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Archive: DIY Projects
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August 16, 2007
A poorman's oscilloscope
Ronald writes -
The oscilloscope is still one of the most important measurement tools of the electronic engineer. With the advent of the often very reasonably priced USB scopes, such an instrument is now within reach of every body. Twenty five years ago that was quite a different story. A (good) oscilloscope was then a very expensive instrument available only to a happy few. As a result many electronics hobbyist made their own scope. The popular electronics magazines in the sixties and seventies were full of scope designs almost always based on vacuum tubes. This period was closed in 1975 when the Dutch electronics magazine Elektuur (in the rest of the world known as Elektor) published their fully transistorised "Elektorscoop". Despite all this, the purchase of the expensive cathode ray tube and Special high voltage transformer remained too expensive for many people.A poorman's oscilloscope - Link.In an effort to lower the price for a scope even further, Elektuur published in 1978 the "Videoscope". The Videoscope sampled the analog input signal and stored the samples in a bucket brigade (CCD) memory. Next the data in the CCD was converted into an ordinary (black and white) video signal which could be displayed on an ordinary TV. In order to view the signal in the normal way the TV had to be put on his side, but nobody minded that. All in all it was still a rather complex design comprising a few dozen of ICs and several printed circuit boards.
These days this obviously can be done much simpler...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 16, 2007 07:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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OpenTracker project
The OpenTracker project now has kits! -
The OpenTracker is an APRS unit that transmits data via amateur radio Packet. Usually the OpenTracker is connected to the microphone input of a radio (generally a 2-meter handheld or mobile.) Data from a GPS receiver gets encoded and transmitted in APRS format, and in many parts of the world there's an extensive digipeater and gateway network that'll get the data onto the Internet. From there you can access it through websites like OpenAPRS, APRS World and Findu.com.OpenTracker project - Link.It has onboard temperature and voltage sensors, and it'll also connect to a number of different weather stations, including the 1-Wire weather instrument from AAG.
The OpenTracker is a transmit-only device. It can't receive or decode any data itself. If you're using the APRS network and you've got Internet access, you don't even need to decode anything off the air - IGate stations will do that for you. For other applications, the simplest way to start receiving data is to install a soundcard modem program like AGWPE, and simply connect a scanner or radio to your computer's audio input.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 16, 2007 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits |
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Lightweight home security with Indigo and Asterisk
Scott writes -
I mentioned last week that I've been working on building sort of a lightweight home security system for my house so my 4-year-old daughter won't be able to sneak out of the house again.Lightweight Home Security with Indigo and Asterisk, thanks Surj! Link.I spent about a day researching possible solutions, to see if there was something simple that I could buy that would make me happy, and I couldn't find anything on the market that was cheap and would tell me which of my 6 exterior doors had been opened loudly enough to hear from across the house. There's no point in putting a door buzzer on the basement door if you can't hear it from the master bedroom. The only solutions that I found were from professional alarm companies, and they probably would have charged me a couple thousand for installation plus $30-$50 per month for monitoring. I'm just not willing to pay that much, and it's not really what I was looking for-it's gross overkill for my problem.
So, I decided to build it myself....
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 16, 2007 03:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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August 15, 2007
Physical Interactions over IP
My friend Thomas Edwards, who's the alpha geek behind Dorkbot DC, has put up a new project wiki for his (and presumably other techno-artist's) work in what he calls Phy2Phy, or "Physical Interactions over IP." This YouTube vid shows progress-to-date on his "Touch" project, which allows two people to touch each other over a Net connection, using force-sensitive resistors. There's a lot of cool hardware here, including the Comfile CUBLOC CB220 microprocessor, the Pololu micro serial servo controller, the Lantronix Xport, and the force sensors. All details and links are on the Touch Project page on Phy2Phy. Thomas will be showing off his progress at the next Dorkbot DC, on Sept. 10.
