zedomax.com &#187; Motor

Servo DIY – How to Make a Servo Plotter!

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Battle tank from Titan

David Allen — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:00:38 +0000

The cool battle tank offers the opportunity to build and drive your own six wheeled tank, but when there are two of these, they battle it out using the tanks infra red cannon to put the other tank out of commission, its cool and fun.

Specs:

Battle Titan DIY Tank features:

One tank DIY kit included. Choose two tanks for battle mode

Infrared gun

Tank Size: 125 x 45 x 90mm (5 x 1.7 x 3.5”)

Weight: 260g. (tank), 100g. (controller)

Power: AAA x 4 (tank), AA x 4 (controller)

Battery life: 1 hour continuous (tank), 100 hours (controller)

Controller range: 2 meters (6.5”)

Manual: Japanese

Priced at $76

Source [Japan Trend Shop]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Battle tank from Titan

Keep on track with the GPS

David Allen — Tue, 12 May 2009 23:00:07 +0000

Tracking something has never been easier, with the TrimTrac Pro from Trimble; users will get the top of the range tracking system that comes in a small device powered by four AA batteries that should be all right for three months on standby or for thirty days when being used for two to three hours per day.

Service Plans Through LightningGPS.com (Professional/Enterprise Level Platform):

Activation fee: $69.95

Monthly Service Plan Options:

$49.95 Unlimited Locates or

$29.95 for 100 locates per month

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

Car REAL-TIME GPS Tracking Device

Fast, Easy Installation. No Wires Or Antenna

Find Where Your Car Is At Any Time, See Where It Has Really Been

Secure Online Access, No Software to Install

See Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsS4Z6j2KAI

Technical Details

Model: Lightning GPS Platform T-Trac Global

Priced at $249.95

Source [Amazon]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Keep on track with the GPS

DIY Tin Can Robot Science Kit!

max — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:14:34 +0000

Very similar to the soda can DIY robot kit, this DIY tin can robot science kit will turn your regular soda can into a cute, walking tin-can robot. Even if you are not a kid, this kid could possibly let you finally kill some time on your relaxing weekends. “Just a CAN-do attitude…”

Recycle a soda can by turning it into a silly robot that can move. Kit includes parts and detailed instructions; just add a “can” do attitude! Ages 5 and up.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY Tin Can Robot Science Kit!

DIY Electric Airplane!

max — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:55:41 +0000

There has been never a better time for people to create new eco-friendly planes that use pure electricity and here’s such DIY electric airplane that can go fly for about 1 hour on a single charge. Way too cool, now please make me an electric helicopter.

We have converted my single place, all metal Moni motor glider into a small, efficient electric airplane. We used our ElectraFlyer propulsion parts kit and our large battery pack, custom built to fit the available space in the airplane. The plane was raised for more ground clearance and a larger, slower-turning, much more efficient prop was installed. Static thrust has increased 60%. The plane received its airworthiness certificate in April. The ElectraFlyer-C is flying now and the climb rate has increased dramatically. The flying character of the plane has changed from a very loud, vibrating experience to a smooth quiet ride.

DIY RC Airplane Made from 25cc Weed Wacker Motor!

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DIY Electric Airplane!

DIY RC Airplane Made from 25cc Weed Wacker Motor!

max — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:07:17 +0000

Here’s a really cool DIY RC plane powered by a 25cc weed wacker motor! I don’t know if that’s cheaper but a good way to re-use your old weed wacker into something more useful and fun.

I have built a couple of the Aircore brand fold and glue airplanes and used them to learn how to fly, I strongly recommend starting out with one if you want to get into glow engine airplanes.

Balanced properly its a predictable airframe. Due to the simplified flat wing it will tip stall with you at low speeds, so learn how it stalls at high altitude before slowing down for your landing. The ailerons are large enough for a decent roll rate.

via make

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Robot Hack – How to Make a Camera Robot!

max — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:48:08 +0000

Here’s a fun hack that shows you how to make a camera-robot that can autonomously take pics and videos, all while you control where it goes, plus the angles too. I think this might be a great project for those of you who take trips to the Amazon jungle to get footage of creatures and critters.

