Tag Archives: buy

Maker Shed Now Selling The Ultimate Useless Kit

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The Frivolous Engineering Company Inc. is proud to announce that our flagship product:  The Ultimate Useless Kit is now available at Maker Shed.  This is a huge achievement for us, something we’ve been working towards for almost a year.

Maker Shed is the brick-and-mortar & on-line store for Make Magazine, one of the best sources for Do-It-Yourself information there is:

“MAKE unites, inspires, informs, and entertains a growing community of resourceful people who undertake amazing projects in their backyards, basements, and garages. MAKE celebrates your right to tweak, hack, and bend any technology to your will.”

Because Frivolous Engineering is located in Canada, orders going to the States are usually charged additional customs and duties. So if you live in the United States you’ll save time and money by ordering from the Maker Shed!

Currently, the Shed is only stocking the black version of the kit.  If you would like the clear case version, or a Parts Only Kit, or our Fully Soldered Machine you will still have to order directly from us.

Now Available in The Maker Shed

Occupy X-Mas?!?!!??

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This group (edited: the correct link is here) says that we shouldn’t buy ANYTHING for Christmas this year.

I do think we all should reduce, recycle and try to be responsible citizens, not rampant consumers in the global village.  But I think that not buying ANY gifts is kind of extreme.  A person could compromise:  buy a gift, but one that’s completely useless…

Behold the Ultimate Useless Machine

 

* My apologies, I linked to the wrong group…as the admin from the occupychristmas.org pointed out.  The page I should have linked to is http://www.facebook.com/OccupyXmas .  Occupychristmas.org actually encourages us to  “buy local, support the arts, and (most importantly) spend time with your family and friends.”  I couldn’t agree more!

Useless Machine Kits For Sale!

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Edited Nov. 2, 2011:  Please note that I’m no longer endorsing this kit.  Please check this page for the new, improved kit:  frivolousengineering.com/?page_id=750

Useless Machine Kits are now available at Solarbotics for an astoundingly low, low price of $24.95:

http://www.solarbotics.com/products/60005/Included in the kits is the sweet laser-cut black acrylic case.

This is a full bundle and very easy to build.  All you’ll need to supply is tape, batteries, screwdriver and any basic soldering iron and solder.  This is a perfect introduction to electronics and a great way to learn basic soldering skills!

Each bundle includes:

  • 1 x 39300 Black acrylic “Useless Box” construction set (with nut/bolt hardware)
  • 1 x SWT8 DPDT toggle switch
  • 1 x SWT9 SPDT lever switch
  • 2 x #2 mounting screws for SWT9
  • 1 x BHoldAA 2-AA battery pack
  • 1 x DSST (double sided sticky tape, for mounting the battery pack)
  • 6″ hookup wire
  • 1 x GM4 gear motor
  • 4 x “Little Rubber Feet” to protect your Useless machine from abrasive counter tops!

And you can buy just the sweet acrylic case itself.

 

Dave Hrynkiw at Solarbotics came up with a fantastic design for the case and he was kind enough to post the laser cutting template at thingiverse.com:  http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5065

I hope to be making a build video for the kit, and to have a couple kits to give away so stay tuned.

 

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Useless Machines and Kits to Be Sold!!!

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I no longer recommend this kit, you should check this out frivolousengineering.com/?page_id=750:  Edited November 5, 2011

The perfect gift for that special someone who already has everything!

Although everyone wants a Useless Machine, not everyone is as into DIY as I am.  So I’m hoping to have assembled Machines as well as complete kits for sale SOON.

Finding a company to partner with that can put together a complete kit including the wooden case and all the hardware has been a struggle.

Ideally the kit will include everything needed:  box, arm, switches, battery holder as well as a gear motor that needs no modification.  The only tools needed to build the kit are a soldering iron, small screwdriver, and glue (a wire cutter/stripper is handy but not needed).

It looks like things are going to go forward.  We may have to initially offer a continuous rotation servo because the gear motors may be delayed.

Prices haven’t been finalized but I’m hoping the kit will be under $50.00 plus shipping.

If you want to be notified when the kits are available please send an email to:

kits@saskview.com

I will also be offering a limited number a fully constructed Useless Machines.  To be notified for the next production “run” please send an email to:

 

 

purchase@saskview.com

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