Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast

MEP EP#236: Excited ElectronsParker Lead Forming Topic Tools 3D printed forms Best practices? Cat Feeder Unreminder Choosing a solar panel Solar Panels generally act like a current source across its useable power band Specifications that are important Power (Watts) - Max Current @ Peak Power Voltage @ maximum power point (Vmpp) Vmpp - Voltage @ open circuit (Voc) AEM10941 Solar Panel Chip Max V is 5V so open circuit can’t be higher then this MPP is set by 2 configuration pins Ratio between Vmpp / Voc Stephen Voltage References and dev boards MCP1501T-20E/CHY 0.1% initial Accuracy Low noise worst case 50ppm across -40 to +125 Capable of sinking and sourcing 20mA AD584 Dev board 0.3% initial accuracy for the J version. The K version is 0.1% Linear rail is shitty Got 300 mm of knock off chineasium linear rail Sounds like sand in the bearings Held vertically the blocks get stuck…

5 Aug 20201h

MEP EP#235: Solar Freaking Cat FeedersParker Cat Feeder Unreminder Pulsing current to light LEDs http://donklipstein.com/ledlocup.html http://www.discovercircuits.com/H-Corner/lowpwrflasher.htm Timer IC LTC2956 Power Management Solar with super capacitors Panasonic BSG series solar panels Will have to do research on specifying solar panels AEM10941 https://e-peas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DS_AEM10941.pdf Built in LDO regulators Stephen Ball screws Bought a small section of ball screw with the associated nut, nut housing, and end block SFU1605 300mm - 16mm diameter and 5mm pitch Trying to work out linear forces and the RPM range if it were to be driven from a stepper motor or servo Mechanical engineering is tough CNC work Cut the first actual project on the CNC Movable cradle for holding chassis - makes working on them super easy Had to spend some serious time working on getting the machine to cut 90 degree Iterative process Flex in the machine - 0.02” accuracy Going to cut some speaker cabs next Added a simple fan radiator 8020 catalog arrives sometime soon…. ARP 2600 repair A client found a unit that was put in a closet in 1984 It was only pulled out last weekend and is now in my hands to do some repairs

29 Jul 202059min

MEP EP#234: Bashing LEDsParker Didn’t get to work on the Cat Feeder Unreminder but there are lots of interest and ideas in our slack channel! TheStumbler Found a 12hr egg timer. Defeats the purpose of building and learning a new embedded skill. Eric McFall E-Ink for the persistent display. This is a great idea. I will look through my parts bins for a e-ink. Might have one. Derek Does it count as feature creep if the project is still doing the same thing but is way more complicated? Tony W Jack in the box DJ Has been working with Flip Dot displays. Kinda power hungry in short bursts. 4A for only 5ms. Bombledmonk Go solar Sanyo / Panasonic has panels for indoor lighting Stephen Snap dome buttons Interesting requirements for footprints. Not sure how to do it. Snaptron BL-series 0.07 or 0.01” hole for LED - not a whole lot… One week product

22 Jul 202044min

MEP EP#233: Good Enough for a BagelParker The Cat Feeder Unreminder Bagel Pin Toaster Controller usable? PT8A2514APE MC14536B 24 stage stage counter with on board RC oscillator Stephen SPI Code Bytes Working on the second PCB revision of a product Code that worked on previous revision didn't work on the new prototype! Changed Chip Select pin for the SPI buss R.F.O. Grant Imahara passes at 49 Maxim is being purchased by Analog for 21 billion dollars

15 Jul 202042min

MEP EP#232: Chonky MotherboardsParker The Cat Feeder Unreminder Different implementations to accomplish the goal Stephen Synth DSP replacement Korg MS2000 Was pulling an additional 500mA on the power supply Found a blown surface mount fuse The DSP chip XCB56362PV100 was hot to touch Replaced with part found on ebay Wasn’t sure if this part needed programming LED Matrix Driver - IS31FL3741 39x9 LED matrix = 351 individual color leds or 117 RGBs QFN-24 package 256 levels of PWM control and 256 levels of DC current control Layout vs code R.F.O. Brew Day Updates!

8 Jul 202051min

MEP EP#231: Throw The Bacon Across The StageDanny Rankin An instructor in the creative technologies and design program at the University of Colorado Boulder The courses he teaches and his individual research reflect a diverse array of expertise, including graphic design, material fabrication, game design, hardware hacking, sustainable agriculture and large-scale installation art Danny was a guest on MEP episode #171: Mayonnaise Drone (And Other War Crimes) Danny’s experience with teaching during COVID-19 What the end of the semester looked like What is happening now? Summer What does next semester look like How will it be the same? How will it differ? Technology What happens when your education requires technology that is only on campus? The lab What does it look like in the future? Do you expect it will go back to “normal”? Dinosaur Costume Racing

1 Jul 202045min

MEP EP#230: We Are All Idiots Together On This PlanetParker Brewery is autotuned and sight gauges calibrated New Alternator for Wagon Brewery is “done” from a build standpoint for this season Parker’s next podcast project Stephen On track to brew on Saturday! Got the whole box built and wired over the weekend Cheapo pump from amazon just arrived today EDA workflow and footprints Do you do things based on the footprint? When is it ok to rely on someone else's footprint? Standards? JEDEC

24 Jun 20201h 4min

MEP EP#229: Get Cute This WeekendParker Brewery Lives! Test boil and Process Issues with the current iteration of the brewery What is next Take Inventory of Brew Equipment Spare parts Storage on cart Clean and Fire up Fermentation chamber Clean the brewery Ingredients BREW Future? Motorized valves to simplify the fluid transfer process Drains at bottom of vessels? Better way to change set points on the PID controllers? A/C window unit Wine Chiller Parker Kool 2800 Issues and gotchas for future Stephen My (Stephen's) Jelly Project Cutting panels tomorrow Two cncs at Stephen's disposal That is unfair! Inkscape/Corel Draw for component layout Fusion 360 for CAD/CAM

17 Jun 202057min