Builderati

This custom conveyance was built for the FrankenBike competition organized, but later cancelled, by the Museum of Science. Without the deadline pressure, the project was never quite finished. I needed the space in the garage so that I could do the welding workshops for Boston Burners. The bike has two front wheels which need to be joined with a bike chain to synchronize steering. The rear wheel drive is functional, but the deraileur system needs some work to get multiple gears. The steering wheel was salvaged from the bus chassis used for the Busycle Project. The wiring harness is in-tact and can easily be united with a battery and some lights, horn, or other fun addition. It should be easy to put in shape by someone with a little bit of bike mechanics skill.

This go-anywhere blender brings the horsepower to power through those frozen drinks. An inspired build from the maker of the The V8 Snowblower.

Joshua Driggs -aka- ZapWizard documents his project to create a real wooden case for an iPod. His work is beautiful as you can see from the many pictures that he provides with his project log. Check it out.

Matt Keveney maintains Animated Engines, a site with very clearly drawn animations of all of the major (and many minor) variations of mechanical engines. Check-out Matt’s site for the full listing of engine animatinos and a clear step-by-step, pictoral explanation of the workings of each engine design.

DIY Jacobs Ladder project that uses the power transformer from a neon sign to create the climbing electrical discharge featured in many a B-movie matinee. It is a simple rig with some dangerous effects, so use caution.

From MITer, Marsette Vona comes an inspired hack of a very hack-worthy object. Everyone who ever received a Billy Bass as a gift has wondered what to do with it after the initial chuckle subsided. See the “official” project site for details for Billy Bass hack.

“The Billy Bass Hack adds a 20 second re-recordable “special” message to the Billy Bass talking fish made by Gemmy Toys. The movements of the head, tail and mouth are also re-recordable, and the original factory messages are still available.”

Windjammer is a simple metal fabrication project that solved a problem that I experienced all summer–beach umbrella blow-down.

I recently got an email forward containing these pictures of the unique art/engineering work. A little research turned up more information. The creator is Livio De Marchi of Venice, Italy. His unique take on high-tech automotive is not only eye catching but functional… well at least it floats. Read more about him.

For those unfamiliar with the Burning Man event, it is a week-long festival of self-sufficiency and engineering art held in the Black Rock Desert of California (or is it Nevada?).

Ganson hosts chain reaction party at MIT