Recent News

Here’s a great booklet to accompany any new Freeduino purchase - “Getting Started with Arduino”, written by Massimo Banzi (the co-founder of the Arduino Project).

This title is based on his free-download introduction PDF, but takes is much farther, guiding new electronics enthusiasts into how to use the Arduino / Freeduino in a project.

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 Also cool is this little link we just received the other day from a customer of ours, Gary Gipson. Our book “Junkbots” was put to good use with this project! Instead of stationary electronics, these electronics swing! (Plus, it’s darned cute!)

Just in time for the holidays we’ve come up with one more theme for the new HexPummer Lantern. Behold, the winter theme! It has a snowman, snow flake, a holiday tree and some holly to fulfill all your blinky festive needs. Better nab it quick - this design will only be around for a month or so before it gets put away in the closet for next year.

In other news, we’d like to welcome Robotev as our newest distributor - they’re the first dedicated robotics shop in Bulgaria. Check them out at www.robotev.com (you may want to brush up on your Bulgarian first!)

And we’d just like to send out a big “HAPPY THANKSGIVING!” to our fine American friends - may your belly fill with all the finest poultry your heart desires. While we will be open regular hours all this week and filling orders, please note that shipments into the US placed on Thursday the 27th will be delayed a day as couriers are also going to be eating a lot of turkey observing the holiday.

Monday! Monday! Monday!

Our shipment of Gear Motors and Solar Cells are both expected to arrive on Monday November, 24th. In anticipation of this joyous event, we have thrown the following back online:

• SCC2433B-MSE Gear Motor
• SCC3733 Gear Motor
• GM3 Gear Motor
• GM8 Gear Motor
• K TB Turbot Tumbling Robot Kit
• SCC2433B-MSE-1 Custom Parts Bundles (SCC2433b-MSE Fast Bundle 1)
• SCC2433B-MSE-2 Custom Parts Bundles (SCC2433b-MSE Power Bundle 2)
• JBBMS Custom Parts Bundle (JBB Mini-Sumo Bundle)
• JBBHB Custom Parts Bundle (JBB Headbot Bundle)

We will be clearing out all back orders and new orders for these items on both Monday (November 24th) and Tuesday (November 25th).

Our K HP HexPummer has always been a good, steady kit, but once we got our laser-cutter, we started experimenting… and was it ever neat to tuck one of these into a faux Japanese-style lantern! After upgrading two of the four LEDs with super-crazy-mega-bright LEDs, this solar-powered night-activated light show is quite a cool decoration, suitable for a window-sill or hanging from a tree branch.

The K HP-L HexPummer Lantern kit comes with:

• HexPummer kit featuring
  • SCC3733a-MSE 37×33mm 6.7V solar cell
  • 1000mAh NiMH batteries
  • 2 standard & 2 upgraded LEDs (upgrading all 4 draws too much power to last all night)
  • Extended solar cell wire for top or side-mounting
• Laser-cut Mattboard lantern kit
• Light-diffusing interior sleeve

But what about all the fine folks who already have the Hex Pummer, and want to add some of this awesome lantern goodness? Well, we have you covered - You’ll find just the lantern construction materials (along with two super-crazy-mega-bright LEDs) available in the K HP-LA HexPummer Lantern Addon kit.

The best part is that you get to personalize it by choosing the lantern colour and the artwork set. We sampled some of these new colors and (custom MAKE) themes at the 2008 Austin Maker Faire.

Take a look at the art-sets and colours on the product page, and if you are so inclined, we may even be able to do personalized artwork for a really custom Lantern (contact us if you’re interested!).