RSSArchives: July 2007
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July 3, 2007
Nintendo DS current consumption
Tim (almost) fried his DS, here's how he figured out the current consumption for all sorts of components and more -
So I was busy homebrewing on my NDS, even bought myself a DSerial board to use it as an ultraportable serial/debug console. I had a few ideas for the much faster, native parallel interface too, so when we were sending out boards at work, I threw my own "DParallel" onto the layout. The boards came back, and we had to cut them apart...note to self: DO NOT let your machinist saw apart your boards on a huge gritty band saw. As is semi-common practice (and just like on the DSerial) I laid out a big VDD (main system power) plane on the bottom of the board and a big GND plane on top. Before inserting the board, I peered down the sides of the card slot to be sure they weren't metal that would short against the sides of the board, and even performed some quick "due diligence" checks with an ohmmeter to be sure I didn't do anything stupid (such as somehow shorting VDD and GND together) that would result in frying my DS.Nintendo DS current consumption - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 12:00 PM
Gaming |
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HOW TO - Make cosmic light with LEDs embedded in resin
Technoplastique writes -
I wanted to make a light out of resin that used LEDs but no soldering (I know a lot of people don't solder, and there are probably a few like me that can do it but don't really like to do it.) It's powered by a couple of coin batteries so it's easy to work on without any risk of shock. And the finished product is a glossy, atmospheric light with a soft glow.HOW TO - Make cosmic light with LEDs embedded in resin - Link.All of the materials for this project can probably be found between a craft store, a home improvement store and a Radio Shack, but you can round a lot of it up for cheaper online. I got most of my supplies on ebay.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Instructables |
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terminatorX: turntable gallery (use a mouse a turntable!)
Here's a great gallery of mouse-turned-turnables! Alex writes -
While scratching with the mouse usually sounds the way terminatorX users want it to (at least if the feedback I get is representative) it doesn't really feel like scratching. The only way to get that traditional haptic feedback is to turn your turntable into a mouse device.terminatorX: turntable gallery - Link.If you want to do this without harming your mouse nor turntable, the method suggested by the terminatorX logo should be feasible. Optical input devices are known to produce best results in such a scenario. For those interested here's a document on how I turned my old turntable into a terminatorX device.
Luckily a lot of terminatorX users have built their own turntables...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 10:00 AM
DIY Projects, Music |
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Time lapse photography with a cell phone
Tom writes -
I've made a cheap and easy to build time lapse camera, using an old mobile phone, some java software, general firmware hackery and an old phone carrycase. Most of the other timelapse camera mods I've seen on here and Make are based on wiring up a timer to switch the camera on, take a picture, then turn it off. Thats good, but I cant solder for toffee, so I looked to a software solution...Time lapse photography with a cell phone - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 09:00 AM
Cellphones, DIY Projects, Imaging |
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Visual / Aural guitar tuner - "The Tune Trainer"
Gschoppe writes -
I have always dabbled in instruments. Over the course of my life, I've attempted (with varying success) Piano, Guitar, Banjo, Penny Whistle, Ocarina, Panpipes, Great Highland Bagpipes, Smallpipes, and Didgeridoo (don't ask, It was late, and I was a bit tipsy). In the process, I have continually hit one major hurdle. I am absolute rubbish at tuning by ear. I cannot tell if a guitar is out of tune in the least, unless it is so far off that you can play "The Bells of Saint Mary" without fretting at all. I was up late one night, experimenting with some PWM code for the Arduino when I suddenly had an epiphany. "Beat" tuning is very similar to measuring speed with a strobe. I thought that perhaps combining the obvious visual input of a strobe with the auditory input of a tone, could help me to better grasp tuning by ear. Thus an idea was born...Visual / Aural guitar tuner - "The Tune Trainer" - Link."The Tune Trainer" is a combination of two devices. One is a strobe that flashes at the frequency of a tuned string. The other is a tone generator. together they give the user two methods of tuning.
You can pick up an Arduino kit in the MAKE store to do this project too - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 08:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Flying Nokia N95
Eirikso swears you get a pretty cool video if you dare to duct tape your Nokia N95 to a kite and send it 70 feet into the air while it is filming - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 07:00 AM
DIY Projects, Imaging |
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Early animatronics
Short, but really interesting article from Popular Science in 1933 discussing what have got to be some of the earliest examples of animatronics - mechanical dinosaurs from the Chicago World’s Fair. - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 06:00 AM
Modern Mechanix, Retro, Robotics |
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HOW TO - Make your own cotton candy machine
Here's how to make your own cotton candy machine, I'm hoping they post a video - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Instructables |
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Endless sketchbook
MoHDI writes -
I came up with the idea of the endless sketchbook a while ago. I fell in love with the idea almost immediately and began my pursuit to build out this invention. This instructable is more about the process of developing an idea. The end result is a working prototype of an Endless Sketchbook.Endless Sketchbook - Link.I am an idea person, not a woodworker. Please keep that in mind as you read about how I built the prototype of this project. I also like to comment on photos a lot.
