equals zero

My build reports are generally technical in nature, but some of them contain references, tips and tricks, or details experiences with some aspect of a project that others may find helpful. Here’s a collection of posts which I think have a particularly high concentration of technical information.

• Use XBee wireless modules as virtual wiring harnesses to control your simple-yet-multiply-actuated contraption.
• The Maxon DEC 50/5 is a 50 volt, 5 amp simple BLDC motor driver, available to you, the adoring public, here.
• Face Vector Modulation is a (conceptually) simple state-machine based brushless motor commutator. Part 1, part 2, part 3.
• One of my first useful projects was a custom tool holder for the MITERS metal lathe. I got hooked, and quickly followed up with a cutoff holder. I can no longer find the videos.
• Segfault‘s analog balancing filter. Several iterations, the latest of which is here. Previous work on the controller, in reverse chronological order, are in Update 5, Update 4, and Update 3.
• LOLrioKart‘s 6th motor controller featured variable regeneration and electronic reverse.
• The giant gear-filled thing that hangs off LOLrioKart’s rear axle is a planetary differential.
• Exploring the IR2184 half-bridge MOSFET driver.
• My Instructables writeup about how to build your own RazEr scooter for fun and profit.
• Speaking of RazEr, I quickly document how you can characterize your small brushless motor here at the bottom.
• Cold Arbor is my latest use-one-of-every-chapter-in-your-engineering-book (except not really) project, but the most important part is the robot’s assembly with zinc-aluminum brazing alloy.
• When I was a lab assistant for MIT’s 2.007 class (to atone for my sins), I created two small documents to help students along: How to Build Your Robot Really Really Fast, and Caliper Abuse for Beginners.
• Neither my project, nor very technical, but here’s a walkthrough of the New Media Lab.