tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456829513916455252024-02-06T19:46:06.958-08:00Shaun's workbenchThe blog of Shaun Crampton. I'm a software developer by trade (working on the awesome <a href="https://www.projectcalico.org">Project Calico</a>) but I'm also interested in electronics (esp. colourful lights and bots), hardware hacking, physical design and photography. I also have a successful range of Android apps: Battery Watcher and Data Watcher. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-49393585628896242232015-05-03T11:25:00.001-07:002015-05-03T11:25:23.198-07:00Wireless sensor nodes updateMy <a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/wireless-sensor-node">wireless sensor nodes</a> have been in need of a little TLC for a few months. One of them is still going strong (after 3 years on a single coin cell!) but the other two need a replacement battery and the server stopped working after an Ubuntu upgrade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31jCAZJghkGZhXM6zTaehrsfX47zpFORR2iBC5_0nCYi-k0MlgW7AEpInZSi71yMXqGTEjlvoy4B-97Ekls_-vOTn_nte8HE6VNPcYNzFuZqJd2Ihq9-aXbrhWhwEqMM4Cci0PI1u8m4/s1600/P4305697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31jCAZJghkGZhXM6zTaehrsfX47zpFORR2iBC5_0nCYi-k0MlgW7AEpInZSi71yMXqGTEjlvoy4B-97Ekls_-vOTn_nte8HE6VNPcYNzFuZqJd2Ihq9-aXbrhWhwEqMM4Cci0PI1u8m4/s1600/P4305697.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnPS7WxyY57OHKx2Cs2VAj4v4tlr85QxHJ4kXUkovHyJjAUuXl4Z7OuyvmI09ekfKWMykkAjVuuGzNx2PMqO2UPGLZum7xXr9DGCmQzBSBJqHyBI7mD-19K0fx355Z2mweovtqx8fHtg/s1600/Screenshot-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnPS7WxyY57OHKx2Cs2VAj4v4tlr85QxHJ4kXUkovHyJjAUuXl4Z7OuyvmI09ekfKWMykkAjVuuGzNx2PMqO2UPGLZum7xXr9DGCmQzBSBJqHyBI7mD-19K0fx355Z2mweovtqx8fHtg/s1600/Screenshot-1.png" height="273" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
To fix the server I've reworked <a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/wireless-sensor-node-server">the code</a> to turn it into a more proper python package and updated the instruction to use upstart rather than monit, which I found to be too complex for its own good.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, it looks like the nodes that needed a new battery starting reading bad temperature data before they stopped transmitting. I'd have expected transmission to be the first thing to go, given how much power it requires.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-60799641994985744322015-02-11T21:09:00.002-08:002015-02-11T21:09:40.556-08:00Working with C's new fixed point datatypes in Eclipse CDTI recently dusted off my <a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/ArduRoller">ArduRoller project</a> and ported the code to use C's new(ish) fixed-point extensions (as well as removing the dependency on the Arduino standard library).<br />
<br />
I use <a href="https://eclipse.org/downloads/packages/eclipse-ide-cc-developers/lunasr1a">Eclipse</a> with the <a href="http://avr-eclipse.sourceforge.net/">AVR plugin </a>to develop ArduRoller because it's much more powerful than the Arduino IDE and it lets me work more closely with the hardware. However, I quickly found out that Eclipse doesn't yet support the C fixed-point standard that I wanted to use for the new version. After posting a feature request, one of the Eclipse developers got back to me and explained how to work around the issue, which is that the fixed point datatypes are completely unknown to Eclipse so they show up as unresolved symbols.<br />
<br />
The trick is to define a special type of symbol that only appears in the Eclipse code indexer and then use a header shim to #define the datatypes only in the indexer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj2LHjG6LbLcH8taqmoSGmHbuG4exurfL7aJENM3ZSXkEf8dXKtWVlhGSIiW-Fyb_GKlP99VcRFhao2LruRK3qq4lsb2wJaSA7kJPUuQbW_RROUG6_vkUjjWorytaDlV_G2dxr64qK4s/s1600/Screenshot+from+2015-02-11+20:57:52.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj2LHjG6LbLcH8taqmoSGmHbuG4exurfL7aJENM3ZSXkEf8dXKtWVlhGSIiW-Fyb_GKlP99VcRFhao2LruRK3qq4lsb2wJaSA7kJPUuQbW_RROUG6_vkUjjWorytaDlV_G2dxr64qK4s/s1600/Screenshot+from+2015-02-11+20:57:52.png" height="218" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
First go to Your project > Properties > C/C++ General > Preprocessor include paths > Language and then add a new "User setting entry". I added a symbol "ECLIPSE_INDEXER" defined as 1.<br />
<br />
