Make: Lego and Arduino Projects - 1st print Make amazing robots and gadgets with two of today’s hottest DIY technologies. With this easy-to-follow guide, you’ll learn how to build devices with Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 and the Arduino prototyping platform. Mindstorms alone lets you create incredible gadgets. Bring in Arduino for some jaw-dropping functionality—and open a whole new world of possibilities. Build a drink dispenser, music synthesizer, wireless lamp, and more. Each fun and fascinating project includes step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations to guide you through the process. Learn how to set up an Arduino programming environment, download the sketches and libraries you need, and work with Arduino’s language for non-programmers. It’s a perfect book for students, teachers, hobbyists, makers, hackers, and kids of all ages. Build a Drawbot that roams around and traces its path with a marker pen Construct an analog Mindstorms clock with hands that display the correct time
Create a machine that mixes a glass of chocolate milk at the touch of a button Make a Gripperbot rolling robotic arm that you control wirelessly with Arduinos mounted on your arms Explore electronic music by building a guitar-shaped Lego synthesizer Build a Lego lamp with on/off and dimmer switches that you control with a smartphone application Jump feet first into the world of electronics, from learning Ohm’s Law to working with basic components John Baichtal is a contributor to MAKE magazine and Wired's GeekDad blog. He is the co-author of The Cult of Lego and author of Hack This: 24 Incredible Hackerspace Projects from the DIY Movement. Matthew Beckler is a graduate student in EE at Carnegie Mellon University, and is a co-founder of Wayne and Layne, LLC, where he makes open source hardware. Adam Wolf is a firmware engineer at an electronic design services company, and is a co-founder of Wayne and Layne, LLC, where he makes open source hardware.
There are sure a lot of varieties of Arduinos out there but there may even be more of a variety when it comes to Arduino Cases. Let’s take the most popular Arduino form factor, the Uno. Below are a handful of unique cases for the Uno-sized boards. We’ll call this one robust. Although it is 3D printed, its intent is to be extremely protective of the inhabitant. Some extra thought went into this case, no tools are needed! After the Arduino snaps into place, so does the cover. There is an access door to get the input/output wires to the free world. [Megaduty] suggests that this contains $0.10 of plastic. Not a bad deal. By looking at these photos you may think you’d need a laser cutter to make this stylish case. [Jason] sketched out the design on lexan, cut it out with a jig saw and then heated the material to bend it around a wooden form. It’s worth noting that the top of this case has openings so that a shield can fit onto the Arduino while it is still in the case.
by [Gurt], Bezel for LCD Screen Shield If your Arduino project is using a SainSmart LCD keypad shield for the user interface then this case will surely put a smile on your face. The holes line up with the buttons on the SainSmart shield. In addition to the case, the buttons are also available for download and printing. Screw holes are provided to allow secure attachment between the shield and case. All you need is a 3D printer to get going with this project. It comes in any color as long as it’s pink! by [jwags55], LCD Electrical Box Topper This one is similar to above, it is 3D printed and designed for an LCD/Button Shield, but this time for another shield configuration. As you can see it has integrated flexible tabs that allow access to the shield buttons. What you can’t see from this photo is that it is mounted to a standard 4×4″ electrical box available from any hardware store. A standard electrical box is deep enough for the shield and an Arduino. Extra-deep boxes are available in case you need more room.
by [Daniel], CNC Routed Wood What came first, the Arduino Case or the CNC Router? A pretty cool DIY CNC Router was responsible for making this case. An Arduino running GRBL controls the CNC Machine, which moves a spindle that, in turn, cuts pieces out of wood, and those pieces of wood are assembled to form a case that holds the Arduino that runs GRBL…… your mind was just blown. Are the above cases not good enough for ya? Maybe they don’t have enough features, or are only good for finished projects. If you are interested in taking your perpetual Arduino project on the road then pay attention. This case not only holds an Arduino and breadboard, it has two drawers for your components. If the breadboard and one of the drawers are removed, the closed case will even fit an installed shield. Download the STL files here. This list wouldn’t be complete without at least one (or two) extremely inexpensive case options. Here we have a Lego-based enclosure. What it lacks in style is made up by its zero-cost and minimal effort required.