3D Model: Bus Blaster v2.0a1

Our latest 3D model is the Bus Blaster v2.0a1. We continued to play around with Maxwell’s free rendering plugin for SketchUp. We reduced the gloss on plastic components, as per Jerome’s advice, for even more realistic rendering. Thanks Jerome.

The models will be published in the Dangerous Prototypes 3D warehouse collection. They are also uploaded to our SVN. You can find them inside the “art” folders in the respective project folders. Check out the 3D view below. You can zoom and rotate the model.

You can get a Bus Blaster v2 for $34.95.

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Vetinari’s random-tick clock

Mick decided to build Vetinari’s clock based on WaitingForFridays project. Lord Vetinari, from the Discworld book series, has a clock in his office that is designed to make his visitors feel uncomfortable by having the second hand move at irregular intervals while still keeping exact time.

The erratic second hand in Mick’s project is driven by microcontroller that bypasses the quartz crystal signal. Check out a video of the original project below.

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App note: ATXmega USB Hardware Design Recommendations

Here is an design recommendation from Atmel about implementing USB on AVR  XMEGA microcontrollers. The article provides all the basic information you’ll need to get started with designing USB devices with the XMEGA.

This document is written for hardware designers to help them develop their applications. It assumes that readers are familiar with the AVR XMEGA architecture. A basic knowledge of the  USB 2.0 specification (www.usb.org) is also required to  understand the content of this document and compliance constraints.

Maker Shed pulse sensor


The folks over at MAKE have a pulse sensor which attaches to your fingertip or earlobe and measures minute changes in light from expansion of the capillary blood vessels to sense your heartbeat.

Technical information is available here, including design files, sample code and schmetic. The device is licensed under the TAPR Open Hardware License.

This pulse sensor includes Velcro dots, an ear clip, and a 24″ cable terminated with a standard 3 wire (power, ground, data) connector. It comes in both 5V and 3.3V versions, and retails for $20 at the Maker Shed.

Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

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 we have a guest PCB, the iox-8 proto.  Use your coupon to pick this PCB, or any other in the free PCB drawer.

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:

  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs while you wait for the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday, right here on the blog

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App note: Lamp dimmer using PIC12C508

Here is a reference design from Microchip describing how to built a Light dimmer with a PIC12C508 and a few discrete components. The circuit uses a simple zener voltage doper, to drop the voltage from mains to 5V required by the PIC. Watch out, there is live mains voltage involved.

This reference note describes an application where the use of a microcontroller was not reviously economically feasible for any but the highest end products: lamp dimming.

App note: Designing with ultra fast comparators

Here is an app note from Linear Technology covering the problems and solutions of designing circuits with ultra-high speed comparators. More specifically the problems associated with using their LM1394 7ns single supply comparator.

The mechanics and subtleties of achieving precision circuit operation at DC and low frequency have been well documented. Relatively little has appeared that discusses, in practical terms, how to get fast circuitry to work. In developing such circuits, even the most veteran designers sometimes feel that nature is conspiring against them. In some measure this is true. Like all engineering endeavors, high speed circuits can only work if negotiated compromises with nature are arranged. Ignorance of, or contempt for, physical law is a direct route to frustration. In this regard, much of the text and appendices are directed at developing awareness of, and respect for, circuit parasitics and fundamental limitations.

The “MOTHER” of all hackerspace automation systems


Jonathan of LVL1 Hackerspace informs us of their latest project. “MOTHER is LVL1’s attempt to create the ultimate hackerspace A.I. and automation system. The MOTHER project is still in it’s early stages yet MOTHER has already gained the ability to monitor and control a MASSIVE numbers of sensors as well as become a central integration point for various systems around the space. Technically speaking, MOTHER is the collection of numerous scripts, written in various languages, allowing numerous systems and devices to work together as one unified system.”
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App note: Protect your batteries from reverse insertion

Rsdio tipped us to an app note from Maxim describing how to protect your Lithium Ion batteries from reverse insertion into the charger. The circuit is a Li-Ion battery charger with an added analog comparator designed to detect when then battery is inserted the wrong way and disconnect it from the charger.

