Martin Raynsford writes about his latest Arduino based project:
We switched out the standard controller with an Arduino (just in time for Arduino day) and connected two rotary dials to directly manipulate the X and Y axis. As long as the laser only cuts while the axis are moving then we should avoid fires. We’ll be touring the UK Maker Faires with it this year so everyone can have a go
Project details can be found at Just Add Sharks.
Via the contact form.
Rupert Hirst writes:
I finally got round to making my capacitor ESR tester this week after finding a nice simple 5 transistor version by EEVBlog member Jay_Diddy_B. Unfortunately, for me, the design was only SMD so, I decided to replicate his schematic in Eagle PCB using a through hole component design.
By ian
There’s a lot of Huaqiangbei maps out there (Seeed Studio, HAXLR8R, Oomlout), but we needed one specifically for Hacker Camp Shenzhen. This map has favorite component and tools buildings, some hidden and not normally visited. It also has ‘local’ places I’ve discovered during the last year living in the market area: cheap and dodgy karaoke, favorite BBQ places, hot pot street, cheap massage, back alley food streets, and more. On the back there’s a schedule of events (and locations) for the hacker camp, a snippet of the Shenzhen Metro map, and a list of organizers and sponsors.
Originally we hoped to have them folded by the printer, but the cheap printer (230RMB/~$30USD for 500) wouldn’t fold them and the expensive printer was, well, too expensive (1000RMB/~$160USD for 500). For the extra $130 we’ll fold them in-house, or take them to a bored neighborhood print shop. We only need 40 for the workshop so the extras will be given away at Maker Faires or make an appearance in the free PCB drawer.
Hacker Camp Shenzhen-front (PDF!)
Hacker Camp Shenzhen-back (PDF!)
Via Hacker Camp Shenzhen mini-site: Hacker Camp Shenzhen map and schedule arrives
Here’s an RGB LED Lamp made from old scanner parts and controlled via a web panel with a colour picker by Hack Shed:
We have come up with LANp – This is an Arduino and Ethernet Shield that controls an RGB LED colour real-time with a Javascript colour picker.
What’s in it?
1x Arduino
1x Arduino Ethernet/SD Shield
1x Micro-SDHC Card
1x Scanner LED RGB
Various jumper wires
Via the contact form.
Dilshan Jayakody writes:
This a quick post regarding homemade 300V – 2.3A isolation transformer. This transformer is a part of my ongoing 300V AC/DC variable power supply project and it’s boxed as a separate unit because of its heavy weight and size.
All the parameters of this transformer are calculated using small Python script which I was written sometimes ago. This script support for step-up, step-down or 1:1 power transformer windings and it can execute on any platform where Python 2.7 (or newer version) is supported.
Juan Ignacio writes:
A while back I bought an HC-SR04. It sat in a box until yesterday when I tried to use it with an MSP430G2553 but unfortunately it wasn’t working. I used Energia to program the Launchpad but I wasn’t getting any response from the device. I hooked up my Logic analyzer to see what was going on and the trigger pulse (channel 1) is there but the device will produce essentially the same echo (channel 0), regardless of whether I put an object in front of the module or not. It wasn’t working.
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:
Some stuff:
We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.
Harshad Italiya sent us a picture of his free xQFP80 +65 Protoboard PCB build:
Thank you Dangerous Prototypes your free PCB comes to rescue me and I did my first prototype on this 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.
Tektronix MDO4104B-6 mixed domain oscilloscope (MDO4000B) review and experiments by Shahriar:
In this episode Shahriar reviews and demos the second revision of the industry’s first Mixed Domain Oscilloscope from Tektronix. The MDO4000B series offers improved signal integrity and performance. The reviewed model is a MDO4104B-6 which offers 16-Channel Logic Analyzer, 4-Channel Oscilloscope with 1GHz of analog bandwidth as well a 6GHz Spectrum Analyzer with greater than 1GHz of instantaneous capture bandwidth with 65dB of dynamic range.
Paco sent us a picture of his free Superprobe PCB build.
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.
Via the contact form.
By ian
It’s amazingly easy and cheap to get things made in China. To showcase that we’ve had hackerspace passport stamps, banners, and now patches made for the workshop. These patches, while not the best quality ever, were only 1RMB each ($0.16USD) for 50 pieces – delivered in 5 days. Everyone attending the workshop will get a set of patches in their goodies bag.
Via Hacker Camp Shenzhen mini-site: Hacker Camp Shenzhen patches
TomKeddie shared his USB Isolator in the project log forum:
This is a nice simple soldering project that does exactly that, isolates your USB port from connected devices. There are two input usb connectors, one carries data and power from the computer the other supplies power to the output. The output comes from a 3rd USB A connector. There is no power/ground/data connection between the computer and connected devices other than through the isolator chip. This board has two grounds, two power supplies etc.
Via the forum.
@rocket_not tweeted: Personal audio & MIDI prototyping board based on a design originally by @dangerousproto
Viswa informs us that the Lemcu.org crew have implemented a purely software based USB peripheral for ARM Cortex M0+ devices and a made a tiny Quick start board for EFM32ZG110 MCU. “This software enables Cortex M0+ devices to act as a Low speed USB device. It includes a lightweight USB & HID Stack and can easily be optimized to consume only 4KB of flash.”
Source files are available on GitHub.
Via the contact form.
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 get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB. You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another! Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:
App note from International Rectifier on Power MOSFET Basics
This application note discusses the breakdown voltage, on-resistance, transconductance, threshold voltage, diode forward voltage, power dissipation, dynamic characteristics, gate charge and dV/dt capability of the power MOSFET.
A good read about class D Audio Amplifier, an app note from International Rectifier
A Class D audio amplifier is basically a switching amplifier or PWM amplifier. There are a number of different classes of amplifiers. This application note takes a look at the definitions for the main classifications.
This application note from Microchip demonstrates color mixing using the PIC12F1572 MCU (PDF!):
This application note demonstrates color mixing using the PIC12F1572 processor. The PIC12F1572 processor features three 16-bit pulse-width modulators (PWMs), among other peripherals. The 16-bit PWMs allow precise control over each RGB LED, allowing smooth transitions even at low-brightness/luminosity levels.
Here’s an application note from Maxim: Enable automotive USB power – Managing the increasing currents, longer cables, and tight portable-device specifications
This application note discusses the challenges of rapid USB charging of today’s portable devices (PDs) in an automobile. The PDs may not charge quickly or charge at all, especially the more recent power-hungry devices. We explain why low-cost USB car chargers are not the solution because they introduce radio interference (RF) into the vehicle. We discuss a new DC-DC converter with a smart USB switch that leverages tight integration to provide automotive-specific USB power, USB charge enumeration, and port protection. It solves recent problems with higher PD charging current.
A similar version of this article appeared in the July 21, 2013 issue of Electronic Products
Grouflon has written up a unique project using an Arduino and an NES controller. “This week I worked on little script/manipulation that turns an Arduino and a NES controller into a USB Keyboard. Maybe it can be of use to some of you, so feel free to grab the code on this github repo. This require some simple Arduino modification but the documentation on the github page should cover pretty much everything (if not, don’t hesitate to ask me questions on the comments).”
The code and details are available on GitHub.
Via Ludumdare.
