[chbot] Robotics Group meeting, 5 Idris Rd, 630pm, Mon 20 Jan 2025 report

[Mark Atherton]

Hello everyone,

Good turnout with 26 attendees, and lots of huddles-of tech-talk. $40 + 
change (in gold, and flat-money) collected and transferred into the 
robotics loose-change jar (for later banking).

All sales from the trading table should go into the brown box on the 
wall, and are directly for the benefit of our host club, Christchurch 
Amateur Radio Club, NZART Branch 05.

Equipment donations are welcome for the trading table, but no CRT based 
product, printers, toner or items that are likely to be a disposal burden.

With thanks on behalf of the group,

Mark Atherton


Mark talked about the FT260 USB bridge used on the Audio DSP project. 
Device is required as an I2C master to program the FXcore DSP, a UART to 
program the ATtiny3227 CPU, and a UART in terminal mode to communicate 
with the CPU application. Not initially clear that Python-HID will only 
attach to Interface 0.

A couple of untended (exposed) vias were present under the CPU of the 
Audio DSP project PCB. These would likely short to the thermal pad. 
Tenting was added to vias under the CPU using JB Weld + IPA. Bear in 
mind that this 24 pin part is 4x4mm.

Ross talked about his hydrogen generator project – to be used as part of 
a micro-balloon project he plans to make soon (?).

Bevin talked about his adventures while disassembling a full-size (and 
weight) vintage cash till, and some of it's associated mechanisms.

Andrew E talked about his flight-sim control surface. He also showed off 
his teddy-bear sized defibrillator that was used as part of a Christmas 
fund-raiser.

Andrew talked about his 'one dollar SSB phasing transmitter' project.

Rudy talked about his visit to LA and Tuson AZ.

Henry talked about a low cost portable spot welding machine.

Andy gave us an update on his forklift electrification project.

David Bourke talked about his new high-res X-ray machine.

Robin talked about his Li-Ion battery adapters.

Interesting stuff on YouTube:

The Fastest Maze-Solving Competition On Earth – 
youtube.com/watch?v=ZMQbHMgK2rw