I’ve hacked a cheap camera and mounted on a pan / tilt neck assembly. Pictomatix MkII only has 64Mb of non upgradeable camera memory so unfortunately he can only take 25 hi-res pictures. I’ve now made him fully autonomous.

Robot Hack – How to Make a Camera Robot!

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DIY CNC Pencil Sharpner!

max — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:32:12 +0000

Okay, you know what happens when someone takes a gas generator to re-charge their iPhone?

Lol, well, here’s DIY CNC Pencil Sharper that will give you sharp pencils. (at the cost of 100 times more energy)

Pretty amusing though. Take the biggest machine you can to do the job.

via make

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY CNC Pencil Sharpner!

Bike Hack – How to Build an Electric Bike! (or Trike Is it?)

max — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:19:04 +0000

I have to say that although I’ve seen slew of electric bikes on the market these days, this homemade electric trike is probably the one I would want to get or build at the least.

Check out the video, this thing ROCKS:

It looks pretty simple enough to build as you can see above with 2 batteries, fuse, switches, bunch of wires, and what looks like a control unit of some sort for the motors.

Here’s the parts list:

This part of the project was a strange mixture of quality and last minute bodging.

- I used two 12v 32amp batteries
- A 75amp 24V speed controller made by 4QD in England- quite pricey but really reliable
- 5 LED battery condition meter
- Plunger pot for throttle
- Lots of cable
- Connectors for batteries
- Two 24v 300W DC motors

and the DIY Page here

Bike Hack – How to Build an Electric Bike! (or Trike Is it?)

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Bike Hack – How to Make a Leaf Blower Powered Bike!

max — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:20:07 +0000

This is probably the best bike mod I have seen in awhile, someone figured out how to make a Leaf Blower Powered Bike! It will definitely make some noise but great for city commuting and getting that anger out of you into the streets.

This was one of those projects I couldn’t get out of my head. I had seen, on the internet and in person, the small 2-stroke engine powered scooters which were becoming increasingly popular. Naturally I wanted one, but I’m not the type that would just buy a commercially available scooter that will work well and last for years and be happy about it: I would have to build my own.

source

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Bike Hack – How to Make a Leaf Blower Powered Bike!

Halloween DIY – How to Make See Saw Halloween Skeletons!

max — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:07:52 +0000

Halloween DIY – How to Make See Saw Halloween Skeletons!

With all the Halloween Costume/Decoration Ideas out there today, here’s another really cool DIY that shows you how to make See Saw Halloween Skeletons that will play by themselves.

The author uses “wiper” motors (similar to the ones used on car wipers) to make the see-saw go back and forth.

This prop was created in an effort to use more wiper motors in my haunt. After using a wiper motor for my UnGrateful Dead band, and another for the skeletons falling off the roof in 2004 I purchase 4 additional motors. They are cheap ($15 or less) and they give your a strong motor that runs on 3-12v DC.

via hackedgadgets, DIY Page

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

How Gas Turbines Work!

max — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:36:19 +0000

Robocut – Lawnmower Robot with Basic Stamp!

Here’s a quick, short video on how gas turbines work. You might be interested in this, watch the video!

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

How Gas Turbines Work!

Robocut – Lawnmower Robot with Basic Stamp!

max — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:23:09 +0000

Check out the Robocut, a lawnmower robot with Basic Stamp as controller. You can even buy the kit so you can build one yourself.

Now, if you can get one of these DIY kits and make it solar, that’d be something to watch.

“RoboCut, is a BASIC Stamp powered robot. Two 12Volt motors with gearbox gives the two large drivewheels good traction and the robot can manouver in very small areas. Powersource is a NiMh accu-pack at 12V, 4.1 Ah. One motor gives the cutterdisk a rpm at approx. 3500 rpm. A Basic STAMP 2 is the brain in the PCB mounted in the front of the Robocut. This PCB has the following features. -Two-chanel (right/left) Buried Wire Fence (BWF) detectors. -Two-chanel (right/left) active IR obstacle detection -Two chanel (right/left) drive motor control on/off, Forward/Rewerse -One chanel cutter-motor control on/off, MOS-FET 20 Amp -Charging/accuvoltage measuring with high resolution -Charger detection On/off -Optional temperature sensor to check accupack temp during charging. -prototype area -prepared for optional “self-charging” and navigating to the chargingstation via an IR_beacon.”

via hackedgadgets, DIY Kit Page

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DIY – How to Hack an RC Hovercraft!

max — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:16:17 +0000

Here’s a really cool DIY on how to hack your own RC hovercraft.

