Existential Crisis...

Waiting to see why my Facebook account was disabled 

and how another name got associated with it.  

I had all the correct privacy settings in place 

to avoid this exact kind of problem.

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flappin'

I have always been fond of split flap displays - especially the arrival/departure boards I used to see in train stations and airports. Split-flap mechanical signs are sadly a relic of a bygone era. The famous, clacking boards were once used all over the world, but advances in technology have retired most of them in favor of boring digital displays (the epic split flap displays in NYC's Grand Central Terminal were retired and replaced in 2019). Thought I would try my hand at using my 3D printer to make one. This is just a first test to tweak the mechanics of one segment. The model I posted on Friday did not run smoothly at all, so I am trying a different one. It took about 12 hours to print out all the parts and I had to make several small changes to get it to run smoothly. I have some hall effect sensors and magnets coming this week so I can try this out with some Arduino code I found on YouTube. This is the plan I am following... 61,68,41,0,B

stedfast...

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;  

A little bit of winter...

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Split Flap Display

Getting a start on my rainy weekend project.

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Sneaky front...

In the 15 years I have lived here, the last chance for a taste of winter traditionally appears the first week of March and then we are in the clear.  This weekend will be the crappiest third week of March on record (for me).  Reminds me of spring in upstate NY when it would warm up just enough to bring the spring peepers and wood frogs out of hibernation.  They would begin their mating ritual with their peeping and croaking - only to get dumped on by another cold front with a foot of snow.  73,85,46,0,B

background bling...

LED indicator light sequence test for each time segment. From here I can program the LEDs to turn on and off to precisely match the timing of the stepper motor movements. 79,85,46,0,B

thrashing about

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DPA - cyclox

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far spent

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 

Something simple...

Took a break from the big clock project to 

make a little one for an old NYC friend.

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programming day...

Got different fonts and two effects loaded onto all 6 time segments and wired them up for a test run. The last programming issue I have yet to figure out is how to get each time segment to switch to a new font or effect when they are out of view. Any Arduino wizzes out there? 76,81,54,0,B

the next step...

3D printed background "tiles" for the side panels 

and all 6 time segments installed.

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The playlist so far...

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The good ol' days...

Facebook reminded me today of this photo I posted 10 years ago.  I also posted it on my blog on this day back in 2013 (and noticed that remmij even commented way back when).  Dick Cain moved away from the area after he was forced to give up his longhorn herd.  Now a decade later...instead of once-a-month sighting of lone cowboy on horseback, I see 10 tourists a day in vehicles that have no business driving on dirt roads.  81,89,44,0,C

Circuit sculpture...

Got all the movement controls wired up on top of an old circuit board - and to my surprise it all worked! Tried out the "circuit sculpture" technique of making all the connections using 2mm brass rod. Added a timer using an eight digit / seven segment display (because I could spell out "FIELDLAB" on it). There is also a volt/amp meter that you can barely see in the video. All running off a dedicated 5 VDC /12amp power supply. Almost ready for the clock segments... 83,92,41,0,C

even and child...

Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.  

Clock background circuits...

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Birthday Clock

Countdown timer - number of seconds until I turn 65.

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design/print/assemble

These are the three microcontrollers and drivers for the 

6 stepper motors.  Tried my hand at making connections 

with brass rod instead of wire.  54,81,58,0,G

Morning song...

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