HEXceramic posted examples of using StippleGen to create lasered molds for making ceramic tiles. Very cool!
Category Archives: Engineering
Using the AxiDraw for Mouse Testing
The folks at Mouse-Sensitivity.com used the AxiDraw to do a mouse sensor accuracy test, comparing the Logitech G900, G700s, and G9X (and a cheap HP they had on hand). The resulting visualization of the sensor information is fascinating!
ATmegaXX8 Target Boards in Funk Amateur
We just got a copy of the December 2016 Funk Amateur, a German ham radio and electronics magazine.
There’s a two page spread on our ATmegaXX8 Target Boards with examples of how to use them for various circuit and projects.
Wooden LED Menorah
Dave K. sent us these pictures of the menorah he built with the Deluxe LED Menorah kit. It’s a one-of-a-kind project, made from scrap wood from his shop.
The base has a cutout to hold the PCB and battery holder, and the LEDs are wired up through the blocks of wood. Thanks for sharing your project, Dave!
Introducing the AxiDraw V3
This new AxiDraw has been redesigned from the ground up for high performance. It features smooth rolling wheels on custom aluminum extrusions, specially designed for high stiffness and light weight. Its sturdy, rigid construction gives it finer quality output and in most applications allows it to operate at up to twice the speed of the previous AxiDraw, which it replaces.
As with the previous version, AxiDraw is a simple, modern, precise, and versatile pen plotter, capable of writing or drawing on almost any flat surface. It can write with fountain pens, permanent markers, and other writing implements to handle an endless variety of applications. Its unique design features a writing head that extends beyond the body of the machine, making it possible to draw on objects bigger than the machine itself.
AxiDraw V3 is available to order today, and begins shipping next week. See it in action and learn more on the product page.AYAB: A new interface for vintage knitting machines
AYAB — All Yarns Are Beautiful — is an open source hardware and software project that provides an alternative way to control the widely-loved Brother KH-9xx range of knitting machines using a computer. There are other hacks (such as Img2Track, Knitic and electro-knit) which work with certain machines in certain conditions. The AYAB interface works with all Brother KH-9xx machines except the KH-970.
We’ve just launched a new interface board for the AYAB project. They’ve written about it on their site, and you can read the product details on our store page for it.
Historically, these machines were programmed with semi-transparent picture cards which were scanned by the machine line by line. For later machines, you could enter a pattern via lots of tedious button-pressing. Some models had an add-on gadget that connected to your vintage TV.
With the AYAB interface, you can provide an image of up to a 200 pixel (or needle) size from your computer. The control is done by an Arduino-compatible microcontroller board, which replaces the vintage control board. We are excited to be helping to bring new capabilities to these beloved machines.
Fliptronics Flip-Pins
The makers of OSHChip are now producing the IC pins on their own for you to use in projects where square header pins just aren’t a good solution. The larger header pins can damage breadboard sockets, but Flip-Pins are the same size as traditional IC pins.
We’re stocking these elegant parts in packs of 10 of each of the available sizes: 8-pin, 14-pin, and 20-pin strips.
They come packaged in a carrier strip for ease of soldering into your PCB.
Hilbert Curve Cat
Shy wrote in to tell us about a tool he created to generate Hilbert curves from images for plotting called Image2Hilbert. (Main GitHub project link, here: )
Shy says:
I added a calculation in the interface and this line is approximately 35.881 meters long and it took about 45 minutes to draw.
Thank you, Shy, for sharing this tool! We look forward to seeing what people make with it.
Lady Ada Lovelace Day 2016
This year for Lady Ada Lovelace Day, I want to celebrate the many women who shared their projects at Maker Faire New York.
I was thrilled to see the Touch Creature sculpture above by Talya Stein, especially after having seen an earlier version. She and I talked about the approachability of organic materials like wood. It was wonderful to see kids interacting with it.
I had a great conversation with Blythe Serrano, who I had met at a previous Maker Faire, about the material properties she has learned this year from experimenting with silicone casting. She makes light up pet collars, and generously shares her learning processes.
I loved this spatial magnetic field visualization by Inhye Lee. The three tubes in the center contain individually controllable electromagnets. The compasses spin in their spheres in response to the changing magnetic fields.
There are so many more I had the pleasure of connecting with and catching up with, including Becky Stern, Sophi Kravitz, Star Simpson, and Sally Byers. I love Maker Faire for the opportunity to bask in the glow (LED glow in some cases) of so many incredible women.
AxiDraw at Maker Faire New York
We will be demonstrating the AxiDraw at Maker Faire New York this weekend, October 1-2. We’ll be in the Microchip booth in the Maker Pavilion.
