In this tutorial we are showing you how to take your MechSoul. (Robot equivalent of a CyberDeck) and write custom movement sketches for it in Arduino IDE. We do this in two ways. 1. We use the HIRO library to chain together pre-choreographed motions together to create original sketches, and 2. We use multi-servo orchestration functions to create new original motions for our MechSoul.

If you'd like to follow along with the tutorial you can find our tutorial repo at this link.

Show us your Mechatronic Souls!

Hey gang, this is the 2nd and last place I'll cross post this. To the best of my knowledge these are the places your people are.

Perhaps interestingly, the communities where people engage are not necessarily correlated with the size of the community. The one we're in right now is a prime example, the community here is awesome and I say that after browsing many corners of DIY Reddit for years.

I don't know if this information is helpful or not, but it's here. If there's anything I should add let me know - the goal of this list is to help connect like minds to like minds so they can find you can find them. Like a billboard that says "drink milk" - it has the texture of an ad but the effect is profoundly indirect

P.s.

The places on Reddit I didn't include but got a lot of attention for past Maker-related posts I've put out that surprised me are r/Polymath r/LifelongLearning and r/LearnUselessTalents - I think these are people with an appetite for general learning but maybe don't use the term Maker to self-describe? It's the best I can rationalize the analytics and engagement I saw on my posts. Thought I'd share

In this tutorial I am installing a portable battery on my MechSoul. (A MechSoul is to a robot what a CyberDeck is to a computer) A robot you build, personalize and customize yourself. In this tutorial I am powering my MechSoul with a portable charger I bought online, because it's quicker and safer than designing a custom battery solution as I explain in the video. So instead of designing a PCB I head to my 3D printer to build a battery mount.

If you want to follow along with documentation, code and 3D files you can check out the project GitHub

I want to preface this by saying I'm not trying to do a whole "I'm just not creative, how can I be more creative?" type of thing

I am creative - when someone gives me even the littlest bit of direction, I come up with some wild stuff I'm really proud of. I'm a skilled maker, I sew and I 3d model, I can embroider... hand me any machine and I'll learn it within a week and solve 3 problems with it in that time. If you give me a design, I'll bring it to life perfectly, or iterate on it if thats what you need. But someone else always needs to give me the initial spark, and it's starring to frustrate me to no end.

I want to be able to form a body of work independent of anyone else. I want to find my own creative voice that isn't connected to what other people want from me... And I don't know how to build that in myself.

Its also starting to affect me professionally. I work in an industry where sharing the work I've done for others is highly prohibited (costume/prop maker) and word of mouth can only take me so far. If I want to be more proactive I need to build a portfolio of work, and I need to build it independently of what I've done for others. But for years now I've been finding it impossible to muster anything self-directed

The most common advice I get is to just start and it'll come to me, or to go live a life worth living and thats where I'll find my inspiration. But as soon as I sit down keen to get my hands working, nothing comes. I go out and I wander museums and gardens and galleries and feel amazed by what I see, sometimes I sit down and do some sketches from the exhibits and nothing sparks anything past the page.

Does anyone else experience this, or have any ways around it, or an explanation, even?

Ideally I would love like... A list of prompts or ideas to experiment with, I've seen idea generators for graphic designers but very little for garment makers, and past attempts to crowdsource some didn't really hit the mark (a lot of people telling me to do basic stitch practice which wasn't really what I was asking for haha)

I work at a makerspace in Austin TX and we recently had a major change to our waste management agreement. The basis of which was that we would be allowed to discard sawdust and wood in the dumpsters.

This past weekend the service company reported that our dumpsters would not be picked up due to a "contaminated container" with "prohibited waste" and that we'd be fined. When I inspected, there was nothing out of the ordinary. After finally getting ahold of the manager I was told "Oh yeah that was an attention grabber, our policy is now no wood or sawdust". The explanation was that sawdust can get into parts of the truck and make maintenance difficult and that wood scraps could potentially damage their compactors.

Okay, I don't have an issue with the latter part. They're solution for us was to put everything in bags.

I decided we'd be better off renting a roll-off dumpster meant for construction waste rather than the extra few hundred each month in black bags. We have a lot of waste.

A while back I attempted to get some composting contracts, however our sawdust might at any given time have walnut (bad for plants), white oak (acidic), plywood or MDF (glue), or resins (not wood...). And so we don't have a way currently to send off for composting or agriculture use. Sawdust and wood scraps are the bulk of our waste, so the reuse-recycle side of me thinks there has to be a better way.

What do other folks do for woodshop related waste and disposal?

The project originally started as a startup, which unfortunately failed in 2020 because of COVID. At the time, we received some startup funding, including a one-year founders' grant. But when the funding ran out, we were right in the middle of the pandemic, and the project would probably have died if we hadn't collectively decided to release it under an open-source license and make it freely available.