Developing an idea is going to be different each and every person, with this project I'm sharing how I went about it. I'm sure I could have done things more efficiently or better but, the way I went about it is right for me.
The endless sketchbook might turn out to be an endless project. A working prototype is really just the beginning.
I hope that after reading this instructable, you will be inspired and go about making your own endless sketchbook. This truly is an exciting project and I look forward to seeing the inevitable evolution of this idea. Let's get started!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 04:00 AM
Arts, DIY Projects |
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Fold-up paper models for sci-fi or fantasy tabletop RPGs
GermsWorld has free PDFs of fold-up paper models for sci-fi or fantasy tabletop RPGs, thanks Paul! Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 03:00 AM
Gaming, Paper Crafts |
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DIY AT-AT Baby stroller - how it was made...
Bonnie writes -
As previously reported, this Imperial stroller was quite a hit at Celebration IV. So we tracked down the proud owner of the baby AT-AT -- Rick Russo -- to find out how he tricked out his child's stroller making it one sweet fan kid ride.DIY AT-AT Baby stroller - how it was made... - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 02:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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Bicycle rack from old skis and ski poles
Toxictom writes -
Bicycle parking rack for 5 bikes made from old skis and ski poles. Wood or PVC pipe could be used in place of skis and poles. I just happened to have these available and didn't want to throw them away.Bicycle rack from old skis and ski poles - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 01:00 AM
Bicycles, DIY Projects |
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The week in tools
Chuck has the latest week in tools after a brief hiatus!
This week we found a killer inexpensive offset bracket that turns your standard recip saw into a flush-cutting monster - perfect for quick mods to stairs and shelves. We also looked at an inexpensive block plane - you can never have too many planes! - a pair of updated linesman's pliers, and a $12 drill-press attachment that makes duplicating curved shapes from wood easy. Enjoy Bosch's new smaller drivers? We do, too, but we'd love to see a better selection in the 10.8V line. We pestered Bosch, and they agreed to listen to Toolmonger readers' suggestion for how to expand the line. Drop by if you'd like to add your thoughts. And don't miss our podcast on how to remove the ugly badges from your work truck (or car).The Week In Tools - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 3, 2007 12:00 AM
Toolbox |
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July 2, 2007
iPhone-state of the hacks
Hackszine has a great round up of all the iPhone hackery that has begun...
Hackszine.com: iPhone-state of the hacks - Link.
Hackers have been hard at work on the iPhone from a couple of angles. The iPhone restore image has been making the rounds, and hackers quickly discovered two disk images in it: one is a small ramdisk image (694-5259-38.dmg) that kickstarts the other, larger, and sadly, encrypted image (694-5262-39.dmg). There are a lot of folks trying to brute-force the 694-5262-39.dmg image, but it's going to take a long time. Could the password be lurking somewhere in the ramdisk image? Perhaps it's inside iTunes itself? Time and energy will tell. For now, I suggest lurking in #iphone on irc.osx86.hu (please don't ask general questions about the iPhone; that channel is for iphone reverse engineering only, so if you're not actively involved, it's best to lurk).
The other end of things is iPhone JavaScript hacking. Ever since Apple promised that you'd be able to make phone calls and access other iPhone functions from with Ajax widgets, we've been wondering where the glue lives. There are a few people exploring the JavaScript capabilities, include Joe Hewitt, who has released Firebug for iPhone, which lets you send debugging messages to your desktop browser and also execute JavaScript commands on the iPhone.
DayLateDon posted a message to the iPhoneWebDev group with a summary of advice that some iPhone web developers got directly from Apple. Definitely worth a read.
Eccentric Cycles has been investigating a number of JavaScript events on the iPhone, and links to some examples you can try out.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 10:00 PM
Cellphones, Gadgets, iPod |
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Paparazzi - open source pilot system
This is interesting, an open source software/hareware autopilot project... -
Paparazzi is a free and open-source hardware and software project intended to create an exceptionally powerful and versatile autopilot system by allowing and encouraging input from the community. The project includes not only the airborne hardware and software, from voltage regulators and GPS receivers to Kalman filtering code, but also a powerful and ever-expanding array of ground hardware and software including modems, antennas, and a highly evolved user-friendly ground control software interface.Main Page - Paparazzi - Link.All hardware and software is open-source and freely available to anyone under the GNU licencing agreement. Efforts are currently underway to organize production and retail sales of the autopilot and popular accessories, making the system much easier and more affordable for all.
The key feature of the paparazzi autopilot is its unique combination of infrared thermopiles and inertial measurement for attitude sensing, providing a robust and accurate attitude estimate that requires no ground calibration and can recover from any launch attitude.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 08:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
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Single speed bike project...
