Mark,
Let me know if you build one of those toasters, I'm constantly burning mine.
Fred
----- Original Message -----
From: "Senk, Mark J. (CDC/NIOSH/NPPTL)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 12:17 PM
Subject: Re: Building Equipment
> Hi again,
>
> I'd like to know what you have done with pic controllers.
> Where do you obtain the parts you need?
>
> I don't want to pay a dollar for a LED at the mall and I don't need 100 =
> of them from a dealer on ebay !!
>
> I found a book on netlibrary.org about pic microcontrollers.
>
> Excerpt:
>
> This chapter begins our applications. The first project is a speech =
> synthesizer=20
> that can be embedded into another circuit or project to add speech =
> capabilities.=20
> You may want to create a talking toaster that will tell you when your =
> toast is=20
> ready, or a talking VCR. The circuit is activated and the speech =
> selected by=20
> using high or low logic signals to port A.=20
> Speech synthesizers (or processors) are available in two formats. The =
> first=20
> format uses sampled (digitally recorded) speech stored in ROM or EEPROM. =
>
> The second approach uses phonemes of English to construct words. A =
> phoneme=20
> is a speech sound.=20
> Each format has its advantages and disadvantages. Digitally recorded=20
> speech has excellent fidelity, but has a limited vocabulary because of =
> the large=20
> storage capacity required. The phoneme approach has an unlimited =
> vocabulary, but the speech fidelity isn't as good as that of sampled =
> speech. Even so,=20
> the phoneme approach usually suffices as long as a mechanical =
> (robotic-type)=20
> voice is acceptable. This is the approach we are using.=20
> The total cost of this project, including the PIC microcontroller, =
> should be=20
> less than $25.00. Included in this price are an audio amplifier, filter, =
> volume=20
> control, and speaker. =20
>
>
> Mark J. Senk | 412-386-6513 | [log in to unmask]
> <img =
> src=3D"http://212.179.113.209/QRCode/img.php?d=3DBEGIN%3AVCARD%0AN%3AMark=
> %20J.%20Senk%0ATEL%3A412-386-6513%0AEMAIL%3Azia7%40cdc.gov%0AEND%3AVCARD&=
> c=3DContact%20Mark%20Senk&s=3D4"
> alt=3D"QR4Senk" />=A0
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators =
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin McCormick
> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 11:34 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Building Equipment
>
> I like using perf board and wire-wrap for digital projects as well =
> aseven some RF projects. You must solder leads to components since =
> component leads are round and do not bite in to the wire-wrap wire.
>
> I also have played around with PIC microcontrollers and the Motorola =
> 68HC11 which is another embedded controller.
>
> The idea of a circuit description language is a very good one. Things =
> like PIC's and other microprocessors simplify the construction details =
> since more of the circuit is in firmware, but documenting a circuit has =
> been one of my biggest problems so one can come back to it in months or =
> years and tell what is what.
>
> My favorite soldering tool for small parts is a Wahl cordless soldering =
> gun. I also have a bigger gun for the big stuff like coax connectors and =
> anything else that sucks the heat away too fast for a little iron to =
> work well.
>
> I do have a question. I have occasionally used cotton work gloves to =
> shield my fingers when using a standard plug-in iron. you can safely, =
> but lightly touch the tip because the cotton insulates your fingers but =
> the cotton easily burns through and the glove is ruined as soon as the =
> hole burns in a finger.
>
> Is there any heat-resistant fabric that feels about like cotton but =
> doesn't burn as easily?
>
> If there was something like that , one could use a regular iron more =
> easily.
>
> Guns, of course, can start cold so you can touch everything, but guns =
> also apply more heat as they warm up than an already-hot iron.
>
> An already hot iron, however, can do lots of damage if you don't watch =
> where you put it on the work. A normal tip temperature is about 700 =
> degrees F.
>
> Another advantage of light gloves is that you really don't want to get =
> human finger prints on what you are soldering because the solder flux =
> isn't capable of cleaning the oil off that well.
>
> I am 56 years old and have been building and tinkering since I was in =
> grade school so I am always looking for a new angle to try.
>
> Martin McCormick WB5AGZ Stillwater, OK Systems Engineer OSU Information =
> Technology Department Network Operations Group
>
> "John J. Boyer" writes:
>>It's nice to see that there are several people interested in building=20
>>equipment on the list, since what I want to do in ham radio is build=20
>>and try out equipment. When I was younger I used to build quite a lot,=20
>>including soldering. I built transistor circuits, but I used a modified =
>
>>version of a breadboard. Nowadays techniques are quite different.
>>
>>I wonder how many of you remember Bob Gunderson of the New York=20
>>Institute for the Education of the blind. He was fand away my favorite=20
>>teacher.
>>
>>The Braille Technical Press and later the Technical Files used to=20
>>publish circuit diagrams. I'm thinking that a circuit-description=20
>>language like Spice might be used to describe circuits for the blind.
>>Another possibility would be to develop or find a language based on =
> xml.=20
>>I have been working on transcribing xml to braille for several years.
>>
>>Let me know your ideas.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>John
>>
>>--
>>John J. boyer; President, Chief Software Developer JJB Software, Inc.
>>http://www.jjb-software.com
>>Madison, WI USA
>>Developing software for people with disabilities
>>
>
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