For makerspaces and libraries
Teams of 2–3 share one kit and make a light, a buzzer or a small motor react from a web page. Nobody needs to code to start.
Teams of 2–3 share one kit and one laptop. Once the kits are set up, each team makes a light, a sound or a small motor react from a web page. Then they try their own ideas, and experienced makers go further.
Six parts are built into the board: a blue light, a colour light, a push button, a light sensor, a buzzer and a turning knob.
Most other parts plug into labelled sockets that fit only one way. The distance sensor and the screen use four wires, matched by name. People open the dashboard (the control page) and see live readings straight away.
There is no breadboard to pull apart and nothing to solder. Parts unplug and go back in the box. The same kit works for a beginner taster and an advanced build.
Before the next group, delete the last group's rules. The board keeps them, even when it is unplugged.
Experienced makers can write their own Arduino code. They can also use the board's web connection (a REST API and a WebSocket) to build their own control pages.
Spare I²C and UART sockets take extra parts, with your own code. Beginners and volunteers never need any of this.
The board and the dashboard talk directly over your network. There are no accounts, and readings stay on your Wi-Fi. A slow internet line will not stop a session.
Internet is needed only to open the web app or install the extension, so do that before people arrive. The board has no password: anyone on the same network can control it. Use a network you trust.
Pick the format that fits your time slot. Plan one kit for every 2–3 people. Each free lesson takes 45–60 minutes, so a short session uses one activity from each lesson listed.
1-hour drop-in
Half-day build lab
Weekend challenge
Hackathon
GET /api/sensors.Pick a format, then say who is coming and how many. You get the kits, laptops, lessons and what to bring on one page. Print it, or copy it into an email to your manager.
Every project idea is free to read on the project ideas page, with the parts and lessons it needs.
Tick the steps off on a phone as you go. Your ticks stay in this browser only.
One kit is one board with 6 parts built in, plus 9 parts that plug in. After each group, use the sheet below to check every kit back in.
One row for the board and one for each of the 9 plug-in parts. Mark each one In the box, Missing or Broken.
The photo also shows connector cables, a small motor with a fan blade, a small bulb, craft sticks and a screwdriver. Add any of these your kits came with, so they get counted too.
Print the sheet for volunteers, or copy a short note of what is missing.
Plan one kit for every 2–3 people, plus a spare. A drop-in of 20 people needs 7–10 kits, plus a spare. Also plan where to store the kits between sessions.
Pakistan
PKR 40,000 per kit
Order on this site, then pay by bank transfer to the UBL account of OR97, the company that makes MakerBuddy. The form takes up to 200 kits.
Volume discounts
Outside Pakistan
USD 200 per kit
Tell us where the kits are going and how many you need.
We reply with a written quote that includes delivery to your address.
Delivery depends on your address, so every order starts with a quote.
Anywhere
The board design, the firmware and the web app are open source on GitHub.
You find the parts and build the board yourself. No ready-made Gerber files or parts list are published.
Prefer email? Write to info@makerbuddy.cc with your country, delivery city, number of people, format and date. Want to talk a workshop through first? Talk to us.
Leave the kits out after the first workshop. Regular members keep improving their projects, write down what they did and help newcomers.
Give each kit a name, so members connect to the right board.
The free course has 32 weekly lessons of 45–60 minutes, in 4 terms. A weekly club can follow it in order, from switching on a light to a final show. See the course.
Run the 1-hour drop-in with your staff and volunteers before the first public session.
Then everyone knows how to run it, fix common problems and reset the kits the same way.
The lessons, project ideas and documentation are free to read online, with or without a kit. Pick the ones that fit your group.
Plan your next workshop
In Pakistan, order kits online and pay by bank transfer. Everywhere else, tell us your group size and dates, and we send a written quote.
Your session plan
Kits
7–10kits, plus 1 spare
Laptops
7–10laptops, one per team
For 20 people, 2–3 people sharing each kit: 7–10 kits, plus 1 spare.
First-timers: Nobody needs to code. Show one full example first. Then every team builds the same simple example before the team challenge.
Each takes 45–60 minutes. Pick the activities that fit your time.
Delete this group's rules in the dashboard. Each board keeps them, even when it is unplugged.
Safety: The board runs on 5 V USB power. The relay is for low-voltage things only. Never connect mains electricity.
Cost: In Pakistan: PKR 40,000 a kit, paid by bank transfer. Volume discounts: 2% from 10 kits, 5% from 25 kits, 8% from 50 kits. Outside Pakistan: USD 200 a kit, plus a written quote for delivery. Work out your kits
Nothing you type here is saved or sent.
Will it work on your venue Wi-Fi?
Answer four quick questions. The panel tells you what is ready and what to do first.
1.Is the venue's Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz?
Most routers and most phone hotspots offer 2.4 GHz. The board cannot join a 5 GHz network.
2.Does it join with just a network name and password?
No sign-in web page (a captive portal) and no username (enterprise Wi-Fi).
3.Will the board and the laptops or tablets people use be on the same network?
The dashboard talks to the board over your own Wi-Fi, not over the internet.
4.Which devices will people use?
Pick all that apply.
What MakerBuddy needs
Internet is needed only to open the web app or install the extension. Readings and commands stay on your network.
Test a device before the day: open the dashboard and type demo as the device name to see sample data with no board.
Nothing marked yet: 10 items to check.
The board
MakerBuddy IoT Kit V1.0
6 parts built in: a blue light, a colour-changing light, a push button, a light sensor, a buzzer and a turning knob.
Temperature and humidity sensor
DHT11 · Lesson 10
Waterproof temperature probe
DS18B20 · Lesson 11
Distance sensor
HC-SR04 · Lesson 12
Motion sensor
PIR · Lesson 13
Smoke and gas sensor
MQ-2 · Lesson 17
Soil moisture sensor
Capacitive sensor · Lesson 18
Small motor that turns to an angle
SG90 servo · Lesson 14
Switch for low-voltage things
Relay · Lesson 15
Low-voltage things only. Never connect mains electricity.
Small text screen
1602 LCD · Lesson 19
Before the next group, delete this group's rules in the dashboard. Holding the button does not clear rules.
Marks stay in this tab only. Nothing is saved or sent.
How many kits does your space need?
One kit for every 2 or 3 people keeps everyone hands-on.
People sharing one kit
You need 11 kits for PKR 431,200.
20 people ÷ 2 per kit = 10 kits, plus 1 spare.
You pay by bank transfer after you order.
Outside Pakistan? Kits are USD 200 each. Pick your region above and we send a written quote with delivery.