Why it makes sense to donate to denhac.org DENHAC 77denhac

#1   Donations are charitable and tax-deductible.
# 2  You can direct how your donation is used.


#3   You are supporting  free classes in
      ETHICS
          the power of IPPP
      TECHNOLOGY
          microcomputers
          wireless
          networking
          mechanical skills
      CRITICAL THINKING 
      ECONOMICS ( in one lesson )
      SELF-DEFENSE


stuff you can donate
      $$$ money
      electronics parts
      microcontrollers and support
      robotic parts
      recent used and new computers
   

Linux-Apple InstallFest/HackFest/InventorFest Open to public

Linux-Apple InstallFest/HackFest/InventorFest 
RSVP     Open to public    RSVP

Now planned for 2012m01d07 Saturday [ 1000 to 1500 hrs ]    January 7th
at http://denhac.org    near 58th Ave and I-25
Tour of denhac  ==>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoD4AJfgllA

There will be 10 meese , 10 keyboards , 10 monitors
You can bring beer , soft drinks and snacks and good behaviour.
There is WiFi and CAT5.
There are even some computer cards ( video, NIC... ) that can be used for testing.
You can hack electronics as well if you wish.  There is a digital projector.
There is music if desired.

Please RSVP.....  
Explain /describe what help or stuff you need or ??? you want answered.  Help your helpers be prepared.
You may want help installing Linux... or debugging a Linux driver
You may want help installing Mac software ... or debugging Apple hardware
Someone may volunteer to help with WINDOWs...... ulp !
....or fixing a vacuum cleaner .... or milling some plastic  ... or welding a samurai sword

INVENTORS
Come to InventFest and get suggestions on how to create your invention.  ( please do not expect anyone to sign an NDA )  Questions about micro-controllers, optics , stepper motors , electro-mechanical devices and more ..... will be answered.

Tour of denhac  ==>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoD4AJfgllA


There may also be ( if requested ) a small mill, arc welder, cutoff saw, hydraulic press, firecrackers, etc. , etc.

Donations ( $$$ ) welcome
http://arts-tech-creation.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-it-makes-sense-to-donate-to.html

We expect this kind of excitement
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/102217.html

99guspuppet   77denhac  88inventorsclub

Using multiple monitors / displays XP Linux 99multiplemonitor

Linux              99nvidia

I have found that video cards based on nvidia chips are very successfully used with Linux.  I highly advise looking for video cards based on nvidia.  Compuvest.com sells many older ( deprecated ) video cards based on nvidia plus new ones.  Prices can be below $20.

I found a dual output nvidia video card for $40 at Compuvest.  It was way cool that I found a video card that was AGP based since that is what I had on my motherboard.  Your mileage may vary.  You may have PCI , AGP or various forms of PCIe ( x1, x4 , x16 ).

Windows XP

I have heard that Windows 7 provides much better multiple monitor support .

I like XP so that is what I am using.  

One of the more problematic groups of video hardware is the integrated video on your motherboard.  Firstly, this hardware may have to be turned on or adjusted via your BIOs settings.  This kind of hardware may not support multiple monitors.

In summary... I would stick with nvidia cards for maximum success.

If at first you do not succeed , try restarting your machine multiple times.  Check through the BIOS settings. Make sure you click "apply" after changing settings.

99guspuppet

Using MOSFETs as low voltage drop diodes 99MOSFETswitch

A MOSFET can provide a very low loss switch when diodes ( even Schottky diodes ) will not do.

 

Above we see two circuits that operate as follows:  If  A is more positive than B then MOSFET Q1 will turn on and M1 ( motor1 ) will run.   If  B is more positive than A then MOSFET Q2 will turn on and M2 ( motor2 ) will run.   The designer should select MOSFETs with a low turn-on resistance and a low gate turn on voltage.  Note that these MOSFETs are being connected in the reverse fashion from what is normally expected.  This reversal is to avoid having the instrinsic MOSFET body diode cause problems.  The MOSFETs must be the N channel variety.

