From bsilva at sonic.net Thu Jan 10 00:44:57 2008 From: bsilva at sonic.net (bsilva@sonic.net) Date: Thu Jan 10 00:45:03 2008 Subject: [dorkbotsebastopol-blabber] (no subject) Message-ID: <16800.208.106.105.244.1199943897.squirrel@webmail.sonic.net> Here's some links that were mentioned tonight. Sorry if I missed any. Brad http://charmedlabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=111 http://zoomquilt2.madmindworx.com/ http://www.helveticafilm.com/ http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome http://carlpisaturo.com/ http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8368 http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=762 http://gigapan.org/ From steve at chalem.com Tue Jan 15 18:27:21 2008 From: steve at chalem.com (Steve Chalem) Date: Tue Jan 15 18:27:34 2008 Subject: [dorkbotsebastopol-blabber] Group Build Project Message-ID: <3606B5BAD467A349AC94B0D05164DBD6034FF887@EXVBE014-13.exch014.msoutlookonline.net> I'd like to find others in the group interested in working on a joint project; something fun, creative, and possibly burningman-bound. Rich and I have talked about this and come up with a couple of ideas: an abstract robotic sculpture; and a body-painting machine. I'm hoping that people interested in working on this will elaborate more on these ideas, or suggest new ideas, or just get enthusiastic over one of our ideas! I can contribute: a space for working on something largish (say, something that will fit through the doorway and in the bed of my pickup); welding equipment and skills; steel stock; a decent mechanical sense; rudimentary knowledge of electical circuits and a bit of experience working with electricity; some artistic ambitions and sculpture skills; experience with body painting and acquaintance with people who might wish to be painted. What I personally lack for these endeavors is any experience or practical knowledge of stepper motors, microcontrollers, and sensing and control electronics. I'm hoping folks will be interested in contributing such skills, and other skills I haven't even thought of. I'll be at Rich's tomorrow evening for whatever meeting takes place. I'd like to hear from people who are interested in getting going on a project right away and working on it on frequent Wednesday evenings. Please email me or the list, or talk to me at tomorrow's meeting. --Steve Chalem From bsilva at sonic.net Tue Jan 15 23:06:16 2008 From: bsilva at sonic.net (bsilva) Date: Tue Jan 15 23:06:56 2008 Subject: [dorkbotsebastopol-blabber] Group Build Project In-Reply-To: <3606B5BAD467A349AC94B0D05164DBD6034FF887@EXVBE014-13.exch014.msoutlookonline.net> References: <3606B5BAD467A349AC94B0D05164DBD6034FF887@EXVBE014-13.exch014.msoutlookonline.net> Message-ID: Sounds like fun! I won't claim to be an expert on motors and control, but I'm fairly knowlegable. Also, I can't do steel but I can do wood. Gee Steve, you and I seem to complement skills well! I probably won't be able to be there tomorrow, I have a commitment with my Son. I should be able to be there next Wednesday. Brad On Tue, 15 Jan 2008, Steve Chalem wrote: > I'd like to find others in the group interested in working on a joint > project; something fun, creative, and possibly burningman-bound. > > Rich and I have talked about this and come up with a couple of ideas: an > abstract robotic sculpture; and a body-painting machine. I'm hoping > that people interested in working on this will elaborate more on these > ideas, or suggest new ideas, or just get enthusiastic over one of our > ideas! > > I can contribute: a space for working on something largish (say, > something that will fit through the doorway and in the bed of my > pickup); welding equipment and skills; steel stock; a decent mechanical > sense; rudimentary knowledge of electical circuits and a bit of > experience working with electricity; some artistic ambitions and > sculpture skills; experience with body painting and acquaintance with > people who might wish to be painted. > > What I personally lack for these endeavors is any experience or > practical knowledge of stepper motors, microcontrollers, and sensing and > control electronics. I'm hoping folks will be interested in > contributing such skills, and other skills I haven't even thought of. > > I'll be at Rich's tomorrow evening for whatever meeting takes place. > I'd like to hear from people who are interested in getting going on a > project right away and working on it on frequent Wednesday evenings. > Please email me or the list, or talk to me at tomorrow's meeting. > > --Steve Chalem > ........................................................................ > .........dorkbot: people doing strange things with electricity.......... > ..........................http://dorkbot.org............................ > ........................................................................ > > From bsilva at sonic.net Tue Jan 15 23:11:45 2008 From: bsilva at sonic.net (bsilva) Date: Tue Jan 15 23:11:49 2008 Subject: [dorkbotsebastopol-blabber] Motors... In-Reply-To: <3606B5BAD467A349AC94B0D05164DBD6034FF887@EXVBE014-13.exch014.msoutlookonline.net> References: <3606B5BAD467A349AC94B0D05164DBD6034FF887@EXVBE014-13.exch014.msoutlookonline.net> Message-ID: Also, speaking of motor control... I had mentioned doing a class on such things. I've been writing class material anyway for some stuff at work, so I've also been working on notes for this. It's more of a presentation/lecture than a class, covering various types of electric motors, their control electronics and thier uses/strengths/weeknesses. I'm focusing on stuff that's fairly cheap, either because it's available surplus or through robotics or hobby supplies. I'm including some info on more commercial stuff mostly to give a better understanding of the range of technologies available. Anyway, sometime in the next week I'm looking to post an outline for comments. It's tenetively titled: >From Electrons to Magnetisim to Motion (okay, so I had fun coming up with a title.... I find it helps guide the direction...) Brad From rich.gibson at gmail.com Wed Jan 16 14:09:55 2008 From: rich.gibson at gmail.com (Rich Gibson) Date: Wed Jan 16 14:11:03 2008 Subject: [dorkbotsebastopol-blabber] Second Sebastopol Dorkbot/hack night Message-ID: Howdy, Sebastopol Dorkbot just won't die! See http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotsebastopol/ Time: 7:00pm Wednesday January 16th, 2008 (come at 6:00 for possible soup or pizza, and early chatting) Place: Rich Gibson's house: 241 Florence Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Events: * This is a hack night, bring projects, show projects, and build stuff! * Group Project Discussion! * I have two half assembled Brain Machines we can mess with, or we can shoot the breeze and drink beer. * Dorkbot free table - I have stuff I want to get rid of, do you? Bring it, give it away. The only (initial) rule is if no one wants it you need to take it back with you. Steve Chalem and I chatted, and he writes: "I'd like to find others in the group interested in working on a joint project; something fun, creative, and possibly burningman-bound. Rich and I have talked about this and come up with a couple of ideas: an abstract robotic sculpture; and a body-painting machine. I'm hoping that people interested in working on this will elaborate more on these ideas, or suggest new ideas, or just get enthusiastic over one of our ideas!" Think of the possibilities in a body painting machine! Cheers, Rich From rich.gibson at gmail.com Tue Jan 22 19:01:23 2008 From: rich.gibson at gmail.com (Rich Gibson) Date: Tue Jan 22 19:01:29 2008 Subject: [dorkbotsebastopol-blabber] no sebastopol dorkbot tomorrow, maybe motors next time? Message-ID: Howdy, I get to go down to Moffet Field tomorrow, and I don't see myself getting back in time...so no meeting, unless you want to get together in my abscence :-) _Maybe_ next week Brad will be ready to do his presentation on motors, and motor control? I have a handful of fun little motors I could bring in and we could all play with them while he talks :-) Cheers, Rich