Restoring a Dead Commodore 128DCR
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/
Another day, another retro computer lovingly restored to like-new condition by [Drygol]. This time, the subject of his attention is a Commodore 128DCR that earned every bit of the “For Parts, Not Working” condition it was listed under. From a spider infestation to a cracked power supply PCB, this computer …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/
Another day, another retro computer lovingly restored to like-new condition by [Drygol]. This time, the subject of his attention is a Commodore 128DCR that earned every bit of the “For Parts, Not Working” condition it was listed under. From a spider infestation to a cracked power supply PCB, this computer …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/restoring-a-dead-commodore-128dcr/)
Zombies Ate Your Neighbors? Tell Everyone Through LoRa!
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/
As popular as the post-apocalyptic Zombie genre is, there is a quite unrealistic component to most of the stories. Well, apart from the whole “the undead roaming the Earth” thing. But where are the nerds, and where is all the apocalypse-proof, solar-powered tech? Or is it exactly this lack of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/
As popular as the post-apocalyptic Zombie genre is, there is a quite unrealistic component to most of the stories. Well, apart from the whole “the undead roaming the Earth” thing. But where are the nerds, and where is all the apocalypse-proof, solar-powered tech? Or is it exactly this lack of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/zombies-ate-your-neighbors-tell-everyone-through-lora/)
Can You Store Renewable Energy In A Big Pile Of Gravel?
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/
As the world grapples with transitioning away from fossil fuels, engineers are hard at work to integrate new types of generation into the power grid. There’s plenty of challenges, particularly around the intermittent nature of many renewable energy sources. Energy storage projects are key to keeping the lights on round …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/
As the world grapples with transitioning away from fossil fuels, engineers are hard at work to integrate new types of generation into the power grid. There’s plenty of challenges, particularly around the intermittent nature of many renewable energy sources. Energy storage projects are key to keeping the lights on round …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/can-you-store-renewable-energy-in-a-big-pile-of-gravel/)
[Ben Krasnow] Builds a Mass Spectrometer
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/
One of the features that made Scientific American magazine great was a column called “The Amateur Scientist.” Every month, readers were treated to experiments that could be done at home, or some scientific apparatus that could be built on the cheap. Luckily, [Ben Krasnow]’s fans remember the series and urged …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/
One of the features that made Scientific American magazine great was a column called “The Amateur Scientist.” Every month, readers were treated to experiments that could be done at home, or some scientific apparatus that could be built on the cheap. Luckily, [Ben Krasnow]’s fans remember the series and urged …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/ben-krasnow-builds-a-mass-spectrometer/)
The Story of A Secret Underground Parisian Society
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/
Deep in the heart of Paris, a series of underground tunnels snakes across the city. They cross into unkept public spaces from centuries ago that have since vanished from collective memory – abandoned basements, catacombs, and subways hundreds of miles apart.
Only a few groups still traverse these subterranean streets. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/
Deep in the heart of Paris, a series of underground tunnels snakes across the city. They cross into unkept public spaces from centuries ago that have since vanished from collective memory – abandoned basements, catacombs, and subways hundreds of miles apart.
Only a few groups still traverse these subterranean streets. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/the-story-of-a-secret-underground-parisian-society/)
Sara Adkins is Jamming Out with Machines
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/
Asking machines to make music by themselves is kind of a strange notion. They’re machines, after all. They don’t feel happy or hurt, and as far as we know, they don’t long for the affections of other machines. Humans like to think of music as being a strictly human thing, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/
Asking machines to make music by themselves is kind of a strange notion. They’re machines, after all. They don’t feel happy or hurt, and as far as we know, they don’t long for the affections of other machines. Humans like to think of music as being a strictly human thing, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/sara-adkins-is-jamming-out-with-machines/)
Start Your Day With The Mountain That Rises
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/
Like many of us, [Zach Archer] enjoys the comfort of his darkened room so much that he has trouble getting up and facing the day. To make things a little easier for himself, he decided to put together a custom alarm clock that would fill his mornings with the glorious …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/
Like many of us, [Zach Archer] enjoys the comfort of his darkened room so much that he has trouble getting up and facing the day. To make things a little easier for himself, he decided to put together a custom alarm clock that would fill his mornings with the glorious …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/start-your-day-with-the-mountain-that-rises/)
Building An Engine With An A/C Compressor
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/
Air conditioning compressors aren’t exactly a mainstay of the average hacker’s junk box. Typically, they’re either fitted to a car to do their original job, or they’re on the bench getting refurbished. However, with the right mods, it’s possible to turn one into a functioning internal combustion engine.
