Boarduino - Arduino for your Breadboard

Don't want to make all those extra jumps while you're prototyping?  Check out the Boarduino with it's slim form factor it's perfect for quicker arduino project testing.

Oversized LED 7-Segment Display

Need a 5" LED to let people know?  These 7-Segment Displays are good for making sure your electronics project isn't overlooked.

Carboard at Size - Make Cardboard Furniture the Easier Way

Those out there that ship or pack on a regular basis may already be familiar with Uline.  But you may not have thought about creative uses for their pre-sized cardboard slabs.  I made a few furniture pieces from carboard and the cutting was always a hassle.  Then I realized I could circumnavigate the hassle by buying it to size.  Here's the regular cardboard pads and here's some real thick honeycomb void fill to make those large peices faster.

coffee table from How to Recycle

 

example of a table from Room For Horse

Liquid Tight Cord Grips

Good for keeping things dry on either end of your cord.  Outdoor speaker encasing or underwater electronics; keep the liquid out.  Available at Heyco.

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Oilite Bearings - Slick

Oilite is a brass or iron part impregnated with oil.  The bearings are good for anything that turns or slides including robot applications or making your own tools with moving parts.  You can buy them at McMaster-Carr and various other places.

 

 

The Fireball CNC Router features Oilite bearings.

Aerogel - Wonder Material

Aerogel truly is a wonder material.  Lighter than air and has the lowest heat capacitance of any known substance.  I personally haven't found a project for mine yet, but just holding it in your hand with a flame over it is cool enough.  Here's a link to the DIY make your own at Aerogel.org.  But if you just want to buy some, you can get a sample disk over at ThinkGeek.com.

 

 

Sugru - Brilliant

Sugru works great.  I've used it all over my house, in my vehicles, and on my gadgets to make mods as I see fit.  Some makers have used it for molds and other things to assist their own invention.  Check out their website for a great portfolio of user created pics.

Sugru has a wonderful entrepreneurial story behind it.  Creator Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh went from person with idea, to DIY lab tech, to inventor extraordinaire over a grueling trial and error period.  I definitely recommend watching this QandA with the inventor.  Or for a shorter presentation, here's her TED video.

8020 T-Slot Aluminum - DIY Erector Set for Adults

This stuff works for framing out all those advanced maker tools like 3D-printers, laser cutters, and CNC routers.  Here's a link to Grainger's version or you can look around for a deal. It's a time saver because it eliminates welding and complicated mechanical joining.

reprap made from 8020

Seattle Fabrics - Heat Sealable Packcloth

Seattle Fabrics is a great place to find the durable fabrics you need for your outdoor applications. My particular project was a dive lift bag. The Heat Sealable Packcloth made it particular easy allowing me to seam with a clothing iron. Seattle Fabrics also provided me with a sample set for a couple of bucks which allowed me to match up the material to the lift bag I already owned making sure it was a close match in denier weight.