Physical Interactions over IP - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 15, 2007 08:00 PM
Arts, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Bell-inspired kite project
When Toronto-based artist Amos Latteier is not making cardboard hover, he's working on other cool projects, such as this kite (above), inspired by Alexander Graham Bell's historical models (below). He's been tracking his progress on a kite blog and is now just days away from his test flight.
Bell Kite Project Blog - Link
Related:
- Cursor kite - Link
- Kite photos from Boston - Link
- Make Podcast: Weekend Projects Make A Kite Aerial Photography Rig - Link
From the page of MAKE:
Kite Aerial Photography Puts Your Eye in the Sky. MAKE 01 - page 50. To take pictures from a kite, you need three things: a kite, a camera, and a special rig that attaches the camera to the kiteline and activates the shutter ... Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition or get MAKE 01 @ the Maker store.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 15, 2007 04:00 PM
Arts, DIY Projects, Flying, Retro, Toys and Games |
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A "mixed-signal" LED clock
Ronald writes -
The term "mixed-signal" is usually reserved for circuits and ICs that process both analog and digital signals. In that sense the title "A mixed-signal LED clock" is perhaps misleading since this is a digital clock from beginning to end. However, the readout is analog and since the beast had to be given a name, I a called it my "mixed-signal" clock.A "mixed-signal" LED clock (source and schematics included) - Link.Somewhere in the middle of the eighties, when I was studying, I joined the ECA: the Eindhoven Computer Association, a microcomputer club in Eindhoven. Although I am not a member anymore, they still exist and have now been active for more than 25 years [1]. Being situated in Eindhoven, the club obviously had close links with Philips, and regularly obtained surplus supplies of components of various kinds. I remember that these components could be bought for fl 0.10 (10 guider cents) a piece on every Tuesday evening. At one time they had a batch of LEDs in various shapes and colors. In those days a LED was not quite the common component it is today. The availability of these LEDs in these beautiful colors and nice shapes suggested the idea for a clock with an analog clock face...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 03:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Thirty minute hovercraft
I have a piece on Wired.com called "Fifty Years of Hovercraft: The Tech That Barely Takes Off," about the history of the hovercraft. If you're inspired to build a hovercraft yourself, you can cobble one together in about thirty minutes.
In the mid-20th century, nearly every comic book and issue of Boy's Life had a boisterous ad in the back pimping the joys of hovering which could be yours by ordering the offered plans and building your own vehicle to float on air. What you got for your precious allowance money was a simple plan similar to this one. Artist and maker Amos Latteier used such plans to build his craft from cardboard, duct tape, garbage bags, and a shop vac.
30 Minute Hovercraft - Link
Related:
- HOW TO - Make a hovercraft - Link
- Homemade Hovercraft Instructions - Weekend Projects - Link
- DIY Hovercraft... - Link
- More hovercraft projects on MAKE - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 15, 2007 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Flying, Retro |
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Homemade 3D printer
Alex writes -
How to make a 3D-printer for your home lab with $340 cnc kit and some junk. It uses cheapest plastic waste or powder paint as raw material to produce freeform models from STL files. Also there are links to original open-source 3D model file reader and step motor control application.3D-принтер - Link & translated site.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 01:00 PM
DIY Projects |
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Papercraft skull (with articulated jaw)
Noah writes -
I thought you might like today's skull which is an articulated paper toy, that has a moving jaw controlled by a tab that pokes through the back. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF.Skull-A-Day: 72. Papercraft Skull (with Articulated Jaw) - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 12:00 PM
DIY Projects, Paper Crafts |
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Numbers LED clock
Scott writes in -
This clock is a nifty, simple concept that could easily be reMade for a whole lot less than £75--and be done before the official product hits the shelves in a week!Numbers LED clock - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 11:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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PicoBotz- Build-it-yourself programmable robot
Dirkus writes -
Edmund Scientific is running a sale on the PicoBotz robot kit. They're knocking it down from $99 to $77, which isn't bad. The kit, once assembled, operates in three modes: obstacle avoidance, sound control, and line following. With the addition of a Windows PC, you can use the included serial cable and software to program the robot for other tasks with a set of 180 instructions. Sounds like a good gift for the robotics geek in your life, available for only $77 while stock holds out.PicoBotz- Build-it-yourself programmable robot - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 10:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Robotics |
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HOW TO - Use a wrist watch as a compass
Handy! How to use a wrist watch as a compass - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 07:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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Belt operated by clock feeds aquarium fish automatically
This is great, the food rolls down the belt and drops into the tank! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Modern Mechanix, Retro |
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HOW TO - Make a cardboard stand up of someone
Here are a few different ways to make a cardboard stand up of yourself. I had heard about a fellow who made ones of his kids and placed them near the end of his driveway to make speeding cars slow down, apparently it works, but the drivers complained - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 15, 2007 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Instructables |
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August 14, 2007
Tutorial on the 128x128 Nokia LCD display
Our friends over at Sparkfun have put up an excellent PDF tutorial on interfacing with the Nokia 128x128 LCD display (or knock-offs thereof). SparkFun sells such a knock-off for a mere $20.