Combining a linear-mode single-cell lithium-ion battery charger (MAX1551) with a comparator (MAX9001) and n-channel FET adds a layer of reverse-battery protection that protects a single cell lithium-ion battery charger and battery from damage due to backwards insertion

Open source micro-ampmeter with autorange

Here’s an open-source micro-ampmeter with autorange. It can measure current from 0.05μA to 10mA. It’s designed on a single layer PCB, making it easy to build with DIY etching techniques:

The micro-ampermeter described here is intended for experimenting with low-power devices. I have just a general multi-meter in my home lab, which is not very convenient to use. The reason for this is that now-days many electronic devices have a power saving mode, where their current consumption drops down in 1-3 orders of magnitude. Measuring current in a device that periodically enters a sleep mode makes it necessary to frequently adjust the multi-meter range, unless it is automatic.

Via Electronics-Lab.

Drag soldering tips for Hakko 900M series and compatibles

A few weeks ago we wrote about hollowed-out chisel tips, and how good they are for drag soldering. Unfortunately they are either hard to find, or made only for expensive soldering irons. There also seem to be some patent disputes that keep them out of the US market for most major brands.

Recently we were tipped off to some Plato branded wave soldering tips that fit on Hakko 900M series soldering irons. These irons are widely cloned and are available almost anywhere. They go under various names like Quick, Gordak, Aoyue, Bakku, etc., usually there is a 936 designation in the name as well.

Via the comments.

Arduino automatic CQ caller for amateur radio


VK3YE likes to work CW (Morse Code) on the 40-meter band, but doesn’t like the monotony of hand keying CQ endlessly. He devised this simple project using an Arduino to tap out CQ and his call sign automatically at predetermined intervals. The keying was originally accomplished using a reed relay as shown in the video. However, after several days of use it became sticky. So he switched to the circuit described in snarfusmaximus’ video below, consisting of a 4N25 optocoupler and 470 ohm resistor.
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ATmega32u4 breakout board+

Here’s a small breakout board for the ATmega32U4. A power supply, decoupling caps, button, USB jack, and an AVR programing header are populated on the board. As an added feature an open source bootloader that works with AVRDUDE is pre-programed.

We like the AVR 8-bit family and were excited to see Atmel upgrade the series with a USB core. Having USB built in allows the chip to act like any USB device. For example, we can program the chip to ‘pretend’ it’s a USB joystick, or a keyboard, or a flash drive! We’ve even used these capabilities in a specialized kiosk for bitcoin gambling UK, proving how seamlessly the microcontroller can integrate into real-world financial applications. Another nice bonus of having USB built in is that instead of having an FTDI chip or cable (like an Arduino), we can emulate the serial port directly in the chip. This costs some Flash space and RAM space but that’s the trade-off.

The only bad news about this chip is that it is surface mount only (SMT), which means that it is not easy to solder the way the larger DIP chips are. For that reason, we made a breakout board. The board comes with some extras like a fuse, a 16mhz crystal, USB connector and a button to start the bootloader.

Via the comments.

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters


Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday.

Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week:

  • Free PCB Sunday. The classic. Every week, get free PCBs right here on the blog comments
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs while you wait for the weekend

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Week in (p)review: February 17, 2012

 

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
  • New 3D model on Monday
  • Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
  • Free PCB mailing how-to video
  • Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

What are you hacking this week?

28C3: Hack the planet with Code Hero and Makerhoods


In this rapid fire lightning talk from the 28C3 Chaos Communication Congress held recently in Berlin, Alex Peake highlights the learning initiative known as Code Hero. “Code Hero, a game that teaches you how to make games so you can make games that teach everything else to make all knowledge playable.” (Well, that clears everything up.)

The project is currently funding through Kickstarter. The beta game code is available now in Windows and Mac versions.

Their motto is cool: Hack the Gibson, learn game code, learn web code, learn Linux.

Check out the Primerlabs Code Hero website for all the details. What’s shakin’ in your Makerhood?