kw-fiber-laser/
We’ve all heard the “Do not stare into laser with remaining eye” joke. It’s funny because it’s true, as pretty much any laser a hobbyist can easily come by permanent damage to eyes unless the proper precautions are taken. But a fiber laser with 200kW peak power is in another …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/02/fun-with-a-200-kw-fiber-laser/)
Building a Mechanical Oscillator, Tesla Style
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/building-a-mechanical-oscillator-tesla-style/
Before Tesla devised beautifully simple rotary machinery, he explored other methods of generating alternating current. One of those was the mechanical oscillator, and [Integza] had a go at replicating the device himself. (Video, embedded below the break.)
Initial attempts to reproduce the technology using 3D-printed parts were a failure. The …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/building-a-mechanical-oscillator-tesla-style/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/building-a-mechanical-oscillator-tesla-style/
Before Tesla devised beautifully simple rotary machinery, he explored other methods of generating alternating current. One of those was the mechanical oscillator, and [Integza] had a go at replicating the device himself. (Video, embedded below the break.)
Initial attempts to reproduce the technology using 3D-printed parts were a failure. The …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/building-a-mechanical-oscillator-tesla-style/)
The Open Makers Cube: Have Hack, Will Travel
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/the-open-makers-cube-have-hack-will-travel/
Don’t bother denying it, we know your workbench is a mess. A tangled pile of wires, tools, and half-completed projects is standard decor for any hardware hacker. In fact, if you’ve got a spotless work area, we might even be a bit skeptical about your credentials in this field. But …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/the-open-makers-cube-have-hack-will-travel/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/the-open-makers-cube-have-hack-will-travel/
Don’t bother denying it, we know your workbench is a mess. A tangled pile of wires, tools, and half-completed projects is standard decor for any hardware hacker. In fact, if you’ve got a spotless work area, we might even be a bit skeptical about your credentials in this field. But …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/the-open-makers-cube-have-hack-will-travel/)
Electric Dreams Help Cows Survive The Desert Of The Real
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/electric-dreams-help-cows-survive-the-desert-of-the-real/
Pictures of a cow wearing a pair of comically oversized virtual reality goggles recently spread like wildfire over social media, and even the major news outlets eventually picked it up. Why not? Nobody wants to read about geopolitical turmoil over the holidays, and this story was precisely the sort of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/electric-dreams-help-cows-survive-the-desert-of-the-real/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/electric-dreams-help-cows-survive-the-desert-of-the-real/
Pictures of a cow wearing a pair of comically oversized virtual reality goggles recently spread like wildfire over social media, and even the major news outlets eventually picked it up. Why not? Nobody wants to read about geopolitical turmoil over the holidays, and this story was precisely the sort of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/electric-dreams-help-cows-survive-the-desert-of-the-real/)
Testing Carbon Fibre Reinforced Filament By Building An Over-Engineered Skateboard
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/testing-carbon-fibre-reinforced-filament-by-building-an-over-engineered-skateboard/
Advances in filaments for FDM 3D printers have come in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and carbon fibre (CF) reinforced filament is becoming a common sight. Robotics extraordinaire [James Bruton] got his hands on some CF reinforced PLA, and ended up building a completely over-engineered 3D printed …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/testing-carbon-fibre-reinforced-filament-by-building-an-over-engineered-skateboard/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/testing-carbon-fibre-reinforced-filament-by-building-an-over-engineered-skateboard/
Advances in filaments for FDM 3D printers have come in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and carbon fibre (CF) reinforced filament is becoming a common sight. Robotics extraordinaire [James Bruton] got his hands on some CF reinforced PLA, and ended up building a completely over-engineered 3D printed …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/testing-carbon-fibre-reinforced-filament-by-building-an-over-engineered-skateboard/)
Jonas Salk, Virologist and Vaccination Vanguard
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/jonas-salk-virologist-and-vaccination-vanguard/
In the early 1950s, the only thing scarier than the threat of nuclear war was the annual return of polio — an easily-spread, incurable disease that causes nerve damage, paralysis, and sometimes death. At the first sign of an outbreak, public hot spots like theaters and swimming pools would close …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/jonas-salk-virologist-and-vaccination-vanguard/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/jonas-salk-virologist-and-vaccination-vanguard/
In the early 1950s, the only thing scarier than the threat of nuclear war was the annual return of polio — an easily-spread, incurable disease that causes nerve damage, paralysis, and sometimes death. At the first sign of an outbreak, public hot spots like theaters and swimming pools would close …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/jonas-salk-virologist-and-vaccination-vanguard/)
A Mini Vending Machine To Ramp Up Your Sales
