Simple Metallic Laptop Stand

introSimple Metallic Laptop Stand

Make a quick and simple laptop stand that will keep your laptop cool for under $10. After looking for a laptop stand for my new macbook pro I decided to create one myself out of a metallic document holder I bought for $6. It keeps the computer off the surface, gives excellent air circulation and elevates it to a comfortable typing angle and it even matches my laptop.

step 1Materials you'll need

Here are the materials you'll need:

1 Metal Mesh Document Holder (I bought mine at Staples for $6, it comes in black or sliver)
1 Roll of Anti-slip shelf liner (bought it at the dollar store)
1 Small block of rubber - This corner piece came in the packaging of my air-conditioner to protect the corners. You can probably find something similar at the hardware or dollar store such as a rubber sandpaper block; just cut the sandpaper sides off.
Glue gun
Double sided tape
Utility blade
Ruler

step 2Cut out two block's of rubber

Bend the the Metal Mesh Document Holder so that the long sides lie flat, and flip it upside down so that the short edge sits on the desk. The weight of the laptop will hold the long side flat.

Cut the block of rubber into two pieces using a utility blade.
Using a glue gun, glue each piece to the corner of the Metal Document holder (Glue to the bended edge). This will prevent the laptop from slipping when sitting at an angle.

step 3Anti Slip Strips

Cut out three bands of the anti-slip liner (about 1.5 inches wide) using a ruler and utility blade.

Stick some strips of double sided tape to the liners and than stick the liner to the edges of the document holder. This will prevent any scratching to the laptop from the edges and hold the laptop in place, preventing it from slipping.

step 4Enjoy your new laptop stand

Now place your laptop on your stylish new laptop stand and enjoy.

I think the angle is perfect for typing and the mesh of the document holder creates great circulation from every side. The metal makes it really sturdy and best of all it was simple to make, looks great and cost next to nothing.

(Source instructables)

How to Make an Obstacles Avoiding Robot- Arduino Style

introHow to Make an Obstacles Avoiding Robot- Arduino Style

You've always wanted to make one of those cool robots that can basically avoid any object. Yet you didn't have enough money to buy one of those really expensive ones, with already cut parts where all the materials where there for you. If you're like me you like to use some parts you already have around, like scrap metal and plastic. This is the project for you.

step 1Get the Materials

Arduino- which you can get at the maker shed
http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKSP4

Then you'll need a Ping UltraSonic Sensor which you'll find at most radioshack stores...
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2909789

A base and scrap metal or plastic that you have lying around.

Some extra wires.

Some cheap mounting tape from Walgreens or the dollar store.

Two Futaba S3003 servos.

Some lego wheels -4 of them ......or other small wheels.

Also a rechargeable battery. (The only reason is that the servos use a lot of energy.

Now your all set to go!

step 2Making your Servos Move 360 degrees

So you have your servo's great! Now twist the the external spoked plastic thing.... Wow! It only goes 180 degrees what are we going to do about that?

We're gonna make it move all of the way around....

Basically changing some of the mechanics inside it.
Follow this tutorial and get your servo to go all of the way around and you can go to the next step!

Hacking Some Servos

This should give you two perfectly, well yea, they move all the way around.

step 3Putting it all together

Use some of the very sticky mounting tape and put it onto the piece of metal, like this. Also do this to the lego wheels.

Then attach the (giant) in my case battery to the top of the metal. Then place the Ping sensor into a piece of pcb and make it with the end of the servo you cut off and now you have most of it done.

Then attach the Arduino on top of the battery. For a little size comparison here is how large this robot should be....

step 4Attach the electronics.

Simple put if you would like to put a breadboard or circuit board on top to make this easier.

1. Attach both servo red wires (+) to (+) on arduino.
2. Attach both servo black wires (-) to GND on arduino.
3. Attach a wire you can solder on to the PING sensor, that is positive to positive on arduino.
4. Then the negative to the negative.
5. The signal wire on the ping goes to digital 7 on arduino.
6. The left servo white wire goes to 5 and right servo white wire goes to 6.

