Diy News

The latest diy stories, summarized by AI

"Musical Marvel: Homemade Solenoids Power Auto Xylophone"
diy
1.145 min2 years ago

"Musical Marvel: Homemade Solenoids Power Auto Xylophone"

A DIY enthusiast named Rachad has created an automatic xylophone using homemade solenoids controlled by a computer. The project involved building custom solenoids using coils of wire and nails, and the software converts MIDI files into a serial output read by an Arduino. While the instrument may not be suitable for professional orchestras, it produces a surprisingly good sound. Rachad plans to further develop the project by training an AI to read sheet music in the future.

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DIY Tiny Camper: Cozy Home on Wheels for Under $1,000.

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Motor1

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Source: Motor1

A basic utility trailer was transformed into a cozy tiny camper for under $1,000, including the purchase price of the trailer. The build used repurposed items and drop cloths on the exterior to keep costs down. The finished product has tile floors, two beds, windows, a kitchen with a sink, and is wired for electricity. It lacks onboard power and a bathroom but is a shockingly inexpensive camper compared to others on the market.

"Canada Wildfires Cause Air Quality Concerns Across North America"

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Engadget

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Source: Engadget

As smoke from Canadian wildfires reaches the east coast of the US, New York City's air quality has become the second worst on Earth. To protect against the health hazards of the hazy air, residents can build their own air filter using a box fan and four AC air filters rated MERV 13-16 or MPR 1200-2800. By taping the filters together in a square and placing the fan on top, the filter can effectively strain 2.5um smoke particles from the ambient air.

Transforming the All-White HomeGoods Pineapple Stool with Paint

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Apartment Therapy

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Source: Apartment Therapy

A DIY expert on TikTok, Kaarin Joy, has gone viral after sharing a series of videos documenting how she painted a plain pineapple-shaped stool into a realistic one. She applied yellow and light green paints to the pineapple, dark green paint to the leaf patterns, and brown on top of the yellow layer to mimic those dots on the fruit’s skin. She then added gloss and topped the item with glass, turning it into a side table for the other produce. Her followers loved the result, with many suggesting other fruits that Joy could add to the collection.

Microwave Electromagnets: The Ultimate Tool for Handling Sheet Metal

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hackaday

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Source: Hackaday

A DIY enthusiast has created an electromagnetic sheet metal handler using the transformers from old microwave ovens. The open-frame electromagnets, when energized with a battery from a Ryobi cordless tool, can stick to sheet metal. The creator built a prototype and then a more polished version, which was 3D-printed from lime green filament. The video shows the design and build, as well as field testing.

The Saxaboom: A Fun Musical Instrument for Home Use.

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hackaday

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Source: Hackaday

A father recreated a Sax-A-Boom toy for his son's school event after finding out that the original toy costs around $700. He commissioned a 3D model from a professional on Fiverr and used an ESP32-based board called Sonatino for the device's guts. The music samples came from a virtual instrument clone on GitHub and loaded onto an SD card. Despite some gaps and paint flaws, the son rocked the school presentation with the recreated toy.

YouTuber shares secrets of superior Tricorder.

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hackaday

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Source: Hackaday

A Star Trek fan has created a comprehensive training video for his Star Trek: Voyager tricorder replica, covering the use and operation of the prop in exquisite detail. The video demonstrates how well the creator managed to implement mundane features such as brightness and volume control without compromising the look of the prop itself. The attention to detail is impressive, making it one of the most realistic tricorders ever produced.

DIY Car Maintenance Tips for Saving Money

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Lifehacker

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Source: Lifehacker

Basic car maintenance and repairs are surprisingly easy for anyone to tackle. You can use your car's manual to locate parts and learn how to perform maintenance tasks. Auto parts stores are invaluable and staff can lend you tools to accomplish repairs. You can handle tasks such as changing headlights and taillights, checking tire pressure, replacing wiper blades, checking oil level, jumpstarting a dead battery, refilling windshield washer fluid, and checking your engine's air filter. Reading your car's manual can teach you a lot and save you money.

"The Power of Timeframe: A Desk Calendar's Impact"

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hackaday

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Source: Hackaday

Stavros created a sleek desk calendar called Timeframe using a 4.7" E-Ink screen with integrated battery management and ESP32. He used a modified library for driving the e-ink display and a Python script to visit Google Calendar, take a screenshot, and display it. After cracking the screen, he mapped out the area that didn't draw and converted the Python to draw weather information with Pillow. The code is available on GitLab, and the 3D files for the case are on Printables.

Dyson Hair Dryer Transforms into Jet Engine

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hackaday

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Source: Hackaday

A YouTuber named Integza spent $500 on a Dyson hair dryer and turned it into a jet engine by designing a replacement shell for the dryer and having it 3D printed in metal. The engine generated hot exhaust, but also melted some test equipment accidentally. The modification to a car becomes obvious if the engine could be made reliable.

"Building a Lo-Fi Sampler with ISD1700 Technology"

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hackaday

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Source: Hackaday

OpnBeat is a simple lo-fi sampler with eight musical keys, three interface keys, and a knob. It is powered by an Arduino Nano and eight Nuvoton ISD1700s controlled over SPI by the Nano. The code, PCB, and 3D case files are all available on GitHub. The design and code are optimized to be straightforward and easy to modify, and the interface is slick.