MAKE Flickr photo pool member Gpaterson is working on a single speed bicycle from our MAKE weekend project series, he got the bike free from freecycle... Link.
Related:
- Build a Single Speed Bike - Make: Video Podcast - Link.
- Build a Single Speed Bike - Make: PDFcast - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 06:00 PM
Bicycles |
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Universal robots
Here's a robot play in NYC featuring Roombas as actors...
31 DOWN RADIO THEATER PRESENTS: UNIVERSAL ROBOTS June 28--July 7 Loud music, cool air conditioning, humans struggling with the impending doom of ROBOTS taking over the world... what more could you want?UNIVERSAL ROBOTS - Link.31 Down returns this summer with a hypnotic sound and image collage inspired by the lives and works of the Brothers Capek, who coined the term robot in the 1920s with their famous science-fiction play, R.U.R.
UNIVERSAL ROBOTS examines the role of technology's advancement in a modern day society in search of utopia. The play fuses dark foreshadowing excerpts from R.U.R. with several other works from the canon of Karel and Josef Capek and the last year of their lives.
The company includes the work and assistance of Ryan Holsopple, Mirit Tal, Shannon Sindelar, Jon Luton, Shauna Kelly, Thom Sibbitt, Jonathan Valuckas, Kelly Tuohy, Justin Tolley, Mike Radosta, Tara Fawn, Benjamin Brown and DJ Mendel.
UNIVERSAL ROBOTS
June 28--July 7. No performance Sunday. All shows at 8:00p.m.
$17/$12 student admission
At the Ontological Theater at St. Mark's Church
131 East 10th Street, NYCTickets available through Theatermania: 212-352-3101 and at
http://www.ontological.comPresented in association with the Ontological-Hysteric Incubator and developed with the facilities and support of Gertrude Stein Repertory Theatre's Digital Performance Institute artist residency program.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 04:00 PM
Events, Robotics |
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Meet Mr. Steampunk: Jake von Slatt
Our pal Jake hit Wired! -
For Jake von Slatt, steampunk mechanical hacker, both the do-it-yourself and steampunk movements are driven by the same obsession: the idea that a single mad engineer working in his lab can help change the world by having mastery over his machines.Von Slatt's lab in western Massachusetts is hardly what one would imagine to be reflected in the brass goggles of a mad steampunk engineer. Still, his latest project, a technological amalgamation between an MP3 player and an antique radio, "entangling the DNA of these very two devices!" cackles von Slatt, is one of which Frankenstein himself would approve.
Meet Mr. Steampunk: Jake von Slatt - Link.
Related:
- Steampunk LCD monitor mod - Link.
- Telegraph Sounder - Link.
- Steampunk Keyboard Mod - Link.
- Steam punk gallery - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 02:00 PM
Retro |
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USBtinyISP - Inexpensive USB AVR programmer
Ladyada released a USB AVR programmer, only $18 -
A simple open-source USB AVR programmer and SPI interface. It is low cost, easy to make, works great with avrdude, is AVRStudio-compatible and tested under Windows and MacOS X. Perfect for students and beginners, or as a backup programmer.USBtinyISP - Inexpensive USB AVR Programmer - Link & get one.The project is based off of the USBtiny code & design. The main improvements are: adjusting the code to allow it to act as a SpokePOV interface, adding lowlevel bitbang commands, and addition of a "USB good" LED. Other changes are new VID/PID (to make it official), removing some of the commands, and moving around the pins a bit.
You can build this design using the schematic and firmware, or buy a kit from the Adafruit webshop. Having a full kit available solves the "chicken & egg" problem of purchasing or building a USB programmer that then needs a programmer of some sort to 'kick start'. (See USBasp, AVRdoper, USBprog).
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 12:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits |
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Zip line racer
Vaewyn writes -
Have a zip line that needs riding? Then this is the project for you!Zip line racer - Link.We take a small bicycle/trailer wheel and a couple pieces of hardware to make a fast, safe and weather resistant zip line rider.
Tools needed:
2 Crescent wrenches or a good wrench set
Large flat blade screwdriver (to remove the rubber tire from the wheel)
5/16" drill
3/8" drill (depends on the size of your tires hub ears)Materials needed:
2 - bars of flat aluminum stock (1 1/2" wide or greater)
1 - 5/16" x 1 1/2" bolt
1 - 5/16" lock washer
2 - 5/16" nuts
1 - 1/4" x 3" eyebolt
1 - 1" -> 2" metal tube 12" or longer
1 - 1/4" fender washer
1 - Small quick release bicycle or trailer tireThe tire is the hardest item to procure. Mine came from a bicycle trailer for kids. It was to be used to turn the trailer into a stroller but that never worked well.
From the pages of MAKE:
Backyard Zip Line. Be the hit of the neighborhood with a high-flying, tree-to-tree transporter. MAKE 05 - Page 72. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition or get MAKE 05 @ the Maker store!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 2, 2007 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Instructables |
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