Make: Magazine

An Imperial Mouse Droid has abandoned its duties for something much more important: joining the Rebellion and starting the party.

Maker Cass of Chaos Theory reimagined the iconic Star Wars MSE-6 with a Sabine Wren-inspired makeover, building an open-source, fully autonomous, 3D-printed rebel rave machine from scratch.

Powered by an Arduino UNO, this little droid navigates autonomously, has its own panic mode and, yes, a party button.

Go inside the build with Make:, learn how Cass designed the custom chassis, and watch the full build video to see the Mouse Droid come to life.

Read the full story and watch the build below:

https://makezine.com/article/technology/robotics/star-wars-mouse-droid-is-a-rebel-rave-machine

Chaos Theory | Arduino

Star Wars Mouse Droid is a Rebel Rave Machine - Make: When does a droid need a party button? When it's an Imperial Mouse Droid that got a makeover from Sabine Wren.

Maker Faire Bay Area is at its best when you’re not just looking, but making.

This weekend at Mare Island, you can solder an EMF Explorer, turn an old T-shirt into a keychain, build a sock puppet, design and code a competition-ready robot, help assemble mobility devices for children, build a voice-based AI robot, explore DIY biology and citizen science, and much more.

There are hands-on workshops and activities for experienced makers, curious beginners, families, and anyone who simply wants to try something new.

Read the full breakdown of what you can make, build, and explore at Maker Faire Bay Area, then join us this weekend.

https://makezine.com/article/maker-news/get-hands-on-maker-faire-bay-area-is-for-making

TODAY! Catch your sneak peek at Maker Faire Bay Area 2026. 👀

Join Make: founder Dale Dougherty and a group of this year’s exhibitors for a special FREE Make: Live event, taking you behind the scenes of some of the wild builds and can’t-miss moments coming to Mare Island.

Meet the makers behind an AI-powered butterfly illuminated by 570 LEDs, an open-source radio network connecting communities without cell towers or the internet, and characters brought to life by an official Bay Area Muppet maker, plus a few surprises.

WEDNESDAY 9/16 - 4pm PDT FREE - Register for Make: Live FREE here: https://meet.zoho.com/qfvn-abz-ywx

It’s all leading up to the 20th anniversary of Maker Faire Bay Area, September 25–27.

What kind of robots will you find inside the Foundry at Maker Faire Bay Area?

Star Wars droids brought to life.
Walking robots battling through a miniature city.
A robotic hand that mirrors your movements.
Robots that dance and tell jokes.
Autonomous machines exploring AI and decision-making.
A robot that remembers you and helps you learn a new language.
Plus kinetic robots, student-built machines, and plenty of wonderfully weird creations that exist simply because someone wanted to build them.

Read the full breakdown here: https://makezine.com/article/maker-news/a-maker-faire-robot-party-in-the-foundry

Come explore the Foundry and beyond at Maker Faire Bay Area, September 25–27.

Tickets Available Now: https://bayarea.makerfaire.com

A new chapter for open source hardware has officially begun.

The Open Source Hardware Association has announced the first projects to receive Open Healthware Certification, a new certification process created specifically for open health devices.

The first certified projects range from focused ultrasound technology and adaptable 3D-printed hospital hardware to implantable neuromodulation technology, demonstrating just how broad the possibilities for open hardware in health can be.

Make: takes a closer look at the first certifications and the projects behind them.

🔗 Read the full breakdown here:

The First Open Healthware Certifications Are In - Make: OSHWA developed a new certification process specific to open health devices. We are extremely proud to highlight the first Open Healthware Certifications.

Ready to build your own robotic arm?

The Make: 3-in-1 Robotic Arm Kit + book walks makers, teachers, and students through three different robotic arm builds, starting with the fundamentals and building up to a 3DoF robot that can manipulate objects in 3D space.

You’ll learn how to program with Arduino, control servos, explore inverse kinematics, and understand the mechanics that help robots move, lift, draw, and more, no previous experience required.

Even better? It’s on sale NOW.

Get yours now while it’s on sale and start building.
https://www.makershed.com/products/make-robotic-arms-premium-kit

Can a power tool designed for kids be useful, safe and fun to make with?

Make: contributor and educator Kathy Ceceri put the ChompSaw to the test with makers ranging from preschoolers to a ninth grader, and watched them quickly move from simple straight cuts to curves and their own designs.

This desktop tool uses a high-speed precision punching mechanism to nibble through cardboard while keeping fingers away from the cutting mechanism.

But safety is only part of the equation: Kathy also explored its accessories, educational resources, design-thinking curriculum and a few limitations she discovered along the way.

Does ChompSaw live up to the hype? Read the full Make: review:
https://makezine.com/article/craft/paper-crafts/review-chompsaw-cardboard-cutter-for-kids

It’s a big weekend for making!

On Saturday, August 29, Maker Faire Tulsa celebrates its 14th year with 150+ makers and inventors filling Tulsa’s Exchange Center with engineering, technology, science, art, craft, demonstrations, and hands-on projects.

Meanwhile, August 29–30, Maker Faire Yukon returns to Whitehorse for the only Maker Faire north of 60. Organized by Yukonstruct, this year’s Faire brings together combat robots, blacksmithing, glassblowing, soldering, woodturning, Rocket Eggs, a Cyberpunk Ball, and a community built around solving problems by making things.

From Oklahoma to the Yukon, this is what the maker movement looks like: local communities sharing skills, experimenting, building, and inviting everyone else to join in.

Want to see what making looks like north of 60? Read our full Maker Faire Yukon breakdown on Make: https://makezine.com/article/maker-news/maker-faire-north-of-60-making-in-the-yukon

Find Us At Maker Faire Bay Area's 20th Anniversary Celebration What can you build with CircuitPython, Bluetooth® LE and a little c...