*** Welcome to piglix ***

Homebuilt machines


Homebuilt machines are machines built outside of specialised workshops or factories. This can include different things such as kit cars or homebuilt computers, but normally it pertains to homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes. Homebuilt aircraft or kit cars are constructed by amateurs. Homebuilt computers have been built at home for a long time, starting with the Victorian era pioneer Charles Babbage in the 1820s. A century later, Konrad Zuse built his own machine when electromechanical relay technology was widely available. The hobby took off with the early development of microprocessors and, since then, many enthusiasts have constructed their own computers. A homebuilt vehicle is a wider concept than a kit car. A homebuilt vehicle is a motor vehicle (car, truck or motorcycle) built by an individual instead of a manufacturer. These machines may be constructed "from scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits. Outside of the United States (for example in Russia) people wishing to build such complex machinery often have no professional networks to rely on for spare parts, plans, or advice in the matter and therefore have to rely on their ingenuity and intuition in order to build a machine that works.

A typical wood and fabric construction amateur-built, the Bowers Fly Baby.

A Pietenpol Air Camper under construction, showing the wooden frame structure that will be covered with aircraft fabric.

Homebilt guns from the USSR

Borz, a weapon of insurgency that is built in tiny workshops which can qualify it as "homebuilt"

Fiberfab FT Bonito, a kit-car on a VW Beetle chassis.

Locost frame and body panels.

A stitched canoe hull under construction.


...
Wikipedia

...