I'm a whiteboard crackhead and I'd really REALLY like to have something that's adjacent to those "smart presentation boards" (which are really just huge touch-screen monitors.)

I can project a display on to a "mostly clear" sheet of plastic (still tweaking.)

And I can write on it with whiteboard markers just fine.

But I'd love to be able to actually capture the real-time drawing somehow. But I can't seem to come up with anything that isn't hopelessly screwed up by the rear-projection image.

Polarizing films maybe? Seems like that would screw up the surface itself.

This is the thing that gets my neurons all firing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgy1S8qymx0

That vid is 15 years old. I remember seeing it then and being equally wowed by it. I just do NOT understand why the envelope on this kind of thing hasn't been pushed.

So I was thinking of making a cedar board with about 8 small screens in it for playing gifs about 5 1 inch and 3 2.5 inch screens. I was wondering if anyone would have any idea where I would start on connecting the screens to the odroid?

I'm pretty new to it. The screens should be compatible with the odroid but that's about as far as I've been able to figure out.

I’m looking for some guidance on a project. My nephew has asked me to make him a Dr. Who Tardis control panel. I’m good on the build (3D print/wood) and some LED lighting. He wants the time rotor to move up and down and motors are not something I’ve used before. I’m looking for any suggestions on what type of motor should be used for this. It would need to move a column up and down repeatedly. The acrylic tube, lights, and hardware would weigh one pound max.

Any suggestions/guidance would be helpful. I can figure out the wiring, just not sure what equipment best fits the project. Here is a picture of the rough beginnings in case it helps.

Hi there. What are some sources for accessories for alumnum extrusion?

For example...I designed a simple slide w/ pivot for 2040 extrusion that I can print. I'm not expecting to find exactly this but I need stuff like this or similar all the time and Id be interested to see what i available off the shelf rather than having to design fabricate.

Grateful! Thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/g509z0nkimge1.png?width=964&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c3b1cffaeda6ac8d834856dfaf6dbca06c045cb

I have available space a room currently used as an office to set up a space for my growing homelab and makerspace area. Approximately 70" x 72" as shown in the image below:

https://i.imgur.com/zBQIpAd.png

I have looked at all sorts of setups on Reddit, but wanted to see if anyone has suggestions from their experience provided my parameters. It would need to have closed storage (ideally) for tools and materials as well as possible a bookcase for one of the supports of a desk. It will need to be open in the back to get to cables easier. I hear good thinks about using IKEA Alex furniture with a countertop mounted, there is just not one near me but can travel.

Equipment will include a soldering station, Bambulabs P1S 3d printer, Synology 423+ NAS, perhaps a couple old PC's for tinkering in, router, printer, modem, 2 small screens,

Depth should be 2' or shorter. An "L" shaped desk or multiple desks making the shape seems like a good idea.

Cost: $500-1,000, but lower preferred so may look into options with facebook marketplace for old office furniture.

I like the open setup of this work area: https://i.redd.it/zvoxhl4uk5ca1.jpg

Hello experts! I want to get a laser engraver. I want it to be able to engrave aluminum, resin pours and 3d prints, brass, wood, and silicone all in various thickness (from very thin ~1mm to maybe 1-3 inches tall). I figure I might as well get one that cuts those materials too in case I find a need to do that- I’m not sure if all lasers will engrave AND cut, or if some just perform one of those functions. The objects I would be working with would be very small, so I would like something less than 12x12, maybe 9x9 ideally for space limitations (I live in a studio apartment and will for probably at least 5 more years)- I’m not familiar with the sizes these come in. I would prefer this to cost under $300 as I’m on a college student budget, but I’m willing to spend a little bit more if I absolutely have to in order to get one that does everything I need it to do- buy right or buy twice! I have had a cricut maker for over a year but I found the flaws with- and limits to- its engraving abilities very quickly, and I’d like to take the next step in expanding my small crafting business. I understand there are different kinds of lasers and such, and probably pros and cons to each just like 3d printers, so please educate me! Thanks in advance for your responses!

I need help getting a few projects off the ground. My hope is to partner with someone to kick around design ideas and ultimately create prototypes on my behalf. I imagine a per-hour basis, but am open to other arrangements. Envisioning a few hours a week, likely side-of-desk. It doesn't need to be local; we can meet over Zoom/Webex/whatever.

An initial project, for example, is to 3D-print a frisbee with a small embedded microcontroller to detect an RFID field (and possibly an audible alarm). When detected in range, the frisbee should abruptly change course/crash, perhaps via some kind of drag-inducing fin that extends suddenly to disrupt its flight. (This may be turn out to be impractical, but that's part of what I need help to determine.)

Anyone here fit the bill, or know where else I should look? DMs are welcome.

I'm a video game developer so kinda in the "creator industry" and debating which ticket I should buy.

Does anyone know if I get the VIP ticket, am I getting everything included in the Industry ticket, or does the Industry ticket include things that the VIP ticket doesn't? I'm asking because they use similar but slightly different terms to describe the perks, so I'm not fully sure if they are the same or not.

For example the Industry ticket includes Friday Night Industry Reception whereas VIP ticket includes Admission to Friday Night Preview Party - so are these the same or a different event? The Industry ticket also has Industry Only Lounge, whereas VIP has VIP Lounge - it does appear that these are indeed two different lounges, but I can't find any info on if the industry lounge is available for VIP ticket holders also.

I don't care much about merch, so my only reasons for thinking of getting the VIP ticket are better seating and creator discussions. However if getting those means I cannot go to the industry events and lounges it might not be worth it.

TLDR: Looking for a cheap, small device that can automatically lift a lightweight plexiglass/polycarb vent when the temperature reaches 65-70F and is small enough to fit into a box around 8x8" or so.