The build …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/
Air conditioning compressors aren’t exactly a mainstay of the average hacker’s junk box. Typically, they’re either fitted to a car to do their original job, or they’re on the bench getting refurbished. However, with the right mods, it’s possible to turn one into a functioning internal combustion engine.
The build …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/building-an-engine-with-an-a-c-compressor/)
A Self-Healing, Stretchable Electronic Skin
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/
In a report published by Science Advances, a research team from the United States and Korea revealed a strain-sensitive, stretchable, and autonomous self-healing semiconductor film. In other words, they’ve created an electronic skin that’s capable of self-regulation. Time to cue the ending track from Ex Machina? Not quite. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/
In a report published by Science Advances, a research team from the United States and Korea revealed a strain-sensitive, stretchable, and autonomous self-healing semiconductor film. In other words, they’ve created an electronic skin that’s capable of self-regulation. Time to cue the ending track from Ex Machina? Not quite. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/a-self-healing-stretchable-electronic-skin/)
LED Matrix Watch Is The Smart Watch We Didn’t Know We Wanted
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/led-matrix-watch-is-the-smart-watch-we-didnt-know-we-wanted/
[Mile] put together this stunning LED matrix watch, on which the stars of this show are the 256 monochrome 0603 LEDs arranged in a grid on its face. The matrix is only 1.4in in the diagonal and is driven by a combination of an LED driver and some shift registers. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/led-matrix-watch-is-the-smart-watch-we-didnt-know-we-wanted/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/led-matrix-watch-is-the-smart-watch-we-didnt-know-we-wanted/
[Mile] put together this stunning LED matrix watch, on which the stars of this show are the 256 monochrome 0603 LEDs arranged in a grid on its face. The matrix is only 1.4in in the diagonal and is driven by a combination of an LED driver and some shift registers. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/04/led-matrix-watch-is-the-smart-watch-we-didnt-know-we-wanted/)
A Thermal Typewriter for Burning Thoughts
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-thermal-typewriter-for-burning-thoughts/
There’s a certain charm to old technologies that have been supplanted by newer versions. And we’re not just talking about aesthetic nostalgia this time. With older versions of current technology, you are still connected to the underlying process, and that’s a nice feeling.
Part of the typewriter’s charm is in …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-thermal-typewriter-for-burning-thoughts/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-thermal-typewriter-for-burning-thoughts/
There’s a certain charm to old technologies that have been supplanted by newer versions. And we’re not just talking about aesthetic nostalgia this time. With older versions of current technology, you are still connected to the underlying process, and that’s a nice feeling.
Part of the typewriter’s charm is in …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-thermal-typewriter-for-burning-thoughts/)
1984 WeatherMan Pi Shows the Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/1984-weatherman-pi-shows-the-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes/
When [MisterM]’s MIL gave him a rad 80s portable cassette player, he jumped for joy. Once he figured out the window was exactly the same size as the standard for Raspberry Pi HATs, the possibilities left him reeling. A flurry of ideas later, he settled on a weather display featuring …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/1984-weatherman-pi-shows-the-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/1984-weatherman-pi-shows-the-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes/
When [MisterM]’s MIL gave him a rad 80s portable cassette player, he jumped for joy. Once he figured out the window was exactly the same size as the standard for Raspberry Pi HATs, the possibilities left him reeling. A flurry of ideas later, he settled on a weather display featuring …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/1984-weatherman-pi-shows-the-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes/)
Updating to Windows 10 for Fun and Profit: Make Those OEM Keys Go Further
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/updating-to-windows-10-for-fun-and-profit-make-those-oem-keys-go-further/
Microsoft seems to have an every-other-version curse. We’re not sure how much of this is confirmation bias, but consider the track record of releases. Windows 95 was game-changing, Windows 98 famously crashed during live demo. Windows 2000 was amazing, Windows ME has been nicknamed the “Mistake Edition”. XP was the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/updating-to-windows-10-for-fun-and-profit-make-those-oem-keys-go-further/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/updating-to-windows-10-for-fun-and-profit-make-those-oem-keys-go-further/
Microsoft seems to have an every-other-version curse. We’re not sure how much of this is confirmation bias, but consider the track record of releases. Windows 95 was game-changing, Windows 98 famously crashed during live demo. Windows 2000 was amazing, Windows ME has been nicknamed the “Mistake Edition”. XP was the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/updating-to-windows-10-for-fun-and-profit-make-those-oem-keys-go-further/)
A STM32 Tonewheel Organ Without A Single Tonewheel
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-stm32-tonewheel-organ-without-a-single-tonewheel/
The one thing you might be surprised not to find in [Laurent]’s beautiful tonewheel organ build is any tonewheels at all.