For low voltage turn-on  ......  less than 1 volt .....

check out    http://www.aldinc.com/ald_epadfaq.htm

Here are some possibilities to be found at DigiKey

99guspuppet

Voltage regulator for small engine

Magnet on rotating shaft moves past a coil.  The two ends of the coil are available from the small engine.  The unloaded voltage peak of the pulse is about 37 volts.

I want to make the pulses into DC using a full wave bridge ( 25 Amp , 50 V ).  I guess I could get by with a single diode if I chose to connect the coil up properly.  The LM317 is an adjustable regulator.  If I adjust the output of the LM317 to about 14V , the SCR should trigger on each pulse and feed the current into the battery until the battery reaches 14V minus the SCR trigger voltage ( Which will be about 13.3 V )

I am wondering if I could remove the fullwave.  This would require the SCR to tolerate a reverse voltage of  14V.

Repairing 1990 Miata Clutch Hydraulics Master / Slave DIY

Date of manufacture is 08 / 1989

  The top photo shows the passenger side front wheel.  

      The second photo shows the slave cylinder which is accessed by looking past the passenger side front wheel.  You cannot see the flexible hose.  You can see a hard line slave loop.  Just to the right of the hard line connection is the air bleed nipple which is covered by a light gray rubber cap.  ( I lost said cap while flailing around near the slave. )

       The 3rd photo shows the master clutch cylinder located at the driver rear side of the engine compartment.  The smaller aster clutch cylinder is behind the master brake cylinder.  You can see the hard line leave the master and go over the top of the engine at the back of the engine.

The 4th photo shows the connection between the hard line ( that runs from the master ) and the flexible hose that goes to the slave cylinder.

[  A good article about slave cylinders ==> http://www.miata.net/garage/slavecyl.html   ]

I started looking at the clutch hydraulic system because the clutch pedal started by getting soft and then after a few days ... went to the floor with no activation of the clutch.  The clutch was always engaged.  I drove about 20 miles ....  I put the shifter in first gear ;  then I started the engine ... shifted gears without the clutch ...... turned off engine when I had to stop for a light.  I only had to stop 3 times because traffic was very sparse and I was able to time the lights.

One great thing about this is that the slave cylinder is not buried inside the transmission.  Other cars bury the slave cylinder in hateful , hard to reach places.   Starting at the master, I disconnected the hard line and had an associate pump the clutch.  I had my thumb over the fluid outlet from the master.  I could feel pressure and could not hold the fluid from coming out.  I reconnected the hard line and went to where the hard line connects to a flexible hose.  I disconnected the hard line at this connection and put my thumb over the opening.  Pumping the clutch caused nothing to happen at first.  I think this meant there was air in the hard line.  Then there was pressure.  I reconnected the hard line.  I went down to the front wheel and removed the front wheel.  I loosened the air bleed at the slave which I could reach just behind the front disc brake.  I pumped the clutch a few times and re-tightened the air bleed.

2011m10d20
Now I have discovered there is a steady leak  ( a drip every 5 seconds ) from the slave.  At first I thought it was leaking from the piston assembly.  I removed the slave from the Miata.  The slave is held on by two bolts.  One is kind of hard to reach and requires a open end wrench and some contortions.  Perhaps is would be easier on a lift.  Maybe a flex coax drive would help. ....... Anyway , I got the slave out and took it apart.  I was surprised to find corrosion and a blob of gunk/dirt/  inside the piston barrel.  Perhaps the DOT3 fluid was absorbing water and that lead to corrosion.  I cleaned everything up and reassembled the slave and reinstalled the slave.  I was surprised to see the same steady drip ... it was coming from the air bleed nipple.  I tightened the nipple as much I thought safe...... The nipple still leaked.  ( I am leaving out  a lot of false moves and cursing from this story )  I created a rubber seal from some rubber I had laying around.  It was a cylinder about 5 mm in diameter and about 5 mm high.  This seemed to seal the leak.  It also made it more difficult to bleed the air from the clutch line.  Now the clutch is stiff and seems to work.  We shall see how long the clutch works.

