How to Make Hydraulic Powered Robotic Arm from Cardboard

How to Make Hydraulic Powered Robotic Arm from Cardboard

Hello Instructables!
In this Instructables we will be showing you how to make your very own Hydraulic Arm! This project focuses on the principles of hydraulic movements. To do that we made a small scale demonstration of a Robotic Hydraulic Arm. We managed to do some pretty cool tasks with our ''Arm'', do check out the video down below for a better understanding!
This project is entirely made with cardboard and a couple of syringes, all the plans and blueprints are available. What are you waiting for? Let's get making!

Step 1: ABOUT TECHNOVATION!

We post all of our projects onInstructables, a place that lets you explore, document, and share your DIY creations. You can also subscribe to ourYouTube Channel Here We post lots of in progress photos and have lots of conversation on ourFacebook Page and Instagram.
Please support us on Patreon and also get a preview of what we are up to. Please make sure to follow, share and drop a comment to let us know how you liked it!

Step 2: The Materials Needed:

One of the reasons that this project is fun to make, is because the materials needed are very cheap and can be easily found at home!
MATERIALS:

• CARDBOARD ( preferably a double corrugated board although you could manage with a single corrugation. Will result to a slightly weaker model.)
• 10 ml SYRINGES x 8 (these syringes will act like the muscles of the hydraulic arm)
• 2m long TUBE (the tube needs to fit snugly into the opening of the syringe.)
• TOOTHPICKS
• SUPERGLUE (you will need a lot!)

TOOLS:

• X- acto knife
• A pair of scissors

Let's get making...

Step 3: Making the Blueprint

The whole design fits on to two A4 size sheets. We first sketched the parts and then keeping in mind the mechanisms made the blueprint.
I have made this step much easier for you guys, all you need to do is to print out the templates in the next step. If you wish you can tweak the design as per your looks : )

Step 4: DESIGNING THE TEMPLATES AND PLANS

We designed all the parts so that you don't have to measure and draw. Simply print out the two files, with the same scale, all parts are in their right dimensions. Stick the printouts onto the cardboard and get making!
The toothpick holes are there too, if you have any other doubts we have uploaded lots of pictures so that you have a better visual understanding! Happy Making!

• HYDRAULIC ARM PARTS (template 1).pdf

BIG BASE (template 2).pdf

Step 5: ARM SUPPORT & FOREARM 

 

Then you need the arm. Therefore you have to cut the base, the lower arm, the upper arm and the hook. For the base you need two pieces about 6″ long, 3″ wide at the bottom and 1″ at the top. In addition, you need a single piece of 3″ by 3″for the bottom to glue the other on top, but for now just let the glue set in the corner and cut the other parts.

The lower arm is even easier to do, just get two pieces of about 8″ in length, 1″ wide and you’re ready. The upper arm is very similar, but a bit longer. Going for 10″ will be fine.

After this you need the hook, but to explain this, words are not very suited. Instead pause the video at 3:02 and copy his sketch. You’ll need more parts for the hook: a triangular piece of about 3″ by 3″, two paper clips and the claws itself. Once again please refer to the video (3:30 to 3:40).

You will also need five pairs of popsicle sticks with two or three layers of cardboard in between in the middle bit. One to turn the arm and four for the ‘remote control.

 

Gluing it together

Once again we will refer to the video above, but hey, nobody said it’s gonna be quick or easy …  Before you switch back to the video, here are some tips.

Start with the upper arm, because this is the narrowest part, yet the syringes have to fit between both sides. From there on, work your way down to the bottom and add the hook last. When you ruin something on the way, you don’t need to rebuild that bit…

Follow the templates and carefully cut out both the Arm Support and Forearm. Note that I had started it out with a single corrugated cardboard but then I had to strengthen it by adding a second layer.

Start by making a rough cut and then repeatedly cut deeper and deeper until the piece pops right out, don't force!

Step 6: THE GRIPPER

Once you have cut out the gripper you can proceed to making the holes.

Step 7: DRILLING THE HOLES

All the points on the templates are where the holes should be. These holes are the size of your toothpicks so find the appropriate bit. Start by poking the tip of your knife to form a small dent, a guide for the bit. Then carefully drill out all the holes and you are ready to start assembling the ARM.
TIP : You will notice that just by the weight of the drill the hole gets poked. though the small spacers tend to fold and get ruined. To avoid that from happening you can push through a screwdriver instead.

Step 8: Dry Fit

I would advise you to start by assembling a dry fit to make sure you know which piece goes where. This will avoid any mistakes or confusions later on. The plans are well explained and I don't think you will have any problems in following them : )
This pictures will give you a visual idea however

Step 9: Masking Tape to the Rescue

You will notice that the ends of the pieces with extensive use weakens and starts separating. We found an easy way to fix that by covering all the edges of the pieces with strips of masking tape! This not only strengthens the whole structure significantly but also adds a nice look to our model!

 

 

 

 

Step 10: Preparing the Syringes

Hopefully you haven’t glued all the parts together yet, only the separate pieces themselves… Because now comes the part you may need a third hand. Fixing the parts together making a working hydraulic arm needs a bit patience and a lot of toothpicks. Also get the cold glue bottle ready!

Every joint of the hydraulic arm is a toothpick, fixed with two little bits of cardboard glue to its ends. Be careful when you put the parts of the arm together and don’t break anything. Otherwise you have to redo that part.

In the process of joining all the parts together, please don’t forget the syringes. (You may watch the video again and again until you get it right, I’ve done the same…)

Powering up your hydraulic arm

When everything is in place you just need to add the hydraulic fluid. In real excavators this would be top grade hydraulic oil, but we will use water instead. If you like you can prepare four different jars with water and add some food coloring as in the video.

