Boost Your BeagleBone Black with Breakout Board
Making a PCB is easier than you might expect.
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schematic
Tattoo of Schematic Brings Geek-Chic to New Level
While riding New York City’s L Train, I spotted this tattoo on an anonymous Williamsburg-bound hipster. I only had a few moments to chat with him as my stop was coming up, but he claims it is a full schematic for a guitar amplifier circuit. It heartens me to think that a piece of engineering ephemera has elevated itself to hipster tattoo art, but another part of me is dismayed. After further inquiry, it turns out the tattoo owner is a musician and actually has no clue what any of those strange symbols mean on his arm.
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Circuit Skills: Perfboard Prototyping, sponsored by Jameco Electronics
[Note: Jameco is currently offering all the parts I used in this video as a perfboard prototyping kit — just add wire & solder. ] When you think “DIY electronics,” one of the first images that likely comes to mind is of parts and wire soldered to a standard piece of perforated circuit board — […]
Continue ReadingIn the Makers Market: Electronic component coaster set
Alan Parekh of Winnipeg makes these cool component-symbol coasters from 1/4″ plywood, sealed with polyurethane varnish. Ten dollars gets a set of six: resistor R1, inductor L2, LED D3, capacitor C4, transistor Q5, and ground GND. Good-looking, clever, and easy on the wallet.
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Electric cupcakes
Several years ago, my then science department head and former 9th grade science teacher was retiring. Bob Webster brought me many useful and entertaining ideas. He had our whole department making wikis to share information in the early 00’s. Through him, I learned more about computer repair, web design, programming and electricity. He helped me to cultivate a positive environment encouraging kids to work with and understand concepts that many find intimidating. So what to bring to his party? Electric Cupcakes, of course!
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Build a voice-powered RF transmitter
Fred points out this schematic for a rather interesting radiotelephone transmitter instantaneously powered by the operator’s voice – One of the neatest minimalist amateur radio transmitter circuits around – this one is voice powered – it provides DSB, (double side band)modulation and power from an ordinary 8-ohm speaker – if are in doubt that the […]
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