Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Radio Mondays: RC hobby gear

Posted on February 9th, 2010 • Filed under Uncategorized • No Comments

We had another great Radio Mondays(about 10 attending), we discussed the wide variety of RC toys and models and organizations; paying special attention to areas people might be interested in trying out something.

The toy helicopter above was very popular to fly around, although it’s a bit tricky to control. Organizations like Big Gun scale ship combat and 3D-flying helicopter races were explored in detail, and we discussed some alternate uses of RC gear, like controlling art installations, decorations, using hobby flight gear as a cheap intro to UAV design, and much more.

Radio Mondays: Emergency

Posted on February 2nd, 2010 • Filed under Uncategorized • No Comments

Yesterday we had another successful Radio Mondays, the subject was emergency uses of radio, and what was available to us, for listening and use.

Read the rest of this entry »

Embedded Computers, Microcontrollers – Arduino, etc

Posted on November 9th, 2009 • Filed under Uncategorized • 2 Comments

Embedded computers and the Arduino in particular are a classic area for hackerspaces. Classes on them are often offered by spaces around the world. (I hear Machine Project is planning one soon!). A microcontroller can sense the world (temperature, touch, light, etc) and act in response (drive motors, blink lights, move stuff, send email/twitter, speak). And they are fairly inexpensive. Microcontrollers are ubiquitous in our modern world – every electronic gadget or toy or serious product generally has at least one, sometimes dozens.

Programming and designing with micro controllers can be challenging, however parts like the Arduino make it much easier. Smart people have put enough wrappers and ’scaffolding’ around the core to hide much of the complexity and open the use of these devices up to a much wider audience of hackers and designers.

I expect there are many other Crashers who are already playing with microcontrollers, or want to. Personally, I have built some basic ‘experiments’ with the arduino and some other chips. I also have a ‘blimpduino’ – a mylar blimp whose motors are controlled by an arduino, either by R/C commands or autonomously. I have flown it as an R/C blimp but not tried it autonomously yet.

What is the interest/experience of other Crashers with microcontrollers?

Metalworking: Machining, welding, forging

Posted on November 9th, 2009 • Filed under Uncategorized • 1 Comment

A new interest of mine is metalworking – machining, welding, even forging metals. I’ve spent 30+yrs doing software (and bit of electronics hardware) with home owner repair stuff but never got into doing real metal work… or serious carpentry either. I have plans to get into 3D printing (Makerbot CNC on order), and other CNC stuff that is a stable of Fab Labs and other hackerspaces. I figured I should learn a bit about it. Turns out Simi Valley Adult School (SVAS) offers training in Basic Machinist, CNC, CAD/CAM, and Welding. The programs are fairly respected (from what I hear), so I figured I’d check them out (being unemployed helps).

The SVAS classes are open enrollment – you sign up for 3 months, start any time, go as often or little as you want, and if you dont complete the program in 3 months you sign up for another 3 months. School is open 9am-9pm M-Th and some people are there 8+hrs/day, while others make it only a couple hours a week (day jobs, etc). The Basic Machinist (BM), CNC and CAD/CAM are a series and if you finish one part way thru a 3 month gig, you just start the next. They figure if you go 8hr/day daily, you have a good chance to finish one certificate in 3 months.

I started the BM program back in August, shortly after I got laid off. Its been fun and interesting learning how to run a lathe and milling machine. It gives a good understanding of the basics that will be useful for CNC, etc. The program has you build 8 projects – generally tools you can add to your tool box for later use machining other things.

Welding is an area I’d like to learn and practice more. I took the Safety Basic Use (SBU) classes at Tech Shop for MIG, TIG and Gas welding last fall with my son Brian. We have a small MIG and Gas rigs but havent done much with them. The MIG was not cooperative and I’m leery of Gas welding. Having a small learning project would be good ‘driving problem’ to get going better.

I’ve also looked into Forging a bit. You can make a smelter for aluminum pretty easy using charcoal (got a book on it). Casting is a bit more work, but 3d printing and desktop cnc boxes are often used for making the initial parts for molds used in casting. Jewelry and small parts for other machines are an option.

Supporting these interests may be harder in a hackerspace than electronics and textiles. Space needs to be dedicated to them as dirty and dangerous (fire, injury hazards). But they could be a great asset to other projects.

Are others interested in these aspects of hacking? Sheet metal work is another related area (metal forming).

Member Interests ?

Posted on November 9th, 2009 • Filed under Uncategorized • 3 Comments

I’m trying out blogging here (for first time on WordPress or any blog setup) as we had talked about people posting notes about projects. Instead of posting about failed efforts (as joked about), I thought it might be good to have people talk about some of their interests. We did this a bit that first meeting and got some cool info — most of us are software types, with some good hardware/electronics experience. 3d printing was a strong interest. There was one comment about using Crash Space for bio-hacking (gene splicing, etc) which could be cool (and more weird/dangerous). Hmmm— i wonder about 3d bio printing??? there has been a bit about that recently on the nets.

Perhaps a new category here for member interests (vs news&updates or uncategorized) would be good.

And perhaps starting pages for interests in the wiki.