Then, before #include <stdfix .h="">, include a shim header like this one:</stdfix><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">/*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * eclipsefixp.h</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> *</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * Created on: Feb 11, 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * Author: shaun</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> */</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#ifndef ECLIPSEFIXP_H_</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define ECLIPSEFIXP_H_</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#ifdef ECLIPSE_INDEXER</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define ACCUM_LIT(num) 0</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define FRACT_LIT(num) 0</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define _Accum float</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define _Fract float</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define _Sat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#else</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define ACCUM_LIT(num) num##k</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#define FRACT_LIT(num) num##r</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#endif</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">#endif /* ECLIPSEFIXP_H_ */</span></blockquote>
Now you can use "accum" "fract" and "sat" with impunity as I did in the <a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/ArduRoller/blob/master/main.c">new ArduRoller code</a> (the stdfix.h header maps _Accum to accum etc.) and if you need a fixed-point literal such as "123.456lk" you can use ACCUM_LIT(123.456l) and the k will get appended for you in the real code.<br />
<br />
The fixed point datatypes helped speed up the code enough to run with a 1msec loop time, which as my target and they seem to work fairly well, with the rather annoying gotcha that there's no way to completely disable floating point. If you accidentally use a float literal somewhere, it's easy to pull in the whole floating point library by mistake.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-14339119283498870002014-01-20T21:47:00.002-08:002014-01-20T21:47:42.380-08:00Hardwood comb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today I made this hardwood comb after being inspired by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/somethingimade/comments/1v4t0u/a_comb_that_i_made_from_walnut_mahogany/">a similar one</a> on Reddit. I wrote up the build as <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Hardwood-comb/">an Instructable</a>. It was a fun little project and I learned some new skills like cutting rabbets and prongs on the table saw.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqIGXdG2vgJfyHNyz0RzRrN3yP4SVyRqPJEXJEE5t0QM5KGLe51iOFfCeZoKSE8BU9rToHjieOp_r0xP9xntCTtU_6GzArdliKKwxl1TywB9zX7z5Htz1E1ESnSFgKP8QhW1RRPJNNvs/s1600/DSC_2630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqIGXdG2vgJfyHNyz0RzRrN3yP4SVyRqPJEXJEE5t0QM5KGLe51iOFfCeZoKSE8BU9rToHjieOp_r0xP9xntCTtU_6GzArdliKKwxl1TywB9zX7z5Htz1E1ESnSFgKP8QhW1RRPJNNvs/s1600/DSC_2630.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiU1qVT_3rvAjSR22KnS7G4PHGEWimgpCe9fPNUBguAor0x0dbWMNbIDmgREZwCiw3oM74njVbT_Q453q3ZJuQaJeFA_vN0IKWKEbRNZE1vIHfdxFESGvGgEhQdKq4NajPeoImozt6w1A/s1600/DSC_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiU1qVT_3rvAjSR22KnS7G4PHGEWimgpCe9fPNUBguAor0x0dbWMNbIDmgREZwCiw3oM74njVbT_Q453q3ZJuQaJeFA_vN0IKWKEbRNZE1vIHfdxFESGvGgEhQdKq4NajPeoImozt6w1A/s1600/DSC_2631.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MvtSSmiBU1zwH0ZbuI1nras5wNCT4Xe4Iiyn0aAQi0RP0Z2RhCAQzY8FQXWGvC5qIwdDqKkhl408tXZG9U0ZYaOFTnXX5lr7oplHpsYxB7OVBBcsBIfdH_s9ANecb2fiaqpnFaknBRY/s1600/DSC_2633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MvtSSmiBU1zwH0ZbuI1nras5wNCT4Xe4Iiyn0aAQi0RP0Z2RhCAQzY8FQXWGvC5qIwdDqKkhl408tXZG9U0ZYaOFTnXX5lr7oplHpsYxB7OVBBcsBIfdH_s9ANecb2fiaqpnFaknBRY/s1600/DSC_2633.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-25078696049955011592014-01-12T21:43:00.001-08:002014-01-12T21:43:16.479-08:00Butterfly wall hangingI took a MIG welding course at Techshop last weekend and I wanted to get some practice in. Since I didn't have any ideas, I asked my muse, who said, "Why don't you make me a butterfly?"<br />
<br />
Who am I to argue!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb-BsksCzelXOCopppeckLqrKkDSIyTyTm2e9VK9G9hGlVnhEarR_sNTdat1sHm5uPaWu_1i1tVSSWYxyIP2W45dT6cnZWiQ0rmKTPyLmIw1gI7p5PV1H5I0ElrHA302xnRzxyeXsncc/s1600/DSC_2617.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb-BsksCzelXOCopppeckLqrKkDSIyTyTm2e9VK9G9hGlVnhEarR_sNTdat1sHm5uPaWu_1i1tVSSWYxyIP2W45dT6cnZWiQ0rmKTPyLmIw1gI7p5PV1H5I0ElrHA302xnRzxyeXsncc/s320/DSC_2617.NEF" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY_nD1lNCZV6XwwmjieZ14vPfdyAevXM8DIDeYMX5QS-7UEp4nkVgRXEGxr41fRXMzh5uSxe1RXYVJai0-1XC1FnHmfYdtu1mb41YJUXU-8eY-fQtBZmhou8bqu7Gfr8yCAfG4OzcMxY/s1600/DSC_2619.