While I was looking up MIDI controllers, I strayed across someone who made a drum machine from foam and fabric. The soft circuitry held an Arduino Lilypad, copper tape conductors, and magnets to position potentiometers dressed up with foam spheres. It wasn’t the most functional, but it was highly approachable.
Since the first time I applied 32V to the electromagnets, I was worried I was burning them up. I intentionally programmed the shortest dwell time I could manage so they would not overheat. Now that I wired everything and finished a few code drafts, I wanted to run a torture test and see how hot the coils got. I ran them on a pseudo-random routine at 148BPM, so each magnet pulsed roughly once every three seconds.
After the torture test, I started adding more modes. The first one added a note between the player’s notes. So, if someone played at 120BPM, the machine would play at 120BPM, but in the time between the presses so it would effectively double the tempo. It was supposed to feel like someone else is playing along at random.
The yellow buttons worked fine, but I wanted MIDI to work in every way the hardwired buttons could. Before the MIDI inputs could not control the tempo the same as the physical buttons, so I added that functionality. Additionally, since I three single-player modes and a couple of two-player methods, I assigned the gray keys in the middle to those modes.
I finished all the programming, so I had to reassemble the glockenspiel. It turned out to be harder than I thought. Some of the plastic cover areas needed trimming to make room for the solenoid rack. While I was pushing the cover down, I broke one of the 3D printed brackets, but it was a weak model. It still needed replacement.
The printer seemed to be dispensing items in the correct size, but with lots of gaps. I thought this could be a case of a low flow rate. I increased the flow by ten percent, and then twenty percent to great effect. Some of the gaps closed, and the latest piece even felt weightier in my hand. These should be sturdier, but as the picture below shows, it is not perfect. The lower part of the photograph is 110%, and the other piece is 120%.
The rest of the summary posts have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
Since the first time I applied 32V to the electromagnets, I was worried I was burning them up. I intentionally programmed the shortest dwell time I could manage so they would not overheat. Now that I wired everything and finished a few code drafts, I wanted to run a torture test and see how hot the coils got. I ran them on a pseudo-random routine at 148BPM, so each magnet pulsed roughly once every three seconds.
Temperature rise
After the torture test, I started adding more modes. The first one added a note between the player’s notes. So, if someone played at 120BPM, the machine would play at 120BPM, but in the time between the presses so it would effectively double the tempo. It was supposed to feel like someone else is playing along at random.
Notes from the day
The yellow buttons worked fine, but I wanted MIDI to work in every way the hardwired buttons could. Before the MIDI inputs could not control the tempo the same as the physical buttons, so I added that functionality. Additionally, since I three single-player modes and a couple of two-player methods, I assigned the gray keys in the middle to those modes.
MIDI Keyboard controls the same as the switches
I finished all the programming, so I had to reassemble the glockenspiel. It turned