The factory of the world – Hackaday documentary on the Shenzhen Ecosystem When it comes to manufacturing, no place in the world has the same kind of allure as the Pearl River Delta region of China. Within just an hour-long train ride, two vastly different cultures co-exist, each with its unique appeal that keeps attracting […]
Author Archives: DP
LM2596 DC-DC converter module testing
Kerry D. Wong writes: In the video below, I tested this DC-DC converter board under various operating conditions and measured its efficiencies. To conclude, these switching regulator boards are well suited for low to medium current draw digital circuitry but for higher current applications a heat sink is needed and even so I would not […]
DIY csCNC – 2 (Linistepper driver and testing with Bus Pirate)
Oakkar7 has a nice build log on his DIY csCNC, he writes: Since I started building DIY CNC, I checked the free, opensource motor controller. There are several alternatives. I chose linisteppr controller. – Simple and cheap (my first priority :) ) and I can source required parts locally – microstepping, open design (Especially, it’s […]
App note: Designer’s guide for the Si114x
Si114x proximity sensors from Silicon Labs design guide. Link here This application note provides an outline for using the Si114x proximity detector and ambient-light sensor. General considerations of electrical and optical component selection, programming, and power consumption are explained so as to cover the majority of situations.
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: Touchless lavatory appliance design
Using the Silicon Labs’s Si1141 sensor and C8051F9xx series microcontroller for touchless lavatory. Link here The Si1141 is a single-channel, reflectance-based proximity detector with an integrated ambient light sensor and can be used as a touchless sensor IC in lavatory appliances. As a proximity detector, the Si1141 has two infrared photodiodes, flexible ADC integration time, […]
Building a CC2500 to BLE adaptor
Don has been working on a CC2500 to BLE adaptor project, that is available on Github: Posting some details in response to questions about the current module. Everything for the CC2500 is on Github. Fish around here and you’ll also find some iOS and Pebble code. Sorry, nothing Android based. The RFDuino is programmed like […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three […]
More awesome DoorBell control
Felix of LowPowerLab posted an update on his DoorBell Mote project we covered previously: My first DoorBell Mote prototype was working nicely and it allowed monitoring the door bell (while also triggering it remotely – toddlers love it). But I wanted more. On weekends the family likes to get a well deserved nap during the day […]
Interfacing a chord keypad to Papilio Duo FPGA board
Ken writes: This is a simple chord style keypad that I made up a few years ago. It is loosely based on the Microwriter – an early UK designed portable keypad / notewriter. The five main keys are located under the fingertips and thumb of the right hand, plus an additional shift key that can […]
STM32 Nucleo and DFU USB bootloading
MrMobileWill writes: Over the last few months I have been playing with the Nucleo development boards from STMicroelectronics. If you’re unfamiliar with them, they are fast, mbed and Arduino (headers) compatible. This makes it easy like an Arduino to program and use. What sets them apart is that they are 32bit and have, depending on […]
Programmable 8-character LCD module and digital voltmeter
A programmable 8-character LCD module and digital voltmeter project from Tuxgraphics: Our 3 digit LED digital voltmeter module has been quite successful over the years. This new LCD module is basically an advanced version with a lot more capabilities. You can power it with the same voltage source that your signal is derived from. You […]
Wireless Dallas iButton reader
Ondřej Karas writes: This article describes simple wireless Dallas one-wire device ROM reader. It is intended as a base code for some more sophisticated access control system. We try some kind of access system in followings articles. Now, we are going to read 1-wire ROM code. We use DDC-SE-01-dallas.c from DDC examples as a template […]
Build a drawbot from two CD drives and a Raspberry Pi
A DIY plotter build using old CD drives and a Raspberry Pi by Norbert Heinz: The battery powered WLAN plotter shown here is composed of parts from two old optical drives, four H bridges, a servo and a Raspberry Pi. Project info at HomoFaciens site. Via Make. Check out the video after the break.
Review: Dirty Circuits Done Dirt Cheap
DirtyPCBs detailed review by Gee_Rabid_Inventor: Often design and research is and expensive business, especially when dealing with technology that your are unfamiliar with. A big proportion of this is PCB manufacture and I have spend a few years looking for a low cost reliable method for PCB production. The most cost effective method is to […]
App note: Anatomy of a high-quality meter
An application note from Fluke on best characteristics of a high-quality multimeters. Link here The hazards of working with electricity aren’t new, of course. But as electronic and electrical systems become increasingly complex, the dangers of measuring its flow have increased and unprepared technicians can suddenly be faced with a simple job gone bad. The […]
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: Ten dumb things smart people do when testing electricity
Tips from Fluke on things we could not resist doing or forgetting when doing electricity works. Link here. Anyone who makes their living by working with electricity quickly develops a healthy respect for anything with even a remote chance of being “live.” Yet the pressures of getting a job done on time or getting a […]
App note: Use and calibration of the internal temperature indicator
Use and calibration of the internal temperature indicator (PDF!), an application note from Microchip: Many PIC16 family devices include an internal temperature indicator. These devices include the PIC16F72X device family, PIC16F1XXX device family, and the PIC12F1XXX device family. The temperature indicator is internally connected to the input multiplexer of the ADC (Figure 1). Refer to […]
Valve’s “Lighthouse” optical tracking system
Travis stumbled across an interesting project at Bay Area Maker Faire, the Lighthouse Optical Position Tracking by Alan Yates of Valve. He writes: While walking around the Bay Area Maker Faire this weekend, I stumbled across an amazing piece of technology: Valve’s “Lighthouse” tracking system. Valve’s demos were (supposedly) a major contributor to Oculus’ fundraising […]