The details:

I'm working on creating some insulated boxes to help over-winter plants during their infancy, and/or in regions slightly cooler than their native habitat.

Shown is a photo of my wax vent opener on my greenhouse. These retail for around $30. For those unfamiliar, the wax in the black cylinder expands, and at around 65F, it begins to push a piston, which opens the window. Upon cooling, the wax contracts and the springs draw the window shut. These openers are designed for greenhouse applications and can usually lift 15-40lbs depending on their size.

I would like to utilize a similar concept on the boxes I'm making to prevent the interior from overheating, which would kill the plants.

To use one of these standard-sized openers, the box would have to be slightly larger than a milk crate. This would be fine for some plants, but I would love to create smaller version as well, if possible.

Has anyone ever seen a similar technology on a smaller scale? (Say 8" or less.) Or does anyone have any ideas of other ways to achieve the same goal? I'd like to be able to make a few of these, so at this time, I'm not looking to make totally custom brackets and figure out the geometry of them, etc. I would also like to keep the price of them around the $30 range at most.

Thanks a bunch!

I have a bunch of (allegedly) 5mm wood rods, and ball bearings with an inner diameter of (allegedly) 5mm. But, there's a bit of space betwen the wood and bearing, and I'd like to have a tight fit. I can't get better sized rods or bearing, so I'm trying to make it work, perhaps with glue or epoxy ? Any idea ?

I’m a longtime woodworker but looking to expand into other maker areas. Other than Tested, can anyone recommend some good maker websites or YouTube channels? Thanks!

Hello! I've been trying to look for ways on getting a good contact with the bottom of a soda can. Since the cans are concave, anything flat would only touch the very thin rim of the bottom of the can which isn't great for thermal conductivity. For context, I am using a peltier cooler for just a fun experiment. I have been trying to find ways to increase the surface area between the peltier and the can, but I haven't found many good solutions. Ideally, something solid that would fit into the bottom of the concave cavity of the can which is also flat on the other side to touch the peltier would be perfect, but I have not found anything like that. Any suggestions on how to do this would be greatly appreciated! My other idea might be to get a ton of layers of tin foil and kind of mold it into the bottom of the can, but that would be a lot of layers to get it solid and I doubt how well that would work

I'm trying to run a mini-motor with a movement sensor to only have it running when someone's there. Here is my wiring. I tested the motor on the batteries ( I tried with 3 AA batteries, and 2 18650 batteries), it works fine, and the sensor's supposed to take 5V, so there shouldn't be an issue there. Here is the wiring diagram I got from the seller (translated from chinese).

Nothing's working. I tried tweaking the 2 potentiometers, tried swapping the wires, but no matter what I do, the motor does not move a bit. What could cause this ? How can I fix it ?

My wife is a wheelchair user and can't pick the cat food bowls up from the floor to feed them. I built this little unit which has a handle so she can easily pick the whole unit up

Hello everyone!

overview

I am thinking on making some blinds for my window which is 2.5 meters tall and 1.8 meters wide.
I am thinking on using a esp32 and a small motor to roll the blinds up and down using my phone.

problem

Since I'll be rolling about 4.5 square meters of fabric, I have no idea what to get.

Fabric requirements:

• it has to be as lightweight as possible.
• it has to be "blackout" material. No light allowed in my room!
• manangeble so it can be rolled up/down
• durable so that it can last me years.

Can anyone think of anything? Has anyone done a project like this before? I'd love to see your projects/suggestions.

Cheers!

Hey all,

I’m looking for short light strips for backlit boxes I’m making (imagine isn’t exactly what I’m making, just a reference photo for size and general project). I’m looking for suggestions, whether that be links or just what I should be searching for.

The parameters I need and have had trouble finding:

• Short. Maybe 12”-18”. I see ones that are several meters long but nothing short.
• Own power supply, not a wall plugin.
• Easily replaceable batteries.
• Easy access switch

Any help would be much appreciated.

Our makerspace uses CorelDraw to send files to the laser cutters.

This means I have to create or convert my (currently Inkscape-) SVG files on the computer connected to the cutters before I can start the laser.

I'd like to prepare my files at home :-) Does someone know of a program (or Inkscape setting/profile) so I can create CorelDraw files at home? The files will be simple 1 layer, two colored files: black hairline for etching/engraving, red hairline for cutting.

Any ideas?

Hey everyone, I'm a science teacher who has been given a STEM subject for this year. It's for junior high and quite introductory, there are some students who are very practical but academically low, others who are the opposite, and a mix in between.

The current unit plan calls for a topic on "flight", which is perfect as I was an aircraft mechanic for 12 years. Ideally I'd like to give each group a big(ish) rubber band plane to iterate on. I want to have them choose a goal (distance, speed, cargo, flight time) to help guide their designs and do component testing before building their final plane.

The problem is that the budget for this subject is almost zero, so the materials are difficult, though we do have access to several small 3d printers. Here are some thoughts I had...

3d printed wing ribs and fixing hardware.

3d print propeller designs

Wing skins made using toilet paper or newpaper and "doped" using PVA or a diy flour based glue paper mache. (We already have these items so zero cost)

Is there a better (cheap) way of making wings? I could end up just buying proper tissue and dope and hoping the school pays me back.

I want to upgrade my flue-curing chamber for my homegrown tobacco. Picture an insulated trashcan. Using a water heater thermostat, the chamber is manually heated and held at specific temps ranging from 85F to 165F. Humidity is controlled by manually venting the gas (aka cracking the lid)

I’d love to control it all on an app on my iPhone. I could set temperature step parameters, decide rate of change over time between steps, have a humidistat connected to louver versus my cracked lid method, record humidity and temperature data on a graph, oh my!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated