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Archive: Electronics
January 8, 2009
DIY digital picture frame
The fine folks over at Hackaday have a really nice build of a digital picture from scratch. They have gone through all the trouble of making a custom 2-sided PCB and everything else required for this amazing little piece of technology. Nicely done Ian!
there are a ton of digital picture frame tutorials out there. most are old laptops with crafty case reconfigurations that fit a photo frame profile.we set out to build a 100% diy, scratch-built digital picture frame. our frame has a 12bit color lcd, gigabytes of storage on common, fat-formatted microsd cards, and you can build it at home. we've got the details below.
More about making a DIY digital picture frame
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Jan 8, 2009 05:39 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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Fashioning Technology book excerpt: Sewing Soft Circuits
We've just posted a PDF excerpt from our first Craft book, Syuzi Pakhchyan's Fashioning Technology. The book covers everything you need to know to get started making wearable electronics, smart toys, furniture, and home decor. It's a very cool book that gives you the skills and inspiration to make some amazing things. Here's a taste of the Sewing Soft Circuits section (there's much more in the PDF):
Electronic textiles are dramatically redefining the way circuits look and feel. The increasing availability of raw conductive materials such as inks, threads, and textiles opens a new world of possibilities to experiment with, to better help you craft electronics into fabric. Circuits can now be hand- or machine-sewn, woven, embroidered, inked, or knit; they can be lightweight, flexible, and even three-dimensional. But don't throw your etchant solution and copper boards away quite yet, as it is difficult and time-consuming to sew complex circuitry by hand. For most projects, you will want to combine traditional printed circuit boards (PCBs) with soft circuits, controls, and switches. The following section introduces basic techniques on how to integrate electronics into textiles to get you started experimenting with soft circuits.
Conductive threads and textiles come with varying surface resistivity. Surface resistivity, typically measured in ohms per square, is the resistance of a material to the flow of electric current between opposite sides of its surface. In materials with low electrical resistance, electrons easily flow through or across the surface of the material. Generally, you will want to work with threads and textiles with low surface resistivity.
NOTE: There is a variety of conductive threads and textiles on the market that isn't very conductive, meaning that they have high surface resistivity. Before purchasing any conductive thread or textile, it is important to check the product's specifications to determine its surface resistivity.
Follow this link to download a PDF with a longer excerpt from Fashioning Technology's Sewing Soft Circuits technical primer, including these sections:
- Bookbinder's Knot
- Sewing by Machine
- Sewing Components with Long Leads (LEDs, Resistors, and Capacitors)
- Sewing Integrated Circuit (IC) Chips
- Sewing Components with Wires
Buy Fashioning Technology by Syuzi Pakhchyan in the Maker Shed today!
This book demonstrates how to blend sewing and assembly techniques with traditional electronics to assemble simple circuits using conductive thread, solder joints for snaps, and switches for buttons. With the sewing machine as a viable substitute for the soldering iron, you can craft a new generation of objects that are interactive, quirky, and fashion-conscious.
Posted by Brian Jepson |
Jan 8, 2009 02:00 PM
Crafts, Electronics, Maker Shed Store |
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Zinc-based audio oscillator
Nyle posted this multitrack recording featuring sounds from a homemade Zinc oscillator circuit -
An electronic sound composition is made entirely of sounds produced using zinc negetive resistance audio oscillator circuits. No vacuum tubes or transistors were used to generate the sounds.Interesting research - check out further documentation of his experiments here - SparkBangBuzz [via Matrixsynth]Several tracks of the zinc oscillator sounds were recorded one at a time. Some of the sounds were enhanced with the addition of reverb.
The morse code parts were sent in real time by manually keying a J-38 straight key. Yes, I can send that fast with a straight key by using a somewhat unusual technique that I developed.
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Jan 8, 2009 02:00 PM
Electronics, Music |
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Cannibalizing parts from compact florescents
This isn't the sharpest Instructable on the site, but I like the idea that people are starting to see what sorts of useful projects they can do with the innards from dead CF light bulbs (such as, in this case, a step-down DC-DC converter and a Joule thief).
