15-year-old Maker creates a DIY 3D printer for $400

Several months back, 15-year-old Braden designed a DIY 3D printer with an approximate $400 build of materials (BOM). The Delta Twister build — which was recently posted to Instructables — had also been an entry in the site’s Arduino contest earlier in the year.

“Anyone can build the Delta Twister! You don’t need any 3D printed parts or CNC to make this printer. Everything except the extruder can be made using hand tools like I did,” Braden explained in the Instructables post.

“Practically anyone with basic mechanical skills can build their own Delta Twister. Having a print volume of over 1000 cubic inches this printer really has it all…for only $400 compared to $800-3,000.”

Aside from its Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560), other notable Delta Twister specs included:

• 

(1) Ramps v1.4 board with drivers
• 
(3) 36″ 8mm linear rods
• (6) 8mm linear bearings
• (2) 3/8 in wooden dowel rods(4 feet each)
• (12) 8mm rod ends
• 
(4) NEMA 17 stepper motors
• 
(3) Stepper pulleys for a 5mm shaft
• 
(1) 6M length of belt that fits your pulley
• 
(1) RepRap heated bed
• 
(3) 3d printer endstops
• 
(1) PC power supply
• 
(3) Computer fans
• (1) J-head printhead
• 
(1) Extruder with a bowden tube (airtripper has a good unit)
• (1) Meter of 1.75 mm Teflon tubing

Braden kicked off his DIY 3D printer project by building a frame. He then fashioned linear rod supports, cut the rods and dowels to size, made an arm carriage, screwed in the rod supports, put together the motor mounts and printer head carriage, and attached the endstops as well as the belt pulley system. 

On the software side, Braden used Repetier Host for the 3D printer, along with Marlin firmware for the Arduino board.

“[Yes], it will take a little bit of tinkering around to get prints looking like you want them to, but hey, you now have a working 3d printer,” Braden added.

Interested in learning more? You can check out Delta Twister’s official Instructables page here. Meanwhile, you can see the build in action below.

 

This DIY alert system sends you a text when the laundry is done

Whether at home or in your dorm room, we’ve all forgotten about a load of laundry at one time or another. Making matters worse, it’s likely your clothes became a bit moldy and musty after sitting for too long. Well, in an effort to combat forgetfulness, MakerBee has devised a useful, Arduino-powered alert system that will send you a text when it’s time to grab your linens.

The alert system simply uses an Arduino Yún (ATmega32U4) and a dual-axis accelerometer to detect motion and vibration coming from the washer/dryer. Then, once the cycle has come to an end and its vibrations have stopped, an SMS is then sent to the user.

In order to enable the text messaging, MakerBee turned to Temboo and Twilio to connect the ‘duino to the web. All that was left from there was downloading the WasherDryerAlarm.ino to program the Atmel based MCU.

Tired of not hearing the buzzer go off? Hurry over to MakerBee’s official Instructables page here.

The White House goes DIY with this year’s holiday ornaments

In preparation of the 2014 holiday season, the White House recently announced its first-ever 3D-Printed Ornament Challenge. The contest, which was a collaboration with the Smithsonian, encouraged Makers, artists, designers and engineers alike to design a winter-inspired ornament.

After receiving more more than 300 creative and whimsical submissions, 20 innovative designs were selected as finalists, with five of these creations chosen to be displayed in the White House, including the main tree in the Blue Room. Following the holiday, the ornaments will join a collection at the National Museum of American History.

In the footsteps of its inaugural White House Maker Faire, the 3D-Printed Ornament Challenge continues to layer upon the Administration’s initiative in spurring the Maker Movement. If you recall, President Obama explained that “Today’s D.I.Y. is tomorrow’s Made in America.” To support the future of American innovation, the Administration is also working to establish more opportunities for young Makers to engage in hands-on learning of STEM disciplines. This will allow these future engineers and designers to turn their creativity into products, all while continuing to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities domestically using devices like the [Atmel based] MakerBot Replicator 2 as well as a number of RepRap 3D printers.

So, without further ado, here are the chosen finalists….

Library of Congress

Maker: Vicky Somma, Occoquan, Virginia

“The design for Vicky’s entry was inspired by one of her family’s favorite destinations in Washington, D.C. — the Reading Room in the Library of Congress’ Jefferson Building.”

Winter Snowflakes

Maker: Gil Rivera, Montclair, New Jersey

“This intricately designed ornament of interlocking snowflakes evokes the beauty that comes with frosty winters.”

Stars of Bliss

Maker: Roy Eid, Houston, Texas

“Much like the way this ornament was created, through the mirroring and patterning of a simple line, the Star of Bliss signifies how a small act of kindness can transform and spread to create a wonderful, positive outcome.”

