Difference between revisions of "Dollar Store MacGyver Conference"

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(Created page with "POSSIBILITY BOX As we start camp season, I want to start a special collection of donations for the Maker camp, CYOSA, and any future related project. I'm calling it "The Possi...")
 
 
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POSSIBILITY BOX
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=Dollar Store MacGyver Conference (D.S.M.C)=
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As we start camp season, I want to start a special collection of donations for the Maker camp, CYOSA, and any future related project. I'm calling it "The Possibility Box" and propose using one of the large lunch bins. I've tried to provide a as concise a list as I can of things that have many possibilities, and those that are not useful or are too plentiful. Aside from donations, I'd suggest materials might be found during purges of the scary closet, exhibits shop, or storage. I will curate the box and remove excess or useless items. I can write this up a little more concisely for the WW and am willing to speak about it at an all staff meeting if you think that's useful. Also, I'm willing to come in and do some extra hallway cleaning to make a space for this.  
 
  
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GOOD
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After the E.P.I.C. conference at LVL1, the participants were rounded up for another event on April 12, 2013. This event shall hence forth be known as the Dollar Store MacGyver Conference (D.S.M.C.).  The conference was designed to test the ingenuity of its participants when constrained by costs and materials.  The results are presented here as a warning to those who wish to follow in their footsteps.
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- Radio Controlled Toys or ANY electronic toy that lights up, makes noise, or has a motor in it.  
 
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- Scrap Wood, PVC pipe, metal, pipe, plexiglass, or other materials.  
 
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- Fabric, sewing supplies
 
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- Anything that has a sensor (i.e. motion activated lights, solar garden lights)
 
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- Assorted screws, fasteners, springs, hardware
 
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- Metal or hard plastic boxes (not rubbermaid/gladware/etc)
 
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- Cordless power tools (working or not)
 
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- Small appliances or other machines
 
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- Cables, wires, chargers, adapters
 
  
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BAD
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==Rules==
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- Computers
 
−
- Printers
 
−
- CRT (tube style) TVs, monitors
 
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- DVD players
 
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- cell phones
 
  
 +
The conference's goal was to see what the LVL1 members and visitors could build if trapped in a dollar store.  Several members, independently visited local dollar stores and acquired items at random.  The items were then stored away from view until the start of the conference.  Once the conference attendees were sequestered, the collected materials were dumped on a table and it was a free for all to build.
  
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ADULT PROGRAMMING
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[[File:DSMC-Table-Spill-1.jpg]]
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So every Friday at LVL1 is "Movie NIght". A movie is picked along with idea for experiments, demos, construction, other activities based on a theme related to the movie. About half the time, no one actually watches the movie. Often, Danielle and I have brought ideas from KSC--kid stuff--and the adults go nuts. You've all seen dads take over building with blocks. I also always hear from adults, "I WANT TO DO THAT, THAT SOUNDS FUN!". So possibly follow this "movie night" model or go with just a themed party of some sort, but let the adults do kid stuff. Add a cash bar and you're gold. Here's some evidence:
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[[File:DSMC-Table-Spill-3.jpg]]
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http://youtu.be/6FYUmK8vGB8
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[[File:DSMC-Table-Spill-4.jpg]]
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http://www.lvl1.org/2013/01/19/movie-night-at-lvl1/
+
 
 +
<table>
 +
<th> Materials Available </th>
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* Pedometers
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Fans
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* LED lights (stick up, clip on and tea candle)
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Steel Wool
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* Popsicle Sticks
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Window Alarms
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Salad Tongs
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Plastic Containers
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* Yoyos
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Batteries
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Laptop Stands
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Water Squirt Toy
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* Strap and Cables
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Cap Gun Caps
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Water/Wet Bead Soil Replacement Weird Stuff
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Funnel
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* Fish Bowl
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Water/Spray Bottle
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Mouse Traps
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Punching Balloons
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* Rubber Bands
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Picture Hanging Kit
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Spikey Ball
 +
</td>
 +
<td>
 +
* Toothbrushes
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<td>
 +
* DVD
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</table>
 +
 