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/a-mini-vending-machine-to-ramp-up-your-sales/
A common sight in the world of hackerspaces is an old vending machine repurposed from hawking soda cans into a one-stop shop for Arduinos or other useful components. [Gabriel D’Espindula]’s mini vending machine may have been originally designed as an exercise for his students and may not be full sized, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/a-mini-vending-machine-to-ramp-up-your-sales/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/a-mini-vending-machine-to-ramp-up-your-sales/
A common sight in the world of hackerspaces is an old vending machine repurposed from hawking soda cans into a one-stop shop for Arduinos or other useful components. [Gabriel D’Espindula]’s mini vending machine may have been originally designed as an exercise for his students and may not be full sized, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/a-mini-vending-machine-to-ramp-up-your-sales/)
Build Your Own Tools For More Power
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/build-your-own-tools-for-more-power/
Building something on your own usually carries with it certain benefits, such as being in full control over what it is you are building and what it will accomplish, as well as a sense of pride when you create something that finally works just the way you want it. If …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/build-your-own-tools-for-more-power/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/build-your-own-tools-for-more-power/
Building something on your own usually carries with it certain benefits, such as being in full control over what it is you are building and what it will accomplish, as well as a sense of pride when you create something that finally works just the way you want it. If …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/build-your-own-tools-for-more-power/)
Line Printer Does Its Best Teletype Impression
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/line-printer-does-its-best-teletype-impression/
Back in the early days of computing, user terminals utilized line printers for output. Naturally this took an incredible amount of paper, but it came with the advantage of creating a hard copy of everything you did. Plus it was easy to annotate the terminal output with nothing more exotic …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/line-printer-does-its-best-teletype-impression/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/line-printer-does-its-best-teletype-impression/
Back in the early days of computing, user terminals utilized line printers for output. Naturally this took an incredible amount of paper, but it came with the advantage of creating a hard copy of everything you did. Plus it was easy to annotate the terminal output with nothing more exotic …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/line-printer-does-its-best-teletype-impression/)
Inject Keystrokes Any Way You Like With This Bluetooth Keystroke Injector
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/inject-keystrokes-any-way-you-like-with-this-bluetooth-keystroke-injector/
[Amirreza Nasiri] sends in this cool USB keystroke injector.
The device consists of an Arduino, a Bluetooth module, and an SD card. When it’s plugged into the target computer the device loads the selected payload from the SD card, compromising the system. Then it does its unique trick which is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/inject-keystrokes-any-way-you-like-with-this-bluetooth-keystroke-injector/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/inject-keystrokes-any-way-you-like-with-this-bluetooth-keystroke-injector/
[Amirreza Nasiri] sends in this cool USB keystroke injector.
The device consists of an Arduino, a Bluetooth module, and an SD card. When it’s plugged into the target computer the device loads the selected payload from the SD card, compromising the system. Then it does its unique trick which is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/inject-keystrokes-any-way-you-like-with-this-bluetooth-keystroke-injector/)
FreeCAD TechDraw Workbench Tutorial
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/freecad-techdraw-workbench-tutorial/
FreeCAD started out a little shaky, but it has gotten better and better. If you are trying to draw a schematic, it probably isn’t the best way to do it. However, it is a great graphical alternative to OpenSCAD for 3D printing and even incorporates OpenSCAD if you don’t want …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/freecad-techdraw-workbench-tutorial/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/freecad-techdraw-workbench-tutorial/
FreeCAD started out a little shaky, but it has gotten better and better. If you are trying to draw a schematic, it probably isn’t the best way to do it. However, it is a great graphical alternative to OpenSCAD for 3D printing and even incorporates OpenSCAD if you don’t want …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/03/freecad-techdraw-workbench-tutorial/)
Restoring a Dead Commodore 128DCR
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/
Another day, another retro computer lovingly restored to like-new condition by [Drygol]. This time, the subject of his attention is a Commodore 128DCR that earned every bit of the “For Parts, Not Working” condition it was listed under. From a spider infestation to a cracked power supply PCB, this computer …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/
Another day, another retro computer lovingly restored to like-new condition by [Drygol]. This time, the subject of his attention is a Commodore 128DCR that earned every bit of the “For Parts, Not Working” condition it was listed under. From a spider infestation to a cracked power supply PCB, this computer …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/)
Zombies Ate Your Neighbors? Tell Everyone Through LoRa!
