Category: Projects

A Collaboration Between Saad Chinoy (EdibleMakerspace, Singapore) & Stephanie Krawinkler (MissBubblebliss, Austria)

1. Introduction

The Mystifier is an innovative tool developed to enable bubble artists to create white bubbles—a crucial element in bubble performances—without relying on electronic cigarettes or vapes, which are increasingly banned worldwide.

This open-source project was initiated as a collaboration between Saad Chinoy from Edible Makerspace (Singapore) and Stephanie Krawinkler (MissBubblebliss, Austria). Together, they sought to create an alternative solution that is legal, eco-friendly, and widely accessible to bubble artists and enthusiasts across the globe.

2. Background: The Challenge

Bubble artists use e-cigarettes/vapes to generate dense white vapor inside bubbles, creating mesmerizing effects. However, due to growing health concerns and legal restrictions, these devices are increasingly banned in multiple countries.As of today we count 35 countries that have made them illegal. 

This situation presented a challenge:

• How can bubble artists continue to create white bubbles legally and ethically?
• Can an alternative device be healthier, eco-friendly, and accessible to the global maker community?

3. The Collaboration: North-South Innovation

In 2024, Stephanie Krawinkler and Saad Chinoy joined forces across continents—Austria and Singapore—bridging different maker cultures and expertise. This North-South collaboration aimed not only to solve a technical problem but also to challenge stereotypes about who develops creative tools in the maker scene.

With shared values of sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity, the duo embarked on developing a device that replicates the visual effect of white bubbles without the need for e-cigarettes.

4. Development Process & Prototyping

The journey toward the mi(y)stifier involved multiple stages of experimentation and iteration:

1. Understanding the Science – Researching vapor generation methods that do not rely on e-liquid combustion.
2. Material Selection – Ensuring components are safe, non-toxic, and sustainable.
3. Prototype Testing – Developing and refining the design for optimal performance.
4. Usability & Portability – Making sure the tool is easy to use and transportable for artists on the go.

By 2024, the team achieved a workable prototype, proving that the concept is viable.

5. The Idea and technical details

The tool is 3D printed and contains 3 humidifiers. Modern humidifiers use ultrasonic vibrations to break water into tiny droplets, creating a fine mist. This mist appears white due to the scattering of light.In addition the mist is cooling and not drying the bubble up, therefore it enhances the lifetime of a bubble. Humidifiers don’t have any known legal restrictions and the device runs on water. So its application is globally possible. 

It is a battery powered tool so it allows being used outdoors and indoors. 

Description:

1. Ultra-fine spray particles, large atomization, high atomization height, and non-wet table top;
2. circular ring, intermediate spray, 5um ultra-fine spray aperture, 740 ultra-fine spray hole
3. anti-oxidation silver layer protection coating process, life expectancy of up to 3000 hours.

Specifications:

Type: Atomizer Film Plate 

Diameter:16mm

Driving Voltage:DC 3-12V

Power:2.5W max.(Normal use 1.5W)

Resonant frequency: 108.0±5.0kHz

Resonant Impedance: 150Ωmax

Testphase with USB Air Humidifier Water Bottle Cap Mist Maker 

Power

The first version was still attached to a power outlet. Then we switched to a battery to increase mobility and then we realized a smaller battery is enough and fits better into the design.

Performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ar409c3vKM

6. Features & Impact

The Mystifier is designed with a strong focus on sustainability, legality, and user experience:

✅ Not illegal – Designed to be compliant with regulations, making it accessible to bubble artists globally.
✅ Healthier alternative – No harmful substances, promoting better air quality for performers and audiences.
✅ Eco-friendly – Sustainable materials and low environmental impact.
✅ Fun & Creative – Preserves the magic of white bubbles, keeping performances engaging.

By open-sourcing the project, the team aims to empower the global maker community to experiment, modify, and share improvements—fostering further innovation in bubble art.

7. Next Steps & Open Source Contribution

To make the Mystifier widely available, the next steps include:

• Finalizing the design for user-friendliness and production.
• Sharing documentation, images, and videos on open-source platforms.
• Encouraging maker community contributions to enhance and refine the design.

This documentation will also be added to other platforms to invite further collaboration.

