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DIY for the Weekend: Build Your Own BB-8!

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away….

BB-8
BB-8

Halloween is nearly here, The Force Awakens® is in the not too distant future – who doesn’t want a BB-8 to help celebrate?

If you’d like to make your own, working BB-8®Make: Technology On Your Time has all the info you need! Author Christian Poulsen, said “As I watched it [BB-8] roll around [at the Star Wars® Celebration], my only thought was, ‘Need!’ So, I made one.”

Issue 46 of Make provides 3 different approaches to building your own BB-8. The 1st is a DIY by Poulsen. The 2nd is by Kurt Zimmerman who shares the ups and downs of his BB-8 project, and the 3rd is written by Casey Kuhns and explores the way in which a team of engineers and artists created a BB-8 that looks and sounds like the real thing. The 3rd BB-8 design is all open source.

Embedding the magnet
Embedding the magnet

 

Poulsen estimates it will take one day to complete and cost somewhere between $150 and $200. Beginning with working with a Sphero toy, embedding the magnet, painting, and adding the magnets and felt, Poulsen walks you the process step-by-step. Each of the steps is accompanied by full-color photographs.

 

And if you really want to go all out with your Star Wars® costuming, MORE Electronic Gadgets for the Evil Genius has step-by-step instructions for making your own light saber!

Have fun making your own BB-8 and have a fun and safe Halloween!

 

Star Wars® BB-8 Droid made from a Sphero & Magnets

Resources:

Make: Technology on Your Time
Make: Technology on Your Time

Poulsen, Christian. 2015: Aug/Sept. Building Your Own BB-8. Make: Technology On Your Time.  2015; pg. 58- 61

Make This Mini Star Wars BB-8 Ball Droid with a Hacked Sphero. 2015. Maker Media.

Iannini, Robert E. 2006. MORE electronic gadgets for the evil genius. New York : McGraw-Hill. Engineering Library TK9965 .I253 2006.

 

 

Other Resources:

Sphero. 2015. Sphero.

This is the Droid You’re Looking For.  Sphero. Date accessed October 22, 2015.

Progress Report: Secretive Club Designing, 3D Printing a Full-Size BB-8. Oct. 23, 2015. Maker Media.

Halloween costumes. Makezine.com