Friday, October 5, 2007

Laser shutter using a hard disk drive voice-coil actuator

From School of Physics OPTICS GROUP , The University of Melourne Link...
We have developed a high-speed laser shutter based on voice-coil actuators found in generic hard disk drives: Maguire LP, Szilagyi S and Scholten RE, High performance laser shutter using a hard disk drive voice-coil actuator, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75 (9) 3077–3079 (2004). Detail...
Related:

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Hard Disk Generator


This one of the smaller piles of Hard Disks that I receive a couple of times per year.
My 2 main sources are a local computer recycler that has saved me upwards of 200 drives in a single load, and a pair of chums that work in the I.T. Sector and save me what ever goes bad on their network.
This load represents about 2 weeks of evenings stripping down the drives and sorting the scrap into various piles. The Aluminum frames are recovered for the foundry and are an excellent stock as they flow nicely and are easy to machine. The yellow bucket of "Platter Hub Motors" needs to be melted twice, once to reduce the Alum from the internal metallic parts, and the second time for what ever project is underway. More.. , 2, 3, 4, 5




Related:


  • Link...

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

DIY ~20U server rack






This is something mike has been looking to make for the past few days, ever since he got his new computer case for his awesome new computer. He originally wanted to buy a server rack, so he can mount his case in it, and mount the NAS he has with it, but those cost lots of lots of money. So, our solution, after thinking up at night, was to make one ourselves. I suggested iron gas piping, and mike suggested angle iron. Mike won because in the end, it would be easier to build with angle iron. Detail...





Sunday, September 9, 2007

Computer Art

From: cmuseum.timacad.ru
Personal Computer Museum by the Board of University Technology ship began formal rovatsya world in February 2004 from non prav- foot traffic rudo--tion. It represented computer skills, accepted money, mouse, media information and hand out details. And am all began in 1995 with a collection of computer components mice. Detail...

Related:

Saturday, September 8, 2007

How To Add More 3½ Bays



First, kudos to my older brother Mike for showing me this cool add-on. Next, supplies you will need: Scissors , Plumber's Wrap (Can be found at Home Depot or Lowes) , Screws , Screwdriver
Now, start by cutting four short strips and two long strips of the Plumber's Wrap. Cut desired length depending on how many drives you want to add. In this article, we added two drives, so five holes on the two short strips and seven holes on the long strip. Add two more holes to the length to accommodate another drive, and so on. Detail...

Friday, September 7, 2007

How To Make A Fan Guard

From: overclockers.com
I will be showing you how to make a "Fan Guard" for protect your fingers by using only plastic and a super LED.
First, to begin you must prepare instrument and materials as show in table below. Then cut the plastic as your design and should fit with a fan. Next, super LED is added in side of the plastic. Detail...

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Constructable CD Sculpture

At the invitation of Prof. Susan Gerofsky, I visited The University of British Columbia (UBC) as artist-in-residence for a week during January 2007. The agreed-upon project was for me to develop a mathematical sculpture that can be replicated in classrooms. I worked with Susan, student teachers in UBC's education program, and visiting students from Vancouver-area schools to test the ideas and write up a lesson plan. In addition I left one example on display, as a reference model Detail...
Related:
  • Link...

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

VGA over Cat-5 ethernet cable

It's possible to send a VGA "video" signal down an ordinary Cat-5 ethernet cable. This is possible for two reasons: firstly, although VGA connectors have 15 (or 13) pins, only about 8 wires are actually necessary to send the VGA signal; and secondly, ethernet cable is twisted pair, and we can use the magic of twisted pair to push the analog VGA signal further than spec. The diagram above shows conversion from HD15 (VGA) to RJ45 (an ethernet socket). A similar adapter is used to convert back again. Connectors are shown from the solder side. This diagram assumes your Cat-5 cable is crimped in the standard way (not as a cross-over cable). Detail...
Related:

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Baybus



The idea here is to produce a small box which should alter the voltage of the fans with some switches. The fans are those that cause most of the noise in a computer, so decreasing their voltage causes a decrease in revolutions per minute, and therefore a reduction of noise. The efficiency is also decreased, but this is taken in consideration by allowing the user to switch between levels of voltage Detail...

Monday, September 3, 2007

LogoMouse

From metku.net
You all have seen these optical mouses with leds and stuff but there is still room for some improvement. Why not mod a mouse and add your own logo/image to it. Let see how you can do that
A standard Microsoft ps2 rodent was more trickier to open than I first thought. Two plastic "hooks" that hold the case together are marked with number 1. This hidden screw you have to remove first is marked with number 2. I removed it but didn't notice those hooks in time so I broke them. Sad. Well, the case still holds together with that screw so no harm done. Detail...