Then carefully fill up the four unused syringes and connect them with the others with the pipes like he did in the video. When this is done you can make a first test.

To make things a little more comfortable, you may build a remote control. Yet again you need two big pieces of cardboard as base and zip ties to fix the syringes. Using the four leftover pairs of popsicle sticks you can build levers as the guy in the video.

 

Gluing it together

Once again we will refer to the video above, but hey, nobody said it’s gonna be quick or easy …  Before you switch back to the video, here are some tips.

Start with the upper arm, because this is the narrowest part, yet the syringes have to fit between both sides. From there on, work your way down to the bottom and add the hook last. When you ruin something on the way, you don’t need to rebuild that bit…

Take four syringes, these will be the ones attached to the Arm. To attach it in a way that the joint can still pivot you need to adjust the syringes like so.

1. Clip the extra plastic piece on top as it can cause unnecessary width
2. Drill a hole around half a cm from the top of dia the size of the toothpick. One out of the four syringes will have two holes at the top, this being the gripper's syringe.
3. Get two zip ties and close them in this ''figure of eight'' shape. Tighten one loop around the syringe then slip in a toothpick on the other one and tighten it till it bits tightly, finally clip the extra bit of the zip tie.

The pictures will remove any doubts!

Step 11: Rotating Platform

Show All 9 Items

To make the rotating platform, find an old pen cap, you will use that as the axis on which the arm rotates on. Cut a piece of cardboard with length and width little bigger than the Support pieces.
Make a hole in the center with dia a bit bigger than the pen cap's, to permit easy movement. Stick the piece with superglue to the support pieces. Then grab a much bigger rectangular cardboard piece to form your base. Like before drill a hole in the center this time so that the cap fits snugly. Push the cap in and put dabs of glue for strength. Then slip in the main body...

Step 12: Rotating Platform Mechanism

Gluing it together

Once again we will refer to the video above, but hey, nobody said it’s gonna be quick or easy …  Before you switch back to the video, here are some tips.

Start with the upper arm, because this is the narrowest part, yet the syringes have to fit between both sides. From there on, work your way down to the bottom and add the hook last. When you ruin something on the way, you don’t need to rebuild that bit…

Now that we have the mechanism ready it's time to add the syringe. Cut the pieces and stick them together like in the pictures. Then attach one end of the syringe to the newly made piece. Stick the piece with superglue onto the main body, all that's left is to compress the syringe and simply insert a toothpick into the base. this will automatically fix your syringe and convert the movement into a rotation of the arm.

Step 13: The Gripper!

Insert the semi stiff copper wires in the inner holes and bend them outwards so that they cant come out. Then twist each one into their respective holes in the syringe. I bent two small pieces of cardboard around a ruler to give me my end of the gripper. To add grip we cut out two tiny rectangles from an old ''Yoga Mat'' and stuck them at both ends. Fix the syringe and stick the triangular part of the gripper to the arm.

Step 14: Snip the Ends

You are almost done, just clip the ends of the protruding toothpicks.

 

 

 

 

 

Gluing it together

Once again we will refer to the video above, but hey, nobody said it’s gonna be quick or easy …  Before you switch back to the video, here are some tips.

Start with the upper arm, because this is the narrowest part, yet the syringes have to fit between both sides. From there on, work your way down to the bottom and add the hook last. When you ruin something on the way, you don’t need to rebuild that bit…

 

 hen you need the arm. Therefore you have to cut the base, the lower arm, the upper arm and the hook. For the base you need two pieces about 6″ long, 3″ wide at the bottom and 1″ at the top. In addition, you need a single piece of 3″ by 3″for the bottom to glue the other on top, but for now just let the glue set in the corner and cut the other parts.

The lower arm is even easier to do, just get two pieces of about 8″ in length, 1″ wide and you’re ready. The upper arm is very similar, but a bit longer. Going for 10″ will be fine.

After this you need the hook, but to explain this, words are not very suited. Instead pause the video at 3:02 and copy his sketch. You’ll need more parts for the hook: a triangular piece of about 3″ by 3″, two paper clips and the claws itself. Once again please refer to the video (3:30 to 3:40).

You will also need five pairs of popsicle sticks with two or three layers of cardboard in between in the middle bit. One to turn the arm and four for the ‘remote control.’

 

 

Step 15: TESTING TIME!

 

Either you just finished your own robotic arm, well done by the way. Or you’ve read till here without the intention to build one yourself but then we wont mind, well done to you anyways!

Either you just finished your own robotic arm, well done by the way. Or you’ve read till here without the intention to build one yourself but then we wont mind, well done to you anyways!

Mix 4 colours with water each in a glass, and fill the 4 ''controllers'' (remaining syringes). Then cut your tubing into four equal parts. Attach the end to the controller and squeeze the syringe till water starts coming out at the other end. This is to make sure you don't loose any pressure. now attach the other syringe ( the one in the arm) making sure it's fully compressed.Press and pull to see the magic!

