• All
  • Autodesk
  • Cadsoft Eagle
  • Decade Box
  • Decade With Display
  • Eagle Tutorial
  • Resistance Decade Box
  • Star Trek
  • Tutorials
load more hold SHIFT key to load all load all

arduino

  • Capacitive Desk Top

    Capacitive Desk Top

      In the not-too-distant-past, I modified my desk top into an infinity mirror.  The top glass over laps the ends of the lit area.  I don't want to waste the space so I had the idea of adding some backlit capacitive buttons.  The buttons will control some low-level items like a desk lamp, soldering exhaust fan, and my Infinity Mirror Desk. 

      Here's a list of materials I used:

    # Part Company Link Quantity Notes
    1 EL Panel Sparkfun Sparkfun Page 2 Panel is 5"x5" Cut Down
    2 Capacitive Controller MPR121 Larry the Bird @twitter
  • Pneumatic Door Control

    Home Automation

      If you have read and followed my other projects, you would know that I am a Star Trek fan.  I was always fascinated by the automatic doors and the 'air' sound they made.  I have some pneumatic components that are left overs from another project.  So, I will be documenting my progress here.   I'm not saying that is going to be an exact replica of any of the Enterprise's doors, but just a simple system to automate a regular door.

     I wanted the door to be able to open, close and lock, unlock with just a key press.  Also be able to control via phone through bluetooth, and some push buttons for redundancy.  So won't be going into details and tutorials since there is a ton of those across the net.  If there is some interest in a certain feature, I might write up a tutorial about that feature.  I'll list the features, components, software for your use if you choose.

     

    For the pneumatic components, you can find a lot of these used on Ebay. The cylinders were $10-$20 each. The electronic valves were the expensive part. For the air lines, I'm using 4mm plastic tubing along with 4mm push fittings. Then you need an air compressor and tank. The compressor I have is a cheap $20 air pump that I found on Ebay a while back. To regulate the pressure, I'm using a electronic pressure switch from Amazon.

  • Star Trek Enterprise-D Custom Model

      As some of my readers will have gathered, I am a Star Trek fanboy, especially the TNG series This was the first Star Trek show that I watched as a child.  Since then, I've been fascinated by the Enterprise D and her technology.  Now that I am a grown man, I can indulge myself.  About 8 or 9 years ago, I bought and built a custom model kit of the Enterprise D, the 1/1400 scale AMT.  I built it with custom fiber optic lighting for the windows and LEDs for the Nacelles, Impulse Engines, and the navigation lights.  Unfortunately, that model was destroyed during a move and didn't take many pics or document the build process.  I will admit that this model wasn't painted or had decals since I didn't have any experience. 

      Since then, I have wanted to build another one, but with more detail and screen accurate.  Of course I wanted to design and install custom lighting and a few more features that popped in my head.  But this time, I will document the build and share it so maybe someone would use my build as motivation and create their own ideas. 

  • Trolling Motor Steering Using Arduino

      February 23rd, 2020

      So I had an idea of using an Arduino with a stepper motor to control a foot controlled trolling motor.  Searched around to see if anyone else had the same idea.  I was surprised that I didn't find that many, in fact, only two.  Another reason for this project is the cable between the head and foot control rusted away and no longer functions.  Yes, I could buy another cable and call it done.  But why miss an opportunity to start yet another project?