The impossible takes a little longer…

Take a look at this: http://wiki.airsoftcommunity.co.uk/Gatling_Gun.

According to the Airsoft Wiki, what I am attempting to do is nigh impossible. Cool! That’ll make it even more fun.

Syndicated 2008-05-03 00:23:29 from robotguy.net/Blog

And now for something completely different…

So for anyone looking for an update on the Steampunk PDA: It’s dead. I was building it so that I would have something to sync with Outlook and remind me of appointments, tasks, etc. Well, the company gave me a Blackberry, so I now have no incentive to finish the PDA. Would it be cool? Sure. Would it be cool enough to entice me to finish it, even though I already have something that works? Probably not, but maybe someday. Who knows?

My next project is an automated sentry gun for the Defconbots competition at Defcon in Las Vegas this year. I was going to build a level 1 sentry from TF2, but a buddy here at work is already doing that. So…. I decided to one-up him and aim for a level 2 sentry.

Yep, complete with dual, counter-rotating gatling guns. I have picked up a few parts, enlisted a partner, Nate, who may be posting on the blog later, and even made a gatling-esque paperweight on the CNC mill:

Sorry about the image quality, I took that with my cellphone this morning.

Syndicated 2008-05-02 18:44:05 from robotguy.net/Blog

Well begun is half done?

My board showed up today from BatchPCB:

I managed to get the 3V power supply built and tested. Yay!

Tomorrow I will get someone at work to solder the processor on for me, as it is well beyond my skills (64 pin MLF).

Syndicated 2007-08-29 04:26:44 from robotguy.net/Blog

Route 66

I received the display (no pics yet :’( ). It is teeny, but the contrast is really nice. Last but not least, I just finished the routing of the PCB and should be sending it out for fab at BatchPCB by Friday.

I have three “airwires” left. The auto router choked on this board, so this was the best I could do manually. I added some vias so I could solder a jumper in to connect the nets.

Syndicated 2007-08-09 05:43:50 from robotguy.net/Blog

Which switch is which?

I haven’t been working on the Pocketwatch much because I am waiting for the display, and I have been rather nervous about constructing the encoder/switch with my limited mechanical abilities. But tonight I was putting off starting the last Harry Potter book (Don’t tell me! I haven’t read it yet! *fingers in ears* NAH NAH NAH) and I decided to head into the lab and fiddle around. I ended up picking up the pocketwatch and constructing the switch mechanism. It actually turned out rather well, nice and smooth, not wobbly. It still needs finishing, but here it is:

The tiny disc magnet is glued into a slot in the plastic shaft on the left. The bushing is made from a drilled out and turned down 2-56 nylon standoff. Pressing down on the shaft engages the tactile switch with a satisfying *CLICK* and spinning the shaft will cause the hall effect sensors to sense the rotation.

The encoder started as a sketch:

Then someone on the Steampunk Tactile forum suggested using one magnet and two hall sensors. Great idea! I built up a demo to try it out:

Lo and behold, it works!

Syndicated 2007-07-28 06:49:10 from robotguy.net/Blog