I have gotten to the point where I can start to step back a bit from the business (Rocket Brand Studios) and take a breath. I have everything refined a bit, parts coming in and orders going out is becoming very routine. This all translates into a bit more time for me to do what I wanted to do in the first place --get folks going in their new hobby.
I am starting a fairly ambitious project. I am going to attempt to do 30 posts in 30 days. I see the same topics come up around here often and gosh darn it, I think I can do a good job at explaining them. So I shall. --As an example, sending data via a serial connection (IR, RF, Xbee or with a wire) comes up a lot.
If there is a robot-related topic you would like explained, please let me know. For each topic I hope to include:
Hardware --Wiring, boards, hooking stuff up
Software --Example code, but more importantly a code walk-through (line by line)
Googleable search terms
If you all would be so kind, please let me know what you want to learn about. It will most likely get added to the list.
You mentioned “hooking stuff up”. I would like to know what type of connectors are best for connecting wires to the pins on microcontrollers. I don’t like to solder to my controllers because I usually re-use them on different projects. And some connectors come loose from vibrating and shakeing around. I’ve seen some connectors on other projects that look like they work nice, but require an expensive crimping tool.
Oh I just thought of a good one that is probably right up your alley. I’m about to buy and house and finaly start putting together real workshop. Maybe you could do one on what a robot builder should have in his lab to make his life easier (and on a budget of course). Maybe talk about hand tools, what types of materials are good to buy in bulk, which type of welder would give us the most bang for our bucks. Maybe you know how a regular joe can come across bigger tools for cheap, like band saws, 3 axis mills, and lathes.
Thank you and I appreciate the thoughts on combining other tutorials and creating clean, organized ways of dealing with the tutorials. I think all this is great and I am happy to participate. That said, this is really more an excercise for myself. Sorta a self-dicipline thing. RBC is kinda running on the smooth side -at least to the point where I can finish all my chores in about a 1/2 day now leaving some time to do what I wanted to do with the busines --help folks make stuff. It is very tempting for me to start playing with this extra time --making silly projects just for myself and generally just screwing around. I thought I would assign myself some homework. --Idle hands and the Devil’s workshop, ya know…
I am up to about 26 items on my list so far. I am getting close to kicking off this little event. I hope to get a week or so of them done in advance so I have a little fudge room, but we are getting there. This is going to be a fun little project, methinks.
