Monthly Archives: April 2016

Opensource recycling machines

Posted on April 8, 2016 by robertwilkie

Interesting project.  The goal is to make machines that you can use to recycle plastic into something you can re-use.  I’ll be interested to see how far it goes.  Making filament would be useful to me.  But tolerances are hard… … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Opensource recycling machines

Make a Drawbot out of 2 CDROMs, a Servo, and an RPi

Posted on April 7, 2016 by robertwilkie

I think using an RPi here is a bit overkill (what no arduino?).  But still this is a nice simple build you could do for a drawbot.  And I think this design is easier to put together than some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, CNC/3D-printing, Misc-Life, RaspberryPi | Comments Off on Make a Drawbot out of 2 CDROMs, a Servo, and an RPi

Good article on ways to save (or find cheaper) stuff on Amazon

Posted on April 7, 2016 by robertwilkie

Most of the stuff I already knew.  Instead of shopbots, I typically just use google.  However megashopbot.com maybe worth looking into.  Also onlinepricealert.com is another site I may have to check out. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-get-the-best-discounted-deals-on-amazon/

Posted in Cheap | Comments Off on Good article on ways to save (or find cheaper) stuff on Amazon

Interesting tech from Xerox, print out solar cells

Posted on April 6, 2016 by robertwilkie

This sounds cool, Xerox PARC has a method to print out solar cells.  This could come in handy with printed circuits (giving them a power source).  I wonder if anything will become of this. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601097/a-xerox-machine-for-super-solar-panels/

Posted in Misc-Life, solar, Xerox | Comments Off on Interesting tech from Xerox, print out solar cells

Xerox CEO takes over 1/2 pay cut in 2015

Posted on April 6, 2016 by robertwilkie

The exciting part is she got docked down to 10.5 Million last year (yeah I feel soo horrible for her) from over 22mill the year before.  But what is interesting is a bunch of stockholders (at the end of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Xerox | Comments Off on Xerox CEO takes over 1/2 pay cut in 2015

Nice simple CNC mill

Posted on April 6, 2016 by robertwilkie

This is similar to a build I made, uses puckboard (HDPE plastic board, what I used too).  Its easier to cut and lighter than wood.  My build is bigger but doesn’t have nice roller bearings like this one.    Or nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, CNC/3D-printing, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Nice simple CNC mill

Quick portable Styrofoam Cutter

Posted on April 6, 2016 by robertwilkie

Nice build for a simple portable foam cutter.  The author uses a 9 volt battery with .2mm nichrome resistor wire. http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Hot-Wire-Styro-Slicer-Foam-Cutter/

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, Tools | Comments Off on Quick portable Styrofoam Cutter

Xerox laying off hundreds in Colorado Springs

Posted on April 1, 2016 by robertwilkie

Looks like a purge at Xerox to clean the sheets before the quarter ends. https://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/very-cheap-arduino-board-out-of-a-3-usbasp-programmer-with-usb-bootloader-vzxqynsjbyu-mp4-shot0002_featured.png?w=800

Posted in Xerox | Comments Off on Xerox laying off hundreds in Colorado Springs

Turn a $3 AVR programmer into an ATiny

Posted on April 1, 2016 by robertwilkie

Basically the $3 AVR programmers are atiny’s that you could reprogram yourself.  Cheaper than buying an arduino itself. Dirt-Cheap USB Arduino Hack From the Past

Posted in Arduino, Cheap | Comments Off on Turn a $3 AVR programmer into an ATiny

PJON, one wire comms for IoT

Posted on April 1, 2016 by robertwilkie

I’ll have to look at this later, the author build a simple one wire comms for 255 systems at once. PJON, Fancy One Wire Arduino Communications Protocol For Home Automation GIT https://github.com/gioblu/PJON

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, Misc-Life | Comments Off on PJON, one wire comms for IoT