Make cool gadgets from a deceased fluorescent lamp
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jan 8, 2009 12:33 PM
Electronics, Instructables |
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alt.CES: DIY 3D scanners roundup
I really like the new 3D desktop scanner by RealView. They have 3 models available. Unfortunately there isn't any word on price, but I am guessing they aren't cheap.
We don't see too many 3D scanners 'round these parts, so we'll be excited to hit RealView 3D's booth at CES and see what all the fuss is about. The RealView 360⁰ 3D Desktop Scanner is being billed as the world's first desktop scanner capable of capturing objects in their full 360⁰ topographic glory, suitable for scanning mugs, model space ships, D&D figurines, and whatever else fits on its base.
More about the RealView unveils three 3D desktop scanners
Then again, you could always try and make your own. Check out these DIY 3D scanners from the MAKE blog. Click the link for a complete roundup.
Read full storyPosted by Marc de Vinck |
Jan 8, 2009 11:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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TI's BeagleBoard and DLP Pico Projector == Linux everywhere
TI's BeagleBoard is a great little Linux system. It consumes less than 2 watts and can connect to all sorts of things; it has an HDMI port that carries DVI-D video, a USB port that lets you connect USB peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and network adapters, an RS-232 serial port, and an expansion connector that includes I2C, GPIO, and more. (The autoconfiguring USB port can also act as a USB gadget, allowing the BeagleBoard to appear as a peripheral when you plug it into a computer).
What's more, the software (operating system and build tools) is open source, and TI makes the schematics and board layouts available as well. See the Embedded Linux Wiki BeagleBoard page for links to the schematics, board layouts, and information on using the design in your own creations.
TI sent MAKE a BeagleBoard and their latest BeagleBoard accessory, the DLP Pico Projector Development Kit. This is a version of their DLP Pico Projector that's designed for use with the BeagleBoard. Combine the two, and you've got a really small Linux-powered system that can go anywhere you can provide power.
The $149 BeagleBoard has been available for some time from Digi-Key. You can order a Pico Projector Development Kit from Digi-Key for $349. (The Pico Projector should begin shipping in mid to late January 2009).
I spent a few days poking around with the BeagleBoard and the Pico Projector, and it's a very cool system with immense hackability. If you get your hands on a BeagleBoard, the place to start is the BeagleBoard beginner's page at the Embedded Linux Wiki. There, you can figure out which cables and accessories you need, how to boot a Linux image on the BeagleBoard, and where to go next.
To use the DLP Pico Projector Development Kit with the BeagleBoard, check out this tip from Koen, which explains which kernel to use and how to configure the BeagleBoard's bootloader to start up with the correct resolution required by the Pico projector.
Here's a picture of the BeagleBoard's first boot screen projected in a semi-dark room on the DLP Pico Projector (note that upon your first boot after following the Embedded Linux Wiki instructions, it may take a while for this screen to appear, as the Linux distribution needs to configure many of the packages):
At the time I tested out the BeagleBoard, I couldn't find a kernel image that would support both DVI video output and the USB Ethernet adapter I was using (the 3-port USB Hub with 10/100 Ethernet from the BeagleBoard shopping list). But then again, I have always had bad luck with USB Ethernet adapters. So, I just used a USB EV-DO card to get online (I'll save that for a future HOWTO on the Make blog).
Here's a photo of the Make blog displayed using the Pico Projector:
And to compare, here's what it looked like when I opened the shades:
So for $500, you get a powerful Linux-based computer and a tiny projector. I'm looking forward to seeing what people make with these two gadgets.
