Keeping updated

As the stock market fluctuates, a prime time to use the Dow Jones as a sensor input.

Breadboard Power Supply 5V/3.3V

A very simple breadboard power supply kit that takes power from a DC wall wart and outputs a selectable 5V or 3.3V regulated voltage. The .1" headers are mounted on the bottom of the PCB for simple insertion into a breadboard. Pins labeled VCC and GND plug directly into the power lines. The lone pair of pins have no electrical connection but help support the PCB.

MOSFET for solenoid drivers

After too long, MOSFETs come to the rescue.  Best way to control solenoids is using a logic power MOSFET.  Can handle up to 10A

rust never sleeps

Neil Young was right "rust never sleeps"

whatscookinggrandma.net

A site where grandmas cook recipes with their granschildren.....whatscookinggrandma.net

safe to pee! and other PHP projects

safe2pee.org lists bathrooms in cities, George would be happy

chicagocrime.org crime in the city 2006-7

Fish robots

Aircuda and Aqua_ray are prototype fish robots

Atari Joystick as controller for ROV

To control the motors on an ROV, maybe use an old Atari joystick, and here are the schematics.

Electronic lock uses a mobile phone

E-Lock is a touch tone activated electronic combination lock which is controlled by the keypad of a mobile phone. When the correct combination is entered, a relay on the E-Lock circuit board is activated. The relay can be connected to a solenoid (not included) controlling the lock on a door or cupboard. To operate the E-Lock, just hold your mobile phone close to the built in microphone and then enter the lock combination on the phone keypad all at apogge kits

conductive thread, ink, fabrics

I could paint with silver impregnated paint ot create circuits, or make paints as shown in this instructables, and there are even pens, and conductive thread out there........ endless possibilities as shown by the great work of Leah Buechley who also has a great links page.

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bit.fall water sculpture

Amazing falling water writing words from bit.fall from Julius Popp

fittings

Small parts has a lot of fittings, and plastic fittings galore at Value Plastics including multiple port assemblies.  Swagelock are great for brass and stainless steel applications

waterproof boxes

Pelican cases are the ultimate underwater enclosure, but what about Otterboxes?

microfiche reader

microfiche reader that then plays music depending on light levels.  Uses a light sensor and a BS2 to output midi.  Shown at this years Maker Faire.

arduino water instrument

great arduino based MIDI work including Toriton water surface instrument by Sebastian Tomczak

processing and mapping coordinates

To map coordinates on any images, I wrote a processing sketch to display x and y coordinates as a rollover.  Can use this to determine sizes and areas of coral species.

images of american presidency

Mount Rushmore

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Mall in Washington DC

processing

before I forget about an incredible exhibit at MOMA, called Design and the Elastic Mind.  Lots of uses of processing language and some great processing of geographic data

arduino glockenspiel

Intersting glockenspiel driven by an Arduino.  USes solenoids and are powered by arduino
http://www.thebox.myzen.co.uk/Hardware/Glockenspiel.html

underwater sampling system

Starting the design for a medium volume (3L) underwater sampling system.  A place for 12 vdc solenoid valves , or maybe the KIP versions now just need to find flow controllers and totalizers. 

tufa

tufa ideas from

http://www.the-artistic-garden.com/index.html

Sculpting Recipe

Here is a recipe that will give you a durable, carvable and long lasting hypertufa sculpture. Your aim is to apply this first recipe in thin layers over your armature, building it up to the desired thickness. Then, you will use the 2nd recipe to add one or more layers thick enough to allow you to sculpt to your desired depth.

Recipe for application over the armature
and to build up thickness desired:

1 part Portland cement
1½ parts peat moss
1½ parts coarse sand
Handful of poly fibers
Handful of silica fume

Recipe for the Final Layer(s)

1 part Portland cement
1 part peat moss
1 part coarse sand
Elmer's Carpenter's Exterior Wood Glue
(or other bonding agent)

papier mache artists

Thinking about some papier mache ideas for the next sculpture.  Eith using it or tufa (mixture of peat moss and cement)

Some great work at http://www.papiermache.co.uk/gallery/

Jilly Tinniswood, intersting papier mache inspired sculptures

Moulds

Balloons
Cheap and indispensable. No release agent needed. The balloon will tear itself away from your dried papier mache easily when burst.

Bowls and plates
These will need to have a release agent applied first to stop the papier mache sticking to them.

 Release agents

 These all must be applied very thinly. They may leave a small residue, which you may not like.

- Vaseline
- Cooking oil
- Washing up liquid

When completely dry, paint with two coats of emulsion paint to seal it and kill the newsprint. You could also use gesso for a slightly tougher base.

craftsman style fence and railing

beautiful Arts & Crafts style fences and railings.
http://www.lmnoarts.com/Portfolio/FR-CraftsmanInteriorRailing.htm
and some great fences by http://www.kirsch-korff.com/

 

small servos, gears and joysticks

pan and tilt system for cameras or servos and small joystcks and also have gears and mechanics for servos

asparagus

natural curves in plants

bs2 program for ping)))

Using the PING))) ultrasonic sensor I can change LEDs flashing colors with changing distance of a person.

distance ranging and detection

Current project needs a method of detecting the presence of someone in a room who is approaching an interactive sculpture.

First I need to detect that someone is in the room (which activates a response from the sculpture).

Then I need to measure the distance of the observer from the sculpture, as the closer someone gets the different responses will be realized.
This distance detection could be either from an ultrasonic sensor
(from Parallax), or the low cost infra-red detectors from Sharp which are available at http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R48-IR12.html

multiple servo control from PC

Mini SSC from http://www.seetron.com/ssc.htm are useful when using multiple servos (up to 8), controlled from a BASIC Stamp or a PC.  Thanks to the Physical Computing book which is fabulous

new book arrived

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Physical Computing by Dan O'Sullivan and Tom Igoe arrived.  Tom Igoe has some amazing work on the web and his students at NYU  have pushed physical computing to some amazing heights.  Should give me a lot to think about with microcontrollers and linking them to computers

signs of the monarchy in london

welcome to the whirlyworld blog

Sunny afternoon in July 2008 and the blog goes live