Page 18 - Making things move_ DIY mechanisms for inventors, hobbyists, and artists

Introduction xvii

1. Hand drill You will use this for drilling holes in wood and thin metal for
screws and dowels during project construction. I prefer the cordless,
rechargeable kind like the Dewalt model pictured, but any drill will do. Make
sure it can hold small drill bits (down to 1/16 in diameter). A Dremel rotary
tool will also do the trick for most small jobs, and can be used for cutting and
sanding small parts as well.

2. Multimeter You will use this any time you’re working with electricity to
check if your battery is dead and if your circuit is hooked up correctly. Make
sure the multimeter you get measures voltage, resistance, amperage, and
continuity. Do yourself a favor and get a model that is autoranging. This
means that you don’t need to estimate the thing you’re measuring before you
measure it to choose the correct setting. Autoranging will be a little more
expensive, but it will save you time and frustration if you’re not well versed in
electronics. Auto-off is a nice battery-saving feature. The one pictured in
Figure 1 is SparkFun’s TOL-08657. It’s autoranging and can measure higher
current than cheaper models, so it will come in handy when working with
motors. A basic soldering iron (RadioShack 64-280 pictured) and wire stripper
(SparkFun TOL-08696) will help when you start working with circuits.

3. Measuring tools A tape measure for large things, a metal ruler for small
things and to use as a cutting edge, and a caliper for even smaller things.
I recommend a digital caliper for ease of use (SparkFun TOL-00067).

4. Screwdrivers Phillips and flat head styles. Having a few different sizes on
hand is a good idea. Jameco Electronics (www.jameco.com) sells a handy
two-sided miniature tool for about $2 (part number 127271). A larger,
multipurpose option is the Craftsman 4-in-1 (model 41161). Cheaper ones will
be made of soft metal, and the tips will get bent out of shape easily, so go for
a step above the bargain-basement models.

5. Multitool More commonly referred to as a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman,
multitool is the general name. It is handy to have around and may save you
from buying a lot of separate tools to do little jobs. Multitools come in all
different shapes, sizes, and prices, but I recommend getting one that has at