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After-school and out-of-school programs--as well as home schooling--have been growing steadily for nearly a decade, but instructors are still searching for high-interest content that ties into science standards without the rigidity of current classroom canon. The author draws on more than 20 years of experience doing hands-on science to facilitate tinkering: learning science while fooling around with real things.In this book, you'll learn:Tinkering techniques in key science areasHow to let kids learn science with hands-on tinkeringEngaging techniques for science learning at home, in school, or at a makerspace or libraryStep-by-step instructions for activities that don't end with a single project, but that provide many paths for "tinkering forward".

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Testing the Limits Your Satellite Can and Must Match

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Is your picosatellite ready for launch? Can it withstand rocket thrusts and the vacuum of space? This do-it-yourself guide helps you conduct a series of hands-on tests designed to check your satellites readiness. Learn precisely what the craft and its electronic components must endure if theyre to function properly in Low Earth Orbit.

The perfect follow-up to DIY Satellite Platforms (our primer for designing and building a picosatellite), this book also provides an overview of what space is like and how orbits work, enabling you to set up the launch and orbit support youll need.
Go deep into the numbers that describe conditions your satellite will faceLearn how to mitigate the risks of radiation in the ionospherePick up enough formal systems engineering to understand what the tests are all aboutBuild a thermal vacuum chamber for mimicking environment of spaceSimulate the rocket launch by building and running a vibration shake testUse a homebuilt centrifuge to conduct high G-force testsGet guidelines on scheduling tests and choosing an appropriate lab or clean room

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Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders

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With the advent of inexpensive, high-power telescopes priced at under $250, amateur astronomy is now within the reach of anyone, and this is the ideal book to get you started. The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders offers you a guide to the equipment you need, and shows you how and where to find hundreds of spectacular objects in the deep sky -- double and multiple stars as well as spectacular star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.

You get a solid grounding in the fundamental concepts and terminology of astronomy, and specific advice about choosing, buying, using, and maintaining the equipment required for observing. The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders is designed to be used in the field under the special red-colored lighting used by astronomers, and includes recommended observing targets for beginners and intermediate observers alike. You get detailed start charts and specific information about the best celestial objects.

The objects in this book were chosen to help you meet the requirements for several lists of objects compiled by The Astronomical League.
Binocular Messier ClubUrban Observing ClubDeep Sky Binocular ClubDouble Star ClubRASC Finest NGC ListCompleting the list for a particular observing club entitles anyone who is a member of the Astronomical League or RASC to an award, which includes a certificate and, in some cases, a lapel pin.

This book is perfect for amateur astronomers, students, teachers, or anyone who is ready to dive into this rewarding hobby. Who knows? You might even find a new object, like amateur astronomer Jay McNeil. On a clear cold night in January 2004, he spotted a previously undiscovered celestial object near Orion, now called McNeil's Nebula. Discover what awaits you in the night sky with the Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders.

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Robert Bruce Thompson, Barbara Fritchman Thompson

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Building Simple Devices to Collect Data About the World Around Us

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After the devastating tsunami in 2011, DYIers in Japan built their own devices to detect radiation levels, then posted their finding on the Internet. Right now, thousands of people worldwide are tracking environmental conditions with monitoring devices theyve built themselves. You can do it too!

This inspiring guide shows you how to use Arduino to create gadgets for measuring noise, weather, electromagnetic interference (EMI), water purity, and more. Youll also learn how to collect and share your own data, and you can experiment by creating your own variations of the gadgets covered in the book. If youre new to DIY electronics, the first chapter offers a primer on electronic circuits and Arduino programming.
Use a special microphone and amplifier to build a reliable noise monitorCreate a gadget to detect energy vampires: devices that use electricity when theyre offExamine water purity with a water conductivity deviceMeasure weather basics such as temperature, humidity, and dew pointBuild your own Geiger counter to gauge background radiationExtend Arduino with an Ethernet shieldand put your data on the InternetShare your weather and radiation data online through Pachube

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Do-It-Yourself Projects from the World's Biggest Show & Tell

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In just three years, Instructables.com has become one of the hottest destinations for makers and DIY enthusiasts of all stripes. Known as "the world's biggest show & tell," makers from around the globe post how-to articles on a staggering variety of topics -- from collecting rainwater for lawn care to hacking toy robots to extracting squid ink.