Materials List

Each group needs:

• plastic syringes, such as from McMaster-Carr for ~$1.27 per syringe; see note below
• plastic tubing, such as from hardware and pet supply stores for ~$20; see note below
• various wood scraps
• bolts, screws, nuts, washers
• other APPROVED materials
• 1 empty soda can

Note about syringes and tubing: In this activity, all the syringes must be exactly the same and it is important that the plastic tubing fits snugly on the tip of the syringe. A good option is a 50 or 60 cc plastic manual syringe with a tapered tip, such one available from McMaster-Carr—the "60 cc plastic manual syringe with taper tip" for $1.27 per syringe. It may be helpful to purchase the syringes first and then bring one to a hardware or pet supply store to find appropriate sized plastic tubing.
To share with the entire class:

• tape
• 20 x 20 cm piece of wood or cardboard to serve as a wall
• drill (for teacher use or with appropriate supervision)
• saw (for teacher use)
• empty soda can

Introduction/Motivation

Have you ever seen a car lifted into the air at an auto repair place? Have you ever wondered how an elevator can lift a load of people up into the air? Well, after our project today, you'll have a better understanding of how these work, because we're going to look at hydraulic systems.
Hydraulic systems use a liquid, usually oil, to transmit force. This system works on the same principles as other mechanical systems and trades force for distance. Hydraulic systems are used on construction sites and in elevators. They help users perform tasks that they would not have the strength to do without the help of hydraulic machinery. They are able to perform tasks that involve large amounts of weight with seemingly little effort.

Vocabulary/Definitions

hydraulics: Involving or moved by fluid under pressure.

pneumatics: Involving the mechanical properties of air and other gases. Safety Factor(N): A number used to describe how much more force your device should withstand past the max expected force based on a number of parameters such as material and dimensions (N=1 means only can withstand 100% of expected force, so it will fail at 101% of expected load).

prototype: A working model of a new product or new version of a product.

Procedure

Suggested Timing

This activity is comprised of two parts:

• Part 1 - Investigating Pneumatics and Hydraulic Systems Handout: 1 ½ - 2 class periods at 40 minutes each.
• Part 2 – Creating the hydraulic arm: three 40-minute classes (This activity can be done in fewer class periods, but giving students this amount of time enables them to test numerous design ideas and further understand the engineering design process and the underlying concepts.)

Background

Hydraulic systems are used in many different types of machines: control surfaces on airplanes, elevators, automobile lifts, and backhoes. The idea behind a hydraulic system is that force is applied to one point and is transmitted to a second point using an incompressible fluid. You can find detailed background information oon how hydraulic machines work at http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/hydraulic1.htm.

Before the Activity

• Build a soda can test area that is 20 x 45 centimeters. Use tape to mark the perimeter of the test area. Place a 20 x 20 cm tall wall in the middle of the test area so the area is divided into two equal areas, each measuring 20 x 22 cm. Draw a circle on each side of the wall. Write "Start" in one and "Finish" in the other. The circles should be ~4 centimeters from the wall and 6 centimeters from the sides. These dimensions are flexible. Smaller would be easier and larger dimensions are harder.

  

  Schematic diagram of the hydraulic arm challenge.

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  Playing field for the hydraulic arm challenge.

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• Make copies of the journals and handouts.
• Gather materials.

With the Students

Divide the class into groups of two students each. Have each design team:

1. Research the engineering design process and answer the questions on the Investigating Pneumatics and Hydraulics Systems Student Handout.
2. Research possible solutions to the challenge. Tips: Look for pictures of other mechanical arms (or parts of arms) that perform functions similar to the ones that they must perform. Think about the connection between their team's component and the components it is connect to. The connections are the most challenging part!
3. Develop a portfolio (a collection) of sketches that attempt to solve the problem. Share with the entire design team. Upon identifying a promising design, brainstorm with the next design team about attaching them together. Critique (be nice, constructive) the designs and make a short list of pros (+) and cons (-) for each idea. Identify the best ideas and vote to decide upon them.
4. Make final engineering sketches of the parts that are needed.
5. Construct the prototypes, noting changes, modifications, failures and successes. It is perfectly fine to mark up your engineering sketches. Show your work!
6. Test the prototype. TRY TO MAKE IT FAIL. What do you have to do to get it to fail? Can you redesign it to prevent that from happening? Make your design the best it can be. (Students like to make their designs fail. They understand that as an instruction and see it as a good mindset for testing prototypes.)
7. Write down information on how long it took for your device to fail.
8. Redesign and reconstruct.
9. Retest.
10. Once satisfied, plot your found data to see how your device improved as you modified it.
11. Present the portfolio of marked-up drawings, the finished arm, and demonstrate the arm to the class.

Attachments

Design Check List (pdf) [Share this outline of the process that students should be following]

Hydraulic Arm Rubric (pdf)

Investigating Pneumatics and Hydraulic Systems Student Handout (pdf)

Hydraulic Arm Design Journal (pdf)

Safety Issues

Cut and drill the wood if students do not have experience.

Investigating Questions

See Researching the Engineering Design Process Handout

Assessment

Activity Embedded Assessment: Administer the Arm Investigating Questions and Design Check List.
Post-Activity Assessment: Evaluate the student project using the attached Hydraulic Arm Rubric, with criteria on research, imagining-planning-improving, creativity, written or oral sharing, and how the mechanism meets the challenge.

Additional Multimedia Support

Watch a 2:27-minute video of three teen girls operating the hydraulic arms they designed to pick up and move marshmallows; see thinkdesign!'s Hydraulic Robot Arm Challenge at YouTube:

Step 16: It's Complete!

And it's done! Now go ahead and test your new Hydraulic Arm. Go pick up a can and try to place on a given target. Show it off with your friends!
The simple Hydraulic System is what makes this project really stand out and the fact that it's so easy to build. Hope you enjoyed this instructables, see you next time!

How to Build a Model Helicopter And How To Display

Making models is a fun and interesting pastime. If you’re a fan of aircrafts, and in particular helicopters, you may enjoy making a model helicopter. Making a model helicopter is easy as long as you take care buying a model helicopter, putting it together, and displaying it. By following these steps, you can have a model helicopter that you can proudly display in your home and show to friends and family. Helicopter model kits come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as manufacturers, but just pick the helicopter you would like to build, or what you thinks looks good. There are many manufacturers to do so, therefore, finding a model kit of your chosen helicopter should not be too arduous. There are many scales in which helicopters come in, but the most popular are the 1:32 scale and the 1:72 scale.