Nokia 6100 LCD Display Driver Tutorial [PDF] - Link
Color LCD 128x128 Nokia Knock-Off - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 14, 2007 08:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Mobile |
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QRPme - Tuna can kits
Jason writes -
This amateur radio club provides kits uniquely packaged in tuna tins. When you build the kit, the tuna tin also serves as a chassis for your new project, complete with a nice label for the tin. Although most of the kits are geared towards QRP (low power ham radio) operators, Make readers might enjoy the "AXEme Picaxe Construction Kit". This is a Picaxe development board built into one of the famous tuna tins. It's a very unique and eye-catching way to work with microcontrollers.QRPme - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 14, 2007 05:00 PM
Altoids and tin cases, DIY Projects, Electronics, Kits |
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Home built solid state 300W power amp
I know nothing about homebrewing audio gear, but this DIY 300W power amp, built on six LM3886 chips, sure looks bad ass. Here's how the builder describes the project:
My design uses a PCB to hold 3 paralleled 3886s (i.e. PA150), and then I use the DRV134 to bridge 2 of the PA150 PCB boards. The function of DRV134 is to convert the un-balanced input signal to a balanced signal, so that the non-inverted signal is fed to one PA150, and the inverted signal is fed the another PA150. One of the PA150 is connected to the speaker's positive input, and the other PA150 is connected to the speaker's negative input. Because of this push-pull configuration, the total gain of the amplifier is doubled. Each PA150 has a gain of 20, so the gain of the BPA300 is 40.
DIY BPA300 GC - 300W 6x LM3886 bridged-paralleled power amplifier - [via] Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 14, 2007 04:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Home Entertainment |
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Neil's rotating composter
A MAKE reader writes in -
In a similar vein to the keg lathe you mentioned on your blog earlier in the week. Here's a similar-looking contraption for making compost quickly- Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 14, 2007 03:00 PM
DIY Projects, Green |
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| Comments (1)
Ben Heck goes inside the 360 Elite
Hardware hacker extraordinaire Ben Heckendorn (a.k.a. Ben Heck) is using the guts of an Xbox 360 Elite for his next project, a 360 laptop. In preparation for this, he cracked one open, did some creative deconstruction, and has documented the results in two articles.
Inside the Xbox 360 Elite - Link
More about the Xbox 360 Elite - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Aug 14, 2007 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets, Gaming |
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| Comments (3)
HOW TO - Repairing faulty headphones
Chris writes -
About a year ago I picked up a pair of Shure E2C headphones. Well worth their somewhat expensive price, I use them all the time. They provide a ton of isolation, so they're great on the bus and when flying.HOW TO - Repairing faulty headphones - Link.But, in my experience, the actual headphone plug leaves a lot to be desired. Within about 8 months of regular use, I started getting the traditional crappy connection problems you get with cheaper headphones. After a few months of constantly trying to tweak the connector in order to get a good connection, I finally decided to replace the connector myself.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 14, 2007 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
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| Comments (0)
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