Now, with more than 10,000 articles, the Instructables staff and editors of MAKE: magazine -- with help from the Instructables community -- have put together a collection of solid, time- and user-tested technology and craft projects from the site. The Best of Instructables Volume 1 includes plenty of clear, full-color photographs, complete step-by-step instructions, as well as tips, tricks, and new build techniques you won't find anywhere else -- even material never seen before on Instructables.

Some of the more popular how-to articles include:

The LED Throwie -- magnetized electronic graffiti that's become a phenomenonHow to craft beautiful Japanese bento box lunchesInnovative gaming hacks, such as how to add LED lights and custom-molded buttons to a video game controllerNew twists on personal items, such as the Keyboard Wallet, the Electric Umbrella, and stuffed animal headphones

While the book focuses on technology, it also includes such projects as creating cool furniture from cheap components, ways of making your own toys, and killer sci-fi and fantasy costumes and props. Anything but a reference book, The Best of Instructables Volume I embodies the inspirational fun, creativity, and sense of community that has attracted more than 200,000 registered members in just three years. Many of the articles include sidebars that show how other builders have realized or improved upon the same project.

Making things is cool again: everyone wants to be a creator, not just a consumer. This is the spirit of the "new handy heyday", fostered by Instructables.com, MAKE: magazine, and others, and celebrated by this incredible book -- The Best of Instructables Volume 1.

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The editors at MAKE magazine and Instructables.com

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From take-out coffee lids to airplane interior panels, vacuum-formed plastic is everywhere. And for good reason: vacuum forming makes light, durable, and cool-looking 3D parts. Here's how to cook some up in your kitchen.Bob Knetzger's favorite childhood toy was the Mattel Vac-U-Form. He recalls the way the flat plastic changed shape by invisible vacuum power was magical and fun to watch! Today, Knetzger uses vacuum forming to make toy prototypes in his own shop. While he usually uses a professionally made vacuumformer, in a pinch, he's used this ultra-cheap, homebrew rig with great results.Large, commercial machines have built-in vacuum pumps, adjustable plastic-holding frames, overhead radiant heaters, and pneumatic platens. The Guerrilla Vacuum Former is much simpler. It uses your oven to melt the plastic, and a household vacuum cleaner to supply the suction. All you have to build is a simple wooden frame and a hollow box. Knetzger shows you how to do it, then use the device to createa tiki mask that also makes a great Jell-O mold.This project first appeared in Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 11.

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This popular Build-It-Yourself (BIY) PC book covers everything you want to know about building your own system: Planning and picking out the right components, step-by-step instructions for assembling your perfect PC, and an insightful discussion of why you'd want to do it in the first place. Most big brand computers from HP, Dell and others use lower-quality components so they can meet their aggressive pricing targets. But component manufacturers also make high-quality parts that you can either purchase directly, or obtain through distributors and resellers. Consumers and corporations alike are opting to build rather than buy PCs to ensure high quality and compatibility.

The new edition of Building the Perfect PC shows you how to construct a variety of top-flight systems with the latest technology, including AMD Socket AM-2 and Intel Core 2 processors, that are Vista- and Linux-ready. The book includes several new options, including:
A Budget PC you can build for approximately $350 that offers performance and reliability similar to that of mainstream systems A full-blown media-center system that runs Linux and MythTV or Windows MCE with multiple tuners and HDTV supportA fire-breathing high-performance gaming systemA fast, low-power, low-heat, low-noise, Small Form Factor system (the size of a shoe box)A low-cost SOHO (small office, home office) server system with a 2 terabyte (2,000 GB) disk subsystem that's suitable for a residential environment rather than a server closet
Regardless of your technical experience, Building the Perfect PC will guide you through the entire process of building or upgrading your own computer. You'll use the latest top-quality components, including Intel's Core 2 Duo and AMD's Athlon X2 CPUs. And you'll know exactly what's under the hood and how to fix or upgrade your PC, should that become necessary. Not only is the process fun, but the result is often less expensive and always better quality and far more satisfying than anything you could buy off the shelf.