Then upload to arduino using the Arduino environment which you can find info on here this code.
arduino.cc

Thanks you to the person who made his code here it is..

http://www.obscurereality.org/?p=45

YOU will also need to get the servo library whoch can be found here...
arduino.cc also

Thanks you for viewing this instructable and i hope some of you get to make this cool robot..

(Source Instructables)

Build a Pair of Helping Hands

introBuild a Pair of Helping Hands

With just a few items you may have around the house you can build a soldering, gluing, or assembly jig. Its an extra pair of helping hands.

step 1Gather the parts

1. Items required: a) 2 five inch pieces of 12 gauge copper wire which can be taken from home wiring cable, b) two solderless ring lugs, c) two mini alligator clips, d) a 3" x3" block of wood or decorative molding - available at your local home improvement store, e) one small wood screw (and a suitable drill bit for the pilot hole).

step 2Add the ring lugs

Crimp the solderless ring lugs to the wire. I recommend you crimp the lug in two positions for a secure connection.

step 3Add the alligator clips

Remove the rubber boots from the alligator clips as these won't be needed. Crimp the alligator clips to the other end of the copper wire. You may need to solder this connection to insure strength and longevity.

step 4Attach the wire to the base

Drill a small pilot hole in the center of the wood block. Use a wood screw (pan head type) to secure the two ring lugs to the base.

step 5Its ready for use...

Use it as a soldering jig, gluing jig, assembly fixture, photo stand, or however you see fit.

(Source Instructables)

Gakken Theremin Kit Hack

Here are instructions to do some basic hacks to the theremin kit that you can buy from Make. True, there are already directions to do both of these things in the accompanying magazine, but what sets this how-to apart is that it is in English. If like me you can't read Japanese and unlike me, you couldn't figure out what to do from the pictures alone, this should help.

Basically, what I am doing is adding an audio out jack and also a bigger, sturdier telescoping antenna. This is a great improvement on the original.

step 1Go get stuff

You will need:
Gakken Theremin Kit (from Make)
A power drill
A mini screwdriver set
A mono jack with switch
Something with a telescoping antenna
A solder setup
Some extra wire
Assorted hardware

step 1Go get stuff

You will need:
Gakken Theremin Kit (from Make)
A power drill
A mini screwdriver set
A mono jack with switch
Something with a telescoping antenna
A solder setup
Some extra wire
Assorted hardware

step 2Make the kit

Before you can hack the kit, make it! See if it works. See how it works. Determine if you really want to make it better.

Alright, let's now assume that you do.

step 3Open it back up

Alright, lets make this thing better!

First thing is first, we need to open that theremin back up.

Remove the screw in the bottom and take the casing apart.

step 4Drill and install

Drill a 1/4" hole in the back of the theremin just to the right of the speaker. This will be for mounting your audio out jack. I found holding the panel in place where it should be helped me to drill it on target. You should not do this. Always clamp things down and be safe when working with power tools.

Once you have your hole drilled, mount and fasten the jack in place.

step 5Wire it up

Now is time to wire up the jack. This may require adding in a little extra wire.

First wire SP- (the wire on the right) to both the audio signal tab on the jack and the minus tab on the speaker (where it was just connected). Or, to put another way, wire the audio signal tab on the jack to SP- and the minus tab on the speaker.

Then wire the SP+ wire (the wire on the left) to the tab that connects to the big rounded metal bit on the back of the jack. Wire the + terminal on the speaker to the only other free jack (the tab that connects to the the little metal switch on the inside of the jack). This will turn off the speaker (break the connection) when someone plugs in an audio cable.

step 6Get a new antenna

Take your "something with a telescoping antenna" and remove the telescoping antenna.

If it does not have a wire and piece of hardware on the end that will clamp nicely under a screw, you may want to attach one.

step 7Attach the antenna to the case

Insert the antenna into the case and secure it in place.

I drilled a small hole in the side and held it in place with a spacer and a machine screw.

step 8Wire the antenna

Detach the old antenna by removing the screw and clamp in the new antenna in its place.

step 9Close the case

Hot glue any exposed wires in place so that they won't touch anything and short out (and/or insulate them).

Also, chop off any part of the plastic inside the case that may interfere with it closing.

Once you have done all of this, close the case back up and reassemble it by inserting the single screw back into the bottom, putting in some batteries and closing it back up.

(source instructables.com)