The best projects from MAKE magazine in book form

If you are like me, you have been subscribed to MAKE magazine since day one. If not, you've now got a lot of catching up to do. Don't despair, however! They've assembled various topics into collections of articles that make for outstanding books. Take for example, The Best of Make. This 384 book pulls 75 of the best projects from the first two years of the magazine and gives them to you in one handy volume for only $25! That's one heck of a deal.

Inside this issue you will find chapters on tools, electronics, micro-controllers, toys & games, robots, music, flight & projectiles, photography & video, and cars & engines. Each of these chapters contains between 6 and 9 hands-on projects. Here is where you can order The Best of Make.

Also check out their other dedicated books like Make: Electronics, The Makerspace Workbench, The Essential Guide to 3D Printers, and the Eccentric Cubicle (a personal favorite).

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Dug North's interview with Tested.com, the online home of Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage

I was glad to see Norman Chan and Will Smith show up at my exhibit at Maker Faire last weekend. Will and Norm manage Tested.com, which is the official online home of Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage.

Norman interviewed me on the spot. Here's how they describe the interview on the site:

Norm meets Dug North, a self-described "Kinetic Sculptor" who crafts wooden automaton sculptures. We learn about how automata work and Dug's process in bringing these elaborate wooden figures and dioramas to life.

The questions came fast. I did my best to keep up! During the interview, we cover a wide range of topics related to automata. I say a bit about automata in general, my process, my finished pieces, and what I plan to do next.

I've admired the Mythbusters since they first introduced their TV show back in 2003. For a guy like me, it is a huge honor to be featured on their site. My thanks go out to Norman, Will, Adam, and Jamie. It was a pleasure!

Here's a link to the interview on Tested.com.

UPDATE: Be sure to check out the follow-up article to this video interview in which I talk about the wood, tools, and techniques I use to make a wood automaton!

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Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur - automaton by Dug North at Maker Faire New York 2012

I promised more videos of my automata as well as some footage of the recent World Maker Faire New York 2012. Thanks to a visitor to my exhibit who took this video, I can show you both! This short clip shows me cranking one of my latest pieces which depicts a carnival sideshow scene titled Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur.

The automaton features Mekanikos (the world's strongest man according to the poster behind him) engaged in a struggle with a giant man-beast with horns. Turn the crank and the enraged Minotaur thrashes against the chains that bind him while Mekanikos uses his might to pull the monster back.

Below the stage another scene plays out. Clearly, there are two figures doing something, but what? And why? I'm going to leave those questions unanswered for now.

Each automaton I brought to Maker Faire had its admirers, but this one was undoubtedly the crowd favorite.

In the days to come, you can expect to see a far more detailed video of Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur.

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Automata by Dug North at World Maker Faire 2012

I participated in World Maker Faire New York for the first time this past weekend. Despite a bit of rain, it was a huge success all around.

Here's what my exhibit looked like moments before tens of thousands of people poured through the gates:

While I didn't get to see much of Maker Faire myself, I did get to meet a lot of people including fans, my favorite customer, readers, makers, Mark Frauenfelder, the awesome staff of MAKE magazine, Dale Dougherty (founder of MAKE Magazine and creator of Maker Faire), as well as fellow automaton-maker Philip Lowndes.

Here is a photo of my exhibit that I took quickly during a particularly slow moment. I received vast amounts of help from Julia Gavin and Bob Quinn (both shown behind the table in the photo below). I couldn't have done the show without them.

I won't kid you, it was all a lot of work, but it was well worth it for many reasons. I got to see thousands of faces -- young and old -- light up when the handles of my automata were cranked. That was tremendously gratifying. I also met many of you, the good readers of The Automata Blog. Thank you for coming by and for letting me know you enjoy the blog!

For those of you that couldn't make it, I'll be posting more videos of my automata on YouTube this week and perhaps even some footage of Maker Faire too!

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Video of a trick mechanical top hat by Dug North

When asked to write and article for my favorite magazine -- MAKE, I jumped at the chance. Editor-in-chief Mark Frauenfelder asked me to document how I made my trick top hat for their first-ever special Halloween issue. The entire issue is dedicated to Halloween DIY projects. The issue is rather awesome. I hope they do another some day.

A hidden mechanism inside the hat is attached to a bicycle brake cable and lever. Run the cable down your sleeve and discretely hold the lever. Any time the brake lever is squeezed, a monster pops out of the top of the hat. Because you can control both the speed and direction of the monster, it has some puppet-like qualities. By raising the monster slowly and only part way, it looks as if he is peeking out tentatively.

The image to the right shows the version that appeared in the magazine. A rubber finger puppet served as the monster until I got around to creating the wooden monster with articulated joints that you see in the video.

Here is where you can get a few more details on this wearable automaton.

P.S. I'll have this one with me at World Maker Faire in NYC on September 29 and 30, 2012

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Getting ready for World Maker Faire 2012 in New York!

I'm making some improvements to the Monster vs. Strongman automaton. The monster is getting rather impatient, as you can tell from the photo above.

These improvements are in preparation for my exhibit at World Maker Faire 2012 in New York. This is the 3rd annual Faire in the New York area. The event will feature 500 maker exhibits, presentations, how-to workshops, and many incredible attractions.

Come by, say hello, and check out some automata!

Date: September 29th & 30th
Time: Saturday 10AM - 7PM & Sunday 10AM - 6PM
Location:
  New York Hall of Science
  47-01 11th Street, Queens, NY

For more information on the event, visit the Maker Faire web site.

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Automata by Dug North at World Maker Faire NY 2012

I'm pleased to announce that I have been accepted to exhibit at the upcoming World Maker Faire in New York City! This is the 3rd annual Faire in the New York area and is among the biggest and best events of its kind. Attractions include:

• Maker exhibits - I'll be just one of over 500 maker exhibits total
• Presentations from leading voices in the Maker Movement
• How-to workshops on soldering, lock picking, Arduino and more
• Incredible attractions including the Life-Sized Mousetrap, Coke Zero and Mentos show, Power Racing Series, the now iconic Cupcake Cars

The event is an extravaganza of creativity, knowledge-sharing, and fun. I will be there showing something much like what you see below:

Come by and say hello, check out some carvings, ask me about good books on the topic, and turn the handle on an automaton or two.

Event Details
Date: September 29th & 30th
Time: Saturday 10AM - 7PM & Sunday 10AM - 6PM
Location:
New York Hall of Science
47-01 11th Street, Queens, NY

For more information on the event, visit the Maker Faire web site.

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