Projects

This is a dump of all projects that people have expressed interest in working on!

Space Improvements

Backing up Production Computers

• Ideally: A simple method for doing as close to a bare metal backup as possible of the primary production machines at AHA, ie:
  • Scotty (CNC/Laser/3D Printing machine in Proto room)
  • AHA-Central (Windows 7 Ultimate: Shift machine behind desk)
  • All Hands Active (Windows 7 Ultimate: Main machine in primary AHA Workspace)
  • AHA-Mega (Ubuntu Box: Label Printer Machine on side work bench in AHA Workspace)

• Once a month should be often enough to get most of the general / major changes covered
  • Having one or two USB Bootable Clonezilla drives for plugging in, booting up, and one or two steps for a general user to activate backup.
  • Testing to make super backup implementation is just as simple

• Centralizing where production files (ie: Personal .gcode, .stl, etc.) go, and having those backed up online more often would be nice
  • Raises the question of whether or not people want their files being uploaded onto the internet.
  • Raises the question of what sort of privacy people can expect with their files.

Shared Folder across Production Computers

• Temporary solution = Dropbox (ahadump@gmail.com = username)
• Permanent solution? - NFS using LDAP from one of AHA's servers. Public shares and private shares then lock down everything but a users home folder? This would keep PC's clean and still allow sharing and moving of files between PCs. Requires a user to log out and log in as themselves. I'd be happy to setup LDAP/NFS if a server is provided - Tyler
  • Currently setup on ALLHANDSACTIVE (machine in main area of AHA Workspace)
  • Needs to be setup on: AHAMega, Scotty, AHA-Central
  • Josh Williams & Michael Shvartsman know username/password if it's needed.

1/20/2013 - Front Door/Entrance way.

• A-Frame sign: Needs printing, laminating and mounting. Needs: Print laminate and mount.

• Main Ops sign on building: Josh measured and had a new filler piece created. Needs a piece of acrylic lasercut (makerworks or i3?) and vinyl or paint applied to make the sing Needs: Lasercutting, vinyl/paint, mount.

• DogFort
  • Window holes need work, talk to Josh. Sizes of remaining holes: 6 x 3.5, 1 x 3.75, 1 x 4, 4 x 7, 2 x 7.25, 2 x 7.5 (num holes * inches diameter for each hole). Rule of thumb: cut acrylic half an inch smaller. Cut cardstock ring up half an inch for outer and half to 3/4 of an inch inner.

Member Projects

Backyard Brains Projects

LED Neural Encoder

We are trying to build a DIY device to convert an analog spike or muscle activity signal into an LED bar graph so students can easily see the amount of activity and quantify it. We have some prototype boards. But we still need some help. Let me know if you are interested in helping! Contact: Greg Gage

LED Neural Encoder

Bluetooth RoboRoach

If you are not familiar with the RoboRoach, it is the world's first commercially available cyborg (half machine - half cockroach). And it was made right here in Ann Arbor. We used to hack a HexBug to make this work, but recently updated this to use a Bluetooth Chip. It worked, but its too fancy. It's Bluetooth 4.0, which only works on the iPhone 4s. We want to make a Bluetooth 2.1 version using the Arduino, or some other PIC. Want to help? Contact: Greg Gage

DIY SMT Soldering Oven

We want to use a toaster oven, an Arduino, and a temperature sensor to allow us to do Reflow Soldering. Reflow soldering is a process in which a solder paste (a sticky mixture of powdered solder and flux) is used to tack down tiny chips. Once heated up, the solder paste melts and creates an electrical connection between the chip and the pads. This invention would be really useful for hackerscpaces around the world. Contact: Greg Gage

Big 3D Printer

This will be a longer-term project involving the construction of a Rostock delta-like 3D printer; should give us a lot more speed and precision, along with a much larger printing area, and it should be easier to maintain if something breaks. We've got most of the parts on order. Get in contact with one of the folks below if you would like to help!

Contacts: Michael Sh., Tyler W., Nate Y.

Scanmera

Currently in a working state. Excellent for events where we need a reliable project that's interactive and engaging.

Here are some people to poke if you have questions about the Scanmera:

Xander H.
Jenn M.
Josh W.
Nate Y.

Estes E2X Equivalent

• Project Page: E2X Equivalent
• Lead: Josh W.
• 12 Pack of Easy to Assemble Rockets costs $66 from Estes, that's $5.50 p/student
• Can we make similar, or equivalent pieces with a 3D Printer?
  • What is the time to print?
  • What is the cost of materials?
  • Does it hold up?
• If all goes well, what possibilities are there for custom built pieces for more unique rockets?

Back room temperature / humidity network sensor

• Lead: Ed V.
• Project Page: not yet
• Raspberry Pi + sensor shield or components to measure temp, humidity, other interesting things in back room
• Usefulness! If temp is wrong or humidity is wrong can't be used for plastics molding