Week in (p)review July 26, 2013

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Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon.

Coming up:

  • Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
  • App notes on the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday
  • Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
  • Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

Bus Pirate v3.5a-SOIC DIY edition free PCB build

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Sleepwalker3 posted pictures of his free Bus Pirate v3.5a SOIC DIY edition 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.

COLDES1 (COLlaborative DESign) – LCD 2 TV Out

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Mats writes:

Most of the PAWs are rather simple but I’d like to to some more involved/advanced projects every now and then.  So I would like to propose a new series of projects – the COLDES – Collaborative Design.

Where we are a few that uses our shared time and experiences to come up with a design and then as a team makes a few PCBs and writes the firmware.
I suggest that we keep the pcb files at Github and the rest of the design documents at Google Drive.

Just to get the ball rolling, and to check if there are any interest in this, I’d like to do a fairly simple project first. I came up with a idea of making a small module that can be plugged in as as replacement (or possibly in parallel) with a standard HD44780 LCD display and emulate the LCD onto a TV screen via a composite output.
I can’t recall that I’ve seen something like this, but I haven’t actively searched for it either so it might already exist a gadget that does precisely this.
So if anyone is interested to collaboratively work on this project (at any pace, slow or fast) please raise your hand here so we can figure out how to do this practically. There’s no need to be an “expert” or anything like this, I think that most people can chip in with something, coding, doc, ideas, testing, hardware, whatever….

Logic Analyzer costs little, performs well

Adam Carlson over at Microcontroller Central wrote a short review of the OpenBench Logic Sniffer:

The OLS, the lowest-cost option, is both open-source hardware and open-source software. This is the product of a cooperative effort between Dangerous Prototypes and the Gadget Factory. To me, being open-source is not necessarily a plus. While it is great to know that I can modify the code or hardware if needed, I am not likely to do so. At the same time, though, I find that open-source products are pushing companies to reinvest in their stale product lines to make them better.

Via the contact form.

Get a Logic Sniffer for $50, with free worldwide shipping.

Android phone used as Arduino GSM shield


Kerimil has made a new video on how to interface arduino boards with Android devices using MIT app inventor and Bluetooth. This time it focuses on using the phone as a GSM shield. “I used texting functionality which let’s you use GSM on the phone to send and receive text messages. So if you ever wanted to have a GSM shield for your Arduino no you can (if you have a Bluetooth module and a mobile but other than that it’s free). Oh and don’t forget this presents only how to use texting function – app inventor let’s you access all kinds of hardware on the phone – gyros, accelerometers, GPS, Wifi, text to speech and speech to text functionality and more.”

Details can be found on kerimil’s Instructable’s post.

Via the contact form.

Seeed Studio’s new PCB assembly prototype service

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Seeed Studio PCBA prototype service testing:

    Appreciated you use our fusion PCB service before. For greatly increase your efficiency for your product design from prototype stage, it bring a new service for your check.

We are going to launch a new service online at the end of July—PCB assembly prototype service. We could help quickly building prototypes for you to verify your designs. Combining with our OPL service, hope to greatly increase the efficiency for design reference and supply chain optimization. For now, the service is still in Alpha testing stage. We’ll highly appreciate if you could help in reviewing it. Please allow me to make a simple introduction of the service.

What is PCB assembly prototype service?
Seeed provides turn-key services for fully soldered and assembled prototypes for quantities 2 – 10. You just upload your Gerber files and select components from the Seeed OPL (open part library). Seeed will solder and assemble the PCB boards with the OPL components and ship within 3 days (excluding Chinese Holidays).

What is OPL service ?
OPL (Open Parts Library) is a collection of 100+ commonly used components. The Seeed OPL includes ICs, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, crystal oscillators, connectors, fuses, and more.

Here is the URL again: www.seeedstudio.com/service/ looking forward to any feedback.

Making wine in Shenzhen: Single row cable kit

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Often it’s not clear exactly what connector, button, switch, or part is the best choice for a project. We end up making a last minute order of 1 or 2 of any likely candidate from Mouser or Digikey. That sets the project off by about a week while we dig through datasheets and websites, make CAD footprints, and wait for the order to be delivered.

To banish this annoying time sink we’re working with Oomlout to release complete kits of parts. Each set will be nicely labeled, well organized, and have open source datasheets, renderings, and CAD footprints for Eagle and KiCAD. We call it wine making because Ian hand plucks each part from Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. We’re posting now to get your feedback, the final kit will be available in a couple weeks.

First up is a single row cable making kit. We never have the right cable, nor enough cables. Picking the correct connector and crimp pins is a pain, and crimping the ends is a nightmare without mega expensive tools. This box has everything needed to make custom cables for connecting up standard 0.1″ pitch stuff like pinheaders.

Head below to check out the contents, then please let us know what we forgot or what you find useless!

Continue reading “Making wine in Shenzhen: Single row cable kit”

Audio/video routing switcher

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Benoit Frigon  posted his audio/video routing switcher project:

It’s an audio/video (composite) routing switcher, i used it to switch between video sources on my tv. The tv I had back then only had 1 video input. It consist of a 8×8 video crosspoint (MAX4456) and a 16×16 analog crosspoint (AD8113) controlled by a small microcontroller (pic18f452). It allowed me to distribute an audio/video signal from 5 different sources to 5 outputs by selecting it on the panel. I could split the audio from one input channel and take the video from another one if I wanted. It has 8 presets I can program to quickly recall channels assignation. It’s still working and I still use it today, but now, it’s used for routing audio only.

