Contraptor - Open source Construction Set

Contraptor: "Contraptor is a DIY open source construction set for experimental personal fabrication, desktop manufacturing, prototyping and bootstrapping."

This looks a great compliment to MakerBeam and MicroRAX.

Looks like I will be filling my workspace with open-source erector set on steroids contraptions!

From Hack a Day - Eureqa discovers equations

Hack a day posted this link yesterday and I though this was great! 

How about making a decent approximation for some function using limited operators. using only +,-,/,* and abs()? Might be useful on a micro with limited math capabilities...

Some first expirements after the break....

Legos Are Turing Complete!!

This is great!  I wonder how much track it would take to run Windows 7….

More awesome wish list action!: Ice Tube Clock kit

 

Somewhere at the junction of modern open-source hardware and early 80's Russia lives a beautiful new DIY kit from the Maker Shed called the Ice Tube Clock. The centerpiece of this old-meets-new clock is a Russian-made, 9-digit, vacuum florescent display (VFD). Included in the kit is everything you need to build a complete VFD clock.

Make: Online : New in the Maker Shed: Ice Tube Clock kit

BlinkM Illuminator

A while ago I created a simple RGB illuminator using a BlinkM RGB module an IKEA lamp and a 5v regulated wall power supply.  I removed the existing lamp and cord from the enclosure, put a 4 pin header on the 5v power supply cord and affixed the blinkM inside the enclosure using poster tack.  The pins on the blinkM were bent over to make for a better fit. I replaced the glass, plugged in an enjoyed the lightshow.

Here are some pics of the build:

The Good Stuff at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories just keeps coming!

 

The Bulbdial Clock Kit

This is SO going on my holiday wish list!  Clear case of course, but I am having a real hard time deciding between full color and monochrome…

Making the World a Better Place, One Evil Mad Scientist at a Time - Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

Peggy 2LE from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

I ordered one of these to play with.  My plan is to put it behind the frosted glass in my office and do some fun stuff with it..  Should be a fun build (The LEDs might get a little tedious, but with some good music I should be in good shape)

Once I get it running in serial mode, I will add an Xbee module for wireless programming and control.

First program should be Conway’s game of life with a LOST numbers twist.

 

 

Making the World a Better Place, One Evil Mad Scientist at a Time - Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

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