The Maker Movement
The ability to create is nothing new, human culture has risen from the ability to create and use tools to expand our culture and society, largely driven by engineering and manufacturing. In recent years however, the tools used by engineers and manufactures has become more and more accessible to all. Programming has become easier, micro-controllers and single board computers cost less than $10, 3D Printers, Laser Cutters, even CNC milling machines can be had for hundreds of dollars when 10 years ago would cost tens of thousands. This affordability has allowed people to become both more independent, but also more creative and new communities have risen.
The Maker Movement is just one expression of these new communities. Its amazing what technologies and ideas get generated, and many people in this movement enjoying sharing their projects and information. It is stunning how many how-to and tutorials you can find online.
In the lists below, I'm sharing some of the resources I use, be it for the class or for my own personal projects, and I encourage you to explore some of these resources on your own.
The Maker Movement is just one expression of these new communities. Its amazing what technologies and ideas get generated, and many people in this movement enjoying sharing their projects and information. It is stunning how many how-to and tutorials you can find online.
In the lists below, I'm sharing some of the resources I use, be it for the class or for my own personal projects, and I encourage you to explore some of these resources on your own.
Websites
Instructables.com : A Website that hosts how-to instructions created by members of the community. These can range from how to replace the battery in your phone to recipes for the kitchen to how to make your own laser cutter (a high schooler did that one)
Hack A Day: This is a blog that highlights a variety of interesting high tech projects, teaches concepts around electronics and simple mechanics, occasionally looks back at how technology has developed in the 1900s. While most of their posts are related to electronics and robotics, 3d printing projects usually show up every day or two.
Adafruit: Adafruit is an electronics company started by Limor Fried (Lady Ada) after she graduated from MIT with an Electrical Engineering Degree. In addition to being a store for DIY electronics and craft projects, the website includes tutorial lessons (from beginning to expert) and has a blog that highlights maker projects across the spectrum, from 3d Printing Thursdays, to traditional electronics, to programming Arduinos and Raspberry Pis. While there is occasionally some overlap with Hack A Day and Instructables, they also show arts and crafts that o not necessary require electronics and programming, such as cosplay .
Thingiverse : Thingiverse is a website where people share their 3d models, files that they have created in CAD software, and choose to share freely with other people. While sometimes the files can be edited and changed, most of them are just enough of a file that you can 3d print your own, but I find that they can be quite inspiring
Magazines
Make magazine: Make features Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math in a single issue. Each issue tends to focus on a theme, sometimes Robotics, other times electronics, others could be food or biology. They show off various projects or articles about people, but every issue showcases some well done how-to guides so you can make the projects yourself.
Popular Science / Popular Mechanics: Make Magazine evolved from what Popular Science and Popular Mechanics are. Like MAKE there are some how-to guides or "how its made" articles but most of what they publish now are about the high tech projects being done for consumer markets and military use, from the latest gadgets to cars and jets to megaprojects.
Events
Reading about or watching videos about the markermovement is one thing, Seeing and Doing it in person is something else. Started by MAKE Magazine over 10 years ago, Maker Faires are a showcase of what can be done. You can talk with creators, watch high-speed races of modified Power Wheel cars, even solder an electronics kit or do art with a blow torch, not to mention walking away with all sorts of free stuff. While the larger ones are further away (New York City, San Fransicso, etc) there are a few smaller ones closer to us:
Raleigh Mini Maker Faire - September 23rd 2017
Charlotte Mini Maker Faire - October 14th 2017
Burlington Maker Faire - Spring 2018
Greensboro Mini Maker Faire - Summer 2018
Raleigh Mini Maker Faire - September 23rd 2017
Charlotte Mini Maker Faire - October 14th 2017
Burlington Maker Faire - Spring 2018
Greensboro Mini Maker Faire - Summer 2018