Need to tell people when the Hackerspace is open for hacking? Use the Space Probe! It tweets & emails to let people know when the space opens and closes.

(Read More for video, usage description & technical details.)

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Driving the machine with EMC2

To control the PCB engraver with EMC2, we disconnect the MCU from the optocouplers & buffers which interface it to the motor drivers & limit switches, and instead replace it with a parallel port from a PC running EMC2.

The attached Eagle project contains the proposed interposer which will allow us to switch between the local MCU and the parallel port by moving jumpers.

The MHVBoard is a low cost Arduino clone, based off the Metaboard.

It offers a TTL serial port, USB programming, ICSP, breadboard compatible headers and hardware already set up for software USB via V-USB.

While the original Metaboard did not choose to issue a license, our revisions are licensed under TAPR Noncommercial Hardware License.

I made some progress on the Emiglio build tonight. I've had the mounting plates that fit in the collars at the top of his torso and the bottom of his head ready since the weekend. The Lazy Susan bearing I ordered off ebay arrived yesterday and I was planning on heading to the hardware store today for some nuts and bolts to fit them all together.

I had a moment of inspiration when I was collection up the parts to take to the hardware store (so I would get the right sizes). I didn't need nuts and bolts I just needed a way to get a screw driver to the second mounting plate. A drill took care of that. I used some wood screws I had laying around to fit the bearing to the mounting plates and reinstalled the whole system into Emiglio.

The motion's smooth and quiet. I posted a quick video on Vimeo which you can see here. I hope to motorise it in the next fortnight, but I'm still considering my options. I think I'll take a trip to Bunnings on the weekend and soak up some inspiration.

One thing I find myself doing time and time again is dropping a microcontroller into a schematic, then wiring up a crystal, serial port, power filtering, etc.

To save myself (and you!) time, I'm saving schematics with the initial parts already hooked up. To get your project going, grab one of the schematics and delete the parts you don't need for your project.

Download

You can grab the schematics from out GIT repository:

At Make, Hack, Void we have started working on refitting an Emiglio/Scooter robot with new control systems. He was bought as a gift for one of our members from a market stall and is missing his controller. The hope to be able to extend his functionality beyond the standard factory controls while still maintaining as much of his appearance as possible.

Recently we spent an afternoon taking it apart to see what we can fit inside... Read more »