Books in Make series

While basic circuits may be easy to understand, creating a circuit requires a different way of thinking. The purpose of this book is to show how it's done. Being creative, instead of just following instructions, is part of the Maker ethic. This should include designing circuits to do what you want. The hands-on projects in this book progress from simple to complex, breaking circuits into modules to make them easier to understand. It is suitable for adult learners, as well as for teens ages 12 and up. (Younger readers can work through it with adult assistance.) Unique pictorial diagrams included in the book show circuits as they actually appear on a breadboard (not just schematics). Teaches the fundamentals of electronic circuitsStarts with basics and builds to more sophisticated designsExplains how to read and draw circuit diagramsEncourages experimentation and hands-on buildingIncludes cartoons and full-color photographs and line drawingsOne of the relatively few entry-level books on circuit designShifts the focus away from explaining components and onto showing how to link them togetherMake: Design Your Own Circuits is a standalone book that doesn't require familiarity with Charles Platt's other popular Make: Electronics books.

Make: Rockets, Down to Earth Rocket Science, is for all the science geeks who look at the moon and try to figure out where Neil Armstrong walked, watch in awe as rockets lift off, and want to fly their own model rockets.Starting from the ground up you how to build all sorts of rockets and associated equipment with clear, step-by-step directions. It's easy to skip the more detailed material, but when you are ready, Make: Rockets will help you rise to new heights with detailed coverage of the math and science behind building, flying and tracking rockets. You will learn:* How to safely build and fly solid propellant, water and air powered rockets.* All the techniques needed to build model rockets, launchers and trackers.* How to recover rockets by parachute, streamer, glider, helicopter recovery and more.* How to fly payloads like cameras, altimeters and the ever popular egg lofter!* How to pick the right motor and parachute for any rocket or payload.* Aerodynamic principles for designing stable, low drag rockets that slip through the air--including one rocket that can hit 500 mph!* How to use free rocket simulators to figure out about how high a rocket will go before you fly it.* How to track the rocket and figure out how high and fast it really went.If you are a hobbyist just getting started with rocketry, a teacher or parent looking for ways to get kids interested in math and science, or an advanced rocketeer who wants a deep understanding of the science and math behind rocket flight, this book is for you.

Do helicopters need more or less energy to stay in the sky than an airplane? What pushes a rocket to leave the atmosphere? Why can airplanes have smaller motors than helicopters? Help your students learn the answers to these and other questions! Written for educators, homeschoolers, parents--and kids!--this fully illustrated book provides a fun mix of projects, discussion materials, instructions, and subjects for deeper investigation around the basics of homemade flying objects. With the projects in this book, you can spend more time learning and experimenting, and less time planning and preparing. Complete with download links to PDF templates that expand your teaching, this is your one-stop manual for learning about, interacting with, and being curious about airflow, gravity, torque, power, ballistics, pressure, and force. In Make: Planes, Gliders, and Paper Rockets, you'll make and experiment with: Paper catapult helicopter--add an LED light for night launches!Pull-string stick helicopterRubber band airplaneSimple sled kite25-cent quick-build kiteAir rockets with a parachute or a gliderFoam air rocketRocket standsBounce rocketLow- and high-pressure rocket launchers

How can you consistently pull off hands-on tinkering with kids? How do you deal with questions that you can't answer? How do you know if tinkering kids are learning anything or not? Is there a line between fooling around with real stuff and learning? The idea of learning through tinkering is not so radical. From the dawn of time, whenever humanity has wanted to know more, we have achieved it most effectively by getting our hands dirty and making careful observations of real stuff. Make: Tinkering (Kids Learn by Making Stuff) lets you discover how, why--and even what it is--to tinker and tinker well. Author Curt Gabrielson draws on more than 20 years of experience doing hands-on science to facilitate tinkering: learning science while fooling around with real things. This book shows you how to make: A drum set from plastic bottles, tape, and shrink-wrapMagnetic toys that dance, sway, and amazeCatapults, ball launchers, and table-top basketballA battery-powered magic wand and a steadiness game (don't touch the sides!)Chemical reactions with household itemsModels of bones and tendons that work like real arms and anklesSpin art machine and a hovercraft from a paper plate!Lifelong learners hungry for their next genuine experience

The micro:bit, a tiny computer being distributed by the BBC to students all over the UK, is now available for anyone to purchase and play with. Its small size and low power requirements make it an ideal project platform for hobbyists and makers. You don't have to be limited by the web-based programming solutions, however: the hardware on the board is deceptively powerful, and this book will teach you how to really harness the power of the micro:bit. You'll learn about sensors, Bluetooth communications, and embedded operating systems, and along the way you'll develop an understanding of the next big thing in computers: the Internet of Things.

