September 2024 update
I can't believe we're already entering the third quarter of the year. It feels like only yesterday I was talking about summer starting...
Welcome to the September 2024 update
Where I am summer is definitely over and the days are already starting to get a bit shorter. But, September has been anything but dull. From high-speed automation to hacking everyday objects into useful tools, this edition has a bit of everything for the tinkerers, hackers, and builders among us.
So put down your soldering iron for a second, get comfortable, and jump into this month's edition. Whether you're looking to level up your home lab or just in need of some inspiration, we've got you covered.
Things to watch!
Cool Projects
Our very own atomic14 was interviewed by the very popular Robert Feranec they had a good chat about where to find inspiration for new project ideas and the transition from breadboards to designing PCBs for more complex projects.
Picking and placing at speed
Another regular, Stephen Hawes, introduces V4 of his pick-and-place machine (the LumenPnP), boasting a 300% increase in speed and improved cable management.
Sucking up some components
And if you’re on a slightly tighter budget, atomic14 got his hands on the Pixel Pump - ideal for manual pick and place jobs.
Wired for the vintage vibe
Becky Stern takes us through the process of rewiring antique lamps for a modern touch. With a focus on safety and aesthetics, this is a must watch for all you up-cyclers.
Announcements
New Version of the LumenPnP
The LumenPnP v4 has been released, with a huge speed bump for assembling your circuit board projects at home! You can check it out here.
Simple Start from Smander
Thinking of selling a product in Europe? You need to get yourself CE certified. “But it’s so difficult and expensive!” I hear you say. Well, not anymore Smander is launching their new service - Simple Start - the first simple compliance consultation service for open source hardware
Supercon 8 - Add On Contest
The Supercon 8 Add-On Contest is now open, they are now using the Simple-Add on standard for the badge expansions, so there’s not more guessing about whether or not you add-on is going to work.
Things to read!
Wired for Sound
Barbed wire has an unexpected history beyond fencing, serving as a conduit for communication in rural communities. This post explores the little-known story of barbed wire fence phone networks and their role in connecting farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and Canada.
Watch Your Current
Turning an Apple Watch into an ammeter might seem unconventional, but it's possible with a bit of ingenuity. By using its magnetometer, jp3141 demonstrates how to measure DC currents. Just don’t come running to us if you blow up your expensive watch!
Targeted Rickroll
Ever wondered if you could prank someone with a directional speaker? Maurycy explores how to create a sound beam using specialized piezoelectric transducers, allowing for an impressive rickroll without revealing your location.
Low Latency Pi
Tzu Huan Tai has created an interesting project that uses WebRTC to turn a Raspberry Pi into a low-latency home security camera. Utilizing the v4l2 hardware H.264 encoder, this setup offers an efficient way to stream video without the need for a dedicated media server.
Thunder in a Box
The ThunderScope is making oscilloscopes more accessible with a low-cost, four-channel design and Thunderbolt connectivity for seamless data streaming.
Landscape Weather Map
A new take on the visualizing weather forecasts. This project encodes weather information within a nice image and shows it on an ePaper display - lovely!
CO2 Sensor Showdown
This article compares two prominent low-cost CO2 sensor technologies: photo-acoustic and NDIR. While both methods are based on detecting gas absorption, their performance varies under different conditions, good info for your next air quality project.
Closing thoughts
Another month, another set of incredible projects that remind us why we love this community. If you've got a project that you're particularly proud of or stumbled upon something that might interest fellow makers, drop us a line. You might find your work featured in a future edition!
Thanks for being part of this thriving network of creative minds. Let's see what mind-bending creations October brings. Until next time, keep tinkering and innovating. Catch you in the next edition of Maker News.