8. Conclusion: Breaking Barriers in the Maker Scene

The Mystifier is more than just a tool—it represents a movement towards responsible, creative innovation. Through cross-continental collaboration, it challenges norms in the maker community, proving that solutions can be ethical, sustainable, and open-source.

With this project, bubble artists can continue to craft mystical, beautiful performances—legally, safely, and with a positive impact.

Stay tuned for further developments, tutorials, and maker contributions!

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For updates and more information, visit:
🌐 www.ediblemakerspace.com
🌐 www.missbubblebliss.at

They’re alive!

This will create a basic shape of a head with a sad expression. The head is created using a cylinder and a subtraction of another cylinder to create the depression in the forehead and around the eyes, which typically associated with a sad expression. The eyes are created using small cylinders and positioned in a sad position, and the mouth is created using a linear extrude of a polygon with a sad shape. You can adjust the dimensions, positioning, and shapes of the head and facial features to suit your needs and create your desired expression.

// Define the parameters for the head
$head_radius = 40;
$head_height = 60;
$eye_radius = 5;

// Create the head
translate([0,0,0]) {
  difference() {
    cylinder(h=$head_height, r=$head_radius, $fn=100);
    translate([-20,-20,$head_height/4]) {
      cylinder(h=$head_height/2, r=$head_radius-10, $fn=100);
    }
  }
  // Create the eyes
  translate([-25,-30,$head_height/2]) {
    cylinder(h=$eye_radius, r=$eye_radius, $fn=100);
  }
  translate([-15,-30,$head_height/2]) {
    cylinder(h=$eye_radius, r=$eye_radius, $fn=100);
  }
  // Create the mouth
  translate([-20,-40,$head_height/4]) {
    linear_extrude(height = 5) {
        polygon(points = [[-10,-10], [-5,0], [0,-10], [5,0], [10,-10]]);
    }
  }
}

Made from clothes-hangers, used PET bottles, aquarium hardware and other bits and bobs found in response to a caffeine fuelled 3AM bout of inspiration. The Caffeinator uses cold-water dripping on coffee grounds with the slow-infusion process to extract nearly twice as much caffeine from the coffee as other hot-water methods.

It makes the thing that makes conversation happen. Now you can make the thing that makes the thing that makes conversation happen.

Pulau Ubin Island in Singapore is known for its rustic island-off-the-island charm, biking, hiking, and little seafood places but it also contains a rich biodiversity and diverse habitats, making it a popular destination for citizen scientists and casual researchers looking to study and explore the natural world. Recently, a group of young scientists and researchers had the opportunity to visit the island on a field trip led by 40-year-old Saad, a self-proclaimed “geek” with a passion for all things science.

Saad, who has spent many years working in the tech industry, has always had a love for science and exploration. When he heard about the opportunity to lead a field trip to Pulau Ubin, he jumped at the chance to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with a new generation of scientists.

As the group traveled around the island, Saad led them on a hunt for tardigrades, small aquatic creatures also known as “water bears” that are known for their ability to withstand extreme conditions. The group searched for tardigrades in a variety of habitats and water sources, using various DIY scientific tools and techniques to collect and study their samples.

Throughout the trip, the young scientists and researchers discussed the significance of tardigrades and the role they play in the ecosystem. The group shared knowledge and experience, asking questions and thinking critically about their observations.

In the end, no tardigrades were directly observed however the field trip was a fun one, with the group discovering a wide variety of microscopic creatures in different habitats and water sources. For Saad, it was a chance to share his love of science with others and to be inspired by them to explore and discover the microscopic natural world around us.

3D Printed, RaspberryPi powered, OpenSource all the way!

The PUMA microscope is a revolutionary piece of scientific equipment that is poised to change the way we think about accessibility and affordability in the field of microscopy. At its core, the PUMA (which stands for “Printed Ultra-Microscope”) is a high-resolution, 3D-printed microscope that is designed to be assembled from low-cost components and open-source plans.

One of the most innovative aspects of the PUMA microscope is its use of 3D printing technology. By leveraging the power of 3D printing, the designers of the PUMA microscope were able to create a microscope that is both highly accurate and extremely affordable. The 3D-printed design allows for the creation of custom, high-precision parts that are otherwise difficult or impossible to manufacture using traditional methods.

