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General => Tech, Science, IT discussion & News => Topic started by: DarkestEx on September 18, 2016, 12:33:16 PM

Title: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on September 18, 2016, 12:33:16 PM
Hello!

I have now finally started writing posts for my blog: http://bmuessig.eu/
They focus primarily on Technology but I will surely post the one or other different thing.

I have started with a series on the HP 100-LX:
http://bmuessig.eu/posts/hp-100lx-restoration-part-1
http://bmuessig.eu/posts/hp-100lx-restoration-part-2
http://bmuessig.eu/posts/using-cf-cards-in-the-hp-100lx

I hope you will find it interesting ;)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on September 18, 2016, 05:50:05 PM
Looks cool and nice HP 100lx restoration :D. You should post some pics on the forums in the hardware section too :)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on September 27, 2016, 04:52:26 PM
Hi :)

I made some new posts about finishing Clawsemble (and what it actually exactly is):
http://bmuessig.eu/posts/i-just-finished-clawsemble

And one about my new RPN-Calculator Build:
http://bmuessig.eu/posts/rpn-calculator-build-part-1

Some pictures if you still aren't convinced to head over and have a look ;)
(http://bmuessig.eu/content/Screenshot_Clawsemble_01.png)

(http://bmuessig.eu/content/IMG_0255-JPG.jpg)

I hope you find them interesting :)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on September 27, 2016, 09:20:51 PM
I saw the other pic with the numpad and I like the idea. It will look more old-school :P
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: p2 on September 28, 2016, 09:31:31 AM
I know this might be a bit offtopic... but how comes your keyboard got no Q and no Z..  ???
ai Really like the idea of building your own calc (despite the fact I dont see + or - keys anywhere) ^^
was it an old phone's keypad? ^^
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on September 28, 2016, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: p2 on September 28, 2016, 09:31:31 AM
I know this might be a bit offtopic... but how comes your keyboard got no Q and no Z..  ???
ai Really like the idea of building your own calc (despite the fact I dont see + or - keys anywhere) ^^
was it an old phone's keypad? ^^
Well, you can buy standard keypad modules and they usually always come with numbers and some extra characters. This was the easiest way for a quick mockup.
When I actually go into production there will be a custom keypad matrix with more keys and I will CNC custom cases <3
Also the PCB will be a custom one there.

Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on September 27, 2016, 09:20:51 PM
I saw the other pic with the numpad and I like the idea. It will look more old-school :P
Thanks :)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on October 02, 2016, 12:24:07 AM
More eye-candy ahead ;)

(http://bmuessig.eu/content/IMG_0290_sharp-JPG.jpg)

Have a look at http://bmuessig.eu/posts/rpn-calculator-build-part-2 ;D
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on October 02, 2016, 06:59:43 PM
This looks much better. What is that glossy frame thing around the keys thatvis also screwed with the rest, though?  It looks nice but if it's a slim metal or plastic thing that can be bent, be careful to not cut yourself. >.<
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on October 02, 2016, 08:05:10 PM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on October 02, 2016, 06:59:43 PM
This looks much better. What is that glossy frame thing around the keys thatvis also screwed with the rest, though?  It looks nice but if it's a slim metal or plastic thing that can be bent, be careful to not cut yourself. >.<
Thanks :)

I actually wrote in the post what is up with the new frame and how I made it.
TLDR: It is basically paper that is laminated on one side only and stuck to the case. It covers up the gap between the screen, keyboard and the case and makes it look nicer.
Oh and you can't cut yourself with it ;)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on October 07, 2016, 04:21:47 PM
Ah I see. Is it solid against puncturing?
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: E37 on October 08, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
What is the big red light for? Power?
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on October 08, 2016, 02:45:12 PM
Quote from: E37 on October 08, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
What is the big red light for? Power?
It is a general purpose status LED. It will mainly indicate power but I will make it flash on errors or low battery.

Also the device is quite solid but I would still not transport it outside a case.
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: E37 on October 11, 2016, 04:19:49 PM
Quote from: DarkestEx on October 08, 2016, 02:45:12 PM
Quote from: E37 on October 08, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
What is the big red light for? Power?
It is a general purpose status LED. It will mainly indicate power but I will make it flash on errors or low battery.

Also the device is quite solid but I would still not transport it outside a case.
Sounds cool! What is the battery life? Hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?
I personally dislike the light - it looks kinda ugly. Maybe it looks cooler.
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: p2 on October 11, 2016, 04:23:57 PM
I personally actually really like the design (even how it looks kind of like a TI-84) ^^
*You just dont like it as it reminds you of HAL9000  >:D
The only thing strange is the text on the keys but that's not his fault ^^
I've just started wondering if there'll be a on/off button...
0-9 + -
will be missing * and / or is there something I dont understand about the design ???
But anyways the concept of creating your own calc is already super cool so I dont really care that much if theres on or two buttons missing (in this version of it) ^^ Still a really nice project  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: DarkestEx on October 11, 2016, 10:31:13 PM
Quote from: E37 on October 11, 2016, 04:19:49 PM
Quote from: DarkestEx on October 08, 2016, 02:45:12 PM
Quote from: E37 on October 08, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
What is the big red light for? Power?
It is a general purpose status LED. It will mainly indicate power but I will make it flash on errors or low battery.

Also the device is quite solid but I would still not transport it outside a case.
Sounds cool! What is the battery life? Hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?
I personally dislike the light - it looks kinda ugly. Maybe it looks cooler.
Haha, I have no clue yet. The battery has not yet arrived and the hardware is not yet built. With the 2500mAh battery it might last for a very long time before needing to be recharged.

Quote from: p2 on October 11, 2016, 04:23:57 PM
I personally actually really like the design (even how it looks kind of like a TI-84) ^^
*You just dont like it as it reminds you of HAL9000  >:D
The only thing strange is the text on the keys but that's not his fault ^^
I've just started wondering if there'll be a on/off button...
0-9 + -
will be missing * and / or is there something I dont understand about the design ???
But anyways the concept of creating your own calc is already super cool so I dont really care that much if theres on or two buttons missing (in this version of it) ^^ Still a really nice project  :thumbsup:
Thanks :D
I might like to point out that it will be running Claw and a calculator program I am going to make. So it will have menus anyhow. This lead me to dedicate the # key to be the menu key (double tap for enter). The * key will be the decimal separator. All the usual maths tokens are available from a menu. You basically type your number, hit the # key when done. Now you can either start entering a new number or tap the # key again to add an operator. By pressing the number assigned to the specific operator (e.g. 1: +, 2: -, ...) you will be able to perform your RPN style calculations.
Sure it is a little convoluted, but you have to live with what you got.

And yes, there will be a hard on-off button. While the CPU supports a low power state that would draw extremely little, I am too lazy to design the software to make use of it.
I am fine with a hard power switch. The programs and history is stored on the SD card anyways and not in RAM.
Title: Re: DarkestEx' Tech-Blog
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on October 11, 2016, 10:51:43 PM
I personally like the light.