 +
==Projects==
 +
===Safety Goggles===
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Safety-Goggles.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
When preparing for any build, safety is job one.  So how do you build safely when you have stuff/material/debris but no eye protection?  You build your eye protection.  This safety gear is made from packaging of the items bought.  Rubber bands supply the attachment mechanism.  The googly eyes add an extra level of safety by protecting the pupils from danger and direct viewing of your work.
 +
 
 +
===Fire===
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Fire-3.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
All projects at the LVL1 hackerspace involve a fire, whether they meant to or not.  This project was designed to show our mastery over one of the four basic elements. The materials in use are steel wool, batteries, popsicle sticks, tape and  baking pan.  They put batteries together and lit steel wool while using the popsicle sticks as kindling.  The controlled test inside lead to outdoor bonfire.
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Fire-1.jpg]]
 +
[[File:DSMC-Fire-2.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
===Crossbow===
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Crossbow-1.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
Put any number of hackers on a project and someone is going to make a weapon.  This project spawned a weapon as expected.  This project was the most complex. Instead of describing it, I'll post a testimonial from one of the creators:
 +
 
 +
''Had a great time last night!  Mike and I made a projectile launcher out of a laptop stand, toothbrushes, popsicle sticks, binder clips, rubber bands, and a strange water toy.  We had a successful launch of a creepy pink wet sphere (what were those things anyway?)  I'm looking forward to more adventures.  :) Sara''
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Crossbow-3.jpg]]
 +
[[File:DSMC-Crossbow-2.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
Night hunting is supported by this device.
 +
 
 +
===Marionette===
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Marionette-1.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
Once you have weapons, you need soldiers.  To satisfy the soldier deficiency, a marionette was created. The marionette consisted of a container for a hat, funnel for a face, tea candles for eyes, spray bottle nozzle for a nose and laptop holder for a body.
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Marionette-2.jpg]]
 +
[[File:DSMC-Marionette-3.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
===Mouse Trap Car===
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Car-1.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
Transportation was on the mind of one conference attendee as they created a car powered by a mousetrap.  The vehicle has wheels consisting of a yoyo and tea candle bases.  The body is the mouse trap with binder clips holding the pencil axles.
 +
 
 +
===Salad Tongs for Pacifists===
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Salad-Tongs-1.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
There was controversy. Rumors of DARPA involvement lead one hacker to take the pacifist path and create specialized salad tongs. The tongs have a digital counter made from a pedometer. An alarm was affixed and sounds off when the tongs are open as a indicator of use (think beeping when a vehicle backs ups).  Finally, a light was incorporated for those times when salad is retrieved in darkness.  A lanyard is included for easy transportation.
 +
 
 +
[[File:DSMC-Salad-Tongs-2.jpg]]
 +
[[File:DSMC-Salad-Tongs-3.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
=Conclusion=
 +
[[File:DSMC-Conclusion-1.jpg]]
 +
[[File:DSMC-Conclusion-2.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
Words can't describe the conference ending, so here are two pictures.
 +
 
 +
[http://wiki.lvl1.org/Main_Page Main Wiki Page]
 +
 
 +
[http://wiki.lvl1.org/LVL1_Movie_Night Movie Night Listing]

Latest revision as of 02:27, 11 May 2013

Dollar Store MacGyver Conference (D.S.M.C)

After the E.P.I.C. conference at LVL1, the participants were rounded up for another event on April 12, 2013. This event shall hence forth be known as the Dollar Store MacGyver Conference (D.S.M.C.). The conference was designed to test the ingenuity of its participants when constrained by costs and materials. The results are presented here as a warning to those who wish to follow in their footsteps.