It looks pretty simple enough other than the RC parts.

“The workings of a hovercraft are fairly straightforward: one high-power motor with an airplane propeller forces air down through the hole in the center, which pushes the bottom of the hovercraft off the ground. This greatly reduces friction, allowing the hovercraft to scoot around without much trouble. It also makes it much more difficult to control, however: when the hovercraft turns, it will keep traveling in a straight line unless more thrust is applied. Since we are used to controlling cars or boats, the newtonian behavior of a hovercraft is challenging indeed. The body of the hovercraft is made out of styrofoam, cut with a saw and sanded to smooth the edges. The skirt on the bottom is made out of pieces of a plastic GAP bag, attached with Scotch tape and hot glue. The radio control unit was scavenged from an old boat I had, along with the drive motor mounted on the wooden supports, while the lifting motor was from my physics teacher. The battery is 300 mAh 6V NiMH (or NiCd, I forget), and I have a pair of them. They were about $6-$10 each (again, forgot) and about $12 for the 2 1/2 hour charger. The servomotor for steering was from an old RC car I had”

DIY – How to Hack an RC Hovercraft!

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Hopping Robot!

max — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:40:36 +0000

Here’s a robot that hops like a grasshopper!

Jumping can be a very efficient mode of locomotion for small robots to overcome large obstacles and travel in natural, rough terrain. We present the development and characterization of a novel 5cm, 7g jumping robot. It can jump obstacles as high as more than 27 times its own size and outperforms existing jumping robots with respect to jump height per weight and jump height per size. It employs elastic elements in a four bar linkage leg system to allow for very powerful jumps and adjustment of jumping force, take off angle and force profile during the acceleration phase.

[via make - solarbotics] – epfl

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Hopping Robot!

DIY Kinetic Horse Kit!

max — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:57:40 +0000

House DIY – How to Build A Motorized Window Blind Controller!

Here’s a really fun DIY Kinetic Horse Kit for you or your curious kids.

This time it’s a kinetic horse made of paper. The final horse is able to gallop, thanks to a small hidden motor inside. This kit is a fairly easy build, but it does take a while to complete.

via make

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY Kinetic Horse Kit!

House DIY – How to Build A Motorized Window Blind Controller!

max — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:30 +0000

Here’s a cool DIY documenting how you can build a motorized window blind controller just under $15.

For a long time I just waited until I got home in the afternoons to open my blinds, but my plants suffered from a lack of light. They were not dying by any means, but they were not healthy, and their growth was severely stunted. I needed to find a way to open and close my blinds automatically when I was not at home.

via instructables

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DIY Hexapod CNC Robot!

max — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:53:57 +0000

I thought CNC machines were impressive, this one gets an extra star from me.

How to Convert your Bike into an Electric Power Bike!

For these two videos I’m using a 1/16″ two flute slot cutter, the router is running at approx 35,000 Rpm, the additional battery on the to of the hex is a 12V NiMh 4500mah pack just to run the router. DXF files are loaded in to artcam where G-code tool paths are created. Due to the 10mm thickness of the poly and the cutter only being 6mm long, I chose to do two passes on the workpiece, this also shows that although the resolution is low, repeatability is good enough for multiple passes. Material is held down by the weight of the hexapod, which is current;y 4.3Kg with the router and additional battery pack

[via hackedgadgets] – hexapodrobot

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY Hexapod CNC Robot!

How to Convert your Bike into an Electric Power Bike!

max — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:42:45 +0000

Wow, check out this plug and play electric motor system for your bike. Basically, you remove your front wheel and attach the Neodymics Cyclemotor system.

