• Finally, second unit built, complete with 3d printed chassis

    mjsearle • 08/02/2016 at 08:48 • 0 comments

    This been in the works forever. Designed chassis in Freecad. 3D printed by SLS. Quite costly, could only print one for now. Hope it gets cheaper and more accurate in future.

    Spraypainted the SLS output gloss black then dabbed light paint onto the raised text. Pleased with that effect.

  • Completed transformation of LED Desk Lamp into stand for speaker indicatory lights.

    mjsearle • 05/19/2014 at 09:39 • 0 comments

    Completed converting the desk lamp into a stand.

  • Tabletop stand for indicatory lights.

    mjsearle • 05/13/2014 at 10:12 • 0 comments

    Feedback from initial situational testing of the project showed that at times, it would be better if the indicatory lights for the speaker were physically separable from the timer. Also advantagous to get them high off the table so they can be seen. Bought a cheap LED desk lamp today. Disasambled it and will keep the parts bottom left for other hacks. Drilled some holes and will mount the small PCB that contains the Red, Yellow and Green 10mm LEDs in the top part of the lamp, where the array of white LEDs were. Now for minimal cost I have a stable, fully adjustable stand for the indicatory LEDs. 

    Hate the colour, wish I could have got a black one but the shop only had blue and pink models left - may well give it spraypaint to black when rest is complete.

    The lamp itself had an interesting design feature - it directly uses the two telesopic arms as conductors to transfer power from  the base to the array of white leds in the head! I guess only 12V DC it's not shock hazard and they must have implemented short circuit protection in case a user bridges across the two telescopic arms with something conductive. I will stick to the more standard method of running a cable up from the base to the head.

  • Powering project with Lithium Polymer Pack

    mjsearle • 05/13/2014 at 09:59 • 0 comments

    Project has been running on 2xAA Alkaline battries during development. Implemented a small PCB with a LiPo charge and power path management IC from TI. Connected it to a LiPo Battery pack that I had sitting around from an obsolete digital camera from 2008. Project can now be powered by MicroUSB cable, which when connected will also charge the pack until it's fully charged.