Tag Archives: Ben Heck

Ben Heck talks about fitting custom 3D printer in briefcase, Q nods in approval (video)

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Ben Heck overhauls his custom 3D printer, makes it extra portable video

The last time we ran into Ben Heck, the tinkerer extraordinaire was waxing poetic at Maker Faire about the Raspberry Pi and cheese curds. One more thing he also talked about, however, was his latest 3D printer project, which he now explains in greater detail in the latest episode of the Ben Heck Show. Improvements made to the device include use of a Birdstruder for easier access to the filament and the ability print off an SD card if you don't have a computer handy. The 3D printer also sports an expanded 200-square-millimeter print area with a solid copper cover for added sturdiness and accuracy. As usual, size matters for Mr. Heckendorn so the device got a boost in portability, now neatly folding James Bond-like into a briefcase that measures 18 x 14 x 4.2 inches. Interested in a briefcase printer of your own? Well, Heckendorn mentioned during the Maker Faire interview that he's already working on an improved version and thinking about putting it up on Kickstarter so hope springs eternal. In the meantime, you can glean more details about the device by checking out the video after the break.

Continue reading Ben Heck talks about fitting custom 3D printer in briefcase, Q nods in approval (video)

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Ben Heck talks about fitting custom 3D printer in briefcase, Q nods in approval (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 06:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben Heck’s Raspberry Pi Keyboard Computer: BBC Micro-inspired, DIY All the Way

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Do you love 80s computer tech? Well then you’ll love Ben Heck’s BBC Micro-inspired Raspberry Pi keyboard computer. He managed to put the $35 DIY Raspberry Pi computer into a nice keyboard that definitely has some retro style.

raspberry pi ben heck keyboard micro computer

Ben Heck thinks that the possibilities with the diminutive Raspberry Pi are endless. His keyboard computer features a vintage enclosure, cartridge slots and an add-on experimenter kit. The keyboard has a lot of wood in it, which comes as no surprise. The retro keyboard computer opens up like a desk drawer when the keyboard is lifted up. It’s possible to add an on/off switch, Ethernet connectivity, video/audio composite, DC 5V input and a USB hub. C++ programming was implemented to run tests via the experimentation kit.

raspberry pi ben heck keyboard micro computer card

He hopes that this mod will inspire kids to start coding again like many of us did back in the day. You can check out his mod over at The Ben Heck Show.

[via Ubergizmo]


Glowing Toilet Light is Perfect for the Wee Hours of the Night

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I never go into the bathroom upstairs at my house. That’s the bathroom my son uses, and he can’t aim. If he goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I can guarantee you there’s more on the lid and the floor than in the toilet. He blames it on the dark because he doesn’t want to turn on the light. My wife calls it lazy, but I understand. I just have better aim.

I think what we need in the bathroom is one of these custom Ben Heck illuminated toilet rings. Granted, with an 11-year-old, it would need to be urine proof. Heck took a flexible light strip and cobbled together a fuzzy bathmat with pressure sensitive electronics inside.

glowing toilet ring
All you have to do to get the red glow around the toilet, and hopefully improve your aim, is step on the bathmat. If you want to make one of these for yourself check out the latest episode of The Ben Heck Show.

I don’t think my wife would go for one of these in our bathroom.


Ben Heck gives dads the light-up toilet they deserve

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Happy belated Father's Day, internet -- now please enjoy some video of Ben Heck modding a toilet. The tinkerer-turned-host offered up one of his more unsanitary projects over the weekend, involving a bathmat, a Glade Plug-in, a porcelain throne and a Tron-esque lighting scheme. Step on the weight-sensing mat and the conductive ink will go to work, lighting up side illuminating fiber optics on the toilet, should the photocell determine it dark enough. All of this means not having to turn on the bathroom lights once that nightcap is ready to make the next step in its magical journey. And best of all, the lighting scheme is visible underneath the lid, so you can put the seat down, like the civilized individual you are. Video after the break.

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Ben Heck gives dads the light-up toilet they deserve originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)

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Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)

Sick of trying to control your 360 using Kinect, semaphore and advanced flailing? Modgod Ben Heck, deciding he wanted to be more Minority Report and less lunatic, has been working on Power Glove 2.0 to improve the console's navigation experience. The prototype glove is tricked out with Arduino, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and some fingertip buttons. With the addition of IR and a little coding magic, the 360's interface can be controlled via subtle gestures, with increased functionality / style points also apparent. Check out the latest episode of The Ben Heck Show after the break for a detailed walkthrough of the project and a demo of the glove in action.

Continue reading Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)

Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben Heck’s Android-controlled pot-stirrer does (most of) the cooking for you

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Ben Heck's Android-controlled pot-stirrer does (most of) the cooking for you

Ben Heck is always thinking up gadgets that make life easier, from completely hands-free luggage to a sensor system for improved cycling safety. His latest mod is meant for those of us who have burnt Ramen a few too many times. His so-called Ben-Stur Remote Control Android app works with a pot-stirring device, freeing users to stray from the kitchen while their meal is cooking. The app works via Bluetooth, and the pot-stirrer consists of an actuator arm, a chip clip, a timing belt and, of course, a wooden spoon. Heck used a Google ADK and an Arduino Uno for the control mechanism that communicates between the app and the stirrer. In the tablet app, users can check their food's temperature and control the speed of the spoon's stirring. If that whets your appetite, click the source link for more info -- and check out our Maker Faire interview with Mr. Heckendorn himself.

Ben Heck's Android-controlled pot-stirrer does (most of) the cooking for you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 05:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video)

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Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video)

Did you miss Maker Faire Bay Area 2012? Did you go but want to relive the experience a little? Well look no further: we came, we saw, we conquered. As one of our friends acutely observed, you couldn't throw something this year without hitting a 3D printer. Below you'll find pictures of said 3D printers, but also unicorns, Tesla coils and yes, even zombies (!) -- all lovingly curated from the hundreds of shots we took at the event this past weekend. Craving something with a bit more meat? We've made a convenient list of our Maker Faire posts. Once you're done digesting that, hit the break for our lovely video montage.

Gallery: Maker Faire Bay Area 2012

Continue reading Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video)

Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: Ben Heck talks Raspberry Pi at Maker Faire (video)

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The Engadget Interview: Ben Heck talks Raspberry Pi at Maker Faire (video)

It's really no surprise that we bumped into the legendary Ben Heck at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012. Still, he was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time. We talked about the Raspberry Pi, robot luggage, portable 3D printers, pinball machines, pretzels and cheese curds -- oh my! Just take a look at our video interview and don't miss the outtakes at the end.

The Engadget Interview: Ben Heck talks Raspberry Pi at Maker Faire (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 16:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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