Category Archives: possibly useful

This is why there are PCB fab services

Posted on July 24, 2022 by paulwallich

So the kid decided to teach a soldering workshop at geek camp. Of course that means a custom PCB (and custom firmware, but that’s not my department). Which meant that I finally got to test all those tutorials about etching … Continue reading →

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The Pin Dance

Posted on March 6, 2022 by paulwallich

Don’t get me wrong, I love Circuit Python. Sure, I could get stuff done in the ugly stepchild language that is Arduino, but the niggling details, the mediocre IDE, none of it was my friend. And truth to tell, it’s … Continue reading →

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Pedal Assist: Not What I Thought It Was

Posted on September 7, 2021 by paulwallich

It’s been a few years since I started wanting an e-bike, but for a long time I was put off by physics. We live at the top of a steep hill, and I’m fat and out of shape. So all … Continue reading →

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Thank you, Electronics Goldmine

Posted on February 9, 2021 by paulwallich

I admit it, I have an addiction to things that call themselves bargains. Down in the basement are multiple cubic feet of random electronic and mechanical components that looked like a good idea or might be useful someday or just … Continue reading →

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Ok, this is actually useful

Posted on January 13, 2021 by paulwallich

And it only took me 9 years to notice. It’s an openscad script for making keyboard feet. Thank you. Not such a big deal at home, but at a school with donated computers of interesting provenance and a couple dozen … Continue reading →

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Something actually useful

Posted on March 3, 2020 by paulwallich

Our dishwasher is getting to be a certain age. And the plastic parts are showing it. Especially after one of the youth tripped over a cat and onto the bottom rack. When the wheels fall off they have a really … Continue reading →

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Lasercar Lives!

Posted on February 1, 2020 by paulwallich

I know it’s not much, but the new version is ready for coding. It knows how far it is from obstacles (in front), it steers, it goes forward and backward. And it does it all in python. Code and current … Continue reading →

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In praise of useless information

Posted on December 13, 2019 by paulwallich

About a year ago, back when we were still doing laser night at Local64, C did a nice backlit laser-cut sign for me to put in the door downstairs, using a font that wasn’t properly speaking a stencil but still … Continue reading →

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Let There Be Light

Posted on December 4, 2019 by paulwallich

I remixed an old openscad christmas tree design to include space for a coin cell and an LED. Coincidentally I have a bunch of green LEDs lying around — their light gets through the plastic a lot better than the … Continue reading →

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Maker Faire day 2

Posted on September 28, 2019 by paulwallich

Huzzah! Today we were inside and had decent wifi. Bill started right up and connected with no problem, and we spent the day cutting and engraving for curious onlookers. The exhaust went out one of the Coach Barn’s venerable windows, … Continue reading →

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