September 2012

DIY Zoom Lense for your Pocket Camcorder

  If you shoot video with a small pocket camcorder you might wish you could get some depth of field like you can get from a DSLR. Dan Colvin sent in his latest project that solves that problem with a pair of cheap binoculars and a home made bracket. The binoculars held up to the small lens of the camcorder gives you the depth of field that you have been

Smart Grid using an old UPS

  Instructables user bennelson shows us how you can make a Smart Grid using an old UPS. This allows him to charge his 48 volt electric motorcycle using a discarded UPS. When the power fails he can also backfeed his garage or house using his UPS system which would then draw current from the motorcycle battery to generate AC power.  He unplugs the UPS AC power from the wall, connects

Crazy Welding Techniques

Friction Welding     Friction Welding is an exotic type of welding that needs some large precision machines to handle the forces involved in performing the process. One piece of metal is spun and then forced into a secondary piece of metal. This causes intense heat and fuses the two metals together.     Thermite Welding     Thermite Welding is when you harness the insane heat generated by burning

Techpod U.A.V. - Kickstarter

  If you are looking for a way to get a pan tilt camera into a plane this Techpod U.A.V. Kickstarter might be what you were waiting for. Watch the video to see how much technical work went into the design and see the plane take flight. The dome in the front allows a pan/tilt camera to get some great shots. “A high performance remote control airplane for first person

Raspberry Pi Printer Interface

  If you have one of the new Raspberry Pi microcontrollers there may come a time where you need to print something. Tobias sent in his Raspberry Pi Printer Interface project where he does just that. He built a method of capturing web sites as an image which allowed them to be printed. Tobias has made the code available for you to have a good starting point for your printing

Wireless Doorbell sends SMS Message when Activated

  How would you like to know when your doorbell is pressed even when you are out of the house? If you have a camera system you could even see who is there and if you know them you might as well give them a call to let them know when you will be back in. 🙂 Martin’s Hobby Projects site has the details on the Wireless Doorbell sends SMS

Thermal Imaging Device for Smart Phone

  Andy Rawson built an open hardware Thermal Imaging Device for use with Smart Phones (the code and details will be posted soon I am assuming).  We have seen the commercial version of these Thermal Imaging Cameras used on home renovation shows to pinpoint insulation issues. As Andy mentions these cameras are much more than the average home owner could afford to spend to learn where his house is lacking