The only feature that should be improved upon? Well, I wish the batteries could be re-charged via the bike’s power when you are going downhill.

The Neodymics™ Cyclemotor is an integrated propulsion system designed for replacement of the front wheel on any standard bicycle. It contains batteries, motor, transmission, drive electronics, shock absorber, and control mechanism. Integrated design means simple installation. The “power on demand” control mechanism is fitted to the bicycle steering column on an arm extending down to the drive electronics. Attachment or removal of the self-contained and self-propelled wheel is then instantly accomplished without tools using a three point quick release system.

Neodymics patent pending design provides several advantages. The bicycle center of gravity is moved closer to the pavement for better handling than other motorized drives. The powertrain is dust shielded and water resistant. This design does not change the original aesthetics of the bicycle, and allows for quick removal of wheel for charging, security, or protection from the elements. The original drive train is not altered, so that pedal propulsion is always possible.

via wired

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FlatMobile – A jet powered reproduction of ‘The Bat Mobile’

max — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:24:18 +0000

FlatMobile – A jet powered reproduction of ‘The Bat Mobile’

Did we say “Bat Mobile” with a jet engine? Well the jet engines seems to do nothing more but bust out some flames but still kudos for tryin’.

This crazy, crazy “Flatmobile” is going to enter the Guinness books as the flattest vehicle ever. How flat is it? Nineteen inches. I think that’s about how flat we’d be if we laid on our backs (depending on what’s on our minds and what we ate for lunch). Not only is this Batmobile-like contraption dangerous, it’s extremely dangerous—creator Perry Watkins shoved a gas turbine jet engine on the butt.

[via gizmodo flatmobile]

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Homemade Self-Balancing Vehicle Uno!

max — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:09:22 +0000

As a biker, I couldn’t resist posting this cool Uno, a uni-cycle that can balance itself. I must have missed it when it first came out but here it is.

The UNO, built by Ben Gulak, is essentially a 120-pound electric unicycle that balances itself with gyros and is capable of reaching 40MPH. The inventor initially began the project himself, but contacted robotics expert Trevor Blackwell later on to help reprogram the ECU. Currently, the vehicle is still in testing stages, but we may see this in stores sooner than later.

via techeblog

Self-balancing skateboard

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Homemade Self-Balancing Vehicle Uno!

DIY Hard Disk Drive Drum Machine!

max — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:59:33 +0000

Wow, this is awesome! This guy is serious about recycling. The hard disks are connected to his MIDI system and are all coordinated to play drums. Well watch the video after the jump to see it in action!

Fibra from Belgrade has created an interesting drum system. It uses old hard drive read/write arms as drum hammers. The original hard drive voice coils are used to move the arms. The picture above is the new system which doesn’t seem to be documented yet, have a look at the video for a demonstration of the first version. If you need a larger hard drive project fix have a look at these hard drive projects.

[via HackedGadgets - Make]

DIY Hard Disk Drive Drum Machine!

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Porsche 928 with Jet Engine!

max — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:13:06 +0000

Porsche 928s are one of my favorite classic Porsches if it’s not “the” favorite. I’d trade a brand new Porsche for a brand new 928 any day.

Why?

Well, Porsche 928s are the only “rear-wheeled” porsches and comes with a big fat V8 engine unlike the other twin-turbo Porsches.

Aside from the rear drive power, I do like the fact that these Porsches have a unique look unlike all the other Porsches.

Well, the point of this post isn’t about the on-going love for Porsches in general but this Porsche 928 with a Jet Engine! I’d probably wouldn’t want to modify my car like that but it’s cool.

Here’s a video of it:

Porsche 928 with Jet Engine!

This masterpiece of automotive engineering features a Boeing car jet engine and quite a bit of easily repairable minor damage. With a fresh coat of paint and a little tenderness, however, you can have a gas guzzling super-beast that runs on just about any type of oil.

[via uberreview techeblog]

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Parrallel Wind Turbine!

max — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:00:13 +0000

Check out this awesome parrallel wind turbine that can generate easy 200 watts at 20mph wind! Pretty simple concept but well executed with patent pending too.