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY_nD1lNCZV6XwwmjieZ14vPfdyAevXM8DIDeYMX5QS-7UEp4nkVgRXEGxr41fRXMzh5uSxe1RXYVJai0-1XC1FnHmfYdtu1mb41YJUXU-8eY-fQtBZmhou8bqu7Gfr8yCAfG4OzcMxY/s320/DSC_2619.NEF" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I found all the parts in the scrap bin. The body is made from two thin strips of thin mild steel sheet metal, tack-welded together. The wings are 16-guage mild steel. I cut them out roughly on the band saw and then ground them to shape on the grinder, using the polishing wheel to smooth off all the rough edges. I used an angle grinder to take off the mill scale before welding it all together. Finally, I used the angle grinder again to grind down the welds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It looks nice, filling the gap above the sink.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-73885458155351689152013-12-29T18:31:00.001-08:002013-12-29T18:32:19.090-08:00Padauk Bowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVySWNWIZK_ojncLTNcxG9MBXfsNNEbbd7Rm0f8Zvs9u1j_GnAFoRk6px-c0LC-7Ard0R46B-LpOJMFzWWy6Q_Zx-2vFShLtYt3JVaH7wGSyHOO28gUQ1yp0w3Bp8UDPe_g8VfOLQaet4/s1600/DSC_2506.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVySWNWIZK_ojncLTNcxG9MBXfsNNEbbd7Rm0f8Zvs9u1j_GnAFoRk6px-c0LC-7Ard0R46B-LpOJMFzWWy6Q_Zx-2vFShLtYt3JVaH7wGSyHOO28gUQ1yp0w3Bp8UDPe_g8VfOLQaet4/s320/DSC_2506.NEF" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj5eTWYzQzuXycgLYu060cY-Kpd8xwk10Q58i6xV92WBD0YaVJatII6CLAlkyUV4ugeeljx7TutvqMGtKMrWkSd9RYYLoI8YyF5lXBOd3cfQwomBnv1iss6TLty6KMJ5Xbp_lkqB3wKc/s1600/DSC_2507.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj5eTWYzQzuXycgLYu060cY-Kpd8xwk10Q58i6xV92WBD0YaVJatII6CLAlkyUV4ugeeljx7TutvqMGtKMrWkSd9RYYLoI8YyF5lXBOd3cfQwomBnv1iss6TLty6KMJ5Xbp_lkqB3wKc/s320/DSC_2507.NEF" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
Turned this bowl today from Padauk. It was a beautiful piece of wood and it turned well. I barely had to sand it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-29981271253199762552013-11-22T19:40:00.000-08:002013-11-22T19:45:52.298-08:00First stab at adding bluetoothI had a go at adding Bluetooth support to the <a href="http://fasaxc.blogspot.com/2013/11/turned-purpleheart-speaker.html">turned speaker</a> I made using an <a href="https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11678">RN-52</a>. It wasn't clear from the datasheet what sort of output I could expect from the RN-52. All it said was that it was differential. I tried hooking up one side of the differential pair to the headphone-in of the speaker to get a better understanding. It worked! (Kinda!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kqX0-Ah4qcG9-oiSxulfwIc0zGaZ-Myzz1iNQAIrTqkkJuVQlC9TzoBS6VOd7sk-vDUp051cMp30yk-Neeb90soEYCw-oj3URRYxxWLu-PH9g5wvtudi1F8iV5qlR8x_qJq2yL__h1o/s1600/IMG_20131117_171213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kqX0-Ah4qcG9-oiSxulfwIc0zGaZ-Myzz1iNQAIrTqkkJuVQlC9TzoBS6VOd7sk-vDUp051cMp30yk-Neeb90soEYCw-oj3URRYxxWLu-PH9g5wvtudi1F8iV5qlR8x_qJq2yL__h1o/s320/IMG_20131117_171213.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
While audio was playing (with about 12 ohms across the input to ground) it was fine but there were very large pops when sounds started and stopped. I suspect (but I don't have a scope available to check) the module centres its signal on 1/2Vin but turns off the driver when it's not using it. That results in a big step signal when it turns its signal on and off, causing a pop.<br />
<br />
Thanks to a <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/1qv56n/connecting_differential_to_singleended_audio/">tip</a> from the <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/">AskElectronics subreddit</a>, I now plan to build the headphone out circuit from the datasheet and then find some way to mix that with the existing headphone in, if possible.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-44056603369508245282013-11-11T18:47:00.001-08:002013-11-11T18:47:18.483-08:00Turned purpleheart speaker<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/9768944074" title="Turned purpleheart USB-powered speaker by Shaun Crampton, on Flickr"><img alt="Turned purpleheart USB-powered speaker" height="357" src="//farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/9768944074_497e0e241c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I made this turned speaker for my girlfriend's birthday. It makes use of the boost converter described in <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-microcontroller-based-boost-converter/">my Instuctable</a>. It was a bit of rushed build so I didn't have time to take pictures but here are the specs:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>5V input to boost converter from a USB connection, boosted to ~18V.</li>
<li>That 18V goes as input to a <a href="http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=320-336">10+W amplifier module</a>.</li>
<li>The amp drives a <a href="http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=264-911">3" full-range driver</a> for 100-20,000Hz output.</li>
<li>It's all housed in a purpleheart case that I turned on the lathe.</li>
