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How to: Build a PC into your Coffee Table

aunindita — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:05:11 PDT

We’ve seen some neat computers built into desks before, but this build brings the PC straight into the living room (complete with water cooling). The entire coffee table was built from scratch using 2″x6″ planks, so you’ll need to harness your inner carpenter to pull this off. Although the image above looks like you’d have to hunch over to use the PC, the ledge in front of the monitor is actually a footrest. The mouse and keyboard are wireless, allowing the user to relax on the couch.

After sanding, staining, and applying protective resin, the computer innards were installed including:

16GB RAM
ASUS P8 Z77-VLK Motherboard
i5 3570k 3.4 GHz processor
Gigabyte Nvidia GTX 550Ti video card
128GB Solid State hard drive
Liquid cooling.

Check out the detailed project pictures to see how it all came together!

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DIY Open Source Laptop

aunindita — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:45:50 PDT

We’ve seen open source computing power grow steadily over the years: First the Arduino, then the Raspberry Pi, and now the open source laptop. Yes, you read that correctly: the goal of this project is to create a laptop built entirely with open source materials. The laptop is powered by a quad-core ARM CPU, features an on-board FPGA, and has plenty of GPIOs.

The PCB is just 4.5″ x 6″ and its height is governed by the ethernet port at 0.60″. In terms of memory, it can handle up to 4GB of a 64-bit, DDR3-1066 SO-DIMM. The creator hopes to release a the laptop in kit after some additional testing and debug. In the meantime, check out the project details to learn more about this complex project.

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Open Air, Vertical Case Mod Built by Hand (No CNC)

aunindita — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:24:44 PDT

Let’s face it, even some of the best case mods we feature are built in a typical shape: a rectangular prism. This mod, on the other hand, literally thinks outside the box by mounting the computer’s components in an vertical, open air configuration.

“The bottom of the case houses the PSU, water cooling pump & reservoir, a fan controller, and a 7″ touchscreen (underneath the radiators). The standing backbone of the case is only 3cm wide and contains the watercooling tubing, wiring for motherboard, 2 SSD’s and the RGB LED controller.”

The entire mod was built it by hand using basic tools (files, hacksaw and a small drill). No CNCs were used. Top it all off with some sexy blue LEDs and you’ve got an epic case mod! The build document was well photographed throughout the construction process to help understand how the entire chassis was built. Hopefully it has inspired your own case modding projects!

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How to: Dirt Simple LED Lighting for Bike Wheels

aunindita — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:38:37 PDT

Biking at night is quite dangerous, even with a headlight. To make yourself more visible (and more awesome), learn how to easily add LEDs to your bike’s wheels! This way, you’ll be clearly visible to drivers and also have an spectacular glow emitting from your bicycle.

Literally, all you need are some LED rope lights and batteries. After some basic cutting and soldering, you’ve got yourself a neat DIY bike upgrade. The best part is people of all ages love the result making this is a perfect weekend project for parents and children. Check out the full details to build your own!

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How to Create a Dedicated Pandora Radio Streamer

aunindita — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:12:53 PDT

Everyone loves Pandora, but let’s face it: it’s a shame to leave a PC on for the sole purpose of streaming music . You can buy various devices which come “Pandora ready” such as AV receivers, Roku, and Xbox OR…you can have the satisfaction of building your own using a Raspberry Pi!

As you’re likely aware, the Raspberry Pi is a competent, credit-card sized Linux PC. All you need to build your own “Pandora’s Box” is a Raspberry Pi, LCD, and a few switches (for controlling the music). Ready to build your own? Learn how using these step-by-step instructions.

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Hack a NES Zapper into a Burning Laser Gun

aunindita — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:20:46 PDT

Ray guns, lasers, and lightsabers have been part of the sci-fi world for decades. We’ve featured a few neat steampunk ray guns in the past, but this NES zapper gun which was fitted with a surprisingly affordable 2W Blu-Ray diode is in a whole separate category. Check out how it ignites matches almost instantly:

The laser gun is incredlby easy to build: The creators used the 445nm diode, did a bit of soldering, and added batteries. They did add some safety features including a lock and heatsink. To build your own, see the step-by-step process complete with detailed images.

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How to: Integrate Google’s Nexus 7 into your Car Dashboard

aunindita — Thu, 02 May 2013 01:57:20 PDT

Let’s face it, most automotive manufacturers (besides Telsa Motors) are horrible at designing user friendly dashboards. It’s 2013, yet our dashboards are still filled with dozens of non-intuitive knobs and buttons. Enter the highly affordable Google Nexus 7 which makes for a cheap, yet fantastic upgrade to your car for years to come. In this example, the tablet is removable for use outside of the car.

Internet is passed to the Nexus 7 via 3G cell phone tethering. Using additional 3rd part hardware, the tablet can take control of key parts of your vehicle such as the stereo. Overall, it’s a unique way to improve your stock dashboard and add value to your ride.

