
We’ve had several POV projects, the bike, the pendant… but [max] over at zedomax knows how to use the tip line – and I do swing a club now and then. This time the POV device is attached to a golf club. They call it a training device, and I’d have to agree, as it could be a good way to get your swing into a proper rhythm. [I *know* ladyada has plenty of POV boards if you want one that’s easy to build.]
Misc Hacks4186 Articles
Ben Heck Interview Part 2
Here’s part 2 of my interview with Ben. (Or just grab it via the feed) We answer some more questions and go off on a few tangents about cnc machines, the PS3 and part sources. It cuts directly to the interview – I don’t want to wait 6 hours to record it. I should have a regular podcast up in the next day or two.
Analog Video Synth

I’d call this more of a video mixer with audio inputs, but it’s an interesting way to hack video signals. [brian] sent in the VS001 Analogue Video Mixer. He noted that it’s along the same idea as the Mac SE/30 visualizer, but outputs VGA and can route signal through audio gear for even more interesting permutations. It looks like all the information is there if you want to build your own.
Five Dollar Eprom Programmer

A couple years ago I spent a good week wiring up a fairly complex EPROM programmer so I could burn a prom for my jeeps EFI system. Today I ran across this $5 version. build built by Jay Kominek He uses shift registers to handle the addressing and IO lines, all driven directly by the parallel port. There’s no way to escape the number of pins that have to be wired up, but the schematic itself is pretty simple.
[By the way, arcade supply shops are a great source for cheap UV erase EPROMS.]
[Update: I’d forgotten about the voltage change (3 vs 5 if I remember) needed to write UV EPROMS vs EEPROMS. With a little mod, you can certainly use this for EPROMS as well.]
Locksport International Visual Picking Guide

[Chronos] let me know that Locksport International released a new visual lock picking guide. The MIT guide is a classic, but not nearly as easy on the eyes. This one covers all the basics and it reads like a comic book.
Solder Paste And Reflow How-to

I was poking around spark fun electronics, and came across this interesting walk through showing spark fun’s solder stenciling technique. (I’d put on some gloves before handling that much lead paste) They top it off with some alternative ways of doing reflow work. My favorite has to be the target hotplate method. It’s a nice introduction if you’re interested in doing SMD work to save money and space on your projects [but not sanity. say goodbye to that] Me? I’ve used a 15 watt weller with a dremel modified small tip. It works great if you’ve got some one of those syringes of heat activated glue. Place, bake and solder.
Online Skill Crane

[Ethan] sent in the online skill crane. It made it to shmoocon, but now it’s online for anyone to play. The machine is interfaced to the parallel port and controlled with a C program. It lacks a bit on the tech details, but you know you want one. Playing nets you a video of the results linked via email.