Category Archives: tech

Things that are technical in nature

Motion test on the camera rig

Posted on June 29, 2010 by mahto

So this is what we’ve been working towards this past week. The above video is a nonsense trajectory with all four axis moving at the same time, just to show that they work. The system itself seems to be functional, … Continue reading →

Posted in Journal, Photo, tech | 5 Comments

Makin’ stuff with machines

Posted on June 26, 2010 by mahto

This is what I’ve been up to for the past few days. Making some stepper motor mounts to retrofit a manual xy table into a stepper motor version. It’s basically just some machined aluminum standoffs, with an aluminum mounting plate … Continue reading →

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Mendel Progress!

Posted on June 12, 2010 by mahto

I’m building a RepRap Mendel 3d printer, using parts printed for me by my friend Marty on Makerbot 131, and hardware from ultimachine. Tonight’s project was to assemble all of the pieces that I could. I was able to get … Continue reading →

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Rotation test

Posted on June 11, 2010 by mahto

I made this little video to test the performance of the stepper drivers and rotary stage. The results are encouraging, except that I probably need attach the sample to the stage (it looked like it was vibrating around), and my … Continue reading →

Posted in Photo, tech | Leave a comment

One shield to fit them all, and in the darkness bind them

Posted on June 10, 2010 by mahto

I’m working on a project which involves mechanizing some machining tables. I decided to use some surplus stepper motors and A4983 stepper motor breakout boards from Pololu to control them. Getting them to work on a protoboard was no problem, … Continue reading →

Posted in tech | 1 Comment

Ubuntu rocks so hard, it goes to 11

Posted on June 4, 2010 by mahto

Well, it allows you to set the sound volume amplification at over 100%. Which is really handy when you are trying to listen to a quiet video on underpowered speakers. To get to this dialog, hit up System->Preferences->Sound.

Posted in Ridiculous, tech | Leave a comment

Carving foam with the Roland Modela MDX-3

Posted on June 2, 2010 by mahto

I took a few moments to play with the Modela MDX-3 tabletop milling machine that has been sitting around HackPittsburgh for the last year. It turns out that it works as a character printer device, and all you need to … Continue reading →

Posted in tech | 4 Comments