Presidents of Christmas Past and Present

Maker: Antar Gamble Hall, New York, New York

“The 44 stars featured around the ornament pay homage to the 44 presidents which have led this great nation.”

Winter Wonderland of Innovation

Makers: David Moore and Brandy Badami, Livonia, Michigan

“Surrounding the White House in this ornament, are simple aspects of the holidays including a fully decorated tree, an imaginary sleigh that can take the First Family on evening strolls, a snowman and a sled.”

Want to see more? You can also check out the ornaments being printed in the video below!

Not only the everyday do-it-yourselfer, but the United States government has made an investment in technology as of late. Most notably, the Smithsonian is now using 3D to digitize iconic objects in its collection — and have even created the bust of President Obama. Meanwhile, NASA in partnership with Made In Space recently launched Zero-G, which led to the very first 3D-printed object in space, while the National Institutes of Health debuted its 3D Print Exchange, allowing individuals to freely upload or download scientific 3D printable models for research and education.

As the new year quick nears, we can only imagine what the future holds for this megaAVR and Atmel | SMART powered industry!

IcosaLEDron is a 20-sided LED ball of fun

While it may initially appear to be a shrunken-down replica of the New Year’s Eve ball, the IcosaLEDron is, in fact, an open-source glowing contraption roughly the size of an apple.

This ball, which was first introduced on Instructables and later highlighted on MAKE: Magazine, features 20 tessellated triangled sides each boasting tri-colored LEDs. Created by Maker “Afritlabs,” the Arduino-compatible gizmo is equipped with an ATmega328P, which serves as the brains for the spherical light display, along with 20 RGB NeoPixels that light up each of its faces — all of which are encased inside a custom PCB. This PCB also has a built-in charger for a LiPo battery and six pins for programming via any AVR type connection.

In addition, a three-axis accelerometer allows for the device to illuminate various effects based on accelerations applied to the sphere. In its default mode, the top section continuously stays on, while emitting vibrant rainbow patterns when freefalling. Meanwhile, if no motion is detected, the IcosaLEDron will go to sleep, eradicating any need for a power switch.

Its open-source, Arduino-compatible disposition enables fellow Makers to simply replicate, mod and enhance the design, as well as create new code if more functionality is desired. As Afritlabs notes, the IcosaLEDron can be used in a wide-range of applications ranging from a die that lights a random number of faces when rolled, or a Simon Says-like memory game where you rotate the ball to match a pattern set by the device.

In true Maker fashion, both the frame and translucent sections were 3D-printed, which allowed its creators to easily devise and prototype several iterations of the ball. Interested in creating your own? Head over to its official Instructables page here.

ATmega1280 powers this Raleigh Chopper-inspired, self-balancing scooter

A Maker by the name of “XenonJohn” has devised a self-balancing scooter inspired by the famous Raleigh Chopper bike of the 1970s. After recently constructing a number of heavyweight (and a bit) dangerous one-wheeled machines, the Hackaday Prize semi-finalist sought out to build a more fun, lightweight model more along the lines of a bicycle.

To get the idea rolling, XenonJohn utilized an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) to serve the brain, along with 24V brushed motors to power the di-wheel. In addition, the Maker turned to a SparkFun digital IMU, a Sabertooth 2 x 25 amp motor power controller, and a LiFePO4 Headway battery pack to round out the mechanics.

The ATmega1280 based Arduino receives inputs via I2C from the SparkFun IMU which contains both accelerometers and gyroscopes. Turn switches are connected to the brake levers on the handlebars, which control the left and right steering (“throttle” on left handlebar controls acceleration and slowing down). The Mega then transmits commands to the 25 amp Sabertooth motor controllers to help the rider maintain balance.

Want to learn more? Scroll on over to the project’s official Instructables page here.

Build your own 3D printer from e-waste for under $100

Can you recall the last time you used your PC’s floppy disc drive? Better question, do any of you young Makers out there even know what a floppy disc is? How about that DVD player, or have your resorted entirely to Netflix? In any case, a Maker by the name of “mikelllc” has transformed electronic waste into an extremely inexpensive 3D printer — all for less than $100. 

In an attempt to make the community more conscious about the “big problems with the e-waste generation,” Mike began by attaining a pair of DVD disc drives and one floppy drive, which are used to supply the stepper motors for the printer. The Maker then took a PC power supply along with other cables and a soldering iron to create the inner workings of the printer.

After downloading Arduino IDE, he used an ATmega644P based RepRap Gen6 to serve as the brains of the makeshift machine; however, he does note that RAMPS (ATmega2560) can also be used to bring the printer to life. The device runs off of free Repetier Host software, while the remaining components were each devised using cheap lasercut materials.

