Stories about success often focus on the end result -- the "big win" that makes all those pesky failures along the way have meaning. But for makers, the failures are just as important -- sometimes even more so -- than the end result, because of what was learned along the way. In our cover story, we follow a group of friends who set out to send an autonomous boat across the Atlantic a decade ago. Their boat never made it, but that failure set them on a course to launch their own startup for self-navigating vessels. And they give you tips on building your own! From there, get busy building by using the principles of tension and symmetry to make an "impossible" tensegrity planter. Then, update a classic Magic 8-Ball with a Raspberry Pi and divine your fortune with a set of custom GIF reactions. Plus, 32 projects you can build: Make VR haptic gloves on a budget Build a CO2 logger to help fight Covid-19 Learn to use generative design in Fusion 360 Send and receive sound using a beam of light Build articulated wings for over-the-top cosplay or Halloween And much more!
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- 2021
- 2021
Digital fabrication is a cornerstone of the maker community, and in Make: Volume 75 (our diamond issue!), we take a fun look at the state of digifab today. In our cover story, we break out of the cartesian box with a look at Nick Seward's weird and wild 3D printer designs, from undulating arms to roving printers. Next, dive into the latest desktop mills, routers and 3D printers with reviews of machines from Bantam Tools, Prusa Research, and more. Plus, get tips for recycling your old prints, adding supports for resin prints, printing in clay, and more. Plus, over 16 projects and skill builders, including: Fit real AI onto microcontroller with TinyML and Arduino Build a super efficient rocket stove out of tin cans for your next camping trip Beam streaming services to your TV using a Raspberry Pi 4 Create an adorable light-up felted mushroom garden And much more!
- 2021
Make: Volume 76's cover story is an enlightening profile feature about Jorvon Moss, aka "Odd Jayy," the genesis of his delightful robotic companions and his new set of moving, responsive sci-fi goggles. Then, take a deep dive into LoRa, the long-range, free-to-use wireless protocol that's great for tracking sensor data. Learn the basics in our in-depth primer, and then put your knowledge to use building an off-the-grid portable text messaging network. And in our special music section, create new and interesting musical instruments using everyday maker tools like microcontrollers, servos, and more. Learn to set up a MIDI-enabled, BLE driven xylophone. Then make a tapping bot that listens to the rhythms around it and synchronizes its output to match them. And finally, build a 3D-printed pocket synthesizer that omits a dedicated PCB for simple route-in-place wiring. Now you're ready to rock! Plus, explore 30+ projects and skill builders, including: Construct a location tracking clock like the Weasley family has in the Harry Potter series Build a unique, single-rotor "ball drone" that uses air vanes to navigate Learn to use a Raspberry Pi & Pi camera to stream live video Make a fold-up kayak out of corrugated plastic sheets And tons more projects and maker inspiration!
- 2020
Make: Volume 74
- 128 pages
- 5 hours of reading
Welcome to ’s 2020 Guide to Boards! This year brings powerful new releases from Adafruit, Arduino, BeagleBoard, Google, Nvidia, Raspberry Pi, Teensy, and more. We’ve assembled the technical data for new boards and returning favorites (listing over 50% more than our previous guide!), along with highlighting options to consider for your next project. To further help your decision-making process, some of our favorite electronics experts explain how they pick the right board for their projects. But the real star of electronic prototyping in 2020 is the In our cover story, we look at how Python-powered boards make it easier than ever to code for hardware.Plus, your favorite YouTube makers offer their tips and tricks for getting started making videos, how to grow your channel, and what you need to get a great shot ( it’s probably in your pocket right now).And don’t forget, Halloween is right around the corner! Learn to build an R/C roving pop-up zombie-in-a-trashcan to scare the daylights out of the neighborhood, make a light and cheap fog projection screen for your haunted house, and create a flaming window setup so realistic, you’ll have to warn the fire department about erroneous reports ahead of time.Lastly, read the finale of 's series on how our community can help avert catastrophic climate change.Plus, over 43 projects
- 2020
Make: Volume 73 - Plan C: Makers Respond
- 128 pages
- 5 hours of reading
The Covid-19 crisis has been a defining moment for the maker movement. Groups and individuals are designing and producing personal protective equipment like face shields and masks, forming grassroots
- 2020
Make - Volume 71
- 128 pages
- 5 hours of reading
Climate change is an urgent threat but if we makers act now, we can still make a difference at both micro and macro levels. Our cover story, the kickoff to a series that will run through 2020, gives a big-picture look at what steps we can take to arrest climate change. Hint: It starts by electrifying everything! Then, we look at some tasty tech with the story of a seriously impressive cheeseburger-making robot, recipes to cook delicious insects, and instructions to build a Raspberry Pi-powered cocktail dispenser for your next BBQ or robot-themed party. Plus, 21 projects to make, including: Hack the Sonos-Ikea Symfonisk to make high-quality, networked bookshelf speakers on a budget Build the world's newest, simplest siege weapon, the Walking Arm Trebuchet Fold and fly the Guinness World Record paper airplane Make a jig for quick, easy, and beautiful box joints Our best-yet DIY coffee bean roaster And much more!