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/
As popular as the post-apocalyptic Zombie genre is, there is a quite unrealistic component to most of the stories. Well, apart from the whole “the undead roaming the Earth” thing. But where are the nerds, and where is all the apocalypse-proof, solar-powered tech? Or is it exactly this lack of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/
As popular as the post-apocalyptic Zombie genre is, there is a quite unrealistic component to most of the stories. Well, apart from the whole “the undead roaming the Earth” thing. But where are the nerds, and where is all the apocalypse-proof, solar-powered tech? Or is it exactly this lack of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/)
Can You Store Renewable Energy In A Big Pile Of Gravel?
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/
As the world grapples with transitioning away from fossil fuels, engineers are hard at work to integrate new types of generation into the power grid. There’s plenty of challenges, particularly around the intermittent nature of many renewable energy sources. Energy storage projects are key to keeping the lights on round …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/
As the world grapples with transitioning away from fossil fuels, engineers are hard at work to integrate new types of generation into the power grid. There’s plenty of challenges, particularly around the intermittent nature of many renewable energy sources. Energy storage projects are key to keeping the lights on round …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/)
[Ben Krasnow] Builds a Mass Spectrometer
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/
One of the features that made Scientific American magazine great was a column called “The Amateur Scientist.” Every month, readers were treated to experiments that could be done at home, or some scientific apparatus that could be built on the cheap. Luckily, [Ben Krasnow]’s fans remember the series and urged …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/
One of the features that made Scientific American magazine great was a column called “The Amateur Scientist.” Every month, readers were treated to experiments that could be done at home, or some scientific apparatus that could be built on the cheap. Luckily, [Ben Krasnow]’s fans remember the series and urged …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/)
The Story of A Secret Underground Parisian Society
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/
Deep in the heart of Paris, a series of underground tunnels snakes across the city. They cross into unkept public spaces from centuries ago that have since vanished from collective memory – abandoned basements, catacombs, and subways hundreds of miles apart.
Only a few groups still traverse these subterranean streets. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/
Deep in the heart of Paris, a series of underground tunnels snakes across the city. They cross into unkept public spaces from centuries ago that have since vanished from collective memory – abandoned basements, catacombs, and subways hundreds of miles apart.
Only a few groups still traverse these subterranean streets. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/)
Sara Adkins is Jamming Out with Machines
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/
Asking machines to make music by themselves is kind of a strange notion. They’re machines, after all. They don’t feel happy or hurt, and as far as we know, they don’t long for the affections of other machines. Humans like to think of music as being a strictly human thing, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/
Asking machines to make music by themselves is kind of a strange notion. They’re machines, after all. They don’t feel happy or hurt, and as far as we know, they don’t long for the affections of other machines. Humans like to think of music as being a strictly human thing, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/)
Start Your Day With The Mountain That Rises
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/
Like many of us, [Zach Archer] enjoys the comfort of his darkened room so much that he has trouble getting up and facing the day. To make things a little easier for himself, he decided to put together a custom alarm clock that would fill his mornings with the glorious …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/
Like many of us, [Zach Archer] enjoys the comfort of his darkened room so much that he has trouble getting up and facing the day. To make things a little easier for himself, he decided to put together a custom alarm clock that would fill his mornings with the glorious …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/)
Building An Engine With An A/C Compressor
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/
Air conditioning compressors aren’t exactly a mainstay of the average hacker’s junk box. Typically, they’re either fitted to a car to do their original job, or they’re on the bench getting refurbished. However, with the right mods, it’s possible to turn one into a functioning internal combustion engine.
The build …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/
Air conditioning compressors aren’t exactly a mainstay of the average hacker’s junk box. Typically, they’re either fitted to a car to do their original job, or they’re on the bench getting refurbished. However, with the right mods, it’s possible to turn one into a functioning internal combustion engine.
The build …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/)
A Self-Healing, Stretchable Electronic Skin
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/
In a report published by Science Advances, a research team from the United States and Korea revealed a strain-sensitive, stretchable, and autonomous self-healing semiconductor film. In other words, they’ve created an electronic skin that’s capable of self-regulation. Time to cue the ending track from Ex Machina? Not quite. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/
In a report published by Science Advances, a research team from the United States and Korea revealed a strain-sensitive, stretchable, and autonomous self-healing semiconductor film. In other words, they’ve created an electronic skin that’s capable of self-regulation. Time to cue the ending track from Ex Machina? Not quite. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/)