<li>After drilling holes for the accessory ports, I filled around them with <a href="http://sugru.com/">Sugru</a> for a nice finish. I also used Sugru to add some rubber feet.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I recently added a thick MDF base (not pictured) with an in-built battery compartment so that she can move it around with her laptop easily.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'd planned to add a laser-cut grill to the front but, although I cut the grill, I didn't have time to make a lid to house it and then the wood shrank significantly after I turned it making it very difficult to add one at this stage.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Bluetooth is next on the list...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-17831018137371738582013-09-15T21:08:00.000-07:002013-09-15T21:08:01.544-07:00New Instructable: building a boost converter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHEpi1qBO4nXNZvjAdU0jgINw5xB6GkY28__ShRezMUJEz9JpB9uPp6YD3q699WUc1bWMRwbNz65gI8od9PfVtYpj-K7MMstO7qFLwHWlebmMy-nOYcXNd56WjT23pInl5iU6YdS7va8/s1600/Screenshot+from+2013-09-15+20:09:59.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHEpi1qBO4nXNZvjAdU0jgINw5xB6GkY28__ShRezMUJEz9JpB9uPp6YD3q699WUc1bWMRwbNz65gI8od9PfVtYpj-K7MMstO7qFLwHWlebmMy-nOYcXNd56WjT23pInl5iU6YdS7va8/s320/Screenshot+from+2013-09-15+20:09:59.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I recently needed a 5V to 18V boost converter that could source 600mA. I wrote up the build as <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-microcontroller-based-boost-converter/">an Instructable</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-12809327024876022272013-04-08T19:11:00.002-07:002013-04-08T19:11:39.857-07:00Purpleheart bowl<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/8628857329/" title="Purpleheart bowl by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Purpleheart bowl" height="340" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8628857329_65df0f17dd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxlhRK27b6eNNumPTYsiEcMft1c41QlpPzc8BKavVOw0_RM0kY-EQoc7JcLITkYQHrhqHdTKL6w3v0MuAbT1BFktIzJzqXNuNDkMa59csjQ_RHOp0EGDxh_tXjzlfU7eLcAx2b0MFJAA/s1600/DSC_8799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxlhRK27b6eNNumPTYsiEcMft1c41QlpPzc8BKavVOw0_RM0kY-EQoc7JcLITkYQHrhqHdTKL6w3v0MuAbT1BFktIzJzqXNuNDkMa59csjQ_RHOp0EGDxh_tXjzlfU7eLcAx2b0MFJAA/s320/DSC_8799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yesterday's turning project; a bowl in purpleheart. I was pretty pleased with the shape but unfortunately, it cracked slightly while I was finishing it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-84657642926180441962013-02-11T19:29:00.000-08:002013-02-11T19:29:01.915-08:00Sycamore bowl<div>
I'm pretty proud of the shape of this bowl that I turned from a piece of sycamore. The rim has a slight inward curve, which was a little challenging, and its foot helps it to sit up from the table. I turned the rim using a very pointy spindle gouge to be able to get the angle, then switched to a stubby bowl gouge and scraper for further down.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/8467254484/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Sycamore bowl by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Sycamore bowl" height="211" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8467254484_7de30d7ee5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKLu095QuG30xPH-I8oW2Dmc15uj2ok8xS5_yv10KtRFPEAMd1qewZZemp4hfsVBP5BYS3LRPvjtWxyBHtGWg01Li8KpUu4DncWh156jb-apAdLC_yBLAQMj8DGvqiOBo5V-PX8lydd0/s1600/DSC_7917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKLu095QuG30xPH-I8oW2Dmc15uj2ok8xS5_yv10KtRFPEAMd1qewZZemp4hfsVBP5BYS3LRPvjtWxyBHtGWg01Li8KpUu4DncWh156jb-apAdLC_yBLAQMj8DGvqiOBo5V-PX8lydd0/s320/DSC_7917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-53005005669978091302013-01-30T20:51:00.001-08:002013-01-30T20:51:36.391-08:00500,000 downloads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3iwJex6B2Es22Y1QdegBwus2JwqiZrD-0LBa0ougTWpDWDqTrlsa7gWKpndfsr7fCWX12K1hLkvFjuL4jXnkwCB4sUhyphenhyphenuIwPZCj1VK5s7Apw-nkNvWKMWPlQHcy_ng_2-Xu2ZP2zlOY/s1600/500k+downloads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3iwJex6B2Es22Y1QdegBwus2JwqiZrD-0LBa0ougTWpDWDqTrlsa7gWKpndfsr7fCWX12K1hLkvFjuL4jXnkwCB4sUhyphenhyphenuIwPZCj1VK5s7Apw-nkNvWKMWPlQHcy_ng_2-Xu2ZP2zlOY/s320/500k+downloads.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
