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Did you find some Electronics/Robotics time in your holiday?? — Parallax Forums

Did you find some Electronics/Robotics time in your holiday??

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
edited 2010-01-06 18:31 in General Discussion
Just curious what folks did on their holidays?
Did you find an excuse to leave uncle Fester and sneak off with your Propeller, BASIC STAMP, robot, etc?

What kind of projects have folks worked on over the couple long weekends?

To be fair, I got kicked out of the living room over the Christmas holiday (where my Propstuff was)
and sent back to the basement cellar shop. (Which hadn't been used for a few months)
Momma wanted room for Christmas decorations. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

So I spent a solid day getting the shop back up to speed, and then some.
(None of my part drawers had been labeled yet. They are now. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

OBC

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Comments

  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2010-01-04 07:37
    I was over at the in-laws most of the break (just got back home last night), shovelling snow out of the driveway and re-teaching my father-in-law how to watch a DVD in a player we got him 3 years ago. smilewinkgrin.gif

    My saving grace was my brother-in-law, whom I received an unexpected Christmas present from. a 30 Amp 36Volt LiFePO4 battery pack with BMS Charge controller and charger. To me, this was geek candy. We have a 4 Wheel scooter that is a "Segway" want-to-be, but the SLA batteries were just a poor design to begin with for the type of abuse they would endure. Replacing the SLA batteries with the LiFePO4 will allow it to scream very comfortably and be great for this spring and summer.

    The LiFePO4 battery has about 3 times the capacity at half the size and weight as the SLA battery.

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    Beau Schwabe

    IC Layout Engineer
    Parallax, Inc.
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  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-01-04 07:47
    I designed and made a prototyping PCB for a new 16-bit PIC in a 14-pin package (PIC24F04KA200). They've crammed a surprising amount of stuff into such a small device. It's also very low power - 20 nA in deep sleep mode.

    I also started designing a PCB for the ST L298HN dual full-bridge 4A driver, for stepper motor control. This will be useful for Propeller motor control.

    Leon

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    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM

    Post Edited (Leon) : 1/4/2010 11:12:14 AM GMT
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  • stamptrolstamptrol Posts: 1,731
    edited 2010-01-04 15:47
    Had a good holiday.

    Rebuilt/cleaned up the shop. Even have a bunch of stuff to get rid of on the Forums in a few days.

    Also had time to do some Stamp/Xbee experimenting and generated some quick test programs and hardware setups for them.

    Best regards for the New Year!

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    Tom Sisk

    http://www.siskconsult.com
    ·
  • DufferDuffer Posts: 374
    edited 2010-01-04 15:58
    I finally finished my GPS display/logger project that uses a Parallax GPS module. More details, build info, reference material and source code can be found here: http://4d.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4222535

    Here's a Youtube link that shows the system in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH1UqPkthgk

    Now back to breaking most of my new year's resolutions. burger.gifjumpin.gif , etc.

    Duffer
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  • JavalinJavalin Posts: 892
    edited 2010-01-04 16:48
    Spent two days on and off, and put together a fun Propeller "environmental" logger - no rocket science here, but·fun.· Always curious about whats going on around - bit of a "data geek"

    http://javalins.wordpress.com/projects/simple-propeller-based-datalogger/

    Mostly built around existing objects, i.e. my i2cObject, a MCP3208 ADC object, Cam Thomsons SHT11, and "bmjbmj" 's SCP1000 object

    James
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-01-04 17:09
    I haven't written a single line of code for nearly two weeks (and am having withdrawals). 'Was too preoccupied with holiday hoopla and playing with my new laser cutter/engraver (photo attached). I really should have cleaned the shop, though: it's a disaster! But there's always next December! smile.gif

    -Phil

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  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2010-01-04 19:13
    OBC - I have the exact same soldering iron. Ha! That thing is great and cheap, I think elenco does a good job of 'cheap and pretty good'.

    I tried to take the time off (no work), but I got swept up in a few things. I picked up a new camera and made a few tutorial videos, probably my biggest 'accomplishment' over the break. I also integrated twitter with the site.

    I also put up the Motion Gamepad. Starlino did such an awesome job of putting together a total package (usb upgradable, fine-tuning application, etc), that I felt compelled to do the best howto I could.

