Best K40 Laser Upgrades: Upgrading for quality and abilities!
Upgrading my K40 laser cutter to have better quality and abilities
Announce Your Entry with Raspberry Pi, Python and Bluetooth
Did you ever want to have your return to your office or home announced with a fanfare? Probably not, but let’s do this anyway ;) This script will use Bluetooth (built into the Raspberry Pi 3) to …
Linux Automation Tip: How to Send Messages from Python to Your Slack Channels
Slack is a hugely popular live group chat system. While a lot of my notifications now go to Discord, as I wrote about here, Slack is still more popular with development teams, and it is what we use in …
EZ-Robot IoTiny
While Arduino and Raspberry Pi dominate, there are other boards out there for robot builders. One of the best for rapid robot development is IoTiny from EZ-Robot.
DJI/Ryze Tello Mini-Drone Review
DJI/Ryze Tello Mini-Drone is, as the name suggests, a new and tiny drone from the people who created my lovely DJI Mavic Pro. The important differences are, however, compelling:
Running Raspberry Pi AND Arduino for the Best of Both Worlds
I have been writing a lot more about Raspberry Pi than Arduino lately, but don’t get the impression I am leaving the Arduino world behind. Both devices have their benefits, and in fact, I …
Linux Automation Tips: Create a Boot/Start Menu with Python
You may have seen in the Maker Hacks Facebook Group the latest iteration of my Raspberry Pi based entertainment center. It’s now got to the point where I need a boot menu, so I thought I would …
Using Grove Sensors, Buttons, and Displays, with Raspberry Pi and Python
Grove sensors are a plug and play way to add sensors, buttons, displays, and actuators to your electronics projects, without soldering. Let's take a look how well they work when paired with a …
Linux Automation Tips: Running Scripts Automatically
Running commands from the shell is all well and good, but what if you don’t want to always be logging into your terminal? What if the script, or even server, crashes or needs to reboot? In this …
Password-Less SSH Access to Your Linux Machine or Raspberry Pi Using Public Keys
If you are logging in and out of a Linux machine, especially a Raspberry Pi on your local network, it can be a pain to keep entering a password. The longer and more secure your password, the more of a …
Finally, Prusa Mk42 Heatbed for the Prusa Mk2/Mk2.5, and Pinda Sensor Clones!
The Prusa Mk2/Mk3 3d printers are renowned as top quality, but buying parts is a painfully expensive deal due to the long journey and single supplier. That just changed!
Linux Automation Tip: Kill Script if Already Running
Here is a shell script that will allow you to kill a script if it is already running #!/usr/bin/env bash ps -ef | grep $1 | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill -9 Supply the name of the script as the first …
T8 CNC Kit Review
Update, 2026. This kit is no longer on sale, and the shop links below died along with Gearbest. I have left the review up because the build notes and the general lessons still apply, but do not go …
Creality Ender 2 3D Printer Kit Review
Update, 2026. This printer is no longer on sale, and the shop links below died along with Gearbest. I have left the review up because the build notes and the general lessons still apply, but do not go …
Linux Automation Tip: Process Discord Messages and Launch Shell Commands in Python
In the previous Discord article we set up a listener, but really that was just the foundation – enough to listen for “hello” and greet the user. Now we need a real-world example.
Linux Automation Tip: Listen for Commands with your Discord Bot using Python
A Discord bot that only SENDS messages is all well and good, but really we want our bots to interact. We need to make them listen and respond.
Creality CR-10 MINI Review
Creality CR-10 MINI 3D printer kit - as good to review as the other 3d printers in the CR-10 lineup? Let's find out in this review!
Linux Automation Tip: Send Messages to Your Discord Server Using Python
I am on a mission to declutter my email. Once you get past the unsubscribe/filter stage, the next thing is to get the important information in a different way. Once I started down this path, however, …
Building a Cryptocurrency Mining Rig is Easier than You Might Think
Can your PC mine bitcoin? If you are interested in dipping your toe into cryptocurrency mining then fear not - it might be easier than you thought
Email Your Raspberry Pi IP Address on Boot
A common complaint from Raspberry Pi owners is when running headless (no monitor or keyboard). If the Pi reboots then you lose your login session and often the previous IP address. Using …
Linux Automation Tip: Repeat Commands with Loops and Delays
Unix and Linux are a lot more powerful for automation than people from other operating systems know, that power is under the hood in Macosx (via the BSD Unix foundations) and that power is making its …
Formlabs Form 2 First Look
I am in love with a 3D printer and her name is Formlabs Form 2
Can I replace my iMac with a DIY PC?