An easy 200 watts in about a 20 mph wind or so, lighting the four 50 watt car
headlight bulbs you see at Doug’s feet. We get much more power than this in
higher winds. This kind of power output is unheard of for an 18″ diameter
horizontal axis windmill! – the secret? Multi-Rotor technology, made possible
by the strength of modern carbon fiber materials.
This rotor is really thirteen rotors harnessed as one, giving an order of
magnitude (~10 times) more power than a single rotor design of the same diameter.
In stronger winds this prototype blows out these lights like flashbulbs – poof!

[via make - engadget]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Parrallel Wind Turbine!

Zedomax DIY – How to Make a Simple Green Laser Projector!

max — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:16:06 +0000

For complete DIY HOWTO, click here

Since I have been playing with green lasers for about a year, I never saw any good use for them except to point them to the sky or buildings.

Since the green laser has a lot of power, especially the one DragonLasers sent me recently, I decided it was time to make a simple green laser projector without me spending days to build one.

This simpler green laser projector was made so I could use it for my next party and I always wanted to make this. Although this laser projector only does one animation, 2 whirpools, I planned to improve upon after making this very basic version.

When the motor is stopped, it also displays a bunch of green laser stars like this:

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Zedomax DIY – How to Make a Simple Green Laser Projector!

Bruce Shapiro explains his Artwork Sisyphus at Maker Faire 2008

max — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:49:17 +0000

I had a chance to talk with the creator behind a cool Sisyphus. Here’s a video of the Sisyphus explained:

Bruce Shapiro explains his Artwork Sisyphus at Maker Faire 2008

This was probably the coolest thing I saw at the show. Bruce really is an innovator in art of motion.

Bruce has lots of other interesting project you can check out at his website, taomc.com.

Here’s an excerpt from his website about his work:

Despite the universal use of motion control in industrial settings, its use by artists has been hampered by the enormous cost of commercial equipment. Therefore, the only means for artists to explore this new medium is to build their own equipment from scrapped components of industrial machines. I have spent the past 15 years pursuing this goal. In so doing, I find myself on an unpredictable path winding through three landscapes: science, art, and education.

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

DIY – Robotic Yellow Drum Machine plays Drums!

max — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:49:59 +0000

Wow, this has to be one of the cooler DIY robots I’ve seen in a long time. Basically, it plays drums. Not real drums, but it plays your household stuff like vases as drums. Beautifully done, we give it an A+ for the creators. (Btw, we are not selling the blog for $1000, our readers say it’s too cheap! How much should we sell it for? j/k April FOOLS!)

Notice how the robot first plays on the object it finds (or is forced to find by the angry cameraman), plays a small beat, and records the beat it plays on it. Then this recorded beat is played again, and it starts to play on the object (an belt tracks and everything else it has),and also playing this sampled beat

[via] letsmakerobots

Click to enjoy the video

DIY – Robotic Yellow Drum Machine plays Drums!

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It’s the Apple Map

David Allen — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:00:29 +0000

Keeping everthing all in one place can be a bit of a pain, but when it comes to mapping while driving well that is just a different matter all together.

But in order to uitlise all of the iPhones tools, there is a need for somewhere suitable to see and be able to use the device while in the car, window seat is one such product that can do the job and do it well. It will be available for sale later in the year.

Source [Pop Gadget]

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It’s the Apple Map

Action at the pumps

David Allen — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:17 +0000

This is either a great way of looking after customers by providing the latest news stories while you fill up or it is an ingenious way of making spend more money by putting you off from looking at how much fuel you are putting into your car.

I can see this causing hold ups and all sorts of problems at the pumps during the busy periods, but this is the age of technology and I suppose that we should be getting used to seeing this in all the places that we visit.

I would spend the whole evening there and not bother to go home.

Source [Engadget]

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Action at the pumps

Tank chair rules

David Allen — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:00:25 +0000

Now this is the way to travel, imagine that chair rolling over the hills or across the fields flattening anything in its path.

