Category Archives: Tinkering

Cool Monitor build for pools

Posted on November 16, 2022 by robertwilkie

If I still had a pool, this could be a build for me, helps monitor different aspects of the pool and equipment using an ES32 https://hackaday.com/2022/04/16/iot-pool-monitor-helps-you-keep-it-crystal-clear/

Posted in Arduino, sensors | Comments Off

converting an old plotter into a camera slide

Posted on November 15, 2022 by robertwilkie

The author took and old plotter and make a motorized camera slide out of it. Nice build, only issue I can see is its a “short” slide. https://hackaday.com/2022/04/07/turning-old-plotter-parts-into-a-smooth-camera-slider/

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, CNC/3D-printing | Comments Off

Building a simple water sensor for Arduino

Posted on November 14, 2022 by robertwilkie

Should work with other controllers, basically you have a resistor in a circuit, and if it gets wet, the circuit is shorted out so you detect that. I put 2 wires in a sponge myself (separated) an when the sponge … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, Misc-Life, sensors | Comments Off

A drawbot that can use a multi color pen

Posted on November 1, 2022 by robertwilkie

Interesting build for a drawbot, it uses a multicolored pen to switch colors, instead of changing the “pen” for each color. https://www.instructables.com/Multicolor-DrawBot/

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TinyPilot, an RPi remove KVM

Posted on October 28, 2022 by robertwilkie

For under $100, the author build a remote KVM that was pretty responsive with a Raspberry Pi. Pretty nice set of directions and cheaper than going with a commercial route https://tinypilotkvm.com/blog/build-a-kvm-over-ip-under-100

Posted in Cheap, Linux, Misc-Life, RaspberryPi | Comments Off

Convert a RPi zero to a RPi

Posted on October 27, 2022 by robertwilkie

Basically its a daughter card for the RPi zero that can convert it so it has the full footprint of a RPi. Board runs around $15, so 15 + 10 for the zero (if you can find one) is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, RaspberryPi | Comments Off

Big 7 segment display

Posted on October 20, 2022 by robertwilkie

Need to make your own scoreboard, this is a nice build to start from, the large display uses an arduino to control it and the 2 digit display the author made was for timing swim trials. https://hackaday.com/2022/07/27/you-can-build-a-giant-7-segment-display-of-your-very-own/

Posted in Arduino, Teaching and Learning | Comments Off

Interesting build for a automated pet feeder

Posted on October 12, 2022 by robertwilkie

Nice build overall, just it would need a top to keep the pet from getting into the dispenser. https://www.instructables.com/Simple-and-Easy-Automatic-Pet-Feeder-With-Arduino/

Posted in CNC/3D-printing, Misc-Life | Comments Off

Nice Halloween bat build

Posted on October 11, 2022 by robertwilkie

Cheap to make too. The author uses soda cans and old flag wire to make them. Seems a bit time consuming to cut the bat itself out..I wonder if I could CNC the cans and do a bunch at once….hum… … Continue reading →

Posted in CNC/3D-printing, Tinkering | Comments Off

This just shows why home loom robots don’t exist yet

Posted on October 4, 2022 by robertwilkie

This is an OMG this is a complicated build and very picky. Shows why folks don’t have CNC like looms for clothing yet (well on the cheap hobby scale). https://hackaday.com/2022/06/07/3d-printed-power-loom-shows-how-complex-weaving-really-is/

Posted in CNC/3D-printing | Comments Off