Posted by Brian Jepson |
Jan 8, 2009 09:30 AM
Computers, Electronics |
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Atari Punk Console Kit
GetLoFi introduces their own kit version of the popular stepped tone generator circuit originally published by the venerable Forrest M Mims III. The PCB uses a 'no-hole' design where all parts of the simple noisemaker are mounted and soldered on a single side. The kit also adds a capacitor bank and momentary switch for triggering custom bursts of sound. Check the site for more info and assembly process - Atari Punk Console 2.0 Kit from GetLoFi
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Jan 8, 2009 08:30 AM
Electronics, Kits, Music |
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Physical pixels attack local neighborhood
"Ping Genius Loci" by Aether Architecture is an architectural installation built from 300 radio networked, solar powered, and self-sustainable intelligent, analog pixels. The pixels are placed on a 20 by 20 meter grid and interface with people walking through the grid. Interesting way to create physical pixels, although there might be a problem if it rains.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jan 8, 2009 06:00 AM
Arts, Computers, Electronics, Green |
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Analog Computer Bouncing Ball
From the MAKE: Flickr pool
Honorary professor of electronic awesomeness Mr. Eric "ALH84001" Archer demonstrates the results of his experimentation within the world of analog physics modelling -
I designed the circuit as an excercise in understanding analog computer techniques. I found that almost all textbook descriptions of analog integrators are incomplete, lacking adequate description of how to set the initial conditions of the integrator and reset it at the end of each computation.Alas, no schematic as of yet - but more insight into the theory and development process at work is provided Analog computer bouncing ball.An obvious application of this particular circuit is to generate nonlinear rhythms for electronic music... check out Aphex Twin's track "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball" for a good example of this effect.
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Jan 8, 2009 06:00 AM
Electronics |
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Interactive architecture project detects presence and serves as an SMS message board
This project, called "Reddot", reacts to human interaction in the lobby of an office building by displaying color flows in a three-dimensional plexiglass grid that tracks pedestrians as they walk by. The project uses a unique form of presence detection by projecting lasers onto people's bodies and tracking how far they are from its face, also it writes incoming SMS messages sent by visitors on its 3D display. Check out more technical details and a nice "exploded" view of the structure at the link below.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jan 8, 2009 05:00 AM
Arts, Cellphones, Electronics, Furniture |
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Solar Purse
Joe Hyneck wants to move your charger from the wall to your handbag.
On cloudless days, he wanders his neighborhood to test whether the purse, which is plated in thin solar panels and contains a lightweight battery, is absorbing energy from the sun. After three hours of direct exposure, the purse generates enough electricity to charge an iPod, camera or cellphone. (The bag will also charge -- more slowly -- if placed next to a window.) Mr. Hynek is currently working on the final touch: a small display screen that will indicate when the purse is best angled for absorbing the day's light.
From Mel
How would you improve on this design? Have you built something similar to charge your devices? Add your ideas to the comments and contribute your photos and videos to the Make Flickr pool.
Posted by Chris Connors |
Jan 8, 2009 02:00 AM
Electronics, Gadgets, Green |
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SQ01: A simple quadruped
This is a really cool little robotic quadruped based on a Picaxe 28X. Make sure to check out the last video where he demonstrates how it turns. I really like the sound it makes walking along the table.
The plans started out as a hexapod with the same basic idea, but the servos I ordered for it are a bit weak so I had to do something with the three larger servos I had. The result is this little guy.
More about the SQ01: A simple quadruped
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Jan 8, 2009 02:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Robotics |
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alt.CES - Brainwave scanner toys
Ryan writes in-
This could make an interesting MAKE hack. I'm sure the brainwave scanner isn't high quality but it still could be neat to take apart and come up with some projects.
Toy trains 'Star Wars' fans to use The Force...
Could The Force be with you? A toy due in stores this fall will let you test and hone your Jedi-like abilities. The Force Trainer (expected to be priced at $90 to $100) comes with a headset that uses brain waves to allow players to manipulate a sphere within a clear 10-inch-tall training tower, analogous to Yoda and Luke Skywalker's abilities in the Star Wars films.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 8, 2009 12:00 AM
Electronics, hacks, News from the Future, Remake, Toys and Games |
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January 7, 2009
Welcome to Alternative CES -- "alt.CES" - BUGLab modules
Each year over 100,000 people visit the Las Vegas area to celebrate consumer electronics at an event called "CES" - in addition to all of the announcements, press releases and the constant coverage on our favorite gadget sites there's been a dark cloud creeping in, there seems to be a growing resentment among the folks who cover the show - it's just not that fun any more, last year's show was all about giant TVs, and later a controversy about turning those very same TVs off.
