What are you guys working on? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 06:27:41 am
content: I have seen a lot of benches and equipments. But, is anyone work on anything? robot or something small. I knows the pros are all burnt out from works, but what about the hobbyist? Are all the hobbyists still learning? Have you invented/made anything lately?

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 06:33:02 am
content: Right now I am re teaching myself java whilst reading through the art of electronics.

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 06:39:40 am
content: IonizedGear, aren't you supposed to be messing around with C and C++?

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 06:40:14 am
content: I'm hacking FTDI Vinculum 2 chips, using their "Vinco" board, with the goal of implementing a set of interesting microcontroller peripherals using the VNC2 as an SPI-2-various controller.For instance, consider an Arduino-like board where the USB controller is replaced with a VNC2, giving you an essentially "free" USB Host port for ethernet, BT, wifi, IRDA, audio, flashdrive, keyboards, etc. Hoepfully, there is enough code space (256k) in the VNC to offload some of the difficult parts of interfacing to pc-class peripherals. We'll see.It's a poorly documented proprietary-architecture chip with a custom C compiler and proprietary closed-source RTOS that they want you to use (for EVERYTHING) using their quick but buggy IDE... It should be right in my area of expertise. Sigh. "Blink" runs about 50kbytes.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 06:42:08 am
content: Starting an "autonomous" vehicle project this weekend (meh...maybe next weekend if the weather doesn't play nice-nice).Neighbor threw out a kid's ride on toy truck, Ford F-150 look-alike, 6 volt, drive motors in both rear wheels. Threw it because it sat out over the winter and the switches rotted away.Sensors that are gonna go on it...the standard bunch, a couple GPS modules, serial output VGA camera mounted on a pan/tilt, ultrasonic sensors on the corners all mounted on pan/tilts, IR sensors mounted low for whatever the ultrasonic sensors missed.Going to use a couple of those 'family radios' to send GPS corrections from a base station (pseudo-home-made-differential-GPS) and send it RREEEEAAALLL slowly via OOK.Haven't decided how to send video data back other than using a smartphone, as well as 'emergency' remote control.We want this thing to traverse the neighborhood unattended, out of sight, out of reach, etc.Besides that, trying to get the 'bugs' worked out of my portable analog signature analyzer.First day with the new op-amps ya know...

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 06:42:52 am
content: Having fun cobbling together parts considered useless by my peers, into things they keep telling me is impossible.Current one is using an extra 16MIPs PIC to make a calendar/planner kit for my cousins kids.Well most now, a few have finally accepted that at least this one project can be done.Pretty sad when hard == impossible.

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 07:00:47 am
content: Good jobs guys. Hopefully, I'll hear someone say he is working on an android. Anyways, it doesn't have to be tech oriented. As long as you're doing something to let the juices running is good. Me, I am more of an idea guys. I had he idea of making a surface mounted board, then take another board of the same size and drill holes where the component are. Glue them together and pour epoxy glue over the holes. Tada.... no case! So far, it's only an idea since I have yet to make a board

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 07:26:37 am
content: I got something simple. I wanted a drinking fountain so bad, that I connected a straw to my brita facet thing and now I got clean drinking water without a messy cup.

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 07:27:03 am
content: Quote from: MrPlacid on August 03, 2013, 06:39:40 amI have to re teach my self java because I need to make some apps as I am 15 w/o a job and finding electronics related jobs is hard in my area. I need money to fund future projects

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 07:29:40 am
content: I'm licenced with Google play as an android developer.

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 07:38:02 am
content: Quote from: IonizedGears on August 03, 2013, 07:29:40 amThat was my first guess. But, 15? Wow!!!