- 2020
Make - Volume 72
- 128 pages
- 5 hours of reading
As devices get smarter, they -- and the companies that created them -- gather more and more data about you, the user: what you like, where you go, even listening to and recording conversations around the house. It's easy to gloss over how much data is getting stored in "the cloud" everyday without you knowing, but with a little effort, you don't have to trade privacy for functionality. In this issue of Make: , we address this head-on. We'll show you how to set up your own DIY voice assistants using free and private tools that keep your data local while performing your favorite tasks. You can even run one on a Raspberry Pi! Then, configure a WebThings gateway from Mozilla to keep your IoT gadgets connected but private. And if you still can't give up Alexa's bells and whistles, at least consider assembling the Alias Privacy Parasite, which lets you decide when Alexa gets to listen in. The issue also continues our Fix the Planet series with a set of guidelines on effective ways to electrify your cars and homes to slash your carbon output (and save you money along the way). Plus, 17 exciting projects, including: Convert any bike to electric with a front wheel motor kit Make your needlework come alive with embroidery animation Tips on converting a metal lathe to CNC with free software Grow vegan leather for projects and cosplay And much more!
- 2019
There's one resource we just can't get enough of: Time. In this issue of Make:, we celebrate that most fascinating and finite resource. First, build a miniature neomatrix word clock that colorfully spells out the time. Next, waste less time in the shop with a healthy helping of time-saving shop tips. Then, take a metaphorical trip to the past and dive into the history and theory behind modern mechanical clocks. Plus, 19 projects to make, including: 8 more crazy clocks to build 3D print an old-school bellows-style camera Program a wall-mounted display to track your social media stats Craft a 2-in-1 leather carrier for beer and wine for your next picnic Build a stylish motion-reactive LED table-top display and more!
- 2019
Make: Volume 66
- 84 pages
- 3 hours of reading
We're excited to present our "2019 Make: Digital Fabrication Guide"! This year we get our hands on maker-ready waterjet cutters with machines from Wazer and Omax. We also review the latest 3D printers, CNC routers, laser cutters, and vinyl cutters. More than 20 tools tested to help you find the best one for your shop or makerspace. Plus, more than 30 DigiFab projects and lessons: Build a robot companion that reacts to the faces of people around you Make Nixie tube-style display with LEDs and acrylic Create a mini Intaglio printing press and create unique artwork and much more.
- 2019
Make: magazine is back in action and back to our original size! This issue's cover project is a maker's take on a Boston Dynamics-style quadrupedal walking robot that you can build yourself. Then, build an adorable unicorn shaped dispenser that spits soap on command. And to celebrate Make's return, why not build a custom dancing version of our Makey mascot. Plus, 28 projects including: Teeny-tiny personal motorboat Standup paddle board Bird-identifying computer-vision birdhouse Backyard bicycle pump track And much more!