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Barbara Fritchman Thompson, Robert Bruce Thompson

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Projects for extending MINDSTORMS NXT with open-source electronics

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Make amazing robots and gadgets with two of todays hottest DIY technologies. With this easy-to-follow guide, youll learn how to build devices with Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0, the Arduino prototyping platform, and some add-on components to bridge the two. Mindstorms alone lets you create incredible gadgets. Bring in Arduino for some jaw-dropping functionalityand open a whole new world of possibilities.

Build a drink dispenser, music synthesizer, wireless lamp, and more

Each fun and fascinating project includes step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations to guide you through the process. Learn how to set up an Arduino programming environment, download the sketches and libraries you need, and work with Arduinos language for non-programmers. Its a perfect book for students, teachers, hobbyists, makers, hackers, and kids of all ages.
Build a Drawbot that roams around and traces its path with a marker penConstruct an analog Mindstorms clock with hands that display the correct timeCreate a machine that mixes a glass of chocolate milk at the touch of a buttonMake a Gripperbot rolling robotic arm that you control wirelessly with Arduinos mounted on your armsExplore electronic music by building a guitar-shaped Lego synthesizerBuild a Lego lamp with on/off and dimmer switches that you control with a smartphone applicationJump feet first into the world of electronics, from learning Ohms Law to working with basic components
You'll need the Bricktronics shield created for this book by Open Source Hardware kit maker Wayne and Layne, or you can build a breadboarded equivalent (see Chapter 10) for about $25 in parts.

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John Baichtal, Adam Wolf, Matthew Beckler

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Most computer users think that fiddling with the insides of their PC is taboo. They fear that by removing the screws that hold the case on, they're crossing into forbidden territory. And even for those who know they can open the box and fix or upgrade their PC, analysis paralysis often stops them in their tracks:

Which upgrades offer the best bang for the buck? How do you pinpoint the faulty component that's making your system freeze? What about compatibility issues?

Get ready to get unstuck and get your PC running fast and running right. Repairing and Upgrading Your PC delivers start-to-finish instructions, simple enough for even the most inexperienced PC owner, for troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading your computer. Written by hardware experts Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, this book covers it all: how to troubleshoot a troublesome PC, how to identify which components make sense for an upgrade, and how to tear it all down and put it back together. This book shows how to repair and upgrade all of your PC's essential components:

Motherboard, CPU, and Memory. Choose the optimal match of these core components to keep your PC running at top speedHard Drive, Optical Drive, and Removable StorageGive your computer what it needs for long-term and short-term storageAudio and Video. Enhance your computing experience with the right sound and graphics devices for your needsInput Devices. Pick the best keyboard and mouse to keep your hands happy and healthyNetworking. Set up secure wireless networking to keep the bits flowing between your computers and the outside worldCases and Power Supplies. Keep everything running cool and reliably

With its straightforward language, clear instructions, and extensive illustrations, this book makes it a breeze for PC owners of any skill level to work on their computer.

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Barbara Fritchman Thompson, Robert Bruce Thompson

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Danger! Danger! The very word puts us on notice. As it is designed to do. Don't touch that. Peril ahead. Proceed with caution. But the threat of danger can also be a trap, holding us back from experiencing many wonders of the world, trying new things, going where no one has gone before.

In MAKE Volume 35, we confront danger within the world of making, and how to be smarter about risk. We examine safe practices for makers, and we look at the illusion of danger vs. real danger, how to use common sense, and how to educate yourself to work more safely and productively.

We're bringing plenty of fire, lightning bolts, and rocket's red glare, too. Guest contributor and celebrated pyromaniac William Gurstelle, author of the best-selling Backyard Ballistics and Whoosh, Boom, Splat, will show us how to make a rocket out of sugar, a tornado out of fire, and a cannon out of dry ice. And Arc Attack member Craig Newswanger shows us how to build the awesome Six-Pack Tesla Coil, made with a beer-bottle capacitor, thatll throw 15 electrical arcs.

Other fun, and 100% safety-approved projects include:
How to make a phonograph out of Lego bricksA light-up hoodie from Electroluminescent (EL) wireAn impressive "high-gain" home media projection screen using little more than latex house paint and sandblasting glassAll this, along with the latest developments in maker tech--hardware, software and tools for 3D printing, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, robotics--and much, much more.