But the benefits of the PUMA microscope go far beyond just its low cost and innovative design. The open-source nature of the project means that anyone, anywhere in the world, can access the plans and instructions needed to build their own PUMA microscope. This level of accessibility is truly game-changing, as it means that scientists and researchers in underfunded or resource-poor areas can now have access to the same level of equipment as their counterparts in more developed regions.

The potential impact of the PUMA microscope is truly staggering. By making high-quality microscopy more accessible and affordable, the PUMA microscope has the potential to democratize science and research, and to open up new avenues of exploration and discovery for scientists around the world. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a student just starting out in the field, the PUMA microscope is a tool that you simply cannot afford to overlook.

In conclusion, the PUMA microscope is a truly innovative and exciting project that has the potential to change the way we think about accessibility and affordability in the field of microscopy. Whether you are a scientist, researcher, or simply someone who is interested in the world of science, the PUMA microscope is a project that is well worth keeping an eye on.

Repurpose high RPM server Hard Disk Drives into functional lab equipment

Ingredients to make one:

• Plastic enclosure: repurpose a similar sized mass produced container like a lunch-box
• 3D Printed Bowden Tube holder STL merged with a coupler you can customize to fit the drive you have on hand using the OpenSCAD file
• Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) module: repurposed from a broken drone, commonly available module for drone motors
• Arduino nano or similar microcontroller with a potentiometer to control RPM
• Optional: LCD display to show estimated RPM
• Optional: Infrared sensor to count and display accurate RPM
• USB power supply for the microcontroller, DC power supply for the servo. Be sure to use a common (-) negative if using two power sources.
• Follow wiring diagram from the source:
  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0259886.g001

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0259886.g001

See Also: Lab-in-a-backpack

Contact us if you’d like to collaborate and build this into a workable solution for a meaningful context.

Taking the SCOBY vegan leather idea to an extremely delicate level with making them (literally) paper-thin. It’s a delicate and time consuming process but the material is so much fun to work with! Transparent, breathable, extremely light, and yet surprisingly durable for its thickness (or lack thereof).

The dehydrated scoby lay before me, a barren wasteland of cracked and crumbled organic matter. Yet, as I examined its gnarled surface more closely, I began to see the potential for something greater.

Gently, I ran my fingers over the rough texture, feeling the bumps and grooves that spoke to the natural origins of this unusual material. It was rough and slightly spongy to the touch, with a unique, earthy aroma that hinted at its past life as a living organism.

But as I continued to explore the scoby, I couldn’t help but be struck by its innovative nature. For here was a material that was not only vegan and environmentally friendly, but also remarkably versatile.

With the right techniques, this dehydrated scoby could be transformed into a sleek, supple vegan leather, suitable for use in everything from fashion accessories to furniture upholstery. Its unique aesthetic and physical properties made it the perfect choice for artists and designers looking to push the boundaries of traditional materials and create something truly original.

As I continued to marvel at the possibilities of this remarkable substance, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and possibility. For in the hands of a skilled craftsman, this dehydrated scoby could become a canvas for artistic expression, a testament to the power of innovation and sustainability.

Fight the single-use plastic scourge! We feel the making of disposable plates and cutlery should be part of the food-prep for potluck parties and picnics. It’s simple enough, super good for the environment, and sciencey enough to get deliciously nerdy about it all.
Surely one person in the friend circle can cook up some utensils, literally?

Dehydrating various thicknesses of SCOBYs to explore material properties. Further exploring colours, textures, and water-resistant treatment options to augment intrinsic material properties for artistic and practical use cases.

So many SCOBYs to work with!

The use of a dehydrated scoby, or Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, to make vegan leather is a innovative approach to creating a sustainable and animal-free alternative to traditional leather. The scoby, which is commonly used in the production of fermented foods such as kombucha, is composed of a complex network of bacteria and yeast cells. When dehydrated and treated with a variety of chemicals and processes, the scoby can be transformed into a flexible and durable material with a leather-like appearance.

One of the key advantages of using a scoby to create vegan leather is its sustainability. The production of traditional leather requires the processing of animal hides, which can be resource-intensive and contribute to environmental degradation. In contrast, scobies are easily cultivated and can be grown on a wide range of substrates, including agricultural waste and renewable energy sources. This makes the production of scoby-based vegan leather a more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional leather.

