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Author: tasos

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Differential Solution

In this theoretical article we will try to solve as easier as possible a generic first order differential equation.
This equation is always there to ruin our days 😆
If you try to solve a simple RC circuit is there and waiting for you.
It is quite annoying how many times you will find it at your way so we decided to solve this equation even for people who does not have a lot mathematical knowledge.
Lets start.

This is a generic First Order Linear Differential Equation

{{dy} \over {dx}} + P(x)y = Q(x)

Another way to remember it is

y' + P(x)y = Q(x)

So as you can see it is a first order differential equation since the y function is only derivated once.

...continue reading "First Order Linear Differential Equation"

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LCD16x2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is an attractive way for easy communication between the user and hardware.
In this tutorial we will see how to connect a 16x2 LCD display on our arduino using only 6 pins.
As you may noticed always we start from the documentation offered for free of the various hardware manufacturers.
Here is the data-sheet of the LCD Module 1602 A1 .

...continue reading "Connecting a LCD to an Arduino"

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

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Voltage Divider

The voltage divider is a circuit that produces an Vout that is a fraction of an Vin.

The two resistors in series can be seen as a single potentiometer.

This circuit will be heavily used in our website so we have decided to do a standalone article for this circuit.

From the Ohms law we know that V=I*R

From the Kirchhoff's current law (first rule) we know  ΣI=0 So we have I1=I2+I3

From the Kirchhoff's voltage law (second rule) we know that ΣV=0 So we have Vin=V1+V2

Observe that V2=Vout

Let's now do some considerations about this circuit.

...continue reading "Voltage dividers explained"

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Published on 1 Comment on How to make PCBs at home – The toner transfer method
Toner transfer method

The toner transfer method is one of the most common and cheap way to make Printed Circuit Boards at home.
Despite it's popularity this method has problems with it's repeatability since it has way too much factors that must be cleared in order to get some decent and stable results.
The method itself is pretty straight forward.
Print your circuit with your laser printer then put the printed circuit face down over a copper clad so that the toner touches the copper surface and then apply heat in order to transfer the toner from the paper to the copper.
Then you remove with water the paper and the toner will be printed into the copper clad.
Now you are ready to etch the board.
Then drill place the parts and solder.

...continue reading "How to make PCBs at home – The toner transfer method"

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The hacked laminator

Generally you need heat in order to accomplish the toner transfer method.
The toner transfer method will be explained in later tutorial.
The most difficult part at the toner transfer method is exactly this ! The toner transfer from the printed paper to the copper clad.
The classic method is to use a hot iron and iron your copper clad with the printed circuit over it.
Trust me, this method is hopeless. Even if you get a decent result you can not repeat it again and again.
You will only have a small percentage of success.
The paper , sure, is a key to this problem but does not solve all the mystery about this method.
The main problem is that you need to heat up the toner while you keep pressing over the paper.
So you have to do two things in the same time with the hot iron.
Instead doing that it is more convenient to buy a regular laminator at your local store and modify it a little bit.

...continue reading "Turn a common laminator into a PCB laminator"

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