1

Open up the box of your model. Study the instructions carefully and take note of the health and safety risks associated with the model. Buy all the equipment necessary to make the helicopter, like glues and cutting mats and paints. Plan out when you are going to start your model.

• Read the instructions for putting it together. Make sure you read the instructions carefully before starting to build your model.
• Remove the parts of the model from the sprue with either a sprue cutter or a hobby knife. For smaller parts, to avoid damaging the actual part itself, cut off some excess sprue first before neatening it up. Only cut off the parts from the sprue that you will need in the next step, as this greatly reduces the risk of losing parts. 
• Organize the parts of your model so you can access them as you’re following along with the instructions. Place them according to the types of parts they are. Pay attention to any markings the pieces may have.
• Arrange the stickers for your model. Many models have stickers in addition to paint. Put the stickers in the the order they should be used according to the directions. Stickers or decals can be of two types. There are normal stickers, which you can peel and stick, but there are also waterslide decals. These decals need to be placed in lukewarm water to separate the decal from the decal, and tweezers need to be used to position the decal onto the model. Use decal solution to slightly melt the decal, and help it conform to the edges, recesses and panel lines of your model.

2

Glue the pieces of your model helicopter together. Putting the model helicopter together is done by gluing it. Make sure to be careful and methodical when gluing pieces together. Double check the instructions before making any gluing mistakes. Try to buy liquid glue with a fine applicator nozzle, as this will prevent the wastage of glue. 

• Clean the parts of the model. All the pieces should be clean and free of excess molding from the sprue. If there are still join lines, use sandpaper to clean it up and tidy up.
• Test out the parts to make sure they fit together. If the model set is defective, it’s best to find out before you start gluing.
• Look to see where the best place is to apply the glue. It’s better to use too little than too much glue, since you don’t want the glue to put together parts that don’t belong together.
• Note the best way to hold the parts when applying the glue. Make sure your fingers or anything used to hold the model is out of the way when applying the glue.
• After gluing the model, have supports, such as rubber bands, clamps, or masking tape to keep the pieces together while the glue dries. Not all pieces may need them, but testing out the parts before gluing should tell you whether or not you need supports.

 

 

 

3

Paint your model helicopter using the instructions and the paint you purchased. Take your time while painting, since it may take a while. After you finish, let it dry for an entire day before putting on any decals or stickers.

• Choose the best size paint brush for the different parts you are painting. Find paint brushes that match the sizes and brush stroke you want for painting your model helicopter. Paint brushes are usually numbered starting at “0,” which is the smallest size brush.
• Find the best shaped brush for painting. Use round brushes for general use and flat brushes for covering large areas. You can also buy riggers, fans, brights, filberts, angles, and mops, which all do slightly different things when applying paint to your model helicopter.
• Thin out your paint so it’s not too thick and will leave brush marks. It’s better to make your paint too thin than too thick.
• Don’t dip your brush directly into the paint. Use a palette to think out the paints and for dipping your brush into the paint.
• Place a minimal amount of paint on your brush. Too much paint may glob onto your model helicopter.
• Brush gently in the directly or the bristles. This will help you to avoid pronounced brush strokes.
• Clean the brush often to avoid paint drying on the bristles. If you are changing colors, make sure to thoroughly clear the bristles. Check the paint tube to find the best cleaning solution to clean the brush. Some may use water, whereas others require alcohol or turpentine.
• Let your scale model dry for a least a day after you finish painting. Don’t apply the stickers too early, since this could smudge the paint.

 

 

 

4

Carefully apply the decals to your model helicopter. Most model helicopters will have decals in addition to paint. Apply the decals only when you are certain that they are located and placed in the right spots.

• Check the paint on the model helicopter to make sure it’s dry. It should not be sticky or smudge when touched.
• Use gloss or varnish to prepare for the decals. Depending on the type of paint you use, you’ll need to varnish the model before applying the stickers. Make sure to let the varnish dry as well before putting on stickers.
• Find decal solutions if the decals are not being applied to flat surfaces. The adhesive for decals may not hold if the model is curved. In the case of model helicopters, it may be useful to get a decal solution to help apply stickers.
• Cut out the decal and place it in water before applying the solution. This helps to get the decal ready to be applied. Place it on a paper towel to dry it off.
• Apply the decal solution to the model helicopter where the decal will be applied. Don’t use too much, but make sure area is covered.
• Put the decal on the model helicopter. Use the brush to position the decal and press in with a paper towel to remove any water left on it.
• Seal the decal with varnish once it’s dry. This will give the decal the same finish as the paint on the model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Method 2

Displaying Your Model Helicopter

 

1

Find a display base for your model helicopter. A display base can be used to protect the model helicopter by keeping it off of unprotected surfaces. It can also highlight the detail or your model helicopter.

• Model helicopters can be fragile. Since you spent a lot of time building it, it’s important to protect the model helicopter. A display base can keep your model helicopter from rubbing against any surfaces.
• Find a display base in a hobby store. You can find a variety of display bases in the same place you purchased your model helicopter. They often come in wood, plaster, or plastic.
• You can also make your own homemade base. If you decide to do this, it’s common to use wood though you can use more unconventional materials if you want to do something special with your model helicopter and its display base.

2

Look for a display base that fits the size, shape, color, and context of your model. It should comfortably fit your model. The display base should also be a color that complements your model helicopter and fit into the context where you’re displaying it.

