Author: Dan

Technically a brain in a jar.
News

Jumbotron LED wall parts

2016-02-02 Dan

I’m working hard to get a box with all the parts you need to build the Jumbotron LED wall featured in MAKE volume 49 (January 2016). It’s a long process of back-and-forth because of translation challenges and the time delay between North America and China.

I’m also trying to set up drop shipping so that you get Marginally Clever quality guarantee without paying for double-shipping.

As soon as I have a working supplier I’ll list the LEDs in the store and update this post.

What is the LED wall?

It’s a 213cm * 120cm wall of 2306 full color LEDs. It can just about any video of any length, and you don’t have to be a programmer to make it work. While this wall is not the first of it’s kind, it is easier than ever before and completely Open Source. Great for an outdoor movie night or for starting to learn about programming, computer graphics, or video protocols.

http://makezine.com/projects/construct-giant-led-video-screen/ has all the pics and step-by-step instructions.

News

Jigsolve: More nozzle work

2016-02-02 Dan

http://a360.co/1TxZQw1

Modeled this brass connector today. The threaded NTP 1/8 end will go on @Aidan Leitch‘s nozzle, and the barbed end will go on the silicone hose seen in the previous post.

Around this nozzle I’m 3D printing a 2 part block that will hold the brass piece on a servo. the rotation axis of the servo goes right through the center of the nozzle, which should make rotating jigsaw pieces easy.

Next I need a new way to raise & lower the servo/nozzle to pick up pieces.

If the servo proves to be ineffective then I’ll copy the work of @anthony.webb and use a stepper motor with a hollow shaft. Changing to a stepper motor will have a trickle down effect that changes so…so many things. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen!

News

Jigsaw solving robot hose update

2016-01-22 Dan

I’ve been working on a robot called JigSolve that will finish my jigsaw puzzles. Think “Twitch Plays Pokemon” taken to the next level. I made great progress until I got to the nozzle, which is proving delightfully challenging.

Jigsaw robot hose and adapters

I wrote a whole post about recent adventures and the lessons learned. Read it on Hackaday.io project page.

News

Makelangelo software update v7.3.0-alpha

2016-01-19 Dan

This update for the Makelangelo software contains many new features and UI improvements.

Current translations are out of date. Please submit your translations so that we can share with everyone.

Changes:

  • Streamlined user experience
  • Removes artwork that broke some dialogs
  • Supports localized fonts for text generation
  • Decouples many classes for cleaner, simpler heirarchy
  • Improves preview of machine
  • Shows long image calculations as they are happening (less mystifying)
  • Adds Sandy Noble style
  • Adds some fractal generators

The English translations file can be found here. Please translate only the elements >value<like this>/value<.

Once this update has translations it will become the new official release and the master branch of the software will be updated.

Download it here