Can I replace my 2012 iMac with a DIY PC that is at least as powerful? Can I do it for less than a new iMac would cost me? Will it run MacOSX?
Loading the Arduino Bootloader on your 3D Printer Board (Unbricking Your RAMPs/3D Printer)
I received a JG Aurora A5 to review. Unfortunately, there were a few issues. Fortunately, however, they were issues I was fairly sure would be resolved by the community-provided Marlin Firmware. Yes, …
Adding a GPU with Powered PCIe Risers
Adding a GPU (graphics card) to your PC, but not enough space or full length slots available? a great solution is to use a "Powered PCIe Riser".
Get Started with the Internet of Things with an ESP8266 IoT Sensor/Timer
Lots of people ask me about IoT (“The Internet of Things”). It’s a currently warm, if no longer hot, buzzword. Problem is I find a lot of the instruction out there …
Cheap solution for WiFi dead spots – TP-Link PowerLine Ethernet Review
When I put together my brand new Virtual Reality PC I immediately encountered a problem. Wifi dead zone.
How to Automagically Create Thumbnail Images Using Python
Formatting round-up posts takes a bit of effort so I have been looking for ways to make the non-creative work as automated as possible. One of these tasks is creating thumbnails. Turns out it is …
Playing with Grove – LCD Displays
Recently I have come around to really enjoy the Grove sensors and displays from Seeed. They are so convenient!
Kano Pixel Review
In my research for my maker kids kits series, I came across a new gadget from Kano, the makers of the famous Raspberry Pi computing kit. It looked interesting so I bought one. Here are my thoughts on …
Should you buy one, big 3d printer or multiple, smaller printers?
Should you get one big 3d printer or multiple, smaller printers? It’s a question I get asked a lot. Obviously, the question is usually answered with a question … or 5 … There is, …
11/11 3D Printer and Maker Deals – It’s Chinese Black Friday!
We all know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but did you know about the equivalent with Chinese companies? It's 11/11 - a fantastic time for deals on 3D printers, laser engravers, and drones.
Maker Kits for Making Maker Kids
It must be building up to gift-giving season because I have been asked a whole bunch of times for ideas for what parents should buy their kids to encourage their interest in making – …
Ultimaker 3 First Impressions Review
Ultimaker sent me an Ultimaker 3 for review, and to try out some projects on – exciting stuff (and from community reaction, I am not the only one who thinks so!). Since I posted my video I have …
3D Printed “Spooky” Arduino/Raspberry Pi Electronics Projects for Halloween
Halloween is an awesome time for makers. Each year I like to beat my previous year’s builds. For Halloween this year I thought I would do something a bit special and create two projects. This is …
Prusa i3 Mk2/Mk3 or Creality CR-10 – Which is the Best 3D Printer Under $1,000?
Prusa i3 Mk2/Mk3 and Creality CR-10 are the hot 3d printers right now under $1,000, but which should YOU choose?
Athorbot Buddy Couple Dual Extruder 3D Printer Review
Athorbot Buddy Couple Dual Extruder 3D Printer Review - In this article we cover the 3d printer build/assembly, some sample prints, how to get it running, and first Impressions after a week of use.
Creality CR-10 S5 Review
Creality CR-10 reviews are almost always about the regular sized 300mm x 300mm bed 3d printer (see my CR-10 review here) and reviews rarely talk about the big brother, the Creality CR-10 S5. I have …
These 3D Printer Companies are Abusing Open Source
3D Printer manufacturers are in my (non-lawyer opinion) abusing open source, profiting from the developers and the community while not complying with their wishes and the license terms.
BIQU Kossel Plus Delta 3D Printer Kit – First Impressions Review
BIQU Kossel Plus Delta 3D Printer Kit – it is not my first delta by any means, but it certainly stands out in some significant ways already. Here in this post I will share my first impressions, …