Rules

The conference's goal was to see what the LVL1 members and visitors could build if trapped in a dollar store. Several members, independently visited local dollar stores and acquired items at random. The items were then stored away from view until the start of the conference. Once the conference attendees were sequestered, the collected materials were dumped on a table and it was a free for all to build.

DSMC-Table-Spill-1.jpg DSMC-Table-Spill-3.jpg DSMC-Table-Spill-4.jpg

Materials Available
  • Pedometers
  • Fans
  • LED lights (stick up, clip on and tea candle)
  • Steel Wool
  • Popsicle Sticks
  • Window Alarms
  • Salad Tongs
  • Plastic Containers
  • Yoyos
  • Batteries
  • Laptop Stands
  • Water Squirt Toy
  • Strap and Cables
  • Cap Gun Caps
  • Water/Wet Bead Soil Replacement Weird Stuff
  • Funnel
  • Fish Bowl
  • Water/Spray Bottle
  • Mouse Traps
  • Punching Balloons
  • Rubber Bands
  • Picture Hanging Kit
  • Spikey Ball
  • Toothbrushes
  • DVD

Projects

Safety Goggles

DSMC-Safety-Goggles.jpg

When preparing for any build, safety is job one. So how do you build safely when you have stuff/material/debris but no eye protection? You build your eye protection. This safety gear is made from packaging of the items bought. Rubber bands supply the attachment mechanism. The googly eyes add an extra level of safety by protecting the pupils from danger and direct viewing of your work.

Fire

DSMC-Fire-3.jpg

All projects at the LVL1 hackerspace involve a fire, whether they meant to or not. This project was designed to show our mastery over one of the four basic elements. The materials in use are steel wool, batteries, popsicle sticks, tape and baking pan. They put batteries together and lit steel wool while using the popsicle sticks as kindling. The controlled test inside lead to outdoor bonfire.

DSMC-Fire-1.jpg DSMC-Fire-2.jpg

Crossbow

DSMC-Crossbow-1.jpg

Put any number of hackers on a project and someone is going to make a weapon. This project spawned a weapon as expected. This project was the most complex. Instead of describing it, I'll post a testimonial from one of the creators:

Had a great time last night! Mike and I made a projectile launcher out of a laptop stand, toothbrushes, popsicle sticks, binder clips, rubber bands, and a strange water toy. We had a successful launch of a creepy pink wet sphere (what were those things anyway?) I'm looking forward to more adventures. :) Sara

DSMC-Crossbow-3.jpg DSMC-Crossbow-2.jpg

Night hunting is supported by this device.

Marionette

DSMC-Marionette-1.jpg

Once you have weapons, you need soldiers. To satisfy the soldier deficiency, a marionette was created. The marionette consisted of a container for a hat, funnel for a face, tea candles for eyes, spray bottle nozzle for a nose and laptop holder for a body.

DSMC-Marionette-2.jpg DSMC-Marionette-3.jpg

Mouse Trap Car

DSMC-Car-1.jpg

Transportation was on the mind of one conference attendee as they created a car powered by a mousetrap. The vehicle has wheels consisting of a yoyo and tea candle bases. The body is the mouse trap with binder clips holding the pencil axles.

Salad Tongs for Pacifists

DSMC-Salad-Tongs-1.jpg

There was controversy. Rumors of DARPA involvement lead one hacker to take the pacifist path and create specialized salad tongs. The tongs have a digital counter made from a pedometer. An alarm was affixed and sounds off when the tongs are open as a indicator of use (think beeping when a vehicle backs ups). Finally, a light was incorporated for those times when salad is retrieved in darkness. A lanyard is included for easy transportation.

DSMC-Salad-Tongs-2.jpg DSMC-Salad-Tongs-3.jpg

Conclusion

DSMC-Conclusion-1.jpg DSMC-Conclusion-2.jpg

Words can't describe the conference ending, so here are two pictures.

Main Wiki Page

Movie Night Listing

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