• Find a display base that’s the right size. Don’t make your display base look overly crowded by your model. It should also not dwarf your model helicopter.
• Consider the color of your display base. It should complement your model helicopter and not contrast with the colors that it’s painted.
• Think about the context the display base will be in. If you’re building a collection, you may want similar bases that match one another.

 

 

3

Use a display base to provide setting for your model helicopter. Display bases can also be useful for providing a setting. If your model helicopter is a particular type or from a particular era, it may be useful to have a setting that fits in best with that helicopter.

• Find a base that creates the biggest impact for your model helicopter. Display bases can have things like blowing leaves or gravel to highlight your model helicopter as it lands.
• Natural environments for a display base can really highlight the original usage of the model. Think about what environments would be best to show off your model helicopter.
• Build a diorama for your model helicopter. You can also have a complete diorama for your model helicopter to show it in relation to other models. This is a big project, but can be fun if you are planning to have a model collection

 

4

Enjoy displaying your model helicopter. Building a model is hard work. Put your scale model in a prominent place to impress your friends and show off your modeling hobby.

• Put your model in common areas in your house. Scale models can fit in any setting, so feature them in your home. Have them on the mantle place or in a special spot.
• Place your model helicopter in special cabinet. If you have a lot of models, you may want to have a spot to keep them all together. Models are often more impressive as a collection than as a single model.
• Show your friends your hard work. Talk to them about your model helicopter and the work that went into it. They may even be inspired to start working on models themselves.

 

 

 

 

How to Make a Website

How to Make a Website

Building a website is a great way to share your ideas and thoughts with the world. But if you've never done one, it can seem daunting. There's all that http-dot-whatever and <tag this=""> and <tag that=""> and how do you get pictures and text in there? Well fear not, this article will help you to grasp the intricacies very quickly!

Part 1

Designing Your Website

1. 
   1
   Get inspired. Look at websites with great designs and think about why they're great designs. It usually comes down to the information, resources, links, and pages being laid out in a way that is easy to see and use. To get ideas about how to design your own site, look at sites which do similar things to get ideas about where you should put different types of content.

   • Stay realistic to your skills.
   • Ease of access is the most important thing. If you don't have a certain piece of information easily visible, make sure that getting to that information is very logical.
   • Generally the simpler the design, the fewer the pages, the better.
2. 
   2
   Choose a topic and purpose. If you already have a fairly good idea about what your website will focus on, skip this step. If not, here are some things to help you figure that out. First, understand that there are billions of people on the Internet, and a large percentage have websites. If you limit yourself to something that hasn't been done, you'll never get started.

   • When you think, "Internet," what is the first thing that comes to your mind? E-commerce? Music? News? Socializing? Blogging? Those are all good places to start.
   • You could create a website that's dedicated to your favorite band, and have a chat area where people can talk about it.
   • You can build a page for your family, but be careful about things like this. The internet is full of unsavory characters and information you put up about your family could end up being used against you. Consider adding password protection to your personal family website.
   • If you're a news junkie, or want something less filtered than traditional media, build a website and get publicly available feeds from news providers such as Reuters, BBC, AP, and others. Build your own customized news aggregator (what used to go by the quaint name of "newspaper"), then see and show all the news that's fit to digitize.
   • If you're creative at writing then you can start a blog where you can write about anything you want and attract monthly readers!
3. 
   3
   Make a plan. Building your website is going to take a commitment of time and possibly money, so set a limit on both, and then dig in. The plan doesn't have to be a big, complicated spreadsheet, or a fancy graphic presentation, but at the very least, you will want to consider what it will do for you and the visitors, what you'll put on the website, what goes where on the webpages.
4. 
   4
   Gather the content. There are lots of different types of content and many have their own considerations. You'll need to figure out what's best for your website and your needs. Some things to consider including:

   • A store. If you want to sell things, you'll need to figure out how you want the items to be available. If you have relatively few things to sell, you might want to consider having a store with a hosting service. Society6, Amazon, and Cafepress are all well-established store hosts which let you sell a variety of items and set your own prices.
   • Media. Do you want to display videos? Music? Do you want to host your own files or do you want them hosted somewhere else? Youtube and SoundCloud are great examples of hosting options, but you'll need to be sure that the way you design your website allows these media types to display correctly.
   • Images. Are you a photographer? An artist? If you plan on putting original images on your website, you might want to use a format that can help keep them from getting stolen. Make sure the images are relatively small or that they are hidden behind some Flash code, so as to keep them from being easily saveable.
   • Widgets. These are mini-programs which run on your website, usually to help you keep track of who visits, what they're looking for, and where they're from. You can also find widgets for booking appointments, displaying a calendar, etc. Look into what might be useful for you (just make sure the widget comes from a reputable source).
   • Contact information. Do you want to have contact information on your webpage? For your own safety, you should be careful about what kind of information you have available. You should never display things like your home address or home phone number, as information like this can be used to steal your identity. You may want to set up a PO box or a special email address for people to contact you at, if you don't have a business address.
5. 
   5
   Draw a flow chart. For most people, the website starts on the home page. This is the page that everybody sees when they first go to www.yourSite.com. But where do they go from there? If you spend some time thinking about how people might interact with your site, you'll have a much easier time down the line when you are making navigation buttons and links.
6. 
   6
   Plan for user devices and situations. In recent years, smartphones and tablets have become incredibly popular platforms for browsing the internet, and they require websites to be designed for them. If you really want to make a website that will stand the test of time and be accessible to the highest number of viewers, plan on making different versions of your site for different devices, or plan to use a responsive design that adjusts as necessary.

