Daily DIY

Here’s an arduino-based controller for live audio/video performances. Cheap to build and amazingly small…

“6-pack is an open-ended, highly customisable, and ultra-portable physical controller based on the Arduino board. 6-pack is an Arduino shield consisting of 6 linear potentiometer sliders that can be assigned to different variables in the user’s preferred software. It can be used to control a wide array of audio/video applications, from software synthesizers to HDJ systems. All, with a minimal footprint (3,5″ x 2,5″) and on the cheap (just a fraction of the cost of an equivalent MIDI interface). The project is open source. Schematics and source code included.” Thanks Will! - Link.

Related:

• Chatter Pillow - Adium, PHP, Arduino, LEDs… wireless … - Link.
• Arduino stamp & evaluation board for MSP430F417 - Link.
• Arduino, the Basic Stamp killer? - Link.
• Arduino Fever - PDF preview - Link.

From the pages of MAKE:

• Arduino Fever - The tale of a cute, blue microcontroller that fits nicely in the palm of your hand, and the expanding community of developers who love and support it. MAKE 07 - Page 58. Subscribers–read this article now in your digital edition.

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MAKE Flickr photo pool member Irregular Shed shows how easy it is to give an old MP3 a new life -

“This is how long it took to install a different operating system - the rather excellent Rockbox - on an iPod Mini. It fits on one screen, and includes me forgetting what operating system I was using in the first place (where I typed ‘ls’ instead of ‘dir’).

What does it do? Loads of cool things that the standard iPod software can’t, like play OGG files, be skinnable and emulate a 48k Spectrum. And it’s available for iPods, iRivers and Archos media players, and is good. “ - Link.

(This makes a great gift, pick up an old player, zap it and give wrap it up!)

Related:

• Rockbox, an open source replacement firmware for MP3 players - Link.
• Rockbox OS for Archos provides cool functions - Link.
• Best non-iPod MP3 players? - Link.

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MAKE Flirckr photo pool member Oskay writes -

“What’s fun, cheap, good looking, and cleans a hardwood floor with an advanced search and navigation algorithm? An electrostatic dust mop attached to a radio-controlled car. Vroom!

This combination has some things in common with a Roomba, but is arguably less expensive. It’s quick and fun to build, and quick and fun to operate. “ - Link.

Well, it’s one way to get the kiddos to clean and do their chores -

Related:

• Evil Mad Scientist projects - Link.
• Full size 1982 Toyota Camry RC car! (video) - Link.
• RC Spy video car with night vision camera and headset - Link.
• RC Cars on the Battlefield - Link.
• RC car made from screwdrivers - Link.
• DIY: turn a toy RC car into a remote anything - Link.
• Wi-Fi car - HOW TO mobilize your WRT54G - Link.

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Ryan writes in with how he made his own DIY “electric gyroscope” -

“I used one of those clear dummy cds that can be found at the top and bottom of spindles. I made a 4.5 volt battery pack out of 3 AA’s and used a motor out of a CD player I salvaged. The green sphere is hollow (something I saved last Christmas, thinking I’d find a use for it ) and is made of two sides which fit together. I mounted the battery pack in one side of the sphere and the motor (with it’s shaft sticking through a hole I drilled in it) on the other. I wired the battery pack to the motor, added a switch and attached the two sides back together. I then used hot glue to fit the dummy cd on the shaft of the motor. The motor spins the contents of the green sphere at about 300 RPM, or about 5 rotations a second. It is amazing watching it defy gravity and vibrate around on the floor. It balances on the edge of the disc, which is a very small footprint.” - Link.

Related:

• Remote Head-Mount Gyroscope-Controlled Camera Plane - Link.
• Gyroscopes - Everything you needed to know - Link.

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Picture books aren’t just for kids. Charlotte and Peter Fiell’s 1000 Chairs (Taschen Publishing) covers the history of chairs over the last 150 years. This book is a furniture maker’s inspirational dream. Whether your style is Eames or easy, plastic or plush, there is something to inspire all. Personally, I have my eye […]

It will be hard resisting the temptation to do this next time you’re in the shop… - Link.

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Seth writes in with this Wii mod, crack the case, pop off the WNIC and add a 5dBi antenna for better signal -

“The Nintendo Wii is an internet appliance as much as it is a console, which means it needs an internet connection to fully realize it’s potential. But what if your Wii is nowhere near your network drop? Or if it’s too far away from your wireless access point? In this tutorial, see how you can upgrade your Wii’s wireless presence via the use of a bigger and more powerful external antenna.” - Link.

Related:

• HOW TO - Make your own wireless Wii sensor bar - Link.
• Wii gutted - Link.

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Nugget0 writes -

“There are few if any models in the world to rival the Ferrari 312PB built by Pierre Scerri. This 1:3 scale masterpiece is the real thing in every sense, from its operating 100cc 12-cylinder engine to the exact scale operating Ferrari gauges which are calibrated precisely to indicate rpm, oil pressure, water temperature and oil temperature. It took Pierre 15 years and more than 20,000 hours to build this car! He learned to make glass so he could make the exact pattern lens for the operating headlights. He learned to make rubber so he could mold his own tires. The creator of the original gearbox even came out of retirement to produce an exact 1:3 scale version for the model.” - Link.

Related:

• Mini Model Airplanes - Link.
• nano MAME Cabinet - Link.
• Building live steam locomotives in 1/8 scale - Link.
• Building a 1/144th scale Battleship Yamato - Link.

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Michael writes -

“I was out shopping tonight and saw Christmas wreaths and thought maybe I should get one for my apartment door. Then I thought it would be pretty neat to make one out of some of the multitude of random cables I have saved at home. So that’s what I decided to do… They’re twingle lights so that makes the effect even better. This will go great with my “There’s no place like 127.0.0.1” door mat from ThinkGeek!” - Link.

Related:

• Monster Wreath tutorial - Link.
• Simon Says Christmas Wreath… - Link.

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Joe writes -

“Hey Phil - I got the MAKE open source MP3 player kit and let me say I am impressed. I put it in an old Holga and its pretty rad. I am really impressed by the sound quality. On par with my ipod without a doubt. I am going to take it apart though. I’d like to make a case for it that looks like an old 1950s radio. Then use a BS2 plus PINK to control it via the web. And last use a tube amp for that 50s feel. That’s going to take a bit of time cause I have to order a tube amp kit.” - Link.

Related:

• MAKE open source MP3 player - Link & store.
• MAKE open source gift guide - Link.

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