Tonewheels were an early way to produce electronic organ sounds: by spinning a toothed wheel at different frequencies and transcending the signal one way or another it was possible …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-stm32-tonewheel-organ-without-a-single-tonewheel/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-stm32-tonewheel-organ-without-a-single-tonewheel/
The one thing you might be surprised not to find in [Laurent]’s beautiful tonewheel organ build is any tonewheels at all.
Tonewheels were an early way to produce electronic organ sounds: by spinning a toothed wheel at different frequencies and transcending the signal one way or another it was possible …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-stm32-tonewheel-organ-without-a-single-tonewheel/)
Retrotechtacular: The Gyro-X
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/retrotechtacular-the-gyro-x/
In the 1950s, American automobiles bloomed into curvaceous gas-guzzlers that congested the roads. The profiles coming out of Detroit began to deflate in the 1960s, but many bloat boats were still sailing the streets. For all their hulking mass, these cars really weren’t all that stable — they still had …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/retrotechtacular-the-gyro-x/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/retrotechtacular-the-gyro-x/
In the 1950s, American automobiles bloomed into curvaceous gas-guzzlers that congested the roads. The profiles coming out of Detroit began to deflate in the 1960s, but many bloat boats were still sailing the streets. For all their hulking mass, these cars really weren’t all that stable — they still had …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/retrotechtacular-the-gyro-x/)
Don’t Forget The Baby!
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/dont-forget-the-baby/
It must be a common worry among parents, that they might forget their offspring and leave them in the car where they would succumb to excessive heat. So much so that [Matt Meerian] has produced an alarm that issues a verbal reminder to check for the youngster when the vehicle …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/dont-forget-the-baby/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/dont-forget-the-baby/
It must be a common worry among parents, that they might forget their offspring and leave them in the car where they would succumb to excessive heat. So much so that [Matt Meerian] has produced an alarm that issues a verbal reminder to check for the youngster when the vehicle …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/dont-forget-the-baby/)
Automated Cat Feeder Leaves Little to Chance
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/automated-cat-feeder-leaves-little-to-chance/
We often like to say that if something is worth doing, then it’s worth overdoing. This automatic cat feeder built by [krizzli] is a perfect example of the principle. It packs in far more sensors and functions than its simple and sleek outward appearance might suggest, to the point that …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/automated-cat-feeder-leaves-little-to-chance/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/automated-cat-feeder-leaves-little-to-chance/
We often like to say that if something is worth doing, then it’s worth overdoing. This automatic cat feeder built by [krizzli] is a perfect example of the principle. It packs in far more sensors and functions than its simple and sleek outward appearance might suggest, to the point that …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/automated-cat-feeder-leaves-little-to-chance/)
How Safe is That Ultrasonic Bath for Flux Removal?
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/how-safe-is-that-ultrasonic-bath-for-flux-removal/
How do you clean the residual flux off your boards? There are plenty of ways to go about the job, ranging from “why bother?” to the careful application of isopropyl alcohol to every joint with a cotton swab. It seems like more and more people are turning to ultrasonic cleaners …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/how-safe-is-that-ultrasonic-bath-for-flux-removal/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/how-safe-is-that-ultrasonic-bath-for-flux-removal/
How do you clean the residual flux off your boards? There are plenty of ways to go about the job, ranging from “why bother?” to the careful application of isopropyl alcohol to every joint with a cotton swab. It seems like more and more people are turning to ultrasonic cleaners …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/how-safe-is-that-ultrasonic-bath-for-flux-removal/)
The Heat Of The Moments – Location Visualization In Python
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/the-heat-of-the-moments-location-visualization-in-python/
Have you ever taken a look at all the information that Google has collected about you over all these years? That is, of course, assuming you have a Google account, but that’s quite a given if you own an Android device and have privacy concerns overruled by convenience. And considering …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/the-heat-of-the-moments-location-visualization-in-python/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/the-heat-of-the-moments-location-visualization-in-python/
Have you ever taken a look at all the information that Google has collected about you over all these years? That is, of course, assuming you have a Google account, but that’s quite a given if you own an Android device and have privacy concerns overruled by convenience. And considering …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/the-heat-of-the-moments-location-visualization-in-python/)
A Magnetron Tear Down
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-magnetron-tear-down/
Microwave ovens are everywhere, and at the heart of them is a magnetron — a device that creates microwaves. [DiodeGoneWild] tore one apart to show us what was inside and how it works. If you decide to do this yourself, be careful. The magnetron may have insulators made of beryllium …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-magnetron-tear-down/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-magnetron-tear-down/
Microwave ovens are everywhere, and at the heart of them is a magnetron — a device that creates microwaves. [DiodeGoneWild] tore one apart to show us what was inside and how it works. If you decide to do this yourself, be careful. The magnetron may have insulators made of beryllium …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/a-magnetron-tear-down/)