Intergalactic Space Control Panel

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/intergalactic-space-control-panel/

From December 1952, Modern Mechanix

Go retro using wood and old parts with this project - the deluxe electrical toy for junior space travelers.

Try searching with Google on space control panel to see many fascinating varieties of instrumentation control panels for your next futuristic project.

Remember when electronics project DIY cabinets were made of wood?

Of course a much safer and more inexpensive circuit could be made with a 1.5 volt AA battery and LEDs.

For interest, take a look at the pictorial to find a car fender curb feeler. When was the last time you built one of those?! After some head scratching, read the article text for the full explanation...

The article text says, "Note the automobile curb feeler. This is hooked up to a buzzer and looks like a miniature antenna. Touching it of course causes the buzzer to sound—only when its switch is “on.” Such secondary switches are a constant source of delight to a boy and his friends. Sometimes the buzzer will work and sometimes it will not, depending-of course upon the switch position."

Space control panels from Google search

 

DIY Miniature Ukulele

Assembling a DIY guitar with ukulele conversion

BIG BRAIN SCIENCE
BUILD A MINIATURE DIY UKULELE FOR SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

This is the first installment to describe our DIY kit assembly of a very tiny miniature guitar that will be converted to a ukulele for Big Brain science. This tiny instrument fits in one hand and can supplement the larger Quantum Uke, potentially reproducing a larger range of upper octave scales.

Punch-out shapes on 4 balsa wood sheets

Photos are the best guide for assembly

This "made in Taiwan" kit is in half English and half Chinese languages. Instructions are on the box and include a very general overview which is not intended to supply any significant detail or useful information for assembly.

You'll need to refer to the photos and try fitting the pieces. This is where a complicated point arises. There are several pieces that do not fit.

The insertion tabs are over-sized so these need to be trimmed and sanded. The diagram shows the punch out parts found on the four balsa wood sheets.

This section was modified

The tiny photos (use a magnifying glass for viewing the details) may be the most helpful during assembly. The enlargements presented here may be helpful. Note, the guide for string the guitar strings was abandoned as this section was originally non-functional. White wood glue, like Elmers Wood Glue, is not included. We had the Chinese translated to English and again the wording was not useful for assembly - so don't be too concerned over this. Just follow the photos.

Use extra care in punching out the parts. If any sections are difficult to remove from the surrounding balsa wood sheet, remember to use a sharp tipped hobby Exacto knife. Note the section that was modified, to provide actual string tuning pegs. These are small screws fit into glued left over wood pieces. We also substituted taught rubber bands in place of the supplied thread.

Tiny guitar conversion does not need six strings

A Uke has 4 strings and a classical guitar has six. This instrument also works with one string fingered like a violin. Replace the thread with thinner, smaller taut rubber bands. Cost for this project is $6 for the kit, $1 for the glue, plus a Mass Railway Transit fee.

Material
Dimensions
Assembly
Purchase
Instructions
Modifications
Sources
Punching
Refinements
Stringing
Frets
Resonator Chamber
Tuning
Materials

Encapsulator

BRAIN ENCAPSULATOR

The Brain grows again with this Encapsulator

The Expanding Brain Encapsulator is designed and built to support and surround the Brain Morpher and implementation of Brain siblings. This represents the latest Big Brain growth since moving to the new Laboratories.

This Encapsulator is built from four pieces of wood and 12 bolts. It features smooth sanded sides and corners, predrilled holes, an inside bottom shelf for mounting Brain boards and components, while the top holds the supporting computer and mouse for programming the Propeller arrays. The back is open for the routing of many wires and cables, and the sides are for attaching modules, arrays, boards, and various components with expansions. The Encapsulator stability is rock solid. A white ellipse shaped carpet with tight weave and with grippy side up acts a large friction bearing so the stand can be rotated about 90 degrees from side to side during use. The Big Brain currently has a large brain tier containment vessel, a series of boxes and reinforcing support extensions for breadboard arrays, a vertical Exoskeleton with boards mounted on the outside, and now the Encapsulator.

New Word Dictionary
Encapsulator - a supporting and surrounding device for the Big Brain Morpher and implementation of Brain siblings