š Digital Philosophy
Great Digital DIY Projects
š Raspberry Pi
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Top 10 Raspberry Pi Projects ā Jeff Geerling | Ten projects including a media center, NAS, Pi-hole, VPN, camera, home-automation hub, environmental monitor and retro-gaming system. BeginnerāIntermediate | |
| DIY Smart Mirror ā Break It Yourself | Build a MagicMirror using a Raspberry Pi, display, two-way mirror and custom wooden frame. Intermediate | |
| Raspberry Pi Arcade Cabinet ā I Like To Make Stuff | Construct a full-size custom arcade cabinet running RetroPie on a Raspberry Pi. IntermediateāAdvanced |
š Smart Home & IoT
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Smart Home Control Panel ā Everything Smart Home | Build a wall-mounted Home Assistant command center with custom software and automations. Intermediate | |
| ESP32 Weather Station | Combine an ESP32, environmental sensors and a display to monitor weather data. BeginnerāIntermediate | |
| DIY Home Assistant Sensors | Build inexpensive Wi-Fi-connected sensors for a locally controlled smart home. Intermediate |
š¤ Robotics & Mechatronics
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino Robot Arm | Build and program a multi-axis robotic arm using servos and Arduino. Intermediate | |
| Computer-Vision Robot Rover | Create a camera-equipped rover capable of recognizing and reacting to its surroundings. Advanced | |
| 3D-Printed Robot ā James Bruton | Combine CAD, 3D printing, electronics, motors and software into an original robot. Advanced |
šØļø 3D Printing & Digital Fabrication
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Build Your Own CNC Machine | Build a computer-controlled machine capable of cutting digitally designed parts. Advanced | |
| DIY Laser Engraver | Build a computer-controlled laser system for engraving digital designs. Advanced | |
| Engineering Functional 3D Prints ā CNC Kitchen | Learn to design printed components as functional engineered parts rather than decorations. Intermediate |
š» Custom Computers & Cyberdecks
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Build Your Own PC Case ā DIY Perks | Fabricate a polished custom computer case from inexpensive materials using ordinary hand tools. Advanced | |
| Build a Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck | Create a completely personalized portable computer with display, keyboard, battery and custom enclosure. Advanced | |
| Portable Raspberry Pi Computer | Build a battery-powered portable Linux computer. IntermediateāAdvanced |
šļø Servers, Homelabs & Networking
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Custom NAS Builds ā Hardware Haven | Turn conventional desktop PC cases into high-capacity network storage servers. IntermediateāAdvanced | |
| Hack a NAS ā Hardware Haven | Modify NAS hardware and install alternative server operating systems such as OpenMediaVault and Unraid. Intermediate | |
| Build a Pi-hole Network Ad Blocker | Turn a Raspberry Pi into a network-wide DNS-based filtering appliance. BeginnerāIntermediate |
š¹ļø Retro Computing & Gaming
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Size Arcade Cabinet | Build the cabinet, controls and Raspberry Pi-based gaming system for your own arcade machine. IntermediateāAdvanced | |
| Raspberry Pi Retro Gaming System | Transform a Raspberry Pi into a compact retro-gaming platform. Beginner | |
| DIY Retro Handheld | Build your own portable retro-gaming console. Advanced |
š” LED & Digital Displays
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32 + WLED Lighting System | Create individually addressable, Wi-Fi-controlled LED lighting. BeginnerāIntermediate | |
| Digital Infinity Mirror | Combine mirrors and programmable LEDs to create an apparently endless tunnel of light. Intermediate | |
| E-Ink Information Display | Build an ultra-low-power information dashboard for calendars, weather or other data. Intermediate |
šµ Digital Music & Audio
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Synthesizer ā Look Mum No Computer | Build electronic instruments and learn how sound-generating circuits work. IntermediateāAdvanced | |
| Arduino MIDI Controller | Build your own physical controller for music-production software. Intermediate | |
| DIY Digital Speaker | Combine speaker drivers, amplification, Bluetooth and a custom enclosure. Intermediate |
š· Digital Imaging & Science
| Thumbnail | Project | What You'll Build |
|---|---|---|
 |
Raspberry Pi Camera | Create a programmable digital camera system. BeginnerāIntermediate |
| Photogrammetry 3D Scanner | Photograph a physical object from multiple angles and reconstruct it digitally in 3D. Advanced | |
| Digital Weather Station | Collect temperature, humidity, pressure and other environmental data with sensors. BeginnerāIntermediate |
š Drones & Remote Technology
ā Build Your First FPV Drone ā Joshua Bardwell
Difficulty: Advanced
Skills: Soldering ā¢ Electronics ā¢ Radio ā¢ Flight Controllers ā¢ FPV
This is one of the strongest hands-on projects in the collection. Bardwell walks through the frame, motors, propellers, flight controller, ESC, video transmitter, controller and receiver before moving into the actual build series.
WATCH / BUILD THIS PROJECT ā
š„ Experimental / āWhy Not?ā Projects
This section is worth making a major feature of Digital Philosophy because these projects emphasize invention, not just following instructions.
Stuff Made Here ā ridiculously overengineered machines, robots and mechanisms.
Explore Stuff Made Here Projects
James Bruton ā robots, unusual vehicles, balancing machines and experimental mechatronics.
Simone Giertz ā unconventional machines, robotics and creative fabrication.
Explore Simone Giertz Projects
I Like To Make Stuff ā combines electronics, woodworking, digital fabrication and software. Its arcade build is a particularly good example.