Part 2

Building Your Website

1. 
   1
   Decide what method or tool you'll use to build it. When you have the basic idea down and have a plan for how it will be laid out, the next to think about is how you're going to build it. The options seem endless, and people will try to sell you this or that 'fantastic' application, and every other thing that you "absolutely must have" on your site, however the reality is that there are a few great tools for building websites, and one of them will be best-suited to your situation and needs.
2. 
   2
   Build it yourself. This is the first option. If you have a website-building application like Adobe Dreamweaver, it is not very difficult to create a website from scratch. You might need to do some coding but don't panic! HTML looks complicated, but it's like listening to Shakespeare—it's hard at first, but once you get the feel of it, it's not that difficult.

   • Pros: website design software simplifies the process of building sites by letting you drag-and-drop images, text, buttons, movies, and anything else you can think of, usually without ever having to dig into HTML. Many web design applications will even let you create sites specifically for your smart phone or pad. If you are building a basic, personal website, this is really a great way to go.
   • Cons: there is a learning curve, and though you don't have to dig into HTML, it's not totally geek-free. If you are in a hurry, this might not be the best solution. Perhaps the biggest con, though, is that if you are not a graphic designer, you could end up with a page that hurts the eyes. To mollify this somewhat, there are a number of free templates in the applications, and on the internet, but be aware of your limitations—if you have any!
3. 
   3
   Use a content management system (CMS). This is the second option. WordPress is an example of a great option for building websites. It helps you create web pages and blog posts quickly and easily, set up the menus, allow and manage user comments, and has thousands of themes and plugins that you can choose from and use for free. Drupal and Joomla are other great CMS options. Once the CMS is hosted, you can manage your site from anywhere (in the world) that has an Internet connection.

   • Pros: Very easy to use, quick to get started with one click install, and lots of options for the beginner (with enough depth for more experienced users).
   • Cons: Some themes are limiting, and not all are free.
4. 
   4
   Build the website from scratch. This is the third option. If you decide to build your website from scratch, you'll need to start using HTML and CSS. There are ways to extend your HTML skills and add more features and more depth to your website. If you are developing a professional website, these tools will help you get that edge that is needed in any business venture.

   • CSS, which stands for "Cascading Style Sheets". CSS gives more flexibility for styling the HTML, and makes it much easier to make basic changes—fonts, headers, color schemes—in one place, and have those changes ripple through the site.
   • XHTML is a web language set by W3C's standards. Almost identical to HTML, it follows a stricter set of rules for marking up information. What this means, for the most part, is minor changes to the way you write code.
   • Look into HTML5. It's the fifth revision of the core HTML standard, and will eventually subsume the current version of HTML (HTML4), and XHTML as well.
   • Learn a client-side scripting language, such as JavaScript. This will increase your ability to add interactive elements to your site, such as charts, maps, etc.
   • Learn a server-side scripting language. PHP, ASP with JavaScript or VB Script or Python can be used to change the way web pages appear to different people, and lets you edit or create forums. They can also help store information about people who visit your site, like their username, settings, and even temporary "shopping carts" for commercial sites.
   • AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a technique of using a browser sided language and a server sided language to make the page get new information from the server without refreshing the page, often greatly reducing user wait time and vastly improving the user's experience but increasing bandwidth usage. For a website that will see a lot of traffic, or an eCommerce site, this is an excellent solution.
5. 
   5
   Hire a professional. This is the fourth and final option. If you are not up to designing your own website, or learning new coding languages—especially for more advanced sites—hiring a professional may be your best option. Before you hire, ask to see a portfolio of their work, and check their references carefully.

Part 3

Test Driving Your Website and Going Live

1. 
   1
   Register your domain name. If you’re on a budget, there are strategies for buying a cheap domain name. Find a domain name that is easy to remember and easy to spell. If you use domains ending with .com, you will end up with more traffic, but most of the easy ones are taken, so be creative!

   • Look to Network Solutions, GoDaddy, or Register.com are good in US and uk2.net if you're in the UK to research and find the ideal domain name for your website. Wordpress also includes a feature whereby you can use a name that's tagged with their site, for example, mywebsite.wordpress.com. But if the name you choose is also available as a .com, they will notify you when you sign up.
   • You can purchase domain names if they have been "parked" or are for sale online through business sales sites. It's a good idea to get legal and financial advice before purchasing an expensive domain name.
2. 
   2
   Inspect your website. Before you post your site, it's wise to test it thoroughly. Most web design software has a way to test your site without taking it online. Look for missing tags, broken links, search engine optimization, and website design flaws. These are all factors which may affect your website's traffic and revenues. You may also generate a free full-functioning site map to submit to search engines like Google, in a matter of minutes.
3. 
   3
   Test your website. When you finish your website, do usability testing. You can do this by asking a few friends or family members to try it out. Give them a specific task like "edit your profile" or "buy an alpaca sweater from the bargains page." Sit behind them and watch them navigate—do not help them. You will likely find areas where you need to improve navigation or clarify some instructions. Alternately use something like zurb.com to user test on specific demographics for different types of engagement. When testing a website in 2014 it's becoming important to keep the platform in mind and make sure the website is usable from smartphones and tablets as well as desktops.

   • Keep a list of things you notice that seem difficult or non-intuitive for the user.
4. 
   4
   Launch it! Choose a web host and upload your website. Your web host may have an FTP feature, or you can download your own FTP program like FileZilla or CyberDuck. If you hired a professional to design the website, they should be able to take care of this for you (but it still pays to ask questions so that you understand what is happening).

   • Note that there are ways to host your own website for free.

