Category: Hardware

3D Printers

[Quote: From Jed]

3D printers can print all sorts of plastics. For your application you could use PLA or PETG or ABS, I don’t think it would be necessary to do any of the really fancy stuff like Poly-carbonate, Flexables, or nylon. Here is a page with just specialty filaments [matterhackers Specialty Filament]

3d printers don’t get a lot less expensive when they get smaller. I’d recommend buying one that is a “standard” size. Right now that seems to be 200×250(8″ x 10″) or so. There are a lot of places that sell garbage as well, so you will want to be careful if you buy a kit. I’d recommend going to [prusa3d.com] and checking that out. I’ve heard good things about [cetus3d.com]

The features to look for are a heated bed that can go to 100C and a “all metal hotend”, even better if it is a genuine e3d.

I have a couple printers,

Taz 6 [lulzbot taz 6] ~2500
This one was the first one that I bought. It is fairly expensive, but it has a quite large build area(11.02 in x 11.02 in x 9.8 in). It prints quite well, and has all high quality components. It has a fairly large nozzle which limits it’s ability to print small details.

Prusa MK2S [prusa3d i3 kit] ~700 [forum]
This is the one I like the best. It prints well and reasonably quickly. It has a slightly smaller nozzle than the Taz so it can do detail better.

Monoprice Maker Ultimate (No web address, as I don’t recommend it at all) ~800
Doesn’t print well without constant management. Prints slowly with that constant management.

Sketch: WIFI Works

#include 
SoftwareSerial ESPserial(2, 3); // RX | TX
void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  ESPserial.begin(115200);
  ESPserial.println("AT+IPR=9600");
  delay(1000);
  ESPserial.end();
  ESPserial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("Ready");
  ESPserial.println("AT+GMR");
}
void loop() 
{
    if (ESPserial.available()) { Serial.write(ESPserial.read()); }
    if (Serial.available()) { ESPserial.write(Serial.read()); }
}

5$ Arduino WiFi Module!? ESP8266 mini Tutorial/Review

[esp8266 forum]

[ESP8266 ARDUINO TUTORIAL – WIFI MODULE COMPLETE REVIEW]

[LGDEHOME 4Pcs ESP8266 Serial Esp-01 WIFI Wireless Transceiver Send Receive LWIP AP+STA]

[spec]

[Arduino to ESP8266 By Serial Communication] changed to the factory 115200 baud.

[Arduino outputs garbage values on serial monitor with ESP8266]
[ESP8266 shows garbage in serial monitor]

[ESP8266 SDK]

[8266 Flash Download Tools]

Ready
AT+GMR
AT version:1.2.0.0(Jul  1 2016 20:04:45)
SDK version:1.5.4.1(39cb9a32)
Ai-Thinker Technology Co. Ltd.
Dec  2 2016 14:21:16
OK

Arduino IDE

[Arduino IDE]

[Arduino Step by Step 2017: Getting Started]

**Test Sketches**

Blinking:

void setup() {
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
  delay(250);

  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
  delay(250);
}

Reading from Potentiometer:

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  // Read the potentiometer on analog input #0
  int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
  // print the value
  Serial.println(sensorValue);
  // wait
  delay(1000);
}

Use Potentiometer to dim LED:

const int LED_PIN = 11;

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
  Serial.begin(9600);

  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // Read the potentiometer on analog input #0
  int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);

  // Use the sensor input to manipulate the delay
  int iDelay = sensorValue / 1000.0f * 5;
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);
  delay(iDelay);
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
  delay(1);
}

Arduino Prototyping

Prototype: [HiLetgo PRO Mini Atmega328 Development Board 5V/16MHz 328 Compatible with Arduino] *Jed

Final: – [Gikfun Pro Mini Atmega328 5V 16Mhz For Arduino (Pack of 3pcs) EK6013x3] *Jed

>> What kind of voltages does the Arduino support?

Arduino input voltages are either 3.3V or 5V depending on the version of Arduino. The Arduino can supply 150ma of 5V or 50ma of 3.3.

Sensor: [GY-MAX471 Range Current Sensor Module 3A Current Detector Sensor for Arduino] *Jed

[Elegoo UNO Project Super Starter Kit with Tutorial for Arduino]

[WiFi Module – ESP8266]

[INA169 Analog DC Current Sensor Breakout – 60V 5A Max]

[Power Voltage Detection Sensor Module Arduino Compatible]

Control your LEDs with your TV remote?! || Arduino IR Tutorial

I created a [XamarinFormsIoT] Windows Core IoT project which can control LEDs and play sounds on a Raspberry PI 3 using C#/XAML. I used a portable dependency interface to expose the GPIO controller which only exists in the UWP project. GPIO is used to control the LEDs. I also ordered an IR receiver so I can detect IR signals from a remote and it works!

Next I need to [find] a UWP library for LIRC.

The [Arduino-IRremote] has a C++ library that can be converted to UWP.

I followed the idea from the video below.

[How to Control the GPIO on a Raspberry Pi with an IR Remote]

Adafruit: [IR (Infrared) Receiver Sensor]

[Raspberry Pis, Remotes & IR Receivers!]

[Xamarin Components]

[Play wav file in Raspberry PI with Windows IoT Core]

[XamarinMediaManager]

[Xamarin Forms: Hello Blinky]

[Windows 10 IoT Core : Setting Startup App]

[UWP on Xbox One]