Northwest Washington state. (Between Seattle & Canada)

Community Local Groups
#9

Here are the pics for feeding systems for bullets and cases. Here’s the collator of bullets, it picks them up, flips them if facing pointy end down, and sends them down the feeder tube. |375x500

Here’s the sensor attachment. It sits above the feeding die and when the bullets stack up to this level, hits interrupt sensor and motor stops. I wanted smooth and steady motors so I picked up 12v, 5rpm motors off of Ebay. Bonus of a 5rpm motor is that due to the gearing reduction is has loads of torque so I can put a lot of bullets and it goes like a champ. |294x500

Same principal applies to case feeder. Although a little easier to get the cases oriented the right way, as they don’t stay in the pockets since the base of theirs is so much heavier. |375x500

BulletColl.JPG|612x816

Bullet Feeder.JPG|480x816

CaseColl.JPG|612x816

#10

Here’s the “brain box” where the Arduino sits, all the wires go into, and the lcd resides. As this is a prototype inside is an Arduino with a mass of wires going to the veraboard hosting electronic components and connections. I don’t like this setup long term, hence I want to go the single chip, all on the one board solution. Couple of screenshots of different messages, with custom icons I designed. |500x373

|500x342

|500x331

|500x331

Lcd1.JPG|567x423

Lcd2.JPG|532x364

Lcd3.JPG|619x410

Lcd4.JPG|685x454

#11

Lastly, if you look carefully, there is a small wire sticking out on top the box. It is attached to one of the digital input on the Arduino and when you touch it you get all the sensor readings on the screen. I thought it would be nice to have some troubleshooting build into it as ambient light may play havoc with the photoresistors and some thresholds may need to be adjusted. Another lesson I learned, don’t use semi-transparent PLA for photosensors (insert palm smack on the forehead here).

|500x363

Diag.JPG|600x436

#12

My attempts (aka hack jobs, lol) on improving my circuit board design. Version one sits inside the prototype, but here’s my attempt (V2) on making an Arduino shield, worked but still a huge mess.

Here’s latest V3 board, homemade as you can see, but little cleaner. V4 will be using IC sockets for the Atmel (another lesson learned).

BoardV2.JPG
BoardV2.JPG300×501 61.1 KB

BoardV31.JPG
BoardV31.JPG425×574 90.6 KB

BoardV32.JPG

#13

Ha! PC boards what a wiring madhouse. I had/have two EE brothers. One of them liked doing high power stuff. The last project I remember was the power & control section for an electric jumbo jet tug. Man, you do not want to get that wrong!

Look at the number of downloads your pictures are getting. Now either you can't get enough of them and are clicking like mad or we have a lot of people reading this topic. I wonder if any are local to us?

-jim lee

#14

Well now would be the time to come out of the woodwork!

#15

I live in Seattle, but would be willing to drive up north for a weekend Arduino meetup. I'm just getting started with Arduino and I could really use some help in learning the basics of the code.

Or, if anyone reads this message and lives near me, please respond if you are interested in getting a group going for local meetups.

Thanks,

Curt, W9SPY

#16

Welcome!

I've been in "bitland" all weekend. Sounds like both of you guys are down by Seattle. W9SPY, you're the latest arrival, lets hear what you have planned. And if you need help, I'd be happy to have a shot at helping you. I come from the code side of things so I'm shaky in the electronics department.

I'd love to have a maker weekend but it seems unfair to drag both of you all the way up here.

I've been working on running different screens on my Arduino. Then I switched to a Teensy for more memory. The Teensy is tiny but programs the same as the UNO. And instead of 2k RAM it has 64K. The code space is way bigger as well. And, instead of a 16mgz clock mine's running at 72Mhz.

|500x500

My old Adafruit capacitive touch shield. That's the Teensy in the back there.

-jim lee

#17

Hi I live in Federal Way and would like to get involved. Anacortes is about a 2 hour drive from me. My wife passed away in Oct. and I lost all interest in doing anything. Maybe getting around some people with like interest is what I need. If you ever have a get together please let me know. I am retired and can come up any time.

#18

@Naneen, sorry about the wife. That's gotta' be really rough.

Finally got the calculator into a case and buttoned up.

|375x500

Video of calculator running

That was a heck of a lot of work! How did people do this before 3D CAD and 3D printers to check the fit of everything?

-jim lee

#19

Rulers T-Square drafting tables. And lots of math works. Of course back them every one knew how to use a slide ruler.

#20

Ok, there HAS to be more PNW people out here..

Made a vacuum gauge that also measures leak-down. Its for chasing down leaks when vacuum bagging stuff.

|375x500

-jim lee

#21

jimLee

Maybe have a meeting with the ones that are interested. This topic is not read that much. Need to get more coverage, like adding meeting time and dates to our tag line or there maybe more ways. But I think we need to meet with the others to see what they want.

How about a Saturday or Sunday in March for starters?

#22

Sure, would people like to meet in Anacortes? I have a Shop right in the middle of town we could meet in.

1012 9th street Ancortes 98221. The shop is around the back of the building.

Heck, we could even meet in February.

-jim lee

#23

Anacortes is not that far, pick a day and I'll be there. Also let the others who have replied to this post know. The first thing is setting a confirmed date. February is fine with me. See you soon.

#24

Ok,

I checked my calendar here.

Saturday, Feb 18. I'll open the shop at noon. 1012 9Th Street Anacortes, WA 98221 Around the back of the building.

Plenty of parking.

We'll see how it works out.

-jim lee

#25

OK

I'll be there. Any others?

#26

Not yet. But I don't mind holding the shop[ open. I have a few projects I can work on to keep me busy if no one shows. And its a neat area to hang out (in my opinon.)

You have a project you'd like help doing the software on?

I should do some cleanup too, if I'm havin' guests over.

-jim lee

#27

jimLee

check in the topic Events and tours . Just below this topic.

"Seattle area Arduino meet."

Does this sound OK to you?

If not I can delete it. .

#28

I love the idea but I don't see anything.

-jim