As far as filament goes, the machine uses 1.75mm bio-plastic filament, which is both easier to extrude and more flexible than the typical 3mm standard. Mike also notes that this size filament also require less power to drive the DIY machine than the 3mm. Aside from being eco-friendly, in comparison to ABS, the selected filament melts at lower temperature, attaches easily to the printing bed and has very little retraction.

As they say, one man’s trash is another Maker’s treasure. Interested in creating your own $60 3D printer using e-waste? You can access a step-by-step tutorial of the build along with all the necessary downloads on its official Instructables page here.

This 3D-printed, pencil-legged robot can draw

As we’ve seen many times before, the emergence 3D printing has paved for the way for uber-creative, super-easy robotics. The increased accessibility to 3D printers — including the Atmel powered RepRap or MakerBot Replicator 2 — are streamlining both prototyping and production as recently demonstrated by a Maker named Randy.

Randy, who not only runs the Instructables Design Studio but is the creator of the Goodmorning Underwear, has created a 3D-printed pencil robot capable of walking on four legs, all within 48 hours.

“This idea to have a walker bot that shifted its front center of balance is one that I have had for a few years. However, implementing it with off the shelf parts always proved rather tricky and prevented me from really trying. Yet, when I realized that this could be done quickly and easily with 3D printing, I was able to finally create this robot in about two days,” Randy writes.

In order to bring this much-thought-about idea to life, Randy elected to use an Arduino Micro (ATmega32u4), two servos, a few pencils, a 9V battery, and of course, his Afinia H480 3D printer. The Maker also notes that those wishing to think outside the box can even sharpen the pencils to transform this little fellow into a drawing bot.

As Randy’s step-by-step breakdown reveals, this project is relatively easy to replicate — which is great ‘cause this walker bot makes for one heck of a show-and-tell toy!

 

 

Creating an automatic cat laser with Arduino

When it comes to cats, one thing is for certain: They love countless hours of laser chasing. Unfortunately, as a pet owner, there is only so much time in the day to spend twirling around a pointer catering to its innate prey drive. That is why a Maker by the name of Joe recently devised the CatBot, an automated cat laser.

Equipped with a pair of servos, an inexpensive laser and an Arduino Uno (ATmega328), the DIY toy will be an immediate hit with your feline friend.

Cat lovers with not enough time on your hands, feel free to thank Joe. Now, watch the device Laser Zeppelin glory below!

Interested in creating one of your own? Head on over to Joe’s official Instructables page in laser-like speed!

 

Transforming a 3D printer into a tattoo machine

Makers Pierre Emm, Piotr Widelka and Johan Da Silveira have replaced the extruder of an [Atmel powered] Makerbot Replicator with a tattoo instrument, effectively transforming the 3D printer into a fully-functional, permanent inking machine.

The hacked device, dubbed Tatoue, attaches a traditional tattoo gun on rails to a square metal frame. These components move along three axes, enabling Tatoue to follow the path of any line or curve of the human body. An embedded sensor can read the skin’s surface, which allows the needle respond to changes in texture and dimensions of the inserted limb.

The idea for Tatoue first came about following a workshop at Paris design school ENSCI les Ateliers back in October 2013, which encouraged students to use digital material available in the public domain to make something new. The team initially replaced the extruder with a pen before inserting an actual tattoo instrument, testing it on artificial skin and ultimately, on a human volunteer.

So, how does it work? First, a user simply selects a tattoo design from a library of graphic files or uploads their own. That file is then uploaded into the hacked 3D printer. Upon inserting an arm into the frame, the design is then inked onto the skin of the person. Impressively, the modded machine inserts ink into a person’s skin at speeds of up to 150 times per second.

According to its creators, they are still developing more user-friendly software for tattoo artists.

“The idea of our machine is to give tattoo artists a new tool that offers plenty of new possibilities,” the Makers recently Dezeen.

Interested in learning more? Check out the project’s official Instructables page here.

Piano hack adds a visual dimension to music

A Maker and modder by the name of Capricorn1 has added a rockin’ visual dimension to his already impressive musical skills by using a piano’s MIDI output to drive Edison bulbs.

Capricorn1 hung the bulbs from a rod of electrical conduit pipe, while threading the wires to a DB25 connector. The lights were controlled by an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280), along with a custom shield and optocoupler to handle zero cross detection.

“The easiest way to turn a light bulb on and off from a microcontroller is using a solid state relay (SSR),” Capricorn1 noted.

Fortunately, the Maker happened to have a board from a different project laying around with 12 SSRs on it, in addition to the necessary resistors.

All of the electronic components were situated in a repurposed switch box, which controlled four modes: classic, velocity, scrolling, and automatic.

The Maker also used a small sampling of the Arduino MIDI Library, namely the note on/off functions and the control change function to handle his sustain pedal.

Interested in learning more? You can click on over to project’s Instructables page here. Meanwhile, be sure to check out the impressive MIDI piano lighting in action below.