I went to CES for years and year and always had a great time, I was attracted to the "weird" section that had Chinese clones and odd undiscovered jewels, it was almost 10 years ago that Danger had a little booth on their own showing the Sidekick, years later the Sidekick became an nationwide best selling phone, it's still one of my favorites. I remember showing friends pictures of the Sidekick, they all thought it was a bizarre little device, and perhaps it was at the time.
So, it's 2009 and on MAKE we cover very high-tech products, mostly in our reviews, green, gadgets and "news from the future" sections - this year we're going to try something new - we'll pick and choose some cool things we see around the web from CES specifically with a MAKE lens, but we'll also post some things we'd like to see or things from the past that would be great to see "CES" style. We're calling this "alt.CES" it's a little parody, a little bizarro world, a little fun and little bit about what's going on in the CES world - we'll have a few posts a day about this, if there's something you see around the web from CES that you think makers would like to check out, let us know.
First up, BUGLabs - last year I think they were the most interesting things at CES and this year they are announcing a ton of new BUG modules... BUGlabs are one of the pioneers in open source hardware - the source, schematics and PCB files are available for their products.
Bug Labs announced five new BUGmodules... Each BUGmodule represents a specific gadget function (e.g. a camera, a keyboard, a video output, etc.) that can be snapped to the BUGbase, a programmable Linux-based mini-computer with four available BUGmodule slots.
The five new BUGmodules are:
- BUGprojector, a mini pico-projector module, incorporating DLP® Pico™ technology from Texas Instruments. With a native resolution of 480x320 pixels, stereo playback and a brightness of 9 lumens, users can project videos, photos and presentations on the go.
- BUGsound, an audio module, providing a flush-mount 20-mm speaker and omnidirectional microphone with hardware stereo codecs and four 3.5-mm stereo jacks for third-party inputs, outputs, headphones and microphones. Use BUG as a portable music player, speakerphone, audio processor or more.
- BUG3g GSM, a 3G mobile radio with SIM card input, enabling BUGs to connect to any high-speed GSM network. Users can place calls, send and receive SMSes or transmit data, opening a world of possibilities for mobile and telephony applications.
- BUGwifi, a dual-function 802.11b/g wi-fi and Bluetooth™ 2.0 + EDR radio, offering yet another wireless data connectivity option for the BUGbase, while providing a gateway to a variety of peripherals such as keyboards, mice, headsets and more.
- BUGbee, a low-powered 802.15.4 radio, enabling BUG developers to create short-range personal area network (PAN) applications for home automation, sensor networks, automotive and more.
These five modules complement the initial batch of BUGmodules, including BUGlocate (GPS), BUGcam2MP (digital camera), BUGmotion (motion sensor and accelerometer) and BUGview (touchscreen LCD). And with the recent addition of BUGvonHippel, a breadboard module enabling users to add virtually any interface to their BUGbase.
This is really cool news, I can finally re-make my location based MP3 player again, the first one was made in 2002 using Macromedia Flash, GPS and Pocket PC, yikes. The way is works... you put in a playlist based on location, so maybe you'll hear "Eye of the tiger" when it known you're jogging up that HUGE hill, or maybe your MP3 player only plays bands in the town you happen to be in...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 7, 2009 01:00 PM
Electronics, Events, Gaming, Open source hardware |
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Contacts case for small parts
Here's something that never would have occurred to me -- using old contact lens cases to hold and organize surface-mount and other tiny electronics parts.
Small Parts Tray made from Contact Lens Cases
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jan 7, 2009 11:00 AM
Electronics, Green, Remake, Toolbox |
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Installation controlled by Blackberry creates ambient sounds from incoming email
This installation called "BB_Write" employs a Blackberry and custom hardware to create four micro environments that correspond to the keywords: liberation, innovation, interaction, communication. The project attempts to build a spatial version of the "always on" experience as the Blackberry collects email constantly and generates ambient sounds based on incoming emails from visitors to the installation and from around the world.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jan 7, 2009 06:00 AM
Arts, Cellphones, Electronics, Wireless |
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Installation made from 300K illuminated candles will not set off the smoke alarm
This stop-motion video advertisement was made with over 300,000 illuminated candles. Pretty amazing work, especially the falling flames that trigger the lighting of the candles on the floor.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jan 7, 2009 05:00 AM
Arts, Crafts, DIY Projects, Electronics |
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pov top tells it both ways
Dhananjay Gadre has created another great project!