Part 4

Website Considerations

1. 
   1
   Narrow down your concept. If you're doing this for money, which ideas stand to make the most profit? Which ideas require the most commitment? Which ideas look like they'd be fun to pursue? You will be spending time working on your website, so choose the idea you are most passionate about (that is also profitable and practical for you).
2. 
   2
   Define your goals, and work to achieve them. The website you create may be for fun, it may be for profit, or some combination of the two. Knowing your expectations makes it much easier both to design your website, and to track and make sense of the results.
3. 
   3
   Be ready for competition. Content sites require less investment but they also face more competition, since anyone can start a content site. To make money from this kind of site, you provide information and generate income from the traffic you receive through advertising, such as through Google AdSense. In order to optimize AdSense, you will have to write your content purposefully and make it interesting so that people come to your site. Use specific keywords directed at people searching for specific terms too; just don't get carried away with this aspect or the content may suffer and readers won't like it.
4. 
   4
   Be ready for responsibility. eCommerce sites, which sell products, will need more maintenance and attention. You will need to think about shipping, sales, taxes, SSL, inventory updates, and everything that a person with a brick-and-mortar storefront would have to manage. A system for prompt answering of questions and dealing with complaints is essential when selling products online; many companies also offer phone help, which you can outsource offshore if need be.

   • If the goal is just to add a stream of income, you can also sell other people's products through affiliate programs, letting you earn money without investing in product or worrying about shipping.
5. 
   5
   Know the audience or market you want to reach. Which kinds of people will your website serve? Conduct market research to figure out more about your audience. Things to know or find out include: What do they do? How old are they? What are their other interests? All of this information can help make your website much more useful. However, be careful of assuming that your site is only targeting one group––always watch for trends that show other types of people becoming interested, so that you can cater for their interests too and make the most of new opportunities.
6. 
   6
   Do keyword research. This is necessary to determine whether people are searching for topics that are relevant to your site and can be useful for learning more about your potential clients. Making a conscious effort to incorporate in-demand keywords into the site can also help you get a better search engine ranking. There are tools available from Google (ex. google.com/trends/ and google.com/insights/search/#), Overture, and third-party software developers that can make the keyword research process easier.

   • Sprinkle the keywords you've chosen throughout your text, but not insofar as it hurts the quality of your content.
   • Creating pages that are optimized for the search engines will help you get your site found which is really more important than design. What good is a site that no one sees?
7. 
   7
   Advertise. Now that it's out there, you want people to come, so let them know!

   • Submit your site to major search engines. There are sites that will do this for you, or you can do it yourself.
   • Tell your friends. Tweet about it—constantly! Add it to your Facebook status updates, post pictures of it on Flickr, add it to your LinkedIn account—anywhere and everywhere is the key here. The more people coming to your site, the better.
   • Use an e-mail address with your domain. Visit other websites that complement (not compete with) yours, and offer to exchange links or guest blog/write. Post constructively on blogs and forums, and put your URL in your signature.
   • Use article marketing. Creating SEO-optimized articles and posting them to other sites is a sometimes a useful way to create back-links to your website. This might help you to boost your website’s search engine ranking but always keep abreast of search engine updates that often impact SEO strategies and can render them less helpful or even downgrade your site's ranking.
8. 
   8
   Provide quality content and service. Most of all, listen to your readers and customers and learn from their experience with your website.

   • Take constructive comments seriously. Other band members, fans, and friends may all have easier navigation ideas.
   • Think about your target market or audience: their needs, their frustrations, their circumstances. As much as possible, seek to make their lives easier or more informed.

How to Make Money Legally From Home

How to Make Money Legally From Home

 

Working from home may seem like a great option, especially for those who are looking to supplement their income. There are a number of ways that you can legitimately work from home and make money. However, be wary of any job that sounds “too good to be true,” because there are a number of scams that take advantage of those looking to work from home.

Method 1

Working Online and From Home

1. 
   
   
   Locate freelance work. There are numerous opportunities for freelance workers to make money working from home. There is work for you on the internet if you have a special skill, write well, or design web pages.

   • Content writer. There are numerous online paid opportunities for content writers. You can locate this type of work by conducting an internet search for “freelance web content writing jobs.” Your search will direct you to websites that offer to pay you for your writing services.
   • Photography. If you are a photographer and willing to sell your photographs, conduct and internet search for “sell stock photos” and you will be directed to organizations looking to purchase photographic work. One example is Shutterstock, a company that buys royalty-free images.
   • You can also search online for “online freelance websites,” which will direct you to websites that you join to bid on freelance jobs, look for work and make some money. You should note that some of these websites may make you pay a fee to join but then do not take a percentage from your work; others are free to join but do take percentage of your earnings. Two examples of these websites are Elance and Freelancer.
2. 
   2
   Transcribe audio content. If you are a fast typist and do not mind repetitive work, there a number of companies that pay for transcription services. The pay rate for this work varies between a certain amount of cents per word or dollars per page.

   • The majority of transcription work is medical transcription.
   • Most often, you will be required to understand and write in English.
   • There are numerous online transcription services. You can locate transcription work by conducting an internet search for “online transcription jobs.” Two companies that offer online transcription work are QuickTate and TranscribeMe.
3. 
   3
   Tutor or teach an online class. More and more individuals are looking for private instruction on the internet. Whether a person is seeking academic lessons or instruction on how to play an instrument, there are a number of online platforms that allow individuals to offer their expertise from home and for pay.