2011m10d25    Clutch still leaks  ( takes about 24 hours )

You may contact me to ask questions at y e s    at    n o p e 9  dot com


99guspuppet      99miata   99clutchhydraulics

Announcing Blueberry-Pi FLOSS & POSH spin-off

Raspberry-Pi looks like a great platform but if it is not .......   We will reverse engineer the RPi and see if we can't provide the missing pieces.  We will at least supply some  missing information....  parts , add-ons

FLOSS  <====  Free Liberated Open Source Software

POSH  <==== Projects ; Open Source Hardware

99guspuppet  99BlueberryPi


OrangeberryPi
MauveberryPi
VioletberryPi

Daryl Kuchay Super Tech Geek and nice guy ( don't take advantage )

I have been doing projects with Daryl and he is fabulous.  Really technically astute ...... and generous and loveable.   Sort ... of ... like ... Doug , the orange puppet.

So far he has ....................

helped me get some video applications running under Linux.......

helped me with BlueRay.........

helped me with some hardened computer tablets.......

helped me make USB flash bootable ISOs
( what I mean by "help" is he mostly did it for me )

Hey  .........   Hire or contract with this guy before I do

check out video on youtube     tagged as 88resumeKuchay

resume ==>  http://bit.ly/oBih1O

His resume does not do him justice  .... he is definitely more than an entry level guy.....

99guspuppet

Yard Sale for Cannabis Therapy Institute Sept 17th

There will be a sale for Cannabis Therapy Institute
Now September 17th ( was August 20th )  9am to 3pm   at 4337 Raleigh Street   Denver, CO
You can drop stuff off or arrange to help by calling 720 222 1309

Cannabis Yard Sale  as a
fundraiser for Legalize2012.com, the Cannabis Therapy Institute, and the
Patient and Caregiver Rights Litigation Project.

Cannabis Therapy Institute
P.O. Box 19084, Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 877-420-4205
Web: http://www.CannabisTherapyInstitute.com
Email: info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com

99guspuppet    Sept17Cannabis

How super-charge a toilet 99toilet 99supertoilet

One of my toilets was clogging every 3 to 4 days.   It was a water saving design and it was wimpy.  I suspect the curves in the toilet trap were too extreme.  I had several "flooding" adventures.  So I was very annoyed.

The solution that worked for me is shown below.

The most difficult part of this modification was finding a long flexible water supply line.  I ended up splicing two together.  The pipe seal to the bowl has to be a good one.
There is a Youtube video ( google 99toilet ) and Picasa photos  ( google 99toilet )

99guspuppet  99supertoilet  99toilet

Hack Deconstruct Teardown the C910 LogiTech WebCam photos add features

I took apart a LogiTech C910 webcam to look at the insides and determine what additional features I could add to it.  The C910 has auto-focus and it appears there is a motor drive in the camera module.
I was able to use gUVCview to adjust the focus and I saw the lens move in and out about 2mm.

Here are some photos

Swivel base ( easy to explode )
Removing the swivel base requires peeling off a rubber pad ( colored black on this unit ) this revealed 7 screws which are easily removed and then with a little jiggling the swivel base comes apart.

Camera Section ( hard to dis-assemble )
Disassembling the camera section requires removing the two microphone screens. There is one at each end of the camera. I did not see an easy way to remove them , so I hacked them off. You may be able to pry them off since they use snaps to hold themselves on. Once the screens are off..... there are four screws to remove. These are very hard to turn and unscrew. The microphones are press-fit and are very easy to remove. It is not necessary to remove the microphones. By prying up the 4 corners of the front cover , it is possible to pop the front cover off. The USB cord has a strain relief which I hacked off but perhaps a better method is possible. The USB cable does lug onto the camera assembly ( a set of PCBs ).


The C910 is UVC ( USB Video Class ) compatible which makes it very nice to support.  UVC compatible cameras work with OS X , Windows and Linux.


Software that has worked for me............
gUVCview    ( under Ubuntu )   this is the one I am using at present
lUVCview     ( under Ubuntu )
Cheese           ( under Ubuntu )  this app is under constant development and upgrading

I have been told that the C910 will not focus to infinity .... 6 to 10 feet is the best it will do ( it is said )  According to the LogiTech specs the C910 has 2M pixels.

