Workbench Tip - Magnetic Sweep

As I was clipping the transistors for CIRC-05 I had one leg fly off unretrievably.  At that point I remembered I had a stack of rare earth magnets I was going to use to make some miniatures modular.  I broke them out and behold they make a perfect LED leg trap.  You could also drag this across your work surface to clean up any stray bits as these little guys are very strong.

Learning Arduino - CIRC-05

This experiment uses a shift register to control 8 LEDs with onyl 3 pins on the Arduino.  This is much more efficient than using 8 pins on the Arduino, and you can chain shift registers for a large number of LEDs.  I didn’t do the build video this time, only because it took so long I thought it would be incredibly boring.  I’ll probably spend some time with CIRC-05 to figure out what else I can do before moving on.

Learning Arduino - CIRC 04

This diagram was much simpler in design and execution so no surprises that it actually worked.  Servos in general seem much more interesting to control than straight motors.  The object I have planned needs neither however so I’m just working through the examples to learn what’s possible.  It does generate ideas and the coding aspect is also instructional.

Learning Arduino - CIRC 03

My first failure.  Not sure if it’s the program or the board or the equipment.  I’m pretty sure I followed all the directions correctly, and I tested the motor on straight 5V and it ran fine.  My guess is I need a capacitor which I didn’t receive in the SparkFun Arduino Kit (because it doesn’t include one, not because it’s missing).  For now I’ve posted this on YouTube like all the others and hopefully some comments will set me right.

YouTube let me rotate the file, however I had to trim out the introductory titles because they were then upside down.  Starting with CIRC-05 I’ll rotate my components for the subsequent videos, even though that means it being upside down for me, it’s just a function of my setup.  Alternately I’ll change my setup.

Learning Arduino - CIRC 02 pt.3

This is the last algorithm in the CIRC-02 program, there is also a breif description of how the overall circuit is laid-out.

Learning Arduino - CIRC 02 pt.2

This is the second algorithm in the CIRC-02 program.

Learning Arduino - CIRC 02

This video shows the second setup using the CIRC-XX examples from ARDX.org.

Learning Arduino - CIRC 01

This is the Hello World of the Arduino.  The single LED blinking teaches the basic programming structures as well as how to read a simple electrical diagram.  This video was shot using my Canon Powershot S60.  I’m going to experiment using my HD Handycam for the next few until my Lumix GX-1 arrives.  Also this video predates my purchase of the extension arm.

Unboxing the Kit

The Arduino itself comes in what looks like a retail package.  Everything else is in baggies.  Kit includes a nice instruction booklet and all the cables necessary to start.

SparkFun Inventors Kit

SparkFun Inventors Kit arrived today.  Oddly the containing envelope was slightly open, but both the box and the receipt were seemingly intact inside: no obvious tampering.

I’ll save the opening and corresponding explosion of parts until later.