Sunday, September 2, 2007

RS-232 Laser Transceiver


From: electronics-lab.com
Laser based projects used to be expensive, until the development of solid state lasers. This project is designed for the entry level laser experimenter. The circuit allows any two computers with serial (RS-232) communication capability to communicate over 200 meters using a laser beam. A low cost transmitter only circuit is also presented here for use in one way communication and other laser based projects. Link...

Saturday, September 1, 2007

HDRack


The designers of my computer case, the bright men of design had gathered their brainpower together and the result was a very poorly functioning HD/floppy drive stand, so I had to help myself with this one. Not that much of a mod, but a handy trick. So, this is the story of how I got a functioning, cheap and easy-to-make attachment for several HDs
I happened to have some of those AT-aged backpanels which had places of 9 and 25 pinned serial ports. I just clipped the connectors off the plates and, lookie lookie, the HD frame starts to be finished. Detail...

Friday, August 31, 2007

Old CRT Computer Moniter Into A Fish Tank


by mcanderson76on from instructables.com
introTurn Your Old CRT Computer Moniter Into A Fish Tank ! ! !
Talk about a great screen saver! I've been wanting to do this build for a while now. Just about every time I see and old CRT computer monitor by the side of the road on trash day I think to myself ...that would sure make a cool looking fish tank. So here is my first attempt at turning and old computer monitor into a fish tank. Detail...
Related:
  • How to Convert an Old TV Into a Fish Tank Link...

Thursday, August 30, 2007

MouseFan

From metku.net
So, your hand is getting a little warm while playing or surfing the net? This little mod could help you. The basic function is somewhat similar to the device in bowling alleys where you can dry you hands and the bowling ball. Lets try out if this idea works :) Detail...
Related:
  • MouseFan at Elephantstaircase.comLink...

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Disk Combobulation


copyright 1999, George W. Hart
This is Disk Combobulation I, an assemblage of thirty 3.5 inch floppy diskettes, slotted and slid into each other gluelessly, embodying a precise five-color pattern. Each diskette is penetrated by diskettes of the other four colors. Twelve five-sided openings are each bordered by the five different colors in a different cyclic order. The six of any one color are arranged in the form of an exploded cube. For any choice of three different colors, there is one point where all three touch in a clockwise order; at the opposite point, they touch in a counterclockwise order. There are exactly two possible arrangements of the 30 disks with all the above properties, giving rise to Disk Combobulation I and Disk Combobulation II. They are not mirror images of each other. Above is the first one, currently on display at the Goudreau Museum in New Hyde Park, NY. The second one of the set was sent to someone as a house-warming present. Link...

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

DIY hardware keylogger

From KeeLog.com
KeeLog has decided to release an early version of it's hardware keylogger family to the public domain, including full firmware & software source code, keylogger hardware electrical schematics, and documentation. This PS/2 key logger is a 100% operational and tested device, assembled and used by hundreds of people around the world. Operation of this hardware key logger is similar to the KeeLoggerTM Classic. We provide the application KeyGrab for retrieve and analysis of recorded keystroke data. However, please note that this DIY hardware keylogger project is provided as is, with all faults, and with no warranty whatsoever.
More...

Related:
  • Solar Thermal Panel Link...
  • Solar Thermal Panel Hawaii Edition Link...

Monday, August 27, 2007

CD Lamp


From: gizmodo.com Soure: Jim Watters
At a previous job, the head of QA had several stacks of several hundred CDs, on the floor, in front of floor to ceiling windows. The sunlight shining through the window would glow through these CDs in a very appealing manner that made the green light seem warm. From that point forward I always thought that a stack of CDs with a tubular light inside would make a very cool lamp. Detail...
Related:

Sunday, August 26, 2007

CD Sculpture

From George Radebaugh CD Sculpture
George Radebaugh creates art by joining together recycled materials: hundreds of discarded CDs, pipes, and other miscellaneous stuff. His artwork is simply wonderful. He uses materials in ways that are innovative and unusual, and the results are fun and fascinating to see Detail..

Saturday, August 25, 2007

HDD Clock


From Harry Andreou | 88bytes
After watching an interesting article DIY of a Hard Disk Clock, i decided to make my own, HDD plate clock More...

Friday, August 24, 2007

GlowPad


From: MetkuMods Link
You gotta love LED lights!! They are so useful. Use the search feature at the
top of everypage of HacknMod.com to find more LED tutorials. Anyways, use LED
lights to light up your mousepad and make it look downright wicked at LANS and
nighttime gaming
this is the project that I started to do something about these old and outdated mouse pads, maybe to add some more "glow" to them More...

Related...
  • Mouse FireWheel from MetkuMods Link...