3D Printed DNA Lamp

A few months ago I was browsing online through some 3D models for 3D printing and I noticed there was some DNA strands that caught my attention. They looked nice, however they were not really ready for 3D printing, at least for most printers. Still, I was moving them around on the browser and I realized they created an amazing upwards and downwards effect when rotating them. I thought, if it looked that nice on my computer screen, it must be even more hypnotizing if it actually existed. Then this thought came to my mind: what if I would print a DNA strand, and put it over a rotating platform and make it a lamp? And thus, the idea for this project was born.

It was a good time to have this idea because, coincidently there was 3D printing contest happening on Instructables with some really nice prizes, so I thought about entering the contest with this project. Since I published a fully detailed tutorial of the entire project on Instructables, I won't get into details here. The files are available for download at My Mini Factory. If you're not into DIY you can just get one on Tindie.

MSP430 BSL Rocket EMF Detector

A few months ago I received the MSP430-BSL Rocket from Texas Instruments Europe, as a prize for a Facebook contest. The Rocket is a low-cost programmer for MSP430 devices but since it has its own microcontroller, I thought it would be fun to use it for another application: an EMF detector! By the way if you need a TI launchpad, I'm selling a few of mine on Tindie.

Since it has a rocket shape, I had the idea to build a custom flame shaped PCB for the output LEDs, which I could plug through the 2x5 pins BSL connector.