    @Leon - I just got started with the PIC (had to pick up a PICkit3 to program the Motion Gamepad) - I'm still learning how to program for it, but the built-in USB is really nice. I started with a Propeller, though, so I was a little confused with the term 'silicon errata' [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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    Post Edited (Nick McClick) : 1/4/2010 7:19:31 PM GMT
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  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-01-04 19:20
    They do tend to have a few bugs in the silicon in the newer chips, like most manufacturers, but there are usually workarounds for them.

    Leon

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    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2010-01-04 19:29
    I got a few things done. I finished up a design that my company + another is going to produce for a customer in the UK.

    Got some backlog from our business out the door (still more to finish up). Worked on some programming.....very little....mostly just theory....not real programs.

    Typical jumping through the hoops holiday hoopla.

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer
    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services

    Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2010-01-04 20:58
    I spent a lot of wee-morning hours making the Reverse Geo-Cache Birthday Present Project for my wife. Got a lot of learning under my belt and I will be looking at Duffer's project above since it's using the same two key parts.

    Unfortunately, in the process I made a complete mess of my project boxes (that were recently neatly organized over a weekend in October).

    I did find a lot of things in my project boxes that will make their way to one of three places: eBay, the giveaway thread, or the freebie table at UPEW '10.

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    Andrew Williams
    WBA Consulting
    WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
    Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2010-01-04 23:43
    Nick McClick said...
    OBC - I have the exact same soldering iron. Ha! That thing is great and cheap, I think elenco does a good job of 'cheap and pretty good'.

    I have bought several "cheap" soldering stations over the years... (Even though the wife has given blessing to buy a "real" soldering station) I've had the Elenco for a year now and have not been displeased with it. It does the job and was worth what I paid for it.

    OBC

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    New to the Propeller?

    Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
  • MikerocontrollerMikerocontroller Posts: 310
    edited 2010-01-05 01:07
    · While researching FM chips and QFN sockets I picked up a bad virus on my laptop computer .· I used to beleive that if you behaved yourself online you were relatively safe, ·but this is the second time i've picked up a virus while·doing electronics research.· This time I made a conscious effort not to get upset and to just learn to put up with the inconvenience of a more agressive viral protection system.· I'm sure glad I have several computers and very little emotional investment in them.· Ten years ago I would have been pulling out my hair.

    ·· ·Happy New Years.

    Post Edited (Mikerocontroller) : 1/5/2010 1:22:50 AM GMT
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  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-05 04:31
    I'm ALMOST done with the Nixie clock I've been working on for about 2 weeks a year for the past two years (when I come home from school over breaks and have time). I finished the counter board this evening but need to rebuild the clock source which I blew up...once again mad.gif
    It's not a clean job, partially because I need a new iron and also because it was never meant to be such a long-term project. And the workspace is as messy as always, that's not about to change smilewinkgrin.gif

    Raf

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    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
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  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2010-01-05 04:40
    FlyingFishFinger said...
    I'm ALMOST done with the Nixie clock I've been working on for about 2 weeks a year for the past two years (when I come home from school over breaks and have time). I finished the counter board this evening but need to rebuild the clock source which I blew up...once again mad.gif
    It's not a clean job, partially because I need a new iron and also because it was never meant to be such a long-term project. And the workspace is as messy as always, that's not about to change smilewinkgrin.gif

    Raf

    I personally like the added touch of the lego drive in the picture. wink.gif

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer
    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services

    Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-05 04:44
    Haha there's all sorts of junk on the desk. Care to play some indentifying games? tongue.gif I didn't even notice the Lego was there when I took the picture. It is for another project we gave our mother for Christmas [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Raf

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    UC Berkeley '12 EECS
    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
    www.calsol.berkeley.edu
    KJ6AWU
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2010-01-05 04:52
    FlyingFishFinger said...
    Haha there's all sorts of junk on the desk. Care to play some indentifying games? tongue.gif I didn't even notice the Lego was there when I took the picture. It is for another project we gave our mother for Christmas [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Raf

    Sorry..... it just jumped out at me. lol.gif

    I love legos. I did when I was a kid, and still do. I had tons of them. My parents hated finding them all over the house.

