In this video Viktor demonstrates his Spindicator clone with pulse and trail effect project: Although my “original” Spindicator itself was just a clone of this one, mine was well received by the geeks around the world! :) A fellow diy tinkerer made an even better one with PWM control (very cool, indeed!). Recently, I was asked […]
Author Archives: DP
Workshop Update for May 15th, 2013
We continue working on the part kit models, and documentation. We’re adding them to our Eagle part library as well. We’re on our way to the Bay Area Maker Fair this weekend.
Tutorial – Arduino and MC14489 LED display driver
John Boxall over at Tronixstuff has a series of Arduino tutorials. This chapter fifty-one of a series will show you how to use MC14489 LED display driver ICs with Arduino: Recently we’ve been looking at alternatives to the MAX7219 LED display driver IC due to pricing and availability issues (stay tuned for that one) – and […]
Magic wand project for kids
Here’s a how-to on making a magnetic magic wand toy by DIYHacksAndHowTos: This Magic Wand project can be used to get someone young interested in electronics since instead of simply doing something practical this project appears to be magic. The project uses a magnetic reed switch and a magnet embedded into a magic wand to […]
Low cost PCB through-hole plating
Ricardo Trombetta shared a tutorial on how to plate the holes using copper hypophosphite pyrolysis to activate the holes: This video shows how to activate a PCB holes surfaces before electroplating. The holes are activated using a low cost copper hypophosphite based solution and the electroplating is made using an acid bath that is copper […]
Simple component size and silkscreen reference board
Philip posted his simple component size and silkscreen reference board in the project log forum: since I kept checking old projects to figure out which silkscreens worked, and which didn’t, I made myself a simple reference board. I also included some common SMD component sizes, just to keep me from thinking 0402 was a viable […]
Hand tracking pong project
Hanting Lu and Kedari Elety, students in Cornell University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering, have written a detailed explanation of their Hand tracking pong project, a pong game which was controlled by tracking the player’s hand: The NTSC video signal from the camera is stored in the SDRAM at the rate of the TV Decoder Line […]
DipCortex – GPIO Intro video and guide
DipCortex – GPIO Intro video and guide by SolderSplashLabs: This video takes you through the setup procedure, importing our codebase from GitHub, running through the code. Building it and boot-loading the bin file over the USB connection. These guides are applicable for both the DipCortex’s and the up coming SolderBridges that use the same processors. […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
Arduino Workshop: A Hands-On Introduction with 65 Projects
Here’s an Arduino Workshop book by John Boxall of Tronixstuff, a hands-on introduction to Arduino with 65 projects: Although there are seemingly endless Arduino tutorials and articles on the Internet, Arduino Workshop offers a nicely edited and curated path for the beginner to learn from and have fun. It’s a hands-on introduction to Arduino with […]
WORKSHOP VIDEO #59: How we prepare for the Bay Area Maker Faire
This week we are visiting the Bay Area Maker Faire, so here is a video to explain how we prepare for Maker Faires. You can also check out our Maker Faire tips post, or the wiki version. We’ll have regular updates form the Faire on our blog, and Twitter feed. Stuff to bring to a […]
HOW-TO: Visit Bay Area Maker Faire
We are off to the Bay Area Maker Faire, and we’d like to share some of the tips we picked up on our previous visit there. Below are our tips for both visitors, and participants. If you are in the area be sure to drop by.
Workshop Update for May 13th, 2013
We are getting ready for the Maker Faire. Work continues on part, and kit documentation. Check out the videos and writeups from our previous Maker Faire visits.
WiFiDuino = WiFi + Arduino
TheHardwarer has designed this WiFiDuino, an Arduino board that has a WiFi module: WiFiDuino is a new Arduino board that has a WiFi module. The circuit is based on the famous open source “Arduino Micro” from Arduino and Adafruit. To add WiFi connection, the new module “CC3000” from TI is used.
Bin access to I2C-memories in C
Thommy writes, “didn’t find any C program that compiled on Linux for using the binary mode in I2C (or my google karma sucked), so hacked together one. Maybe someone else can have use for it or its source code. Can be found under GitHub.com. Both read and write implemented.” Get an assembled Bus Pirate for […]
Open book on 3d printing
Open Book on “Low-cost 3D Printing for Science, Education and Sustainable Development” : Some scientists from the ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics) published an open book about 3d printing, titled Low-cost 3d printing for science, education and sustainable development. The book covers pratical issues (printer models, use of OpenSCAD and Slic3r) but also investigates […]
Join our table at Bay Area Maker Faire 2013?
For the last few Maker Faire’s we’ve invited hackers and makers without a table to display with us. If you have a cool project you’d like to show off with us at Maker Faire this weekend, please hit us up through the contact form.
Bus Pirate LCD Adapter v2b free PCB build
MickM built a free Bus Pirate LCD Adapter v2b PCB. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free PCB drawer. Get an LCD adapter for $9.
Bay Area Maker Faire May 18th & 19th, taco crawl
We’ll be at the Bay Area Maker Faire on the 18th, and 19th of May this year. This is the big one and it’s a ton of fun. If you’re there please drop by and say hi. On the blog we’ll have our usual Maker Faire coverage and a Maker Faire how-to video. If you’re […]
App note: Using the WeX timer/counter extension
Here’s an application note from Atmel: Using the WeX timer/counter extension (PDF!) This application note describes the various functions of the Waveform Extension (WeX) to Timer/Counter 4/5 available on the Atmel® XMEGA® E. It details the differences and improvements according to the AWeX extension to Timer/Counters of the previous XMEGA (see AVR®1311 Application Note). Included […]