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DIY Coffee collects five hot MAKE magazine projects to supercharge your java: Home-Built Coffee Roaster Bottomless Espresso Portafilter Toaster Tea Popper Perfect Espresso Temperature Hack Web-Fired Coffee with X10 AutomationGot a jones for caffeine and technology? Mod your espresso machine to dial in the perfect shot, with precise temperature control and a filter hack that kicks out maximum tasty crema. Roast your own with a hand-built custom coffee roaster. Hack a toaster timer to perfect-brew your tea every time. And fire up your coffee pot from the internet using X10 automation. Using home-grown techniques and off-the-shelf parts, caffeine junkies will find everything they need to overclock the fix from their favorite shade-grown beverage.

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Get started with MintDuino, the Maker Shed kit that's perfect for learning or teaching the fundamentals of how microcontrollers work. This hands-on book shows you how to build a complete MintDuino project from start to finish. Learn how to assemble the microcontroller on a breadboard (no soldering required), and immediately begin programming it.

You'll build the MintDuino Reflex Game in five separate stages or sub-tasks. Breaking down a large project into manageable tasks helps you track down errors quickly, and lets you see how each part of the circuit works. Once you complete the game, you'll have the resources and experience to tackle more MintDuino projects. If youre interested in the fascinating world of microcontrollers, you'll enjoy this book.
Wire up and program the MintDuino to light an LEDBuild a game that tests the reflexes of two playersLearn how to make your game light glow at random intervalsConstruct a pushbutton circuit to control individual players LEDsPut all of the components together, including simple code to control your game

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Make: Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing 2014

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Its 3D Printing: The Next Generation! The technologys improving, prices are dropping,new models are hitting the market, and 3D printers are appearing on desktops, workbenches, lab shelves, and kitchen tables all over the world. Not only are we seeing better, faster, and cheaper 3D printers, were also seeing new printing materials, easier-to-use design software, powerful scanning technology, and the rise of an entire ecosystem of 3D peripherals and services that support 3D printing technology.

Makes second annual 3D Printing Guide is once again your go-to resource for discovering the latest information in this fast-changing field of printers, software, projects, and accessories. Inside, you'll find up-to-date reviews on the latest in 3D printing technology, feature and model comparisons, tutorials and stories about 3d printing, and some of the coolest 3d printed objects out there.

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Ride your own brain waves! You don't have to be a Buddhist monk to meditate, or a Sleeping Beauty tosleep well. Achieve these altered states of consciousness, and others, with this simple microcontroller device. What would happen if you could play a recording of brain waves into someone's brain? It turns out that there are devices that can do this. Sound and Light Machines (SLMs) produce sound and light pulses at brain wave frequencies, which help people sleep, wake up, meditate, or experience whatever state of consciousness the machine is programmed for. This article shows you how to build an SLM for much cheaper than you can buy one. We'll do it the easy way, by hacking a microcontroller project that already exists: Limor Fried's Mini-POV kit. This cool toy blinks pictures and words in the space you wave it through, and we can transform it into an SLM simply by changing the firmware and some minor hardware.This project originally appeared on the pages of Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 10.

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With a motor and some piping, it's surprisingly easy to build this inexpensive, efficient wind generator -and enjoy free energy forever.There are no limits to what you can do with wind power. It's abundant, clean, cheap, and easy to harness. Abe and Josie Connally designed this Chispito Wind Generator (that's Spanish for "little spark") for fast and easy construction. Most of the tools and materials you need to build it can be found in your local hardware shop or junk pile. The authors recommend that you search your local dump or junkyards for the pieces required. Or, if you live in a city, search freecycle.org for salvaged parts, and see if you can install one on your roof.Anyone can be in control of where his or her electricity comes from, and there is nothing more rewarding and empowering than making a wind-powered generator from scrap materials. Remember: puro yonke (pure junk) is best!This project first appeared on the pages of Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 05, which is sold out and no longer available.

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Practical Methods for Connecting Physical Objects

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Building electronic projects that interact with the physical world is good fun. But when devices that you've built start to talk to each other, things really start to get interesting. Through a series of simple projects, you'll learn how to get your creations to communicate with one another by forming networks of smart devices that carry on conversations with you and your environment. Whether you need to plug some sensors in your home to the Internet or create a device that can interact wirelessly with other creations, Making Things Talk explains exactly what you need.

