Chankster built a Nixie clock that uses the NTP protocol to set the time over an internet connection. For a final touch, it was encased in concrete. Time is synchronized using the network time protocol. An ATmega keeps the time, controls the nixie tubes, and connects to the internet via the popular ENC28J60 Ethernet IC. […]
Author Archives: DP
Workshop Update for September 13th, 2012
Today was consumed with the latest workshop video about the magnificent Nixie thing. We expected it to be quick and simple, instead it ate through the whole day because of complications in the half-finished new workshop. Image by Runner1616: CC BY-SA
Open 7400 prize: EZ430-RF2500 and OLED Booster Pack from 43oh forum
The 43oh forum donated an EZ430-RF2500 and a 43oh Terminal OLED Booster Pack to the Open 7400 Competition. Get your entry in and this and other cool hardware can be yours. The eZ430-RF2500 is a complete wireless development tool for the MSP430 and CC2500. It includes all the hardware and software required to develop an entire wireless […]
EzPSoC3 free PCB build
Xykon built an EzPSoC3 free PCB. This is a development board for Cypress’s PSoC3 System-on-a-chip IC. 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. Here’s how we mail free PCBs. Via the […]
WORKSHOP VIDEO #39: Magnificent Nixie tube thing
This week we try out the IN12 Nixie tube blocks we’ve been working on. They’ll be on display in the new workshop studio and at Maker Faire New York. We also light up a mini VFD we scored in Akihabara in Tokyo last year. Sorry about the poor lighting, new workshop will be up and […]
chipKIT design challenge
Microchip and Digilent are having a chipKIT design contest. The contest revolves around the chipKIT PIC32-based Arduino compatible platform. The contest has 3 different categories. One is for applications using available shields and libraries. Another is for custom library development, and the final is for custom hardware projects. Prizes include up to $4000 in cash […]
Bus Pirate v4c PCB community order
Schazamp got restless waiting for the Sick of Beige version of the Bus Pirate v4, namely V4c, to become available at Seeed. He decided to start a PCB order himself. If you’d like to get one from him, head to the forum and leave him a comment. Nevertheless, I want to order a batch of […]
Workshop Update for September 12th, 2012
We soldered on the nixie project, preparing to demo it in tomorrows workshop video. Picked up an extra soldering iron too, so three people can work on it at once. A new batch of PCBs arrived from Seeed Studio, we started soldering on those.
Open 7400 prize: Little Wire USB controlled multi-tool kit
Ihsan donated 2 Little Wire kits to the Open 7400 Competition. Get your entry in and this and other cool hardware can be yours. Little Wire is multi-featured USB controlled open source hardware tool packed in a minimal form factor designed by Ihsan Kehribar. Even though it has minimal form factor, it’s packed with full […]
ATX Breakout board free PCB build
Schazamp built an ATX Breakout board free PCB. The ATX breakout board routes the -12, 3.3, 5 and 12 volt ATX outputs to screw terminals, each protected by a 1.25 amp resettable polyfuse. Here’s my ATX breakout board assembly. I am not happy with the binding posts, but I had them from another project, and couldn’t […]
OLinuXino-Micro ARM9 Linux board available at Mouser
Brightbluejim let us know that the OLinuXino-Micro ARM9 Linux board is available at Mouser for $30. It runs at 454 MHz, has 64 MB of RAM, an SD-card reader, TV PAL/NTSC video output, one USB High-Speed host port, and an a Pi-tossing 60 GPIO pins broken out. Via the comments
Playing with ATX Breakout Board in KiCAD
Over the last week we re-visioned the ATX power supply breakout board in KiCAD, free of the confines of Eagle’s 100mm by 80mm cell. We chose the ATX board because it’s already at the limit of the free version of eagle, and it’s filled with big connectors that can’t be miniaturized. This version builds on […]
Sick of Beige v1 DP5031 case available at Seeed
A clear laser-cut acrylic project case kit that fits Sick of Beige DP5031 PCBs (50mmx31mm) is now available at Seeed for $3. We’re adding case sizes as you ask for them, so if you’d like a specific one please give us a shout. Protect your project from electrical shorts and fingers, but keep it accessible […]
Testing the efficiency of Nixie power supplies
Gelbanana tested 3 HV SMPS Nixie power supplies for their efficiency. The tested ICs were the always popular NE555 timer, the MC34063 buck/boost controller, and the MAX1771 boost controller. The MAX1771 was the most efficient, but it also costs 10x more than the other two ICs tested. Table with the results of the test can […]
Workshop Update for September 11th, 2012
Today we built up 14 Nixie Display boards, trying to figure out how to connect the sockets without stripping 240 individual 3″ wires. We also started working on some illustrations for the OHS 2012 USB presentation. We made some models, and are in the process of rendering them. You can check out a preview video […]
Open 7400 prize: Amani F2 packs and Amani GTX packs
Amani64 donated 2 Amani F2 FPGA development packs (Amani F2 FPGA Shield, bitJTAG JTAG Programmer, MCU Dev Kit) and 2 Amani GTX CPLD development packs (Amani GTX Programmable Logic Shield, 4-Digit Seven-Segment ASM). Thank you to Amani64 for sponsoring the 2012 Open 7400 Logic Competition!
Cross platform Open Logic Sniffer client 0.9.6 final released
Jawi continues to make excellent progress with the cross-platform Open Logic Sniffer client. Version 0.9.6 final is out. Check out the change log below. New signal display component in place, with most of the long-promised functionality now in place; new default look and feel, thanks to Marius Jonsson; allow OLS to be used over a […]
Big box of parts for the US
A few months ago a big traveling part box started in the forum. It’s currently working its way through Europe to India. To cut down the costs of intercontinental shipping, several US members got together and started one too. The picture above is just one member’s contribution, there’s lots of other good stuff inside. It’s […]
Eagle Parts: IN-12 Nixie and IV-22 VFD tube sockets
Added IN-12 Nixie socket (pictured above) and the IV-22 VFD socket (picture below) to our Eagle parts library. As you may have noticed from our recent updates, we’ve been playing around with Nixies and VFDs a bit lately…
#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 […]