The chair has been designed to for wheel chair users to around the places where other can go, in fact in this chair, the users would probably be calling the shots and everyone else following.

Source [New Launches]

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Tank chair rules

The remote controlled cooler

David Allen — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:00:24 +0000

This is a must for the Homer Simpson types who just want to laze around all day long, while they watch the television or just take it easy.

The bag is on wheels and has a remote which will enable the person with it, to control where it is and who get the nice cool beer. The bag is collapsible for easy storage and will hold up to six bottles of beer or cans etc.

Source [Gadgettastic]

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The remote controlled cooler

Jet powered school bus

David Allen — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:00:05 +0000

Now there are no excuses for the kids to be late for school any more.

This is a jet powered school bus which will burn up the road and reach take off speed, or rather you would have thought so but there is no data available on the performance, or in fact if there is any room left for seats anyway!

Source [Hacked Gadgets]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Jet powered school bus

What every dog needs

David Allen — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:00:55 +0000

This is great idea for the family dog, throw this in the back of an SUV or station wagon and the family dog will be as happy as anything.

This will fit most cars with a back door, but will need to be plugged into the cigarette lighter as this is heated for the pooch to feel nice, warm and relaxed, which is probably unlike the rest of the family who are arguing and fighting up front.

Priced at around $190

Source [Born Rich]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

What every dog needs

Scary crash helmet

David Allen — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:00:49 +0000

This is the sort of thing that you would expect to see in a horror movie or something where you have the gang that ride along on motorbikes terrorising innocent people.

It also looks as if it wouldn’t give much protection, but I suppose that it must have past the required tests etc.

The one good thing about it is the ventilation that is gained by having the eye sockets in the front.

Priced at around $149.99

Source [New Launches]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Scary crash helmet

Scooting about on a Stand-up Trike

max — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:39:33 +0000

Wow, check out this nifty Stand-Up Trike, tight! Will they send us a sample? (We will give it out as a prize if they do.)

Stephan Soder came up with the idea as a way to pull himself along while wearing rollerblades. He built the first one in his garage with a small petrol motor.

The commercial version is called the Easyglider X6 which riders can use with a skateboard or roller-blades or stand on a two-wheeled rear platform.

It features an electric-powered front wheel, a handbrake, a headlight, and three power levels. Optional extras include a music system, complete with a pair of mini speakers.

To use the Easyglider, you simply turn it on, stand on the platform and twist the throttle.

But the price may prove too much for some. It sells at £699, with a kids’ version available for £399.

via Keetsa

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Scooting about on a Stand-up Trike

The desk engine

David Allen — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:00:50 +0000

This one is going to really upset people around the office, it’s just a pity that it is a replica motorcycle engine; I don’t see what is wrong with getting a nice V8 on the desk purring away!

It’s a nice gadget for petrol heads, makes a different from all of those furry animals and massage USB powered devices.

Motorcycle Engine USB Hub features:
3 port hub – USB 2.0, of course
Loud motorcycle sounds with moving engine
Starter pedal and gear shift moving parts with appropriate sound and motion
Dimensions: 4.5″ x 4.7″ x 3.5″

All you need next is some leathers and a crash helmet to complete the illusion!

Priced at £39.99

Source [Think Geek]

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The desk engine

The electric VW Beetle

David Allen — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:00:19 +0000

This seems like a logical choice for an electric car, the rear engined VW Beetle was so far ahead of its time, that it is has taken decades of technological innovations just to catch up with it.

Now the balance has been restored and the electric Beetle is ready to go, the problem is that you first need to find yourself a decent looking Beetle; there are some good ones in Mexico! And now the conversation can begin.

Once completed the travel will cost around two cents a mile, yet you could reach 75 mph and with a range of 70 that is not bad going, the beauty of this is that you can drive a great classic car across the states for about $112, it don’t any cheaper than that!

Price for conversion $29,995.

Source [Ubergizmo]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

The electric VW Beetle

The future of driving

David Allen — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:00:19 +0000

This is what we could all be driving to the shops in soon! These little scooter type cars are based around a 50 cc air cooled four stroke engine which will take you up to 30 mph which is fast enough considering that it only has three wheels and measures only 56 inches wide.