    I really think things like the Rokenbok system is a cool toy too, but way to expensive to hack. If I could afford it I would have hacked it way back when.

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer
    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services

    Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-05 04:53
    Haha... between me and my brother we have two Mindstorms kits (RIS and the new NXT stuff). Both have slightly fallen out of use hence we are stealing the parts for other things [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Raf

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    UC Berkeley '12 EECS
    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
    www.calsol.berkeley.edu
    KJ6AWU
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2010-01-05 04:56
    FlyingFishFinger said...
    Haha... between me and my brother we have two Mindstorms kits (RIS and the new NXT stuff). Both have slightly fallen out of use hence we are stealing the parts for other things [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Raf

    So you are doing your part to go green. Recycling the unused Lego sets to something useful. Keeping all that plastic out of a landfill.

    I do like the Nixie clock though. I good friend makes a USB Nixie clock, but I have yet to buy one. (Not a good enough friend to ask for one for free.)

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer
    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services

    Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-05 05:01
    Oh I never trash anything that could possibly be used for a project [noparse];)[/noparse] Besides, the legos are great for prototyping gearing systems and such because you don't have to worry about meshing issues.
    USB Nixie clock? Hmm... now I feel like checking whether my inverter will run off 5V

    Raf

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    UC Berkeley '12 EECS
    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
    www.calsol.berkeley.edu
    KJ6AWU
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2010-01-05 05:14
    FlyingFishFinger said...
    Oh I never trash anything that could possibly be used for a project [noparse];)[/noparse] Besides, the legos are great for prototyping gearing systems and such because you don't have to worry about meshing issues.
    USB Nixie clock? Hmm... now I feel like checking whether my inverter will run off 5V

    Raf

    If you want to check it out.....there are some schematics in the data sheet he provides. I'm not sure they will help......I know little about Nixies.

    www.ohararp.com/products.html

    Scroll to the bottom of the page. The ultimate Techno geek present.

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer
    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services

    Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-05 05:27
    Ah, that's your friend [noparse]:)[/noparse] I've seen that before, thanks for the link though, it's very cool. I might borrow the blue light idea if I can fit them in my sockets. Looks like he's using a PIC to control his, I'm not. I've been building off this with some modifications:
    http://www.mcamafia.de/nixie/ncp_en/ncp.htm
    The inverter I built should be able to do it if I change the frequency and the capacitor I think, but I've got to get the rest done first and there are some more pressing projects I have lined up..

    Raf

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    UC Berkeley '12 EECS
    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
    www.calsol.berkeley.edu
    KJ6AWU
  • DufferDuffer Posts: 374
    edited 2010-01-05 14:51
    Those are some awsomely delicate cutters (nippers)·in the middle pic! Are you a blacksmith/farrier on the side? Or maybe just needed something heavy enough to hold things down for the picture taking? lol.gif

    Duffer

    Post Edited (Duffer) : 1/5/2010 3:00:37 PM GMT
  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-05 17:14
    No, they're just for weighing the cable down so it didn't twist the tubes out of visibility [noparse];)[/noparse] We don't have too many delicate tools that are actually meant for doing electronics work, but these do well enough for cutting wires and such

    Raf

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    UC Berkeley '12 EECS
    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
    www.calsol.berkeley.edu
    KJ6AWU
  • ohararpohararp Posts: 24
    edited 2010-01-06 15:04
    I am using a pic for this clock. The boost converter is very simple and I feed it a PWM signal at 32 KHz or so and vary the duty cycle to get it to work. I am running it in an open loop so setting it up once and fixing the voltage is what I do there. Overall, its a very simple circuit. Schematic is on the datasheet.

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    Regards, Ryan O'Hara


    Check out our $25 SMT Stencils!!!

    www.ohararp.com/Stencils.html
  • FlyingFishFingerFlyingFishFinger Posts: 461
    edited 2010-01-06 18:31
    Yeah I looked at it. Quite nice! Mine uses a 555 and a pot that lets me adjust the output voltage. Works well enough for me...[noparse]:)[/noparse]
    And sorry for sort of hijacking the holiday thread.

    Raf

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    UC Berkeley '12 EECS
    CalSol: Berkeley Solar Car team
    www.calsol.berkeley.edu
    KJ6AWU
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