My Battery Watcher app just hit 500,000 downloads. The download rate has slowed down quite a lot recently as I've not had any time to devote to updating it but I'm still amazed that it was so successful!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-75219950668921471172013-01-27T15:47:00.001-08:002013-01-27T15:47:52.749-08:00Cherry bowl<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/8422119982/" title="Cherry bowl"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8422119982_b2618021e9.jpg" alt="Cherry bowl by fasaxc" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/8422119982/">Cherry bowl</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/">fasaxc</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Had a good time on the lathe yesterday. I turned this bowl from cherry. My first try at a decorative rim went quite well and I was pretty happy with the shape.<br /><br />Unlike the previous two bowls that I attempted out of zebrawood, it neither smells bad (zebrawood smells like cheese), nor did it explode and go flying off the lathe!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-73599822468380613882013-01-14T21:58:00.000-08:002013-01-14T22:01:51.775-08:00Some of my recent projectsHere are some of my recent pieces of woodwork.<br />
<br />
<b>Pair of random-strip chopping boards:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/8321893145/" title="Chopping boards by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Chopping boards" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8321893145_3719043b7f_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
I was really proud of how these turned out. Here's what I did:<br />
<ul>
<li>Start with boards of different coloured wood. I used walnut, purpleheart and maple.</li>
<li>Plane them all to the same thickness. Tip: run all the boards through the planer without changing its height, you won't be able to find the precise height a second time.</li>
<li>Rip to random widths using the table saw. Start by ripping thin widths ff the side while the board is still wide; it's much easier than trying to split a thin strip into two.</li>
<li>Spend plenty of time arranging the pieces for the best effect. I think I spent more than 30 minutes on this step and I feel like it paid off.</li>
<li>Glue and clamp (I used Titebond III). Tip: the ten-minute working time of the glue passes very quickly; try a dry fit first and consider gluing the board up in two halves and then gluing them together. I wasn't quite quick enough on the bigger board and the first joint wasn't as tight as it should be.</li>
<li>Plane the glued up board.</li>
<li>Cross-cut on the table saw to trim the ends.</li>
<li>Use round-over bit in the table router to round over the corners. Tips: </li>
<ul>
<li>If your boards are as thin as mine, use the fence rather than a bearing to set the round-over distance. If you don't, the bearing will be in empty space when you flip the boards over to do the second side.</li>
<li>Do the endgrain first.</li>
<li>Follow the piece with a scrap block to prevent tearout.</li>
</ul>
<li>Sand to desired grit.</li>
<li>Finish with butchers block oil.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Christmas snowman ornament:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/8226140858/" title="My, that's a nice scarf by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="My, that's a nice scarf" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8226140858_86d80aa40c_z.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<br />
This is one of my favourite turnings. I finally got the hang of cutting beads and then finished him off with a pyro pen and a purpleheart hat.<br />
<br />
<b>A bowl and turned apple:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/7993183087/" title="Yesterday's turnings by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Yesterday's turnings" height="223" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/7993183087_58f8b4ac4e_z.jpg" width="320" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-9645807265548541282012-07-15T21:11:00.003-07:002012-07-15T21:11:25.851-07:00New wood turnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just got back from Techshop with some new wood turnings. I've been experimenting with turning fruit and more mushrooms.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tYFf1hiybYQIQzHwKJrdarEsxhj1D5n3SC_vPZ-jUPDdLjAdJsxl7udMpjI0V1GNbDDX1A7NLO9bK_3mpLFR1wK6I7vEE_bkSezVgxtex3wwxgxU6ZhXG8-bsy6UEJ4258MtVL5viRU/s1600/P7156390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tYFf1hiybYQIQzHwKJrdarEsxhj1D5n3SC_vPZ-jUPDdLjAdJsxl7udMpjI0V1GNbDDX1A7NLO9bK_3mpLFR1wK6I7vEE_bkSezVgxtex3wwxgxU6ZhXG8-bsy6UEJ4258MtVL5viRU/s320/P7156390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A bit more information in <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Wooden-fruit/">this instructable</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz1pimkbIdnOIedc8e-eoP-w0qwK4P861StIhH0MIUDVDsQdmkfrgWHHV1T5lFsnK5n0DfRliKuBWKd3rKMzcOgC_m1G0-1cmLoT2pa0CY1in24zjGbFnKnkDVuf9VXUP9a3XgxWPEFs/s1600/P7156393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz1pimkbIdnOIedc8e-eoP-w0qwK4P861StIhH0MIUDVDsQdmkfrgWHHV1T5lFsnK5n0DfRliKuBWKd3rKMzcOgC_m1G0-1cmLoT2pa0CY1in24zjGbFnKnkDVuf9VXUP9a3XgxWPEFs/s320/P7156393.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Wooden-mushrooms/">Ditto</a> for the mushroom.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's something very satisfying about turning wood.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-92150720025643033482012-07-07T14:24:00.000-07:002012-07-07T14:24:04.257-07:00New Instructable: easy chopping board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7jwzdKsqQ71Z2C_52drry1dikju5ybg3QwrpeZq_ZZtfFZLfG7MtuniK7h0vKPNRuPeQJaDFUYS2uaj-hJXrDc-WrCiD9_iideEO-FBFYCpEQWbJmj9kHuSYBknzZWi0qwqsVmiVeuQ/s1600/P7076383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7jwzdKsqQ71Z2C_52drry1dikju5ybg3QwrpeZq_ZZtfFZLfG7MtuniK7h0vKPNRuPeQJaDFUYS2uaj-hJXrDc-WrCiD9_iideEO-FBFYCpEQWbJmj9kHuSYBknzZWi0qwqsVmiVeuQ/s320/P7076383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