The eco bit is that if you fill it up with fuel, about one & half gallons and you will be able to travel around 100 mile road trip carrying two adults, which is great fuel economy!

Features:

Automatic transmission.
Independent all-wheel suspension.
Shock absorbers.
13″ alloy wheels.
Rubber tires.
Two-point restraint seatbelts.
Steel tube frame is covered by a fibreglass body with a high-gloss gel coat finish.
The chrome dashboard includes gauges for fuel, a speedometer, and tachometer.

There are three great colours to choose from Red, Yellow, Green, or Blue.

Priced at a realistic $5,999.95.

Source [New Launches]

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

The future of driving

DIY HACK – HOWTO hack an industrial sewing machine!

max — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:11:38 +0000

Looks like Lady Ladyada hacked an industrial sewing machine. Definitely check it out.

Unlike little portables which turn on the DC motor when the foot-lever is pressed, industrials use a clutch motor. The motor is running the moment you turn it on, and when the foot-lever is pressed, it moves the clutch towards the motor, engaging it. This means higher torque when you turn it on, thus getting rid of the frustrating “have to help the machine along” stuff necessary with small sewing machines. Great. only problem is that the motor runs at a perky 1750 RPM and the clutch is very sticky. This means it requires some practice to get used to the foot pedal: instead of being linearly related to stitch speed, its much more ‘exponential’. Seems like either nothing is happening or its going at a ridiculous 2000-2500 stitches a minute — much too fast for someone out of practice.

The solution? Basically everyone says “you’ll get used to it with lots of practice.” Which is another way of saying “this design really sucks”. (There’s DC servo motors that have no clutch because they can give high instantaneous torque but I’m not 100% sure they solve the speed-control issues)

Another solution is to change the pulley, which will bring the max speed down, and tweak the clutch setup for better response. For $20 it’s a nice simple fix. I spent a few days figuring out how the hell one does this. I figure if I post all of this now it will possibly save someone else the hassle.

via MakeZine

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DIY HACK – HOWTO hack an industrial sewing machine!

V8 Barstools clear the way

David Allen — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:00:21 +0000

This will make sure that you can get to bar before everyone else, and if the tab gets too much you can make a fast getaway.

On show at the SEMA 2007 show, these little power packs must really pack a punch, however I am reliably informed that they are somewhat noisy, but with a massive V8 underneath you what would you expect, I suppose it could get a little warm there too!

Now this is the sort thing that you need when your neighbours get the F1 mowers!

Source [New Launches]

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V8 Barstools clear the way

3-Axis servo motor drawing “HackADay”

max — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:23:03 +0000

3-Axis servo motor drawing “HackADay”

Here’s the video if you can’t see it. (some kinda YouTube bug…yes blame it on the big company)

Cool, check out this awesome 3-Axis servo motor drawing “HackADay”. You can get the board for really cheap from this guy.

The preprogrammed AVR microcontroller must be purchased directly from Uli Huber. We do not carry the chips.

Please include $5 shipping and handling for destinations within the continental United States. For all other areas, please include $7 for shipping charges.

For those only interested in purchasing a single bare pcb board, shipping and handling can be avoided by sending us the cost of the pcb and include a self addressed stamped envelope with your order. Please attach three first class stamps to the envelope with your legible return address. We suggest using cardboard floppy disks envelopes that can be purchased at office supply stores. US only.

via HackADay

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Yet another Segway story

David Allen — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:00:50 +0000

Segways one day will rule the world; they will become aware and eventually rule us humans until we fight back. But until them we can do as we please the Segway and here are a couple of examples that just go to show how good they can look.

These are really customised versions of the two wheeled machine, which I think would surprise many people when they see them.

They have been given custom paint jobs, metal trims and some really great chrome wheels. Plus like the one in the second picture this one has a trailer, which would be great for going down to Wal Mart to get the groceries.

Source [Techna Bob]

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Yet another Segway story

DIY HACK – HOWTO make your own 360 panoramic photo-bot

max — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:40:08 +0000