Code It... Make It

Ghostbusters Ghost Trap - Using Raspberry Pi Pico

My best friend asked for me to print them a trap, well I thought that I might as well print one for myself too. * https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1394492 * CharlesworthDynamics trap instructions info on the Ardunio platform build Guess what? shortly I found that I was drawn into the

BinaryCandy

Designing the ball release mechanism

When a visitor completes the challenge, they need to be served with a gob-stopper as a reward. The whole premise is that they have released it from the machine, so I need an automated way to release a gob stopper. This actually turned out to be my biggest challenge, in

BinaryCandy

Binary Candy–Rack part 2

Reader stand After a bit of experimentation and debate with myself, I’ve decided on an almost vertical arrangement for the reader. This allows the numbers to be reached and slotted in easily even by 3 year olds, something I’m keen on achieving. Using the mitre circular saw I’

BinaryCandy

Binary Candy–Binary Tiles

Making the Binary Tiles ** **Creating the tiles! Using circular saw and lots of careful measuring I have some rectangular tiles. They are designed to show what the number is (one or zero) above the reader a little, be shaped to ensure they are inserted in the correct way around. They

BinaryCandy

Binary Candy–Planning and rack build

Inside-out ethos of this project Not quite literally inside-out, but this project is where I’m having to really wrestle with myself. At every step I want to hide the wires, the sensors, paint everything to a high quality smooth finish. However the words of a fellow maker ring in

Syma X8 X8C X8HC FPV with RunCam 2 cable

When flying blind with a RunCam 2 slung under my Syma, I wanted to see what I was pointing at when flying rather than guessing. The solution was to send the video back down via a FPV transmitter. Required parts: * 3.5mm jack plug or chopped up jack to jack

Getting Raspberry Pi Zero W working with OctoPi and Octoprint for 3D printer

My very first Raspberry Pi Model B+ has been running my 3D printer (Printrbot Simple Metal) for a few years now. It is slow and although I have lots of Raspberry Pi versions around –I need the higher power ones for other projects I have going on. I thought I’

SYMA X8C X8HC 3.5mm pin out camera control signal

I was curious about the camera output on the SYMA X8 and how the controller causes the camera to activate. Putting a 3.5 mm jack into the 3.5mm socket we find the following signals on the pins Pole Signal Tip Power 5V Shield GND - 0V Ring Control

Sticker Critter

Derby Mini Makerfaire 2016

All the Makerfaire type events have their own “feel”, Derby is held in a listed silk mill and gets a good foot-fall. Derby holds on to a good mixture of craft and electronics, having screen printing, weaving, knitting and much more next to the microprocessors. Sticker Critter and the Cognitive

Maker Ranger

Maker Ranger–Round up

Maker Ranger didn’t get blogged well as a project, due to a very challenging project in the time I had to execute it in. This post is to round up some of the missing information and photos from that project. The project also got a good write up here:

Maker Ranger

Maker Ranger at Manchester Makefest

Maker ranger at Manchester MOSI Makefest 2015

Repair Samson Meteor Microphone PCB

How to fix the Samson Mic where USB has come off the PCB. Opening the Samson Microphone First step is to remove the volume control. Get a firm grip and pull it out of the microphone as shown. Next open the microphone body. There are two screws, one on each

Sticker Critter

Liverpool MakeFest 2016

It was a pleasure to exhibit at Liverpool MakeFest last weekend. We were made to feel very welcome and the venue was amazing. The MakeFest took over the central library in Liverpool. The library has ultra modern architecture with floating walkways in the sky and an amazing roof terrace overlooking

Qualcast Bosch Lawnmower Scarifier Handle L-Shaped spring position

If you have a Qualcast lawnmower or lawn scarifier and want to know the position that pesky L-Shaped metal spring should go, here is a photo. I searched for this, I found no results that properly answered this question, so hopefully this will help someone out there. Comment if it

Sticker Critter

At the faire!

Over the weekend it was great to get so much positive feedback from visitors and fellow makers! Finally we settled on Sticker Critter as the name of our little creation, and that is what the project will be renamed at future showings.

Cognitive Mirror

Built in a day and a night…

Having played with Project Oxford at Christmas and then seeing it launch just before Makerfaire at the Build conference, I was keen to include it as part of my stand as I felt it was fresh new and bleeding edge. Microsoft Cognitive services is a cloud based API that allows

Sticker Critter

Creating the microswitch bracket

Now that I have a 3D printer and am better at CAD I can draw things up and print them. This is what I have done for a bracket to hold the micro switch to the millimetre above the end of the platform. The bracket has to reach over the

Sticker Critter

Hairy beast!

We looked on eBay for fur for the creature. We then toured local fabric and craft shops. Then we found this long orange fur. It really struck us this would catch peoples attention as they walked by. So we bought it. Our creation all of a sudden is looking nearly

Sticker Critter

Holding the paper down.. problem solved!

Since the platform idea evolved, I’ve struggled with many ideas of how to hold the paper down into place when the visitor closes the drawer. It is essential the picture is held in EXACTLY the correct place on the platform and that the closing of the drawer does not

Sticker Critter

Controlling the eyes

I printed a base for the Arduino Uno as shown above, and screwed it into the box. It was then rigged up to animate the eyes. I linked the Uno to the RPi via I2C so that the RPi could command the eyes to do sequences as a show controller.

Sticker Critter

Bring the project to life–meet the creature!

Time to let on with our idea. The plain box as a scanner is plain boring, so we decided to give it a personality. To do this we were thinking of Moshi monsters. The box is getting a face on the front, the eyes are made from two cat food

Sticker Critter

Outside finish

We ended up at the craft shops looking at options. As stated earlier post, the outside need some sort of finish, this foam sheet craft material makes it really tidy. Also note that the display has moved down, We have an idea now for turning this uninteresting box into something

Sticker Critter

3D Printing the LCD enclosure

Here you can see things have moved on with the main scanner. The whole thing is undercoated, mainly to seal it. I’m not prepping this one like other projects as I don’t have the luxury of time. I enjoyed sanding, down and painting, sanding, painting, sanding on the

Sticker Critter

LCD 2x20 screen

I’ve got the LCD screen though the post, just in time. Rigged it up tonight, driving it from the RPi 3 using Windows IoT. Worked first time. I ported over my library from .NET Microframework, had to make some changes to accommodate the way the Win IoT stuff works,

Makie the robot

A bit of a pause while we have visitors for the long weekend, but enough time to make this fella. As if I needed reminding how soon this project needs to be finished!