An LCD screen can bring a whole new level of interactivity to your Arduino projects. They can provide instant data without using your computer and give visual feedback about your project. Normally, you would use a separate breadboard to hook up an LCD but using a MakerShield and this tutorial from Make: Projects, you can make your own LCD shield!

LCD screens look complicated but using an Arduino it’s not too bad at all. This tutorial will teach you how to hook up an LCD display to an Arduino using a MakerShield. All the components you need for this build are included in the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack.

You can pick up an Ultimate Microcontoller Pack from the Maker Shed, Micro Center, and select RadioShack locations. Call me crazy but I love the look of all those jumper wires!

More:
Using the MakerShield – Button
Using the MakerShield – Servo Control

We had a small stock of Arduino Leonardos in the Maker Shed for their announcement at Maker Faire but they sold nearly as fast as we could put them out. We finally got them back in stock so you can buy one right now in the Maker Shed (while they last!)

At first glance, the Arduino Leonardo looks just like an SMD version of the Arduino Uno with a micro USB port. It’s blue, has the same foot print, same pin-out, and the same layout as its brother. The internals are also very similar. It features nearly the same RAM, flash, and clock speed as the ATmega328 processor found in the Uno. So why is the Leonardo different? Because it uses the ATmega32u4. This processor has built in USB communication which eliminates the need for a secondary USB to serial converter. The ATmega32u4 creates a virtual (CDC) COM port on your computer every time it runs its bootloader. Since it’s virtual, it can also behave like an HID (Human Interface Device) meaning the Leonardo can “act” like a keyboard or mouse, opening it up to a whole new range of projects. This processor also has additional I/O capabilities, allowing pins 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12 to be used as analog inputs (12 total vs. the UNO’s 6). In addition, the Leonardo has one additional PWM pin (13) and all 20 I/O pins can be used as digital pins.

Of course, this new functionality doesn’t come without a price (although the price is only $20!) Since the Leonardo uses a virtual COM port, it can make certain tasks a bit more complicated (see the Getting Started Guide.) For this reason, we recommend this board to makers with some Arduino experience. Also, some of the pin assignments are slightly different so while the Leonardo is compatible with most shields, it may not be compatible with all. Advanced shields that use I2C or SPI (such as Ethernet shields) will work so long as they were updated to match the new Arduino Uno layout that was released last year. For full shield compatibility and ease of use, see the tried and true Arduino Uno.

Features

• Microcontroller ATmega32u4
• Operating Voltage 5V
• Input Voltage (recommended) 7-12V
• Input Voltage (limits) 6-20V
• Digital I/O Pins 20
• PWM Channels 7
• Analog Input Channels 12
• DC Current per I/O Pin 40 mA
• DC Current for 3.3V Pin 50 mA
• Flash Memory 32 KB (ATmega32u4) of which 4 KB used by bootloader
• SRAM 2.5 KB (ATmega32u4)
• EEPROM 1 KB (ATmega32u4)
• Clock Speed 16 MHz

My first hands-on experience with robotics and microcontrollers came from using a Parallax Boe-Bot kit with a Basic Stamp. I had no programming experience but using the included documentation and my PC, I was able to figure out how to build a robot that would react to obstacles and navigate its environment. Since then I’ve switched over to the Arduino but I still miss the experience I received from the Boe-Bot. Parallax must have read my mind because they released the Robotics Shield Kit for Arduino which is now available in the Maker Shed. They’ve taken their excellent Board of Education and transformed it into a shield (also available separately) which fits on top of an Arduino. The rest of the kit remains largely unchanged from the original Boe-Bot, which I consider a good thing.  Full documentation with over 40 activities is available online so you’ll be learning in no time. Simply add your own Arduino and a USB cable and enter into the fascinating world of robotics and Arduino!

Features

• Board of Education Shield PCB
• High-quality aluminum robot chassis, continuous rotation servos, and wheels
• Boe-Boost Module
• All the assembly hardware needed (nuts, screws standoffs)
• Parallax screwdriver
• Detailed online documentation and tutorials
• All the electronic components and sensors needed for the tutorials
• Note: Requires Arduino and USB cable

RedPark just announced a new version of their iOS cable and it’s available right now in the Maker Shed! This revised cable allows you to hook your iDevice up to an Arduino with no soldering or jailbreaking required. The new cable works just as the RS-232 terminated version except RedPark has make a few internal changes so that it communicates over TTL serial (the same serial protocol used by an Arduino.) Eliminating the need for a TTL adapter means it’s never been easier to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to an external microcontroller for enhanced sensing and communication!

The new RedPark TTL cable is available by itself or in a handy breakout pack that includes our deluxe jumper wires and Mintronics: Survival Pack Guts (no tin.) This way you have everything you need to hook the cable up to an Arduino and have plenty of components to experiment with. Just add an Arduino, a copy of Alasdair Allen’s “iOS Sensor Apps with Arduino,” and you’ll be up and running in no time! Also, we’ll have them in stock at Maker Faire!

