Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 24 replies
  • Subscribers 635 subscribers
  • Views 2139 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

What Do You Do With Your Projects When You Have Finished Them?

rscasny

Since I've been with element14, it's been fun to watch our members report on the projects they have accomplished. It's even more fun to read what members think or react to other members' projects. And some of the projects you dream up are really quite clever. I would hate to think that after you did a project, they just ended up on a shelf gathering dust. So, I'm curious...image

 

What happens to your project builds (prototypes) after you build them?image

 

My guess is that some of the projects actually are being used or may end up as a product on kickstarter? I have corresponded with a few members who said they are actually trying to build something they can sell.

 

I also have a hunch that some of the projects are personal labs, that is, learning experiences because they plan on entering a certain field or industry where your project experience gives you some hands-on skills.

 

If you don't mind me asking you directly, what happens to your projects? If you have the time, share your specific comments or stories below. Thanks

 

  • Some projects I plan to use further for my own use/others or to improve them in an unknown future in a parallel space/time .

     

    Other projects get re-purposed/recycled/re-done

    • When I made them just to learn about a new technology/product
    • When I fail to impress myself with the results
    • When I made them just to enter a contest

    Some projects get re-done when they are not near complete

    • When I know I won't get the results I'm expecting
    • When I find a better approach along the way
    • When I can't find answers to what I need to accomplish (like a good energy harvester for my projects or a diy reliable non-contact moisture sensor)

     

    Luis

  • - Most of the projects i do are just out of curiosity and done for the learning experience and improving my skills. I usually just breadboard these and re-purpose the  components afterwards. Many of these are undocumented, but in the future i plan on documenting them (and all of my other projects) before i dismantle them.

    - Some of the projects that i do are to be actually used by me (examples: air quality measurement and storing of historical data, web server, motion detection surveillance system, irrigation system, GPS data logging, LED cube, oscilloscope, ...). These are more permanent with the components soldered to standard printed circuit boards. My irrigation system is still in the breadboard stage sans Arduino Uno (have moved the essential and necessary components over to a breadboard). I plan on making a customized pcb layout for it, to produce a few of them, and transfer the components over to the custom board. I also plan on making a custom enclosure for the board and all external components.

    - Some of the projects were made for family and friends. These have also been made by soldering the components onto standard pcb boards.

     

    raymond

  • I give away most of the things I'm finished with, or try to exchange them for something else.

  • Like other Element14 members, I have a right mix:

     

    The Box of Doom

    this is a messy box of wires and there are some stripboard projects sticking out - unless their is a requirement for them to be resurrected they will likely get components removed.

     

    The Box of Hope

    this isn't much tidier than the box-of-doom and also has some stripboard or home made PCB designs - those are half finished project ideas. I just need a few clones of myself and I'd get all those finished off....one day perhaps.

     

    Keepers - Test Equipments

    there are some projects that are homemade test equipment or the timer unit on my homemade UV lightbox....those are valued keepers.

     

    Keepers - Projects

    some projects are integrated into household items and are also here to stay (e.g. my LED Christmas fireworks, Portal Gun)

     

    The Twilight Zone

    lastly there is always the current breadboard project; a few good projects have stopped at this point, being left there for longer than they deserved before getting taken apart. These were often the learning projects and testing out smaller building blocks.

     

    Rod

  • in reply to jw0752

    The water alarm in the basement is still in operation and will shut off the main water line if triggered

    AND was proven to work when someone had a real issue .....

  • in reply to jw0752

    I found this to be one of the more interesting questions as well.

  • I like to make my own simple test equipment so I have a lot of power supplies and other assorted test equipment. I like to put together special application devices like the Process duration timer or the PWM test jig. These allow me to do experiments without always having to rebuild the basic circuits. I also put together simple things to help teach the grandkids about science and electronics. Most of my serious project endeavors have failed and they are sitting on the shelves mocking me. Occasionally one of them will end up on the salvage table but most of the time I just leave them together to collect dust. Whenever my wife asks me about a project I am working on I suggest that when it is done or fixed I will be able to sell it and make a profit. Unfortunately I usually end up liking the item or project and when it comes time to sell it I would rather keep it. There are several things that are in use around the house. The water alarm in the basement is still in operation and will shut off the main water line if triggered. As with everyone else there is no one answer that fits every project. This was a great question as I enjoyed reading what the other members do with their projects and noticed there were a lot of similarities among our answers.

    John

  • A large proportion (well most) have been recycled.

    Some did a stirling service until the item they were fitted to was recycled.

    The odd one is waiting on another part or ready to be reused in the next project.

     

    I consider many of my projects as education, and helping to share the knowledge gained.

    I've certainly learnt a lot, and been fortunate to be in the right decade for all this wonderful technology while I can still function.

     

    Many of mine were for publication, and I guess that falls into the 'for sale' category.

     

    Mark

  • I had put this under the poll, but I guess this is where it belongs....

    I do a lot of projects so there are multiple destinations.

    Most of my projects are aimed at things I might find useful, or educating myself on the technology but some are just for fun.

    Some are for family members.

    Some are tackled just for the shear challenge of doing something unique.

    Some completed projects don't see a lot of use since I have far more technology than I actually need, but some I use every day.

    Sometimes (rarely) I cannibalize an old project to feed a new project.

    Some projects are sitting in a queue to be upgraded.

    Some projects are tools or instruments that help build more projects.

    Some projects are ornamental and get displayed when and where appropriate.

    Some projects are accessories that go into service and never illicit a further thought.

    Some projects are for one time use and get re-purposed immediately.

    Some projects I don't quite know what to do with, mostly because I don't have enough room to put them on display.

    Some projects I have a vague idea to commercialize because I know others would like them, but I'm much more interested in creating things than spending time on business activities.

    I like having lots of project around - they bring back good memories.

     

  • Its a toss up some stuff just gets recycled, reused or reinvented,  I do like to make things that are of use so for the most part I try to stick to that concept.   But with stuff like the Hack Like Heck - Wesley Gardner - The Port-A-Cade Project I made completely got stripped down and is now in a few different projects only thing that remains is the shell.   So I guess it all depends on what my goal is. If its for fun it gets broken down but if it has a purpose it will either get used or upgrade or find a home.  I have zero intentions of making money off things I make.  Sure it would be nice but with that comes a lot of issues so not a realm I tend to want to walk into yet.