USB CABLE repair
People have asked me about replacing a USB cable that have been chewed by puppies or cats.  Here is my answer.
First thing to do is get a replacement USB 2.0 cable with a type A end. ( Actually .....  other kinds of USB cable ends will work )  You can get one off a broken piece of equipment or buy a cable at the store. I do not know where your puppy chewed the cable.  If you have enough cable left on each side of the chewing …... just connect the two good parts of the cable together.  ( You can always buy an extender cable to make a longer cable.  Ask at a computer store. ) There are 4 wires ( red , green, black & white )  ….. you will have to do some soldering or use wire crimps.  ( Get a friend to do it if you cannot do this  … or contact a hacker club or DIY club … they are usually very friendly and will do it for free.  If you tell me where you live I will help you find a club )  The standard color code is black = ground , red = positive VCC , white = Data+ , green = Data-.  Since my C910 is not disassembled , I cannot verify those connections.  If you have the end of the cable , you can use a continuity tester to verify which color corresponds to each signal.

If it does not work out ……. please send me the camera. Email me anytime you want.
Gus in Denver

Mounting the camera
My favourite method of mounting lite weight stuff is to use magnets and steel washers.  See my photos for examples.  Neodymium magnets are the best.  You can get them out of dead hard drives.  These magnets are very strong so sometimes I put a piece of paper or plastic between magnet and steel to reduce holding force.

Hacks to the camera
On an Apple MacIntosh I use this app to control the C910.    It is called WebCam Settings.   Seller: Liang-Hsin Chen  © 2013 Mactaris

99guspuppet   777C910webcam   777C910   777teardown  777hacks   DIY   777DIY  hacks  777disassembly

DTUinvent .... inventor / entrepreneurial school ... I/E School

NAME ==>     FLOSS DTU Inventor and Entrepreneur School     ( Dent the Universe )
TAG  ==>          DTUinvent 
HOST ==>     Gus S. Calabrese    99guspuppet    DTUinvent@nope9.com    720 222 1309

NEXT MEETING:

June 30th 2011  Thursday   1900 hrs
Billy's Bar    44th Ave. and Lowell   NW Denver , CO
WiFi available   Patio
Feel free to suggest better meeting times and places


OVERVIEW
The intention is to create a school where inventors / entrepreneurs ( I/Es ) can learn about technologies and techniques .  While participating inventors are free to indulge in the classic  "secret mad scientist" approach ...... the emphasis will be on a FLOSS ( Open Source ) paradigm and openness and sharing.  Entrepreneurs will have have  resources to use here as well.  There will be online classes in entrepreneurship.
There will be an online library for inventors and entrepreneurs.  There will be sandboxes for participants.

The school will have equipment to help the inventor....
Electronic test equipment
Electronic sandbox
Software sandbox
hydraulic gizmos
air tools and gizmos
molding sandbox
3D printing sandbox      ( also CNC )
enclosure sandbox

I have a 40 foot bus I plan to convert to a traveling invention center.

We will have an advice forum.
We will have classes in techniques useful to inventing.
We will ally ourselves with other groups that have useful resources.

Another great resource is CLUB WORKSHOP near 8th Ave and I-25  Denver, CO    http://clubworkshop.com
Regis University has an entrepreneurs club ..........  http://www.meetup.com/Regis-Entrepreneur-Club/

Once per year we will have a DTUinvent  confab in some exotic place. 


Currently available :
I have electronic development kits, test equipment, salvaged electronics, computers, tablets ,
see my resume at http://resume.nope9.com

ICANN cuts loose ........ lots of suffixes

I am taking the advice of some smart people....

I am going to trim my domain names down to a very few and use sub domains

I am going to stick to .com as my only suffix

99guspuppet

Just saw a beautiful chessboard built by a beginner....

Chess board sponsored by Vitaliy
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.218194618213072.62656.116393068393228
 99guspuppet