Minecraft has sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide (about 25 million of those units for the PC and Mac). According to Mojang, since the beginning of 2016 Minecraft continues to average 53,000 copies sold per day. Microsoft bought Minecraft (and Mojang) in 2014 for $2.5 billion. In 2016, Microsoft released a version of Minecraft specifically for educators called MinecraftEdu that is used by thousands of teachers around the world.Minecraft for Makers explores the intersection of this creative and beloved electronic game with the real world. It gives readers the opportunity to take familiar objects from the game - such as blocks, jack o'lanterns, and mobs - and make real-world versions of them. Begin with simple crafting projects using wood, paint, and LEGOs. Then move up to projects that involve basic electronics with LEDs. And, finally, advance to Arduino microcontroller projects that teach programming skills and basic robotics. The skills build progressively on one another, from chapter to chapter, and the emphasis is on fun all the way!Chapters include:Basic Projects (Item Frame with Diamond Sword, LEGO Minecraft Block, Minecraft Chess Pieces)LED Projects (Glowing Minecraft Block, Glowstone Chandelier, Minecraft Chess Board)Arduino Projects (Minecraft Jack O'Lantern, Night and Day Clock, Robot Creeper)

JavaScript Robotics is on the rise. Rick Waldron, the lead author of this book and creator of the Johnny-Five platform, is at the forefront of this movement. Johnny-Five is an open source JavaScript Arduino programming framework for robotics. This book brings together fifteen innovative programmers, each creating a unique Johnny-Five robot step-by-step, and offering tips and tricks along the way. Experience with JavaScript is a prerequisite.

Learn about the role that patent models played in American history--and even learn to build your own replica!Patent models, working models required for US patent filings from 1790 to 1880, offer insight into--and inspiration from--a period of intense technological advancement, the Industrial Revolution. The Rothschild Patent Model Collection consists of thousands of patent models, many from the 19th century. This book features the most outstanding of these patent models, and offers deep insight into the cultural, economic, and political history of the United States.This book not only catalogs hundreds of the most compelling models from the collection, but shows you how to build your own replicas of several selected models using Lego, 3D printing, and other materials and techniques.

Take leather crafting into the 21st century with this complete guide that marries traditional skills to the latest CNC and 3D printing technologies. Learn how to start making your own leather creations with traditional tools, and then take them to incredible new levels with digital design techniques. Leatherworking is one of humankind's oldest skills and remains a fun and exciting way to make great-looking wearables, accessories, and cosplay items. 3D printers and even hobbyist-class CNC machines have created fantastic new opportunities for new directions in this popular hobby. The book is perfect for makers new to leatherworking, as well as experienced leatherworkers who want to understand how to integrate new digital fabrication tools into their workbench. Written by an experienced leatherworker and programmer, this is a resource that makers will turn to again and again.Highlights:First comprehensive reference on applying digital design techniques to leatherworkProvides both a reference manual and a project guideIncludes traditional techniques like cutting, stamping, tooling and dyeing leatherIntroduces novices and experienced leatherworkers to cutting-edge digital toolsEvery project has been real-world testedOpens up exciting new project areas for makersThis book provides valuable reference and how-to information for makers interested in leatherworking but who have no prior experience, for experienced leatherworkers who want to extend their knowledge to include new digital tools, and for 3D printing and CNC enthusiasts who want to include a new material in their repertoire. Leatherworking is a hobby that is enjoyed by a wide range of people from middle school through adulthood and can be incorporated into a variety of other kinds of projects, from clothing design and costuming to carrying cases and furniture.