As a response to yesterday’s Workshop Video on how we stock our parts, Alvaro made a video of his own storage system. He predominately uses portable boxes, which have 4 removable compartmentalized containers. We also talked with Alvaro at the Bay Area Maker Fair 2012, and his wireless friend finder project. Via Twitter.
Author Archives: DP
Workshop Update for June 7th, 2012
The workshop video always sucks up a whole day, this one way longer than normal to edit though. Learn about the parts we stock and why. Routing of the soldering practice badge continues today. We set the design using 3 ‘595 shift registers, and one ULN2003 Darlington array. Two ‘595s control power to 15 columns […]
Makeblock, the make-your-own-robot project!
Seeed Studio started selling Makeblock, a new Arduino controlled modular robotics platform. They are made of aluminum, and come in many modular shapes you can design your robot with: Makeblock is made of strong, hardened aluminum which is able to support the weight of an adult and more. In conjunction with a more durable material, […]
Coil gun version of the “High Striker” carnival strength test
Want to test your strength at home, instead of only at carnivals? Well Bertho is designing a updated version of the popular carnival strength test using electro-magnets to propel the ball. You can easily rig the game so you are the only one that can ring the ball. I have been working on a game-idea […]
8×16 ping-pong ball LED matrix display
Exapod built a 8×16 ping-pong ball LED matrix display. The ping-pong balls are used as diffusers for green LEDs. Two MAX7219 8bit serial LED drivers control the lights. A PIC18F2553 drives the MAX chips with text received over a Bluetooth module. I finally finished my 8×16 ping pong ball matrix display, soldering all the boards, […]
STM32 ARM breakout board with Ethernet PHY
Mikro Elektornika is selling STM32 ARM breakout boards with Ethernet PHY for a reasonable price of $24. While they are intended as replaceable MCU cards for their EasyMX PRO v7 development board, you can also buy them standalone and develop your project around them. They come with either STM32F107, STM32F207, or STM32F407 processors, or as unpopulated […]
Workshop Update for June 6th, 2012
We worked on the updated sales page for the Bus Pirate. You can preview our “work in progress” in the pic above, and notice a slight update to the site-wide banner. The final render of the 3D model for the sales page is currently in progress. We decided make two versions of the LED Dangerous […]
RDM6300 UART RFID module with PIC18
Zach is working on a RFID project using the RDM6300 RFID to UART module and a PIC 18 development board. Once I verified that I could receive a single card’s data, I set up a demo with three RFID tags programmed into the PIC so that it would toggle an LED based on which card […]
Punnet cardboard cut-out case for the Raspberry Pi
It doesn’t get much simpler than this cardboard case for the Raspberry-Pi. It’s a printable cut-out design that shows you where to cut, bend, and glue to make a simple enclosure. While this isn’t the most professional looking enclosure for a project, it does provide some protection. We’d like to design DIY cutout cases for […]
HOW-TO: Open Source USB stack for PIC microcontrollers
This guide shows how to configure and customize the latest version of the JTR-Honken open source USB stack for PIC microcontrollers. The demo will run on most USB-enabled projects from Dangerous Prototypes. Be sure to check the wiki for the latest documentation and downloads. Many PIC microcontrollers have USB hardware. We use some of these […]
From the comments: FTDI X-series chip review
From the comments on our FTDI’s new X-Series of USB device chips post: I’ve been using the FT221X. Regarding the leadless package, assembly by hand is doable with the right tools: a hot air rework station such as the Hakko 803B, and either a stencil or a droplet dispenser (or both) for applying the paste […]
Bus Pirate v3b free PCB build
NBitWonder built a free Bus Pirate v3b PCB. The Bus Pirate is an open source hacker multi-tool that talks to electronic stuff. 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 your […]
Workshop Update for 5th of June, 2012
Desktop cleanup yielded a few random project files that we added to the SVN. We’re preparing 2 different sales pages for the Bus Pirate. We’ll post both for feedback, and then randomly display them to determine if one is more effective. Any statistics will be posted on the blog. The DIY DP Badge is nearing […]
Library supports all PIC hardware peripherals, ported to the Web Platform
The Web Platform is now supported by the PIC24 library collection of examples and functions for working with PIC24 hardware peripherals. It features a getting started guide, a library with lots of useful functions, and a simple event driven operating system. The PIC24 support library supports all the major subsystems of the PIC24: clock configuration, […]
Copy parts between libraries in Eagle
A short but helpful tutorial on how to copy parts between libraries in Cadsoft Eagle. You can also check out some of our Eagle tutorials.
#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 […]
3D printed Nintendo portable
Check out The Longhorn Engineer’s Maker Faire project: the 3D printed NES portable. This is basically the Nintendo Top loader board placed inside a custom 3D printed case, with a Play Station Portable screen integrated into it. You can also watch Parker talk about it in our video about the Bay Area Maker Faire 2012 […]
DIY Bus Pirate v3.5a built
Asarli shared his Bus Pirate v3.5a SOIC PCB build. These boards were designed with the larger SOIC PIC microcontrollers, making them easier to solder for beginners. Get an assembled Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors. Via the forum.
Workshop Update for June 4th, 2012
We commited a patch to the SPIsniffer utility for the Bus Pirate that fixes an error with correct port speed settings on some systems. We also started work on some landing, and sales pages for the Bus Pirate. A bunch of LEDs were added to the Dangerous Prototypes solder practice badge. Part Ninja Processing app […]
Little-Wire entered production at Seeed Studios
The Little-Wire, TinyAVR based multi-tool has entered production at Seeed Studios. After some initial difficulties with production setup, the first run of Little Wires has started production last week. Last Friday they said me that they’ll start the production immediately at that day. I’m waiting … I hope at most at the end of this […]