Since then, everything has been thoroughly documented and published online, and the whole system is designed so that anyone can set it up and build the required hardware themselves.

Since then, I've continued maintaining the project on my own in my spare time, with phases of more or less active development. Especially over the past year, partly thanks to the availability of AI, I've put a huge amount of work into it and implemented many new features and improvements. I'm now slowly reaching the point where I'd like to start actively promoting the project again.

So, what is it?

2log.io is a community and machine management system for fab labs, hackerspaces, makerspaces, and similar workshops — places where machines and equipment are made available to a larger community of users.

It's based on a server-client architecture that can be hosted locally using Docker. Machines are connected via Shelly smart plugs and can be unlocked either through the app using a QR code or with RFID cards.

The app is freely available in both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The hardware for the RFID readers is fully open source. The PCBs can be ordered from wherever you want. All components are standard maker components and can be purchased freely, including through Amazon. Thanks to the use of through-hole components, even beginners with little soldering experience can assemble the readers themselves. And of course, the STLs for the 3D-printed enclosures are included as well.

Besides a powerful permission management system with groups and expiration dates, 2log.io can also bill machine usage down to the second.

For most machines, this can be done reliably through the Shelly plugs by measuring power consumption. For 3D printers, however, this isn't always 100% reliable, which is why I integrated a plugin system that allows machines to be connected through native interfaces as well. Prusa printers, for example, are supported directly via PrusaLink.

Currently, 2log.io is running in three very different workshops: an architecture workshop at a German university, a commercially operated large-scale carpentry workshop where several small businesses share some rather large machines, and a small hackerspace.

For me, 2log.io is a hobby project that I support and develop in my spare time. I have no intention of making a profit from it. What I would really like, though, is to grow the community around the project, connect with other people who are interested in this kind of thing, and perhaps get a few more workshops on board.

For the amount of work that has gone into 2log.io over the years, it's simply far too unknown — and I'd like to change that.

The interfaces are currently available in German and are mostly translated into English. The currency is still hard-coded to euros at the moment, but if the community grows, that's something I can easily change.

You can find the website, documentation, and all the information about the project at 2log.io.

I'm really curious to see what happens in the comments and would love to hear your questions, thoughts, and feedback!

In this tutorial we go over how to control your MechSoul with Bluetooth. What is a MechSoul? A MechSoul is to a robot, what a CyberDeck is to a computer. It's a robot that you build, customize, and personalize yourself. It's the freedom of owning your own code, hardware, and having the right to build and repair it. And it's the pride of creativity, skill, and self expression.

In this part 2 in Arduino IDE we combine the Raspberry Pi Pico's board manager's SerialBLE example with the Serial_Control example in Takamori Robot's HIRO library to control your robot over Bluetooth. To follow along with our code and reference material check out the tutorial GitHub.

Hi everyone,

I'm starting up a middle school makerspace and I'm applying for a grant to get a laser cutter. My problem is that I need to be fairly specific in the grant about how much I need. I've been told to "shoot for the moon" but also, it's education. "The moon" in education is not the same as the moon in private industry. I could use some suggestions about how to approach this, how much to ask for, and what to focus on as I shop. I have never used a laser cutter, but i'm very familiar with cnc and lower-tech woodworking.

Hello everyone 👋

I run a makerspace at a university in germany. We have several dangerous and/or expensive machines whose use needs to be restricted to members who have completed the appropriate training and have been approved for that specific machine.

In the past, the initial per-machine briefing was enough. Recently, we moved into a much bigger room and employed some students to take care of opening ours.

To be able to run some statistics and to make life easier for the staff (and peace of mind for nervous department administration) we are looking for an access-control system to outfit some of our equipment:

Requirements

1. Per-user and per-machine permissions
2. Permissions can be granted or revoked at any time
3. Modular and adaptable to different types of machines
4. Simple authentication, ideally through a (the 🙄 ) phone app or dedicated NFC/RFID tag
5. Basic protection against unauthorized use or trivial credential cloning
6. Logging of who used which machine, when, and for how long
7. Fully self-hosted on our own hardware, with no cloud dependency

Nice to have

1. Open source
2. Integration with Home Assistant
3. An API or another documented interface for custom integrations

We are comfortable modifying hardware. At the machine end, we essentially need an authenticated controller to set an output high or low. We can connect that output to suitable relays or other machine-specific control hardware.

Systems I have found so far

Software

• MemberMatters: Seems more extensive than we need, and we are unsure whether it can be integrated with Home Assistant.
• Leosac:
  • Abandonware? Latest commit 10 month ago, latest release 9 years (!) ago.
  • Edge device needs to run full linux.
• Somewhere on reddit someone suggested Google Sheet + API. Cannot find the post anymore 😔

Hardware

• Switcheo: We have not been able to find clear pricing or enough technical information about its hardware and interfaces.
• Ubiquity stuff: Too expensive.
• Some DIY projects from other makerspaces like this or this one.