I just wrote up a <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-chopping-board/">new Instructable</a> showing how to make this simple chopping board.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-39383143223569714772012-06-18T21:57:00.002-07:002012-06-18T21:58:40.342-07:00Schematic for wireless sensor node<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just added a schematic for my wireless sensor node to <a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/WirelessSensorNode">my github</a>. If you actually want to build one of them then it'd come in handy. Next time I build a node I'll try to put together a step-by-step for the build on stripboard.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/WirelessSensorNode/raw/master/assets/schematic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://github.com/fasaxc/WirelessSensorNode/raw/master/assets/schematic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The TMP36 is driven directly by the ATTiny so that it can be powered down when not in use. The 0.1uF capacitor smoothes the power to the TMP36, increasing its accuracy.<br />
<br />
The transmitter is powered via a basic NPN switching transistor (any similar part would do as long as it can sink the current for the transmitter). The 10uF cap provides for the transient high current used for transmission. The 2k resistor prevents too much current from flowing through the base to the emitter of the transistor (it only takes a small current to saturate the transistor so any extra current isn't helpful and can be harmful).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-20501973638680715292012-06-17T20:45:00.004-07:002012-06-17T20:45:55.842-07:00Mushroom twoThis was my second attempt at turning a mushroom on the lathe. This time I used walnut, which was much nicer to work with than the softwood I was practicing with <a href="http://fasaxc.blogspot.com/2012/06/mushroom-one.html">last time</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/7391469146/" title="Mushroom two by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Mushroom two" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7391469146_95edcb5358_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
I used the same sequence of steps as for <a href="http://fasaxc.blogspot.com/2012/06/mushroom-one.html">mushroom one</a>, except this time I remembered to leave some room between the tenon (which fits in the bowl chuck) and the base. That allowed me to shape the base while still on the lathe and then part it off. On my previous attempt, I didn't leve enough space so I ended up sanding off the tenon on the belt sander instead -- not nearly as fun.<br />
<br />
Also. I had a go with the skew chisel in a couple of places. When it's cutting correctly, it makes a really smooth surface. Looks like it'll be worth the effort to learn to use it.<br />
<br />
Overall, pretty pleased with this one, I only got a few small tear outs on the outside of the cap.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-59162495714511444172012-06-10T21:29:00.002-07:002012-06-10T21:29:37.019-07:00Sensor receiver enclosure<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/7175136145/" title="Arduino radio enclosure by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Arduino radio enclosure" height="215" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/7175136145_1969418d16_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
I've previously <a href="http://fasaxc.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-instructable-building-laser-cut-box.html">blogged about</a> my wireless sensor node project and the little boxes I made for the sensor nodes themselves. Today, I made an enclosure for the receiver node, which houses an Arduino and a radio receiver. It sits under the TV, by our wifi router, so it needs to look nice; walnut plywood and a nice kerf bend seem to do the trick.<br />
<br />