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 07:50:20 am
content: Quote from: MrPlacid on August 03, 2013, 07:38:02 amYupTbh though, i really want to make an instant hit app that would set me for life. One can dream, right?

author: Chalky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 08:43:08 am
content: Repairing some old Sega SC-3000 home computers, and working with others to adapt/convert the internal video chip's output to component video (YPbPr).

author: poida_pie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 09:25:12 am
content: re-animating a dead Tektronix 455 CRO. I feel I have a good chance since I was successfulwhen the similar thing went wrong with the $90 Tek 465M CRO.This time it's different - and that means it's a learning opportunityExcellent.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 09:43:19 am
content: dead LCD inverter, smart car battery charger and modding a Chinese flashlight (resoft the PIC, add battery voltage sensing etc)

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 10:07:28 am
content: Working on a home automation board with MRF49XA 433MHz RF chipset + PIC16F1509(node) / PIC24FJ64GB004 (host) micro. Just ordered PCB's at seeed. Also ordered a Papilio FPGA board, for playing around.Now I am doing some experiments with MCP3911 ADC for a source/power meter project. I want to run the MCP3911 at full speed, and want to know what kind of MCU I need for data processing. Also how I can transfer the data to a PC, if I want to process/log even further. The analog stuff is pretty much sorted out, except it has become a power domain hell (+/-15V, +5V, +3.3VA, +3.3VD, adjustable power output..)Other than that I have a ton of 'other' projects that I work on and off. Hopefully I soon find some time forSimTelemetry, which is a C# app for viewing and logging car telemetry of racing simulators like rFactor.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 10:40:08 am
content: I'm working on a NMEA 2000 "compliant" BoosterPack for TI Tiva (and maybe other LaunchPads with CAN) - just got their new higher end LaunchPads to see if I can make them compatible as well.So a booster pack that takes Automotive power in - with isolated power and isolated CAN - that will work on Marine CAN networks.I have my TIVA working with the ISO1050 isolated CAN Transceiver - and are reading the marine network CAN bus. Now onto the Isolated power supply to drive the LaunchPad and everything else- and it is my first ever SMD project

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 10:41:39 am
content: Beyond the obvious (Procrastinate! Procrastinate as if there is no tomorrow!), I'm working on a internet radio project, automating my venetian window blinds, building a fan controller (pretty much just a fishy DC/DC converter taking PWM/serial commands), and a few other smaller projects.And a fair bit of non-electronic projects, mostly programming various shit which should have been done ages ago. Did I mention I very, very rarely procrastinate a tiny bit?

author: tld
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 02:11:29 pm
content: I'm working (slowly, very slowly) on an isolated usb<->serial interface. I always find myself wanting to hook up electronics to a workstation (debugging) or server (interface, monitoring etc). In addition to making that, I'm also quite capable of making mistakes, and I'd like more control over what lets the magic smoke out, and what keeps it inside.I know there are several such interfaces out there already, but if my hardware still blows up due to silly expensive mistakes with the isolator, at least it'll be my silly expensive mistake.tld

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 02:35:23 pm
content: Hybrid air conditioner/dehumidifier/water heater, complete with ES-22a refrigerant, dsPIC system controller, OpenWRT web UI, inverter drive condenser water pump, Cindy Wu sensorless FOC drive evaporator fans, dual stage evaporator with ejector, thermal storage crankcase heater, wireless remote temperature sensors, etc. It's a big project and there's plenty to learn from it!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 02:47:56 pm
content: Electronics for my CNC machine. All PCBs are custom home made except smoothstepper and PSUs. Spindle PID controller left to do. There also are some robotic stuff paused for which I need this machine to go further.

author: ErikTheNorwegian
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2013, 05:02:43 pm
content: I`m just finsihed with adapting two powersupplays to a Agilent Wirescope 350 i did get on ebay for a very nice price. Agilent have center minus, of some strange reason...Cool "gadget", can find broken cabels and fiber faults to the cm.Next project is always nummber two.. cleaning my workbench and tiding up. Have som projects that has been so spacehungry that they "grow" into others simular projects. A never ending story!

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2013, 05:38:43 pm
content: I will give a presentation on what I am working on . scheduled date is last week Tuesday .... insiders only.. if you know what I mean.