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Hexacopter + Hexapod = An Eerie Robotics Masterpiece

aunindita — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:50:51 PDT

Hexacopter: Similar to a quadracopter, except with 6 blades instead of four. Hexapod: A 6-legged robot which walks like a spider. Why not combine the two? These makers decided to combine the them into one horrifying contraption. It crawls like a spider and flies like a helicopter. See it in action:

To build it, they started with a standard hexapod electronics kit and replaced the structural components with lightweight, carbon fiber. Next, they added the a six-rotor configuration to provide stability during flight. As you can see, the results are eerie, but fantastic!

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Incredible Transforming Desk from the 1700′s

aunindita — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:08:31 PDT

This incredible transforming desk literally has hidden passages inside its hidden passages. At first glance, it looks like a beautiful, ornate piece of furniture. But in reality, many of its shiny brass embellishments are actually buttons which open secret drawers. Keep in mind all of this is achieved mechanically – No electronics were used.

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But wait, there’s more! The crafsmanship doesn’t stop with just one desk. Here’s yet another piece from the same artist:

The number of secret drawers and cubbyholes never ends! Hopefully you’re now fully inspired to build your own secret passages in your furniture or home.

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DIY Google Street View System

Joe L — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:20:30 PST

Now you can have your very own copy of Google’s revolutionary camera system! Use it to make your own street view videos from a car or you can even mount it on a backpack and take it hiking with you. You can even install a remote control for convenience. The system below is a pre-made kit, but you can also learn how to construct your own street view system.

The camera provides 360 x 160 degrees of coverage with a resolution of 7500 x 3750 pixels. Images are automatically geo-tagged and your altitude and heading are also logged. Go build your own system and tell us about it!

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How to Make Giant, Illuminated Balloon Art

aunindita — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:52:37 PDT

Here’s a superb way to get a message across: This giant Super Mario “sculpture” is made up of hundreds of LED Floaties (Helium + LEDs + Balloons). Of course, the idea can be altered to fit any graphic or message – All you need is a grid for color placement and you’re set to go! Check out the video:

The process begins with colored LEDs and 3-volt coin batteries. One LED is taped to one battery, placed into an opaque balloon, helium is added, and finally the balloons are attached to a “grid” comprised of carbon fiber tubes. Once all the balloons are in place, the entire apparatus is tethered to the ground and allowed to float over your city for everyone to admire. Read the complete instructions to create your own!

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DIY Doorbell Video Security System

aunindita — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 23:29:49 PDT

Ever wonder who comes to your door during the day while you’re gone? Here’s a simple DIY project to answer that question. Every time someone rings your doorbell, you’ll receive a text message containing a photo of the person. The system can also be setup to automatically take photos based upon motion detection instead of a doorbell press.

When someone rings the doorbell, the Arduino instructs a camera to take a picture. It then also sends an email to your smart phone notifying you that someone is at the door. If you’re nterested in building your own, check out the detailed instructions.

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Superb Mechanical Seven-Segment Display

aunindita — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:19:54 PDT

Sure, 7-segment displays are common electronic components we see everyday. This, however, is an entirely mechanical version which morphs each minute as the time changes. To accomplish this, it uses lots of small servo motors to manipulate each of the clock’s 28 individual segments. Check it out in action:

The innards of the clock include a microcontroller and shift register. The entire setup is made from laser cut acrylic and each segment along is built from three individual pieces of acrylic! Read more about the project to build your own!

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Large Pond + Zipline + Wakeboard = Awesome!

aunindita — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:00:20 PDT

Here’s a dream come true for all you wakeboarding fans: ride all day without a boat, fumes, or gasoline. These two guys used a zipline attached to towers set at each side of a large private pond to make it happen. Check it out:

The towers are 140 yards apart which allows for a 120-yard wakeboarding run. The line is computer controlled through a laptop which reads and controls the speed, position, and direction of the line (it can also be set for a predetermined number of ski runs back and forth). All it needs is an operator on shore to push the ‘go’ button and the computer does the rest. Check out more details on the project.

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Incredible RGB LED Cube Tutorial

aunindita — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 03:07:32 PDT

We’ve seen our fair share of LED light cubes before, but what makes this one different is its incredibly detailed, step-by-step tutorial. The creator of this light show previously made a one color LED light cube and shared the trials, tribulations and instructions. He has since decided to go multi-color, again while challenging himself and learning some new tricks along the way.

The project requires 512, 10mm RGB LEDs and an Arduino compatible microcomputer. The creator used wooden strips to create vertical panels of LEDs rather than horizontal layers for ease of building. The building and soldering took about one weekend and the software took about 70 hours. The author saves you time by providing most of the code for you. Learn how to fbuild your own RGB LED cube!

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Intel Recreates Musical 3D Animation in Real Life

aunindita — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:55:03 PDT

You may recall an incredible 3D animated video from years ago from Animusic called “Pipe Dream” which featured a musical ensamble of robotics. Intel decided to recreate the performance for real in just 90 days. Unlike majority of our projects, this one doesn’t come with instructions so we’re posting it as inspiration for your future projects:

Overall, the system uses 36 ball hoppers, 2300 balls, and creates 120 unique notes. The display was created to show off Intel’s hardware (the used seven Intel processors and spent $160k), but we’d love to see a DIY version! If you build one, let us know and we’ll pay you to post it on HacknMod!