The construction is just a scaled-up version of the <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-cut-enclosure-with-living-hinge-lid/">smaller boxes</a>, with a hole cut for the USB port that powers the system and reports the telemetry.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fasaxc/7360361958/" title="Arduino radio enclosure (rear) by fasaxc, on Flickr"><img alt="Arduino radio enclosure (rear)" height="217" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7360361958_b928e67582_z.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-cut-Arduino-radio-enclosure/">design</a> is open-source, under the CC-BY-SA license.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-91242105979213576032012-06-03T20:54:00.002-07:002012-06-03T20:54:39.493-07:00Mushroom one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi2URCbohoHOe37VsIHvMYkzQXaIcxjP4QHJ2xiEGT2Di5zb2txo4ogVv90DVm8-GMxMaUifozoTrk1kCChu4xnwEH93DQjgILBxsvZa6u7zsIyv18_QoLVcuNN23Dqk_8_O2J9Xq_6A/s1600/P6036113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi2URCbohoHOe37VsIHvMYkzQXaIcxjP4QHJ2xiEGT2Di5zb2txo4ogVv90DVm8-GMxMaUifozoTrk1kCChu4xnwEH93DQjgILBxsvZa6u7zsIyv18_QoLVcuNN23Dqk_8_O2J9Xq_6A/s320/P6036113.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
I took a basic wood turning safety class last weekend and I'd been itching to give it a real go ever since. As recommended by the class tutor, I picked up some inexpensive dimensional lumber to experiment with.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's my take on it:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Turning's a lot of fun.</li>
<li>It's hard to get a smooth surface and I didn't come close on the mushroom cap.</li>
<li>Wood gets amazingly smooth and shiny if you sand all the way from 120 grit to 1500 grit. The lathe makes it easy to do so. I used a palm sander with the lathe spinning to remove tool marks.</li>
<li>Getting started, it takes a long time to turn a piece. This modest little mushroom took me four hours.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Technique-wise here's how I made the mushroom:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Turning between centres, I roughed out a piece of douglas fir (cheap dimensional lumber).</li>
<li>I turned most of the cap using spindle gouge and scraper.</li>
<li>Used the parting tool to make an incision below the cap.</li>
<li>Removed a lot of material around the stem.</li>
<li>Deepened the incision with the parting tool.</li>
<li>Repeat, shaping the stem with spindle gouges.</li>
<li>Used the parting tool to cut a tenon on the bottom of the stem.</li>
<li>Put the tenon in a chuck to turn the rest of the cap and smoothed as best I could using the scraper.</li>
<li>Sand 120 grit using palm sander.</li>
<li>Sand 220 grit.</li>
<li>Sand 300 grit.</li>
<li>Sand 400 grit.</li>
<li>Sand 600 grit.</li>
<li>Sand 800 grit.</li>
<li>Sand 1500 grit.</li>
<li>Applied some beeswax from a block and buffed with a rag.</li>
<li>Cut off the tenon with the band saw. Don't do what I did and just try to hold the mushroom to the fence, make sure you put a sacrificial block under the stem of the movement of the saw will pull the stem down.</li>
<li>Sanded the base flat using the belt sander. Ditto on using a sacrificial block.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-49722441699390996432012-05-09T21:16:00.001-07:002012-05-09T21:16:02.927-07:00New instructable: Laser-cut butterfly pendant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1rqWjuPDwHEBMiW1YLuxqlR-CCMs-PtLkvy9ZRxhY3TKrwWUHiHLyqvKLEbeUxP8761fFgTwsGTjrw1ADq9NxI-H2XlPhBOQvK5cMGJmjw942JuSG61su3LCzCHQU6zw7u_mWnpMZ4Q/s1600/P5085746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1rqWjuPDwHEBMiW1YLuxqlR-CCMs-PtLkvy9ZRxhY3TKrwWUHiHLyqvKLEbeUxP8761fFgTwsGTjrw1ADq9NxI-H2XlPhBOQvK5cMGJmjw942JuSG61su3LCzCHQU6zw7u_mWnpMZ4Q/s320/P5085746.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
I just published a <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-cut-butterfly-necklace/">new Instructable</a> describing how I made a laser-cut necklace for Katie.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-84981709907082389992012-05-04T21:50:00.003-07:002012-05-04T21:51:01.393-07:00I heart Google charts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRKHxEC8KMkIpeVMcYS7yKP9-C1tAoi2WcG1VGV8kKosFFf4aHA9Xj1UyKAQHOWd91XfhgQOGmlDL0FvbUEPe_TyBg7JspPGXvcYpwVCATNkczjiT_LoO4kFagnEuRQTJ7DavThWCXNw/s1600/Screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRKHxEC8KMkIpeVMcYS7yKP9-C1tAoi2WcG1VGV8kKosFFf4aHA9Xj1UyKAQHOWd91XfhgQOGmlDL0FvbUEPe_TyBg7JspPGXvcYpwVCATNkczjiT_LoO4kFagnEuRQTJ7DavThWCXNw/s320/Screenshot.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
