It's a three dimensional microcontroller! Program it using the Arduino software environment (arduino.cc), hook up buttons/sensors/motors, make it play music; whatever you would do with an Arduino!

This is kit version of the drawbot that is installed in AS220 Labs. This limited edition comes in a fancy laser cut wooden box. Put all the pieces together, mount it on a wall, put the Sharpie in the clip and you have a working drawbot!

The kit come fully soldered and tested. Right out of the box it will draw the shape that is on the box (a nice circular mandala shape).

No programming is necessary, although the drawbot is 100% Arduino-compatible and comes with a library that makes it easy to draw Bezier curves, circles, and move from one point to another. The board is based on the Sanguino board (www.sanguino.cc), so you have plenty of memory to work with (64k program space and 4K RAM). This is a limited edition with laser cut parts and custom circuit board; order yours in advance today! Kits will ship in early April.

Visit the AS220 Shop to reserve your own.

Has your craps gambling habit got you down? Looking for the perfect gift for your Fluxus-obsessed brother-in-law or grandmother? Well, you may be satisfied with a pair of laughing dice: a laugh is guaranteed with every roll! Now available in the AS220 Shop.

ABOVE: Parts for 100 noisekits.

The 555 Noisekit from AS220 Labs is a kind-of musical instrument that generates raunchy square wave noise from two 555 oscillators. The circuit is controlled by varying the amount of infrared light hitting the board (like an optical theramin) and injecting the natural resistance of your body into the circuit via four touch points. Squonky fun for the whole family!

The 555 Noisekit is available for $20 in kit form at the 2008 Craftland show, or stop by the Lab. Also at Craftland are two of AS220's other "cottage industries": the Print Shop and Design Providence. Check it out!

Visit the Noisekit page for schematics and instructions.

We just received the circuit boards for the Hair and Balanced TV Filter Kit:

What does the kit do, you ask? Here's a hint:

This open hardware/free firmware kit isn't quite ready for prime time, but will be debuted at the Austin Maker Faire; stop by our table to see it in action!

We just received our first official AS220 Labs printed circuit boards in the mail. It is a version of Tom Igoe's 2-wire bipolar stepper motor control circuit used in the drawbot, for a future Make and Break workshop. I used Ladyada's PCB design hints and resources and chose the Gold Phoenix service. Cost: $89 for 90 boards.