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Archive for the ‘prototype’ Category

While we don’t normally think of typing on a computer as a dangerous job, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that workers spend 25,000 hours away from work due to repetitive strain injuries, such as using a computer. Part of this could be due to the fact that the average computer user applies two to seven times the necessary force needed to activate a keyboard’s keys, slamming them down, then experiencing a sudden stop.

In order to help cushion these small blows, researchers Alec Peery and Dušan Sorma at Ohio University have been exploring a mechanical keyboard concept with a 3D-printed dampener built in. Testing has been undertaken using the popular Cherry MX switches, with typing simulated by dropping a 150 gram cylinder from 125mm, then measured using an Arduino Uno and force sensing resistor.

This paper is a demonstration of how 3D printing can be used to create a composite (plastic and rubber) keyboard switch that is ergonomically superior to a traditional injection moulded plastic switch. The prototype switch developed in this project aims to reduce impact forces from keyboard use exerted on user’s fingers by “cushioning” the act of bottoming out the switch during a key press. This concept is significant to industry because it aims to reduce overuse injuries caused from work on computer, a portion of the $20 Billion a year owed in worker compensation in the United States. A commercial Cherry MX keyboard switch has been modified through CAD modelling and 3D printing to incorporate damping regions in the lower half of the switch housing. The switch housings were simultaneously 3D printed with plastic and rubber and their force damping properties were tested with an Arduino UNO microcontroller and force sensing resistor resting on the key tops.

The full research paper is available here.

IMG_6024Shields are great for connecting external circuits to your microcontroller board. In this project, you'll learn to make your own custom shields for Arduino.

Read more on MAKE

The post How to Make Custom Shields for Your Microcontroller Board appeared first on Make: DIY Projects, How-Tos, Electronics, Crafts and Ideas for Makers.

Nov
21

Phoenard: World’s 1st Arduino-compatible Prototyping Gadget

arduino, ATMEGA2560, AVR, kickstarter, prototype Commenti disabilitati su Phoenard: World’s 1st Arduino-compatible Prototyping Gadget 

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The ultimate combination of an Arduino-compatible board and your day-to-day Gadget in one handheld Device.

Phoenard is an All-in-one Arduino-compatible prototyping Gadget powered by an 8-bit AVR ATMEGA2560, identical to the one you find in Arduino Mega. It is essentially a pocket-sized prototyping platform which you can use as the ‘brain’ in your projects, similar to using an Arduino. BUT, it has a lot more features built into a single case developed in such a way that you can use it as your day-to-day Gadget.

Phoenard: World’s 1st Arduino-compatible Prototyping Gadget - [Link]

Mar
28

A Look at Arduino’s Origins: the First Prototype

arduino, prototype Commenti disabilitati su A Look at Arduino’s Origins: the First Prototype 

arduino03-1319574149091Believe it or not, this simple-looking prototype board was the original Arduino that has since become "the brains of maker projects" around the world.

Read more on MAKE

Feb
18

Could your skin act as an interface?

arduino, arduino uno, makeup, prototype, Wearables Commenti disabilitati su Could your skin act as an interface? 

Kinisi

Kinisi by Katia Vega is a project combining FX makeup and electronic sensors. It’s prototyped using Arduino Uno and creates interactions with a smile, a wink,  raising eyebrows and closing  lips. As you can see in the video below, each movement of the muscles can trigger different light patterns.


Larca Meicap, a special effects makeup artist, combined her FX makeup materials with our sensors for precisely applying them on specific muscles. LEDs were also hidden on the skin and hair. Digital signals collected by the sensors are sent to a microcontroller that activates a light sequence on Kinisi’s face and hair.
I am glad the video was filmed at Aluzcine by the cinematographer Cesar Fajardo and his team, and under the direction of Juan Carlos Yanaura. Also a special music track was composed for this video by Maribel Tafur.

 

kinisi sensor
Lug
10

Build a bare bones Arduino clone which maximizes its use of real estate

arduino hacks, ATmega328, bare bones, breadboard, prototype, stripboard Commenti disabilitati su Build a bare bones Arduino clone which maximizes its use of real estate 

barebones-arduino-clone-at-home

Check out all the stuff crammed into a small swath of strip board. It’s got that characteristic look of a roll-your-own Arduino board, which is exactly what it is. [S. Erisman] shows you how to build your own copy of his YABBS; Yet Another Bare Bones Arduino (on Stripboard).

The strips of copper on the bottom of the substrate run perpendicular to the DIP chip and have been sliced in the middle. This greatly reduces the amount of jumpering that would have been necessary if using protoboard. A few wires make the necessary connections between the two tooled SIL headers that make up the chip socket. On the right hand side there a voltage regulator with smoothing caps. The left side hosts the obligatory pin 13 LED, and the crystal oscillator can be glimpsed on the far side of the ATmega328.

Pin headers along either side of the board have been altered to allow for soldering from the wrong side of the plastic frames. Note that there’s a three-pin hunk that breaks out the voltage regulator, and an ISP programming header sticking out the top to which those female jumper wires are connected.

Ringing in at as little as $2-$4.75 a piece you’ll have no problem leaving this in a project for the long hall. We can’t say the same for a $30+ brand name unit.


Filed under: Arduino Hacks


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