In this article Grinan Barrett introduces us to I2C. Grinan explains how I2C works, provides many useful links to information related to I2C and example Arduino code for a robot project where multiple Arduino boards are used for sensing and control. Grinan submitted this article to uCHobby as part of the uCHobby Giveaway program.

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In this article Frank Zhao details his project to make a Logic Analyzer with an ATMEGA168 microcontroller. This is the same microcontroller used in the popular Arduino platform so many of you should be able to make use of this project. The ATMEGA168 does the work of taking samples and works with Processing and Java to implement an nice user interface to the logic analyzer. Frank includes all the source code for both the firmware and the Processing programming language.

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I just received and built up some ogi lumen display boards. These boards use Nixie tubes to display a numbers (0-9) with an old school/steampunk look. Each module consist of a display board with two Nixie digits and a driver board. The driver boards stack side by side with connectors that pass though all the necessary signals. This makes it easy to build as many display digits as you need, 2 digits at a time. To drive the displays you need a high voltage power supply (200 VDC)which is available from ogi lumen and a way to send serial data such as a microcontroller. The ogi lumen site includes sample code for the Arduino. I built up some boards so I have 2 modules (4 digits) and a high voltage supply. Everything went together without a problem. Read the full article for pictures and more details about ogi lumen kits.

The picture shown here is from a movie segment showing a very cool wave effect with the displays. Check out the video here.

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YourITronics is running a giveaway program similar to what we have here at uCHobby. In this program you receive PCBs made in China in exchanged for an article about your design published at YourITronics. The PCBs you receive are your own design so you get a set of PCBs to build up your design.

When I started doing giveaways I hoped to see other sites follow this idea to help support electronics hobby efforts while promoting an electronics hobby web site. I hope YourITronics is just the beginning. I know its been fun to do here at uCHobby and I bet they will enjoy it as well.

Read more about the YourITronics PCB Giveaway program here and about the uCHobby Giveaway Program here. Please comment if you know of other sites with similar giveaway programs.

In this article Bernard Klinc shows us his homemade PCB process. He gives step by step instructions with plenty of pictures. Bernard will receive a giveaway item of his choice from the hobby parts for articles project here at uCHobby.

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Its a bit late but we have selected the 5 winners for the new Modern Device Company Really Bare Bones Board kits. As planned we selected two of the best idea comments (our opinion) for interesting projects using the RBBB and three random winners with valid comments. And the winner are!

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In this article Bernard Klinc demonstrates audio playback using the dsPIC on a simple breadboard layout with a free code library for SD card access from Microchip. Bernard will receive a giveaway item of his choice from the hobby parts for articles project here at uCHobby.

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In this article Igor Yermak teaches the basics of soldering. Igor is 13 years old and already an avid electronics hobbyist. His soldering tutorial is clear and to the point. Igor will receive a giveaway item of his choice from the hobby parts for articles project here at uCHobby. Leave encouraging comments for Igor, he will be a great electronics engineer soon.

This tutorial will teach you the basics of how to solder. Soldering is a useful skill if you ever want to make permanent circuits. Learning how to solder is not rocket science, it is a relatively simple skill to acquire. After this tutorial you will know everything you need to solder a basic circuit board.

Soldering uses a material called solder in order to attach components to a circuit board and make an electronic connection. Solder is usually 60 percent tin and 40 percent lead; you should also try to look for solder with a rosin flux. You can buy solder online or at any Radio Shack/other store. Lead is toxic so when you are soldering work in a well ventilated environment and try not to smell the fumes. The fumes you see when you are soldering are from the flux and not from the solder.

In order to solder you need a few materials first.

Here are the materials you NEED:

• Soldering iron (try to get one around 30 watts, the higher the wattage of the iron the faster the solder will melt.)
• It should be 60 percent tin and 40 percent lead.
• Tweezers for putting the components onto the board.
• Pliers for bending the leads of components into the board
• A de-soldering pump or braid to take away solder and “erase” your mistakes. There are many types available. The de-soldering pump sucks up the solder.
• The braid attracts solder better then the copper in the board so you just heat up the solder, put the braid on it and pull.
• Lead cutters to cut off the ends of component leads.
• Wire Strippers to cut off wire insulation.

[uCHobby: There are two related articles here at uCHobby. Surface Mount Soldering Aids and $15 Soldering Station Review.]

You do not need many tools in order to get started soldering as you can see from the mandatory materials. Here are some tools that will make soldering easier:

• 3^rd hand tool (pair of alligator clips attached to a base and that sometimes have a loupe attached.) They will help you keep your board steady while you are soldering components.
• Soldering stand to put your soldering iron on.
• A damp sponge.
• Anti static mat to prevent static sensitive parts such as IC’s from being damaged.
• Enclosures for your project.

Soldering Steps:

1. Step 1 of soldering is to get all your tools together and have everything ready; you can do this while your soldering iron is heating up.
2. First tin the tip of the soldering iron. Tinning the tip is when you heat up solder on the iron tip.
3. After you have tinned the tip wipe off the excess solder on a damp (not soaking) sponge.
4. Now stick in a resistor or any other component you are soldering into the board.
5. Bend both leads of the resistor flush against the board so it stays in place.
6. Heat up the leads of the component. (Do not heat the component too long or you may damage the part, a couple of seconds should be enough.)
7. Feed the solder to the heated part. NOTE: Do NOT apply the solder to the pointy part of the tip but to the sides of the iron. If you apply it to the tip the solder will not melt, since the sides have more surface area more heat will be applied to the solder and it will melt.
8. Now wait for the solder to cool, it should not take long. Do NOT blow on it to try to make it cool down faster, you make bad joints (bad connection and/or not reliable) that way. Make sure you do not move the board or component while it is cooling.
9. Cut off the leads of the components that are sticking out.
10. Survey your work; the joint should look like a volcano with the lead of the component in the middle. It should also be smooth and glossy looking.
11. If it looks like a good joint and it stays in place you have succeeded in soldering, congratulate yourself and pat yourself on the back like a lunatic.

Well we have learned a lot about the wind generator and issues related to low voltage power transfer. We know why the wind generator mentioned in these previous articles, here and here, has failed to work for us. We also have a plan and some interesting experiments to try. More after the jump.

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I received two special styrobots this week! Jigglygoo and Uchobbygoo are pictured here smiling for the camera. These robots are awesome and will be honored guests. I plan to take Jigglygoo to my day job office. There is a spot waiting for it on my book case. Uchobbygoo will stay right here next to my monitor. More pictures and a video of RobotGrrl packing up my Styrobots after the jump.

I purchased the Styrobots to help RobotGrrl pay for a Stanford summer program she was accepted to. I have high hopes for her and will treasure Jigglygoo and Uchobbygoo. I highly recommend that you get a styrobot for yourself. You will get a great new friend and help a budding engineer get her start. Read more about RobotGrrl and here Styrobots here.

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