Author: Madox

EasySync USB-CAN Bus Adapter – Works great in Ubuntu after some fiddling

Neat little package
Neat little package

The toys just keep coming in!  Another one of those wallet killing impulsive orders whilst I was sick in bed last week just arrived today, a USB-CAN bus converter module by EasySync that promises a great interface and should work in Linux!  This will give a little bump start to my Mazda CAN Bus / mChumby projects.

Note : EasySync UK’s online form doesn’t allow international shipping but a short E-mail or two managed that.  There is a US subsidiary with US and international shipping, but the international shipping rates on the US site is plain ridiculous [$68USD to ship a $88 device to Australia].

Note 2 : I hear the interface is mimicking the Lawicel CAN-USB interface…only hearsay…

Plugged it in – didn’t work.  Doh!  Took a peek at the manual and website, nothing on Linux other than “Linux drivers provided”… So much for the marketing material, guess I have to try make it work myself.  (Yes I got it working, read on for the quick run-down post aimed at helping others)

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Schnellboot $100 (S-100) – Part 1 Planning

I had this planning post drafted up to help me in ordering the parts for a 1/144 Schnellboot remote control model, but a couple of sick days last week meant I went on impulse shopping online and all my parts have arrived before this is even posted!  Sick days are bad for my wallet.  Very bad for my wallet.

Continue reading “Schnellboot $100 (S-100) – Part 1 Planning”

HTC Magic Arrived In Sydney! Android Loving!

Contents of the Parcel (Bamboo logo didn't really come with it...)
Contents of the Parcel (Bamboo logo didn't really come with it...)

Ordered from BecexTech on monday evening, package arrived thursday – not a bad turn around time at all and price was reasonable.  The package was shipped from Hong Kong, but the original phone appears to be from Taiwan with some carrier logo on bootup and some pre-installed widgets/apps that can be quickly hidden away.  Very considerate of them to include a little Australian plug adaptor, its like $1AUD in HK, but costs like $10AUD ($50HKD) to buy one here…Wouldn’t recommend getting that case for anyone else.  Screen protector was a perfect fit and a must have.

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Australian Battle Group – National Battle Meet 6 June 2009

Model boat fleet fun
Model boat fleet fun

Glorious model warships pounding at each another with cannons, and in the midst of all that is my ‘floating camera’ contraption that didn’t work too well but worked…it floated, it took photos…it lived up to its name…madox Floating Camera…

That's no battleship...
That's no battleship...
Nice sunny day, perfectly still water, a lunch box floats with one thruster on to skew it to the 'right'...
Nice sunny day, perfectly still water, a lunch box floats with one thruster on to skew it to the 'right'...

The results weren’t too bad from the onboard video recording, just a few issues with camera alignment and disconnections when using my friend’s laptop (mine ran out of juice).  Here’s a sample clip of the captured footage :-

And one more super nice video courtesy of Andy (aka not me) :-

Read on for more photos and videos

EDIT : PHOTO GALLERY UPDATED, NEW VIDEOS ADDED! CAPS LOCK IS EVIL!

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MFC – Madox Floating Camera – Part 1

Just a teaser that all (most?) the parts for my ‘MFC’ is ready (It could be Madox’s F‘ed-up Contraption) has all arrived and ready for assembling when I find the time.  Hopefully before the Australian Battle Group meet in June where I hope to use the contraption (…erm camera) to film the ships shooting each another to smithereens.

Picture time :-

Most of the gear laid out on carpet
Most of the gear laid out on carpet

Read on for a little bit more…

Continue reading “MFC – Madox Floating Camera – Part 1”

Heart Rings – Printed in metal, yup 3d printed in metal!

The 3 different styles of rings designed using Alibre Xpress have arrived from Shapeways!

The various rings from Shapeways next to a Ponoko test card :)
The various rings from Shapeways next to a Ponoko test card 🙂

The ‘thin wire one’ (can’t think of a name) has never been printed before.  It was first dreamt up in the shower , I’m surprised how well a scribble on the fogged up glass of the shower turned out printed in stainless steel!

Lets have a better look

Stainless steel and bronze rings
Stainless steel and bronze rings
Stainless steel and bronze rings
Stainless steel and bronze rings

Hey look, there’s my invoice.  $1.32 USD for the ‘thin wire one’ (have to think of a name…or have to remember what I named it  on Shapeways…) – great price eh?

The print quality is very good though it appears (not sure) that some post processing (polishing?) was done.

Nothing much else to say!  Have to move on to the next post…Ciao!

WolframAlpha – A cute novelty

Wolfram|Alpha has officially launched!  I don’t know how to describe it but call it a ‘mathematical’ Google.

All searches return mathematics related answers.

e.g. “Sydney to Los Angeles” gives

a)Distance 12054 km Flight Time 13 hours 54 minutes
b)Populations
c)Timezones

e.g. “Lee” gives the surname breakdown in USA against ethnicities, ranking its popularity etc.

e.g. “x^3-x^2+5=0” gives a plot and a solution!

Its cute, but it may not be the most useful…fun nevertheless, have a try!