I just got a little server together to serve up the data that my sensor logger is collecting. The Google chart API makes it very easy to create a <a href="https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/gallery/annotatedtimeline">fancy zoomable time-series chart</a> (link goes to Google documentation as my server is not accessible to the outside world). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The code is all on my github at <a href="https://github.com/fasaxc/WirelessSensorNodeServer">https://github.com/fasaxc/WirelessSensorNodeServer</a>. It's not much good without a serial-connected Arduino piping it data, I'm afraid! However, it does show how to put together a minimal tornado server in a virtualenv that can serve up static content and a RESTful JSON API.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-14795504576093352902012-05-03T20:32:00.000-07:002012-05-03T20:32:37.389-07:00First data<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnPS7WxyY57OHKx2Cs2VAj4v4tlr85QxHJ4kXUkovHyJjAUuXl4Z7OuyvmI09ekfKWMykkAjVuuGzNx2PMqO2UPGLZum7xXr9DGCmQzBSBJqHyBI7mD-19K0fx355Z2mweovtqx8fHtg/s1600/Screenshot-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnPS7WxyY57OHKx2Cs2VAj4v4tlr85QxHJ4kXUkovHyJjAUuXl4Z7OuyvmI09ekfKWMykkAjVuuGzNx2PMqO2UPGLZum7xXr9DGCmQzBSBJqHyBI7mD-19K0fx355Z2mweovtqx8fHtg/s320/Screenshot-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I just took the first dump of the data from my wireless sensor node, which logs temperature in our apartment. It seems to be working pretty well, logging once every 4 minutes or so. You can clearly see that last night was a few degrees colder than the night before and I think the uptick at the end is when we started cooking!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOHlt_LKGppr6pzpcyB-5eyYewIEIOEebdiSjbZ4AoUntgT4Ck6S6BRyqUXnMeqFeSNvsbmvPpg6OI0COUKvwVx8QF5cC2dO44kJq5BcDJjAlyfl70gRzT2iGAYJPYqEsc64XAzZI83w/s1600/P4305689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOHlt_LKGppr6pzpcyB-5eyYewIEIOEebdiSjbZ4AoUntgT4Ck6S6BRyqUXnMeqFeSNvsbmvPpg6OI0COUKvwVx8QF5cC2dO44kJq5BcDJjAlyfl70gRzT2iGAYJPYqEsc64XAzZI83w/s320/P4305689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The electronics are based on <a href="http://mchr3k-arduino.blogspot.com/2012/02/wireless-sensor-node-part-7.html">a project</a> by one of my colleagues. It all fits in a <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-cut-enclosure-with-living-hinge-lid/">laser cut enclosure</a> that I designed.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-6446958337110266342012-05-01T08:04:00.004-07:002012-05-01T08:04:49.506-07:00New instructable: Building a laser cut box with living hinge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31jCAZJghkGZhXM6zTaehrsfX47zpFORR2iBC5_0nCYi-k0MlgW7AEpInZSi71yMXqGTEjlvoy4B-97Ekls_-vOTn_nte8HE6VNPcYNzFuZqJd2Ihq9-aXbrhWhwEqMM4Cci0PI1u8m4/s1600/P4305697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31jCAZJghkGZhXM6zTaehrsfX47zpFORR2iBC5_0nCYi-k0MlgW7AEpInZSi71yMXqGTEjlvoy4B-97Ekls_-vOTn_nte8HE6VNPcYNzFuZqJd2Ihq9-aXbrhWhwEqMM4Cci0PI1u8m4/s320/P4305697.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
I just posted a <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-cut-enclosure-with-living-hinge-lid/">new instructable</a> detailing how I made the box in the picture. It all started out as a flat piece of cedar plywood!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-82619065446855643082012-03-25T17:24:00.000-07:002012-03-25T17:25:32.421-07:00Todays sugru hacks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I often use a set of helping hands to grip a piece while I'm working on it but my set have always been a bit wobbly. Not anymore, with their new <a href="http://sugru.com/">Sugru</a> feet!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZasGANj4vnKKPHMUpJVW2pPM2FgOYT9yX77IdwUoaBDkfEi2wEsX9b4dkblykspkpxb7Kp7glNY38B2-igEr6xgmKHP_mE1jZur1d-PA8naVgmK-LyD77C9HKcFLUqsCPmT1PC_XvP88/s1600/Helping+hands+feet.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZasGANj4vnKKPHMUpJVW2pPM2FgOYT9yX77IdwUoaBDkfEi2wEsX9b4dkblykspkpxb7Kp7glNY38B2-igEr6xgmKHP_mE1jZur1d-PA8naVgmK-LyD77C9HKcFLUqsCPmT1PC_XvP88/s320/Helping+hands+feet.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love my Blackrapid camera strap but the mount has one annoying flaw. By mounting to the tripod socket it's impossible to put the camera down on a flat surface without scratching it. Easily fixed with a little Sugru left over from the above hack.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXbRdBYIgyCqlA8Ly7fdOwGI-HgJCPfgGEoCK0EZjHHDXFsCjbp9Ey3aySC-LVnEnAagAcp2O8V_J5r6n1YLTKeYvuOM7aLGbo8f99BqWsZ1FZvQIrXnexAz8OhQJYj2tyrkxIup2t0M/s1600/scratch+preventer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXbRdBYIgyCqlA8Ly7fdOwGI-HgJCPfgGEoCK0EZjHHDXFsCjbp9Ey3aySC-LVnEnAagAcp2O8V_J5r6n1YLTKeYvuOM7aLGbo8f99BqWsZ1FZvQIrXnexAz8OhQJYj2tyrkxIup2t0M/s320/scratch+preventer.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm a big fan of Sugru. Historically, silicone rubbers have been hard to work with and generally out of reach of makers. Sugru changes all that.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545682951391645525.post-1870729859969879922012-03-10T16:17:00.000-08:002012-03-10T16:17:37.160-08:00ArduRoller back in businessArduRoller is balancing again. Turned out to be a loose connection between my Arduino and Motor shield. Pushing it back together did the trick.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840450688389663851noreply@blogger.com0