This book is perfect for people with little technical training but a lot of interest. Maybe you're a science teacher who wants to show students how to monitor weather conditions at several locations at once, or a sculptor who wants to stage a room of choreographed mechanical sculptures. Making Things Talk demonstrates that once you figure out how objects communicate -- whether they're microcontroller-powered devices, email programs, or networked databases -- you can get them to interact.

Each chapter in contains instructions on how to build working projects that help you do just that. You will:
Make your pet's bed send you emailMake your own seesaw game controller that communicates over the InternetLearn how to use ZigBee and Bluetooth radios to transmit sensor data wirelesslySet up communication between microcontrollers, personal computers, and web servers using three easy-to-program, open source environments: Arduino/Wiring, Processing, and PHP.Write programs to send data across the Internet based on physical activity in your home, office, or backyardAnd much moreWith a little electronics know-how, basic (not necessarily in BASIC) programming skills, a couple of inexpensive microcontroller kits and some network modules to make them communicate using Ethernet, ZigBee, and Bluetooth, you can get started on these projects right away. With Making Things Talk, the possibilities are practically endless.

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26 Experiments with Microcontrollers and Electronics

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This companion book to MakerShed's Ultimate Arduino Microcontroller Pack provides 26 clearly explained projects that you can build with this top-selling kit right away--including multicolor flashing lights, timers, tools for testing circuits, sound effects, motor control, and sensor devices.

With the Ultimate Arduino Microcontroller Pack, you'll find everything from common components such as resistors and capacitors to specialized sensors and actuators like force-sensing resistors and motors. The kit also features the Arduino Uno Microcontroller and a MakerShield, the definitive prototyping shield for Arduino.
Build 26 cool mini Arduino projects and gadgetsWork on projects that are both instructive and have practical applicationGet circuit diagrams and detailed instructions for building each projectUnderstand circuit design and simulation with easy-to-use tools

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The first magazine devoted entirely to do-it-yourself technology projects presents its 30th quarterly edition for people who like to tweak, disassemble, recreate, and invent cool new uses for technology.

Until recently, home automation was an unfulfilled promise systems were gimmicky, finicky, user-hostile, or potentially unsecure. But today, thanks to a new crop of devices and technologies, home automation is useful, fun, and maker-friendly. Using smartphones, wireless networks, the internet, simple microcontrollers, and even gesture recognition, DIY-style Smart Homes can now do everything promised and more, for much less and MAKE shows you how in Volume 30.

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Six Embedded Projects with Open Source Hardware and Software

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Want to build your own robots, turn your ideas into prototypes, control devices with a computer, or make your own cell phone applications? It's a snap with this book and the Arduino open source electronic prototyping platform. Get started with six fun projects and achieve impressive results quickly.

Gain the know-how and experience to invent your own cool gadgets.

With Arduino, building your own embedded gadgets is easy, even for beginners. Embedded systems are everywhereinside cars, childrens toys, and mobile phones. This book will teach you the basics of embedded systems and help you build your first gadget in just a few days. Each learn-as-you-build project that follows will add to your knowledge and skills.
Experiment with Arduino, the popular microcontroller boardBuild robots and electronic projects with easy-to-follow instructionsTurn your ideas into working physical prototypesUse Android phones as remote controls in your projectsWork with an uncomplicated programming language created for artists, designers, and hobbyistsGet everyone involved, with projects that even beginners can build

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Build a robot that responds to electrical activity in your brainits easy and fun. If youre familiar with Arduino and have basic mechanical building skills, this book will show you how to construct a robot that plays sounds, blinks lights, and reacts to signals from an affordable electroencephalography (EEG) headband. Concentrate and the robot will move. Focus more and it will go faster. Let your mind wander and the robot will slow down.

Youll find complete instructions for building a simple robot chassis with servos, wheels, sensors, LEDs, and a speaker. You also get the code to program the Arduino microcontroller to receive wireless signals from the EEG. Your robot will astound anyone who wears the EEG headband.

This book will help you:
Connect an inexpensive EEG device to ArduinoBuild a robot platform on wheelsCalculate a percentage value from a potentiometer readingMix colors with an RGB LEDPlay tones with a piezo speakerWrite a program that makes the robot avoid boundariesCreate simple movement routines