We recently built a LED spinning top with message display. Its an improved version of a similar top published by Elektor in their December 2008 issue. The Elektor top can be spun only in one direction. The synchronization required to print message on the LEDs arranged along the radius of the top is achieved by detecting the earth's magnetic field.Our top can spin in either direction and print a message accordingly. In our improved version of the spinning top, we used 2-channels of magnetic field detector circuit placed 90 degrees apart along the circumference of the circular PCB, to provide quadrature phase output that allows the top to detect the direction of spin and thus is able to adjust the LED pattern appropriately.
The top uses a Tiny44 microcontroller and is powered by 2x1.5V AAA size batteries with a MAX756 DC-DC converter to provide the +5V power supply to the circuit. The circular PCB was made on the Modela milling machine.
Here are some photos of the stationary top:
What are your recent projects? Have you made your own circuit board lately? How about working with the Atmel microprocessors? What do you like about making your own toys or modifying the ones created by other people? Add your comments to the conversation, and contribute your photos and video to the Make Flickr pool.
Posted by Chris Connors |
Jan 7, 2009 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, hacks, How it's made, Instructables, Kids, Kits, Toys and Games |
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Robotify a remote control car
Recently I have been taking apart and rewiring some remote control cars that I picked up at the town dump or local yard sales. Some of my students have also been in on the fun, and we are aiming to make them into programmable robotic cars. Take a look at the photos and see what is inside the cars.
Currently, we are working with the yellow Lego RCX's, but it seems like this idea could be worked out with just about any processing platform. Make Controller, Basic Stamp, Arduino, ATTiny or...We can give them sensing abilities by using photocells, pressure switches and other sensors. One of the thoughts that brought this on was the desire of students to go beyond the Lego system, looking to work with other materials.
The Lego connectors are good, but not very universal. By using aluminum or copper tape, it is relatively easy to make a more compatible wire connector. Students can get some experience with soldering and working with systems without having to make the entire vehicle themselves. It seems that the yardsale or dumpscore cars are a good place to start, but often they have other issues from being played with. Often the worst of them have been driven on the beach with some pretty heavy salt water corrosion. By getting a good collection of relatively inexpensive cars, there can be a good level of consistency in materials, and a greater level of compatibility in parts.
This project seems like it has some good long term potential. The gear train for the rear drive wheels is much more sophisticated than would be realistic to make in most shops, the steering assembly is pretty solid and proven, and the chassis is a great way to hold the thing together. Some of the issues to resolve are: What else can be done with the remote control radio transmitter and receiver? How can you drive larger motors with a small microcontroller?
Have you messed about with remote control cars? What success stories do you have of controlling dc motors with microcontrollers? Do you have documentation of great projects done with your students, kids or on your own? What are the possible pitfalls in a project like this? What is the best way to program the Lego RCX, Interactive C, LeJos, Logo or something else? If you had access to a group of students and a few or dozens of small, cheap remote control cars, what would you do with them? Add your thoughts and comments below and contribute your photos and videos to the Make Flickr pool.
Posted by Chris Connors |
Jan 7, 2009 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, hacks, Kids, LEGO, Robotics, Something I want to learn to do..., Toys and Games |
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DIY wire cutter and stripper
This is a really cool, if not over complicated, machine to make jumper wires for your next breadboarding project. Personally, I have made a lot of little jumper wires, and I would love to have a machine like this.
More about the DIY wire cutter and stripper
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Jan 7, 2009 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics |
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The online premiere of Make: television is January 3rd 2009, visit makezine.tv or iTunes to see the entire first episode! The broadcast premiere will follow shortly after depending on when your local Public Television station airs it.
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