Features:

• Does not require soldering!
• Enables development of iOS apps for private use in homes, schools and offices
• Connects iOS devices to microcontrollers and sensors!
• Designed for use with iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (fourth generation), iPad 2 and iPad.
• Used in conjunction with the Redpark Serial Cable SDK and sample code. Together these tools enable you to write iOS apps that communicate with serial devices.
• Requires iOS 4.3.x or later.
• Includes Mintronics: Survival Pack Guts
• Includes Deluxe Jumper Wires

More:

• $59 Cable Lets You Connect iPhone to Arduino – No Jailbreaking!
• Paduino: Control Arduino from iPhone/iPad/iPod touch with the Redpark Serial Cable
• Connecting an iPhone to Arduino on Make: Projects

We’ve had RGB LCD displays in the Maker Shed for a while now and while they are really cool, they take up a bunch of pins on an Arduino. This new Positive RGB LCD Display Shield fixes that problem by using I2C for communication. Using I2C, what once took 9 pins now takes only 2! Since the shield uses the I2C bus, you can add other I2C sensors to the same pins driving the LCD. It’s a great way to incorporate an LCD into your Arduino projects without the messy wiring! It even includes 5 input buttons for building projects that require a user interface. Very nice!

Features:

• Dimensions: 2.1″ x 3.2″
• Comes with a 16×2 RGB backlight LCD, positive display
• Plug and play with any Arduino ‘classic’ – UNO, duemilanove, diecimilla, etc as well as Arduino Mega R3.
• Uses only the I2C pins – Analog 4 & 5 on classic Arduinos, Digital 20 and 21 on Arduino Mega R3
• Note: The shield comes as a kit and requires soldering!

We’ve come across many an Arduino-compatible in the Maker Shed. It seems that everyday someone tells us about a smaller, newer, or differently designed version of the original.  We’re always a bit leery of selling new clones but when the Menta came around we knew it was different and had to have it (we even added it to our Mintronics line-up!) To find out why, we asked Limor Fried, the founder and engineer at Adafruit, to talk about the Menta and how it differs from other Arduino-compatabiles. Here’s what she said:

Introducing the Menta, a portable minty Arduino-compatible project that fits into a common mint tin. I’ve always like electronics in mint tins and wanted an Arduino-compatible that not only fit inside the tin but also had a built-in prototyping area like the ProtoShield I designed. We took our super popular Boarduino series, wrapped it with a prototyping area, and mounted it to a rounded PCB that slots directly into an Altoids-sized metal tin. We included everything you expect to jump-start your project; a DC power adapter with polarity protection, beefy 1 Amp 5V regulator and 250mA 3.3V regulator for 3.3V devices, green power LED, red blinky LED, standard ISP-6 reprogramming header, FTDI interface plug to connect an FTDI Friend or cable, and female headers so you can use standard Arduino-compatible shields. We also added four mounting holes so you want to attach it permanently to a box or plate, and added a massive prototyping area so you can have your finished project fit completely into a protective box.

Here are her favorite things about the Menta:

• Fits perfectly into a common mint tin – an easy-to-find and durable enclosure.
• It’s shield-compatible! You can plug in any shield with standard Arduino pinouts.
• It has a built in prototyping area for a fully enclosed project.
• The high quality, USA-made PCB is the best PCB we could get and will survive beginners, soldering and de-soldering.
• We gave it 4 massive mounting holes with no parts in the way, making it the perfect Arduino solid attachment.

The Mintronics: Menta is available exclusively in the Maker Shed until May 2nd. After that it will also be available on Adafruit.com.  Thanks Limor (and Phil!)

More:

• HOW TO – Build the Menta
• Maker Shed Exclusive: Mintronics: Menta
• Soapbox: My Top 10 Arduino-Compatible Clones and Derivatives.

If you’ve ever wondered how to use the potentiometer on the MakerShield (available in the Maker Shed) to control a servo with an Arduino, wonder no more. Now there is a simple tutorial to show you how on Make: Projects!

Servos are very useful things; they provide precise movement in 180 degrees of motion. This guide will show you how to hook a servo up to your Arduino and use the potentiometer on the MakerShield to control it.

All the parts you need are available in the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack. There’s just something fascinating about seeing a servo rotate to a position dictated by your fingertips!

The MintDuino Game Pack provides a fun and informative way to learn about the world of Arduino compatible microcontrollers. This exclusive Maker Shed kit combines the Mintronics: MintDuino, Mintronics: Survival Pack, and the MintDuino book to give you all the necessary parts and instructions to create your very own 2-player reaction game. Even if you’ve never dabbled in electronics have no idea how to program, the MintDuino Game Pack will give you a firm foundation with Arduino and the confidence and ability to create your very own projects!

Using book as your guide and the included components you will:

• Build the Mintduino and see first hand the relationship between the wires, capacitors, resistors and integrated circuits that come together to create an Arduino compatible microcontroller.
• Learn how how to create basic circuits and program your microcontroller to blink an LED.
• Discover how to use of the random() function to blink the LED unpredictably.
• Interact with your MintDuino by using buttons as inputs.
• Combine your skills to build a two player reaction based game you can play with your friends!

Features

• MintDuino Maker Press book by James Kelly & Marc de Vinck
• Mintronics: Survival Pack
• Mintronics: MintDuino
• FTDI Friend
• Deluxe Jumper wire pack
• 1/2 size Breadboard
• USB cable
• Requires 9V battery
• No soldering required!

The Maker Shed, in conjunction with Adafruit Industries, is proud to present you with the latest in the Mintronics line of products, the Menta. The Menta is an Arduino compatible microcontroller that is specifically designed to use the included mint tin as an enclosure. It features a handy, on-board prototyping space which conveniently fits one of our mini-breadboards (not included) making it the perfect pocket Arduino! The Menta can also be used with all Arduino shields, so it can expand along with your projects. Pick up your Menta in the Maker Shed today to find out why it’s the freshest thing in Arduino!

Features

• ATmega 328 processor
• Handy prototyping space
• Onboard voltage regulation
• Arduino shield compatible
• Specifically designed to use the included tin as an enclosure
• Easy assembly (requires soldering)
• Requires FTDI Breakout Board