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Related

Share A Design Tip to be included in our next Engineers eBook

jwatson
jwatson over 9 years ago

Let your fellow makers in on your design secrets here!

 

Have you found a solution to a common design problem?  Have you found an easier / cheaper way to do something?

 

Share your ideas with us for your chance to have your tip appear in Premier Farnell's edition of ebooks.

 

It’s your opportunity to share with your peers and promote your ideas or business at the same time.

Of course, please steer away from the obvious or too simple, such as ‘if you are writing software, take backups, OR drill holes this way instead of that way’.

 

We would like to create an ebook to provide both inspiration and assistance that help readers create interesting and fun projects, whether they are trying to kickstart a business or simply developing something for their own home.

 

Here’s some topics to get you thinking:

  • Using Maker boards – how do you get boards to do what you need, or configure boards to give you the inputs or outputs to do something cool?
  • Using Sensors – ideas for collecting information about what’s happening in the world, whether it’s temperature data or interfacing a camera...
  • Robotics and Controls – how do you control motors and movement? Ideas for making robots or simply just controlling a motor to close your curtains..
  • Displays – some boards have built-in displays, while don’t others? What are your best tips for displaying information in your projects?
  • IoT and Connectivity – soon almost everything will be connected, so tell us how you make it easier to get connected to the internet and transfer data...
  • Software development – what are your tips for writing better software, or just overcoming specific challenges? Show off your software expertise...
  • Just for fun – perhaps you’ve had a great idea for a new way of doing things, but aren’t sure if there are any serious uses. Tell us about your less serious tips and ideas!

 

We’re looking for tips of around 40 to 50 words with a simple diagram or image. 

 

Share your ideas as a comment on this discussion and we will be in touch with you to let you know if your tip will be included in the next edition of ebooks.

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Top Replies

  • e14phil
    e14phil over 8 years ago +8
    Thank you to everyone who submitted a tip! We were able to use tips from: ipv1 shabaz ntewinkel Instructorman rachaelp michaelwylie fvan Jan Cumps https://www.element14.com/makertips
  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 9 years ago in reply to jwatson +6
    Tip #1 Arduino alphanumeric 8 bits LCD device with three cables only using a shift register. Available circuit schematics, pcb and prototypes, video etc.
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 9 years ago +6
    a simple one: Uninterruptible Power Supply for your USB powered Design by using an off-the-shelve Power Bank (like the one you use as smartphone backup) with pass-trough charging. Input is a USB wall wart…
  • rsc
    rsc over 9 years ago

    Here's a tip on how to change a regulator's voltage:

    Put a zener diode on the regulator pin that is usually connected to ground.  This will raise the regulation voltage by the value of the zener.

    Vout = Vreg+Vzener

    image

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  • mcb1
    mcb1 over 9 years ago

    Software

    I'm a hardware person but have dabbled in the dark side of programming.

     

    I find it helpful to save the sketch/program with the date and time as part of the name on a regular basis.

    If you end up with it not going the way you want, you can always pull up an earlier version and cut and paste to get you back on track.

     

    Mark

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  • ntewinkel
    ntewinkel over 9 years ago in reply to mcb1

    Mark wrote: I find it helpful to save the sketch/program with the date and time as part of the name on a regular basis.

     

    Second that. The first thing they taught us in "software school" was: Keep backups!

     

    If your project consists of more than one file, compress/zip the whole folder and name the zip file as Mark suggested.

     

    -Nico

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 9 years ago

    Hi Jane,

    For a while I have run a series of blogs called "Shop Tips". They are primarily tips to help with simple functions in the operation of an experimenters shop.

    I will add a couple links to them and if this is similar to what you are looking for feel free to check out the others in my contents. All topics have been labeled with Shop Tips in their titles.

     

    https://www.element14.com/community/people/jw0752/blog/2016/02/04/shop-tips-bread-boarding-resistors

     

    https://www.element14.com/community/people/jw0752/blog/2015/05/20/shop-tips--power-to-the-bread-board

     

    John

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 8 years ago in reply to jw0752

    I vote for these image I have followed them and are very well done John

     

    Enrico

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  • jwatson
    jwatson over 8 years ago in reply to rsc

    Hi Scott

    Thank you! This is a great eBook Tip - just the sort of thing we are looking for and would include in the book.

    Thanks.

    Jane

    e14

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  • jwatson
    jwatson over 8 years ago in reply to jw0752

    Hi John

    Thank you. This is exactly the sort of tip we would include in the book! Shop Tips - Bread Boarding Resistors

    Here John demo's his process for turning some of these resistors into excellent plug in assemblies for use when bread boarding.

    Kr

    Jane

    e14

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  • jwatson
    jwatson over 8 years ago in reply to balearicdynamics

    HI Enrico - as Tips 1, 2, 3 are more 'projects' than tips, we can't really include these, but if you could include exact tips/shortcuts like Scott & John that would be great. People need to see the tip and thing 'OK, great that helps me!'

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  • koudelad
    koudelad over 8 years ago in reply to ntewinkel

    Nico teWinkel wrote:

     

    Mark wrote: I find it helpful to save the sketch/program with the date and time as part of the name on a regular basis.

     

    Second that. The first thing they taught us in "software school" was: Keep backups!

     

    If your project consists of more than one file, compress/zip the whole folder and name the zip file as Mark suggested.

     

    -Nico

    I agree with the need of backups. However, all modern IDEs support some kind of a version control and a proper setting and usage can save you even more headaches.

    It only consumes a fraction of space, especially compared the whole project / workspace zip files. All version control systems can be used without an IDE, of course.

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  • ntewinkel
    ntewinkel over 8 years ago in reply to koudelad

    all modern IDEs support some kind of a version control

     

    Agreed, and I love being able to easily spot the changes I've made in a file.

    Others I've talked to are even using a Raspberry Pi as their own personal Git server, which is cool and convenient.

     

    But for beginners that's yet another step to learn. Plus I don't think Arduino has it fully integrated yet.

     

    Also it's easy to set up your home with automatic backup software like Apple's Time Machine.

     

    Still, it's super easy to just zip up your project folder every so often, and it's super easy to unzip in case of need. You don't need to keep all the backups and compared to songs and videos most projects are tiny, so space really isn't an issue.

     

    Cheers,

    -Nico

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