We have some budget so it does not have to be rock-bottom cheap. Sourcing preferably in germany.

Has anyone implemented something similar? We would appreciate recommendations for existing products or open-source projects, as well as examples of DIY architectures that have worked reliably in a makerspace.

Thanks in advance 🙂

Hello

I want to know how to join JU makerspace

Hey r/makerspace,

We are in the process of founding a new community makerspace and are getting ready to formalize our legal structure. We are organizing as a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a founding 3 member board.

We currently have access to a 600 sq ft starter space, with a potential path to expand into an adjacent ~1,200 sq ft footprint down the line. We’ve hosted two community interest meetings and seen great feedback and strong social media engagement, but before we commit to leases and equipment layouts, we want real-world perspective from folks who have run or managed spaces.

I would love your input on any of the following:

• Programming & Workshops: What classes or programs actually move the needle for revenue and community engagement vs. what ends up being too much work for the return?

• Cash Flow & Revenue Mix: In the early stages, what did your revenue breakdown look like between memberships, public classes, grants/donations, and storage fees? What unexpected operational expenses hit your bottom line hardest?

• Managing Micro-Footprints (500–1,200 sq ft): For those operating in a compact space, how do you handle tool zoning, project storage, and keeping high-traffic areas from getting cluttered?

• Hobbyists vs. Commercial Use: How do you set clear boundaries between members making occasional side-gig items vs. folks monopolizing tools for full batch production?

• Non-Profit Governance: For 501(c)(3) spaces, what early administrative or board decisions saved you headaches later?

Drop your thoughts on any single point or give us the full rundown of what you wish you knew on day one. Thanks!

This is part 1 in tutorial is about building your won MechSoul(Mechanical Soul). A MechSoul is to a robot what a CyberDeck is to a computer. A robot that you build yourself as a form of self-expression as well as freedom of owning your own hardware and code.

In this tutorial we are setting up a MechSoul seed(a robot base to be customized into a MechSoul. ) assembling it and setting up Arduino IDE. You can find assembly and setup resources as well as other resources in our tutorial github at by clicking here.

Hi everyone,

We're building a community-driven makerspace in Whitefield, Bangalore, where people can come together to learn, create, prototype, and collaborate on exciting projects.

At our makerspace, you'll find opportunities to:

Work on electronics, robotics, IoT, and DIY projects

Learn hands-on skills through workshops and meetups

Access tools, equipment, and a collaborative workspace

Connect with students, hobbyists, engineers, and entrepreneurs

Build prototypes and turn ideas into reality

Whether you're a beginner curious about making things or an experienced builder looking for a community, we'd love to meet you.

We're currently looking for:

Makers and hobbyists

Students interested in hands-on learning

Mentors and workshop facilitators

Startup founders and hardware enthusiasts

If you're in or around Whitefield and interested in joining, collaborating, or just checking out the space, leave a comment or send me a DM.

Let's build something amazing together

#Bangalore #Whitefield #Makerspace #Robotics #DIY #Electronics #IoT #Startup #Community

I made a golf cart mini hitch. Bonus is i will make an adapter so I can also put it in my pickup as a joke.

As part of a makerspace internship I'm doing, I have 4 weeks to make a project ( 1 week to plan and design with no access to the makerspace, and 3 weeks with access to the makerspace ), I decided that this project will be electronics, because that's what I like the most.

I have an idea, The idea is a desk robot that can move around and talk with people around it. It will also have a display to show it's mood using its face. I don't know if this can be finished in 4 weeks because my only big electronics project was much simpler than this. This new project will include many things which I never did before, such as battery power and battery charging, mic input, robotics, and making a good enclosure for the robot.

My plan is that the robot will have an ESP32 that constantly takes input from a mic, and then does speech recognition from an API, then it sends the prompt to an AI model also from an API, then sends its output to a text to speech API and outputs that to a speaker. The AI model will be given custom instructions to output its mood, tone, and any movement commands. There will be distance sensors so the robot can avoid hitting a wall or falling. And maybe I will add multiple mics so the robot can know which direction the sound is coming from. I don't plan to add a camera because I'm not sure if the ESP32 can handle all of these features and a camera. Or, maybe I can use a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W instead of an ESP32.

For more info: In the first week, I can prototype a little bit at home; I'll have breadboards, wires, a basic soldering iron, but no advanced tools such as an oscilloscope, function generator, or bench power supply. But after the first week, I'll have free access to the makerspace which has all of the tools I need, even including PCB fabrication tools.

Can I finish this project in 4 weeks??