In addition to its sustainability, scoby-based vegan leather also has a number of aesthetic and physical properties that make it suitable for use in a variety of artistic and commercial applications. The material is highly resistant to water and UV light, making it suitable for use in outdoor applications. It is also easy to dye and can be embossed or printed on to create a range of textures and patterns.

Overall, the use of dehydrated scoby to create vegan leather is a highly innovative approach that offers a sustainable and animal-free alternative to traditional leather. Its unique aesthetic and physical properties make it suitable for use in a wide range of artistic and commercial applications, and its sustainability makes it an attractive option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact.

Using visible lasers to etch into edible materials to selectively caramelise areas that darken to imprint images and illustrations without the use of dyes or inks of any kind. Precision toasting.

The use of blue laser technology to etch patterns and images onto edible materials through selective caramelization is a highly innovative and creative approach to food science. By using laser technology to selectively caramelize specific areas of an edible material, it is possible to create intricate patterns and designs without the need for dyes or other artificial colorants. This not only offers a more natural and healthy alternative to traditional food coloring techniques, but also opens up a range of new possibilities for experimentation with flavor, texture, and aesthetics.

One of the key benefits of using blue laser technology to etch patterns onto edible materials is its high level of precision and control. The laser beam can be focused and directed with great accuracy, allowing for the creation of intricate and detailed designs. This makes it possible to create a wide range of patterns and images on a variety of edible materials, including bread, cookies, and chocolate.

In addition to its precision, the use of blue laser technology also offers a number of other benefits for food science experimentation. By selectively caramelizing specific areas of an edible material, it is possible to create a range of flavors and textures. For example, the caramelization process can be used to create a crunchy or crispy texture, or to enhance the sweetness or complexity of a food’s flavor. This offers a range of possibilities for experimentation with new and unique flavors and textures.

Overall, the use of blue laser technology to etch patterns and images onto edible materials through selective caramelization is a highly innovative and creative approach that offers a range of possibilities for food science experimentation. By eliminating the need for dyes and offering a range of possibilities for flavor, texture, and aesthetics, this approach has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about food and food presentation.

3D Printed, RaspberryPi powered, OpenSource all the way.

The OpenFlexure microscope is an innovative and exciting project that utilizes flexures, 3D printing, and low cost components to create a highly accessible and affordable microscope. This microscope has the potential to revolutionize the way that scientists and educators access and use microscopes, particularly in developing countries and communities that may not have the resources to purchase expensive equipment.

One of the key features of the OpenFlexure microscope is its use of flexures. Flexures are small, flexible elements that are used to create precise movements and adjust the focus of the microscope. These flexures allow the microscope to be highly precise and accurate, while also being extremely affordable and easy to maintain.

Another important aspect of the OpenFlexure microscope is its reliance on 3D printing technology. The microscope can be easily assembled using 3D printed parts, which allows for quick and easy customization and maintenance. This also means that the microscope can be easily replicated and shared with others, making it an ideal tool for open science communities like AfricaOSH and GOSH.

The OpenFlexure microscope also utilizes a Raspberry Pi, which is a small, low cost computer that can be used to control and program the microscope. This allows users to easily customize and program the microscope to suit their needs, and opens up a world of possibilities for experimentation and exploration.

One of the most exciting aspects of the OpenFlexure microscope is its low cost and highly accessible nature. This microscope has the potential to revolutionize the way that scientists and educators access and use microscopes, particularly in developing countries and communities that may not have the resources to purchase expensive equipment. This collaborative project, with a strong connection between Africa and Europe, has the potential to democratize science and bring new discoveries and innovations to communities that may not have otherwise had access.

However, it is important to also consider the potential limitations of the OpenFlexure microscope. While it is an exciting and innovative project, it is important to question the optimism for its open source nature and the science it enables for those who may not have access to traditional microscopes. It is also important to consider the potential limitations of 3D printing and low cost components, and whether these may affect the accuracy and precision of the microscope.

Overall, the OpenFlexure microscope is a highly innovative and exciting project that has the potential to revolutionize the way that scientists and educators access and use microscopes. Its low cost, highly accessible nature and strong connection to open science communities make it an ideal tool for democratizing science and bringing new discoveries and innovations to underserved communities.