   • There are a growing number of online private tutoring services that pay individuals with strong academic background to offer tutoring services. You can locate these tutoring services by searching the internet for “get paid to be an online tutor.”
   • You can also design and record video or streaming courses on topics from cooking to building an outdoor shed. If you have a certain level of expertise, you may be able to sell your courses online. To locate web platforms that support online courses, conduct an internet search for “create and sell online courses.”
   • One such internet platform is called Patreon. This website allows viewers to act as patrons to financially support their favorite online content creators.
4. 
   4
   Answer questions online. Services such as kgb and ChaCha employ people to answer user questions by using the web. While they don't pay a lot, you can largely determine your own hours and make a little extra money if you're good with the internet.
5. 
   5
   Watch other people’s children or pets in your home. If you like children or pets, and you are a careful and considerate caretaker, there are always people looking to hire someone to watch their children or pets.

   • If you want to watch children in your home as part of a babysitting service, it is best to offer your services to people who know you. This will allow you to build up a clientele and a reputation for childcare. Once you have several references, you could consider advertising your services on local parents’ websites or babysitter websites.
   • If you plan to watch other people’s pets in your home, be sure to discuss what services you will provide for the animals. For example, will you walk the pets, will you pick the pets up from home or will they need to be dropped off at your home? You can charge a different rate depending on the services you are willing to provide to the pet owners.
6. 
   6
   Write an online blog. Blogging is a popular way that people try to make money online. If you have something to say, whether it is about parenting, cooking, or any other topic, there are probably people interested in reading your blog. You can make money by placing advertisements on your blog through programs such as Google’s AdSense program. When people click on the link, you receive a fee from the company.
7. 
   7
   Beware of scams. There are a number of scams on the internet offering online or at home work but are really trying to get you to pay them money. Below are a number of scam job offers that you should try to avoid.

   • Do not take a job that promises that you will make a lot of money so long as you pay a fee, or purchase a starter kit, or that asks for your credit card. A reputable business will not charge you to work for them.
   • Do not call a job that requires you to call a 1-900 for-pay line in order to discuss a potential job offer. They are just trying to generate money from you off of the phone call.

Method 2

Selling or Renting Things From Home

1. 
   1
   Sell stuff you already have online. Your home may be a treasure trove of items that you do not want but someone else is willing to purchase. Go through your home and separate out the things that you have not used in a long time or never used and sell those items online. There are a number of online websites that allow users to sell goods to other individuals around the world or locally. If you conduct and internet search for “where can I sell things online,” your search will return numerous online marketplaces for you to choose from.

   • Choose an online marketplace, such as eBay or Amazon Marketplace, that appears reputable and has numerous reviews from people who used the website to sell their goods.
   • For the sake of your personal safety, if you choose a website where people will pick things up from your home, consider having someone else with you at your home when the buyer is scheduled to visit.
   • If you are selling books online, there are websites that will allow you to scan the barcode of the book and give you guidance on the book’s resale value online. You can locate these websites by searching the internet for “scan book barcode for resale price.”
2. 
   2
   Make items to sell online. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people making and selling homemade goods online. If you knit, sew, take photographs, or are good at making a number of different crafts, there is probably an online market for your goods. People use both Etsy and eBay to sell their homemade goods.
3. 
   3
   Rent your home for a limited period of time. You can make your home or apartment work for you by renting out your home for a limited period of time. If you are not concerned about strangers staying in your home and you have a place to stay or were planning a trip, renting your home through an online rental website is a great way to make money with minimal effort.
4. 
   4
   Rent a room in your home. If you are an empty nester or you have a spare room, you could consider renting the room to a person who is looking for a home in your community. If you choose to rent a room to someone, consider the following:

   • Be sure to draft a written lease agreement that outlines the amount of rent that they must pay, and any rules for the home.
   • Collect a security deposit in case they damage your home or fail to pay rent.
   • Ask for and check their references.
   • Check their employment status and salary to ensure they can afford the room.
5. 
   5
   Hold a garage sale. If you do not want to get involved in selling items online, you can hold a garage sale where people come to you and you sell your goods face-to-face. There may be more haggling over prices than you would have with online sales, however you will receive cash for your goods and you will not have to ship any large items.

   • In order to increase foot traffic, consider asking your neighbors to have a yard sale at the same time, advertise online, and put flyers up in and around your neighborhood.

Method 3

Evaluating Content and Giving Your Opinion

1. 
   1
   Join paid online opinion sites. There are a number of online polling and survey websites, such as Harris Poll Online, that will pay you for giving your opinion on a variety of topics and items. While the pay may not be great, you can make money relatively easily while at home. You can locate online paid online opinion sites by conducting an internet search for “paid online surveys and polls.”
2. 
   2
   Evaluate web content. Search engines and other websites, such as UserTesting, pay for users to test and review the content on their website. You may have to fill out a survey to determine if you meet the right demographic and if you do, you will be paid for reviewing the website. You can find this type of work by conducting an internet search for “get paid to review and test websites.”
3. 
   3
   Act as an online juror. In order to vet their case before going to trial, attorneys sometimes hold mock trials and solicit feedback for paid jurors. This enables the attorney to test out novel legal theories and case strategies before going to court. If you are interested in acting as an online juror from home, conduct and internet search for “paid to be online juror” and you will be directed to websites that offer these services, such as Ejury.
4. 
   4
   Become an online book or product reviewer. Many companies and book publishers are looking for product reviewers to use their product or read their book and write a review. Each job may require that you write a different length review, but generally the reviews are only a couple of paragraphs in length. You can find freelance reviewing jobs on websites such as freelancer.com. The pay for reviews varies from actual cash to payment in free books or gift cars.

   • Also, if you are blogger and your blog has a sizable number of visitors, you may be paid by companies to review their products, especially if their product is linked to the topic of your blog. For example, if you blog about cooking, certain companies may want you to review new cooking products or books.