Monthly Archives: February 2013

Xerox collecting big data

Posted on February 25, 2013 by robertwilkie

Interesting article about data, but the really interesting bit is the quote from Xerox about how they collect terabytes of data each day from over a million machines.  That’s allot of information that you printer is collection and sending to … Continue reading →

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Xerox increasing Dividends by 35%

Posted on February 25, 2013 by robertwilkie

SO if you are one of those stockholders thats been holding out for the past 6 years wondering if the stock will ever go above $10 again.  You will at least get a little more cash this year. http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2013/02/20/xerox-foot-locker-raise-quarterly-dividends/

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Build as little battle bot

Posted on February 24, 2013 by robertwilkie

This would more be my speed and cost for a battle bot.  Not as exciting, but still would be fun to make and battle with kids.  My 2 cents, the author in his build uses mostly new parts, me, I … Continue reading →

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Use an old screen door window, some white spraypaint

Posted on February 23, 2013 by robertwilkie

And you get a cheap whiteboard that would work better than my current solution of shower board.  OK time to keep and eye out for folks tossing out big windows/screen doors.  Oh and sales on white paint.  Nice thing here … Continue reading →

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An Arduino O-Scope

Posted on February 23, 2013 by robertwilkie

Nice write-up on how to build an oscilliscope with an arduino.  Won’t get record recordings on it, but it will do the job on the cheap if you need one. http://randomnerdtutorials.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/arduino-poor-mans-oscilloscope/

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How to solder solar cells

Posted on February 21, 2013 by robertwilkie

OK so you got this great deal on ebay….now what.  Well here is a nice write-up on how to solder a bunch of cells together.  Of course these are whole cells this guy is using (not broken ones).  But you … Continue reading →

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A $5 Fan for Soldering

Posted on February 21, 2013 by robertwilkie

Interesting writeup.  its a nice build for using a PC fan with a wall art and some parts for a fan to suck the solder fumes away.  Me…I use a mini $3 fan I got a walmart. http://randomnerdtutorials.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/circuits-5-fan-for-soldering-station/ http://www.instructables.com/id/5-Fan-for-Soldering-Station

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A quick intro to steppers

Posted on February 21, 2013 by robertwilkie

Not the greatest intro, but it does partly tell you how to figure out which wire is which with a stepper. http://www.instructables.com/id/Stepper-Motor-magic/

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Make an LED diffuser

Posted on February 21, 2013 by robertwilkie

Nice idea, problem with LEDs is the light is “directed” in one direction,  this basically scratches up the plastic on the LED to diffuse it.  My 2 cents, a cordless drill in low power could do this too. http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Diffuser-Cheap-and-Easy/

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How to control an arduino thru a phone

Posted on February 21, 2013 by robertwilkie

Actually its more of arduino via bluetooth to android phone.  Still this could be useful for custom robots and such.  Just the range of bluetooth is no so great. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-control-arduino-board-using-an-android-phone-a/

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