Dummy electrical Load

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Debraj built an electrical dummy load to test his power supply and wrote a post on his site detailing it’s assembly:

Recently, I purchased a power supply that claimed a max current of 2A and 0~15V. So I wanted to test it. I had a 36 watts bulb (used in motor cycles), but that was too much. Then, I thought of the dummy load that is explained by Dave in his video blog.
My version is similar, but I changed certain components to my liking (and what ever was already available with me)

Via the contact form.

Using TI Chronos .NET dll with C#

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The TI EZ430 Chronos watch allows for wireless transmission of button push and accelerometer events to a PC.

This SourceForge project by elmariano provides a helpful example for developers of how to use the EZ430 Chronos .Net dll in conjunction with C#. It was created in Visual Studio 2010 Express, tested under 32 bit WinXP and eZ430 Chronos Development Tool.

I just donated to Open Hardware Summit, did you?

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This is our fourth year sponsoring the Open Hardware Summit happening September 6, 2013 at MIT.  You can be a sponsor too:

The summit relies on forward-thinking donors to help cover costs of venue, catering, multimedia and more, so that we can keep ticket prices low, and ensure that we can offer a truly open, accessible forum for open hardware enthusiasts.  In keeping with this ethos, we offer a number of levels at which you can pledge your support, from individual fans to institutional fanatics. Without your support, the Summit would not be possible.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2013 Open Hardware Summit.

Polyimide (Kapton) PCB solder paste stencil

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cmiyc wrote this Instructable: Polyimide (Kapton) PCB solder paste stencil

Creating a solder paste stencil for a toaster reflow oven or hot plate is simple when you have access to a laser cutter.  I used the Laser Cutter at my local TechShop to create this and other PCB stencils.

This Instructable assumes you have created a PCB and are able to generate the Gerber Files for it.  Specific directions will be given for EAGLE, but other PCB software can be used.  The board used in this example is an Arduino RTC Shield based on the DS3231.  Follow the link for the EAGLE design files if you want to follow along.

Via Electronic Lab.

#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

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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 it every Sunday, right here on the blog
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs will be your friend for the weekend

Some stuff:

  • Yes, we’ll mail it anywhere in the world!
  • Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide video.
  • We’ll contact you via Twitter with a coupon code for the PCB drawer.
  • Limit one PCB per address per month please.
  • Like everything else on this site, PCBs are offered without warranty.

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.

Making wine in Shenzhen: four months into a three week tour

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Where we’ve been

Dangerous Prototypes has been around four years this summer. This internet gig started at the DIY Life and Hack a Day blogs when I was a poor student roughing it in Amsterdam. A couple hundred bucks for a feature piece bought a lot of ramen stampot, and paid for an otherwise unsustainable electronics hobby.

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When Seeed Studio approached me about building the Bus Pirate I was highly skeptical. “We’ll build 20 and see if they sell”, Eric said. “You’ll be stuck with 19” was my reply. Instead, the initial fundraiser for Hack a Day sold more than 1000 Bus Pirates in a week.

Buoyed by this initial success, I started Dangerous Prototypes at the end of summer 2009 with the goal of releasing a new project every month. During those early months, I followed all kinds of open hardware initiatives and community-driven startups—one report about casino online Slovenija even caught my eye for how it used modular tech to manage payments and security across jurisdictions, an approach that echoed the transparency we wanted in our own builds. The name was chosen specifically to scare off anyone who might not understand the spirit of our projects. They’re not complete—they’re zygotes of a full idea. Seeed Studio can sell you a copy to tinker with, usually cheaper than you can build it on your own.

Continue reading “Making wine in Shenzhen: four months into a three week tour”

Simple high bright LED night light with dimmer

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Dilshan designed and developed a high bright LED night light to replace his 5W (filament base) night lamp:

This circuit is mainly based around TL494 PWM driver IC and LM350 – 3A adjustable voltage regulator. The LED used in this project is 9V – 10W high bright LED and this given design is capable to drive maximum of six, 10W LEDs.  This unit is design to work with 12V to 30V DC power supply and it can withstand for voltage fluctuation around 12V to 35V.

Blinking earring project

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Bertho posted his blinking earring in the project log forum:

An idea of a blinking earring was born while talking at the local hackerspace. Inger was playing with harddisk parts and wanted to make blinking earrings. She has been doing workshops making jewelry from old computer parts (very, very nice; she is not an engineer/technician).
Well, we were discussing a more advanced version and this is what I came up with and how it looks (31mm outer diameter)
The paperclip trick was inspired from matseng’s idea (many thanks!) and it uses a standard cr2032 battery.

Via the forum.

Videos: Propeller Con 2013


Attention Propellerheads! If you’re looking for something to fill up a lazy Summer day, look no further than the videos from the 2013 Propeller Conference. This con took place in May at the Parallax headquarters in Rocklin, CA, and featured presentations on all things Propeller, including the impending Propeller 2.

If the above video leaves you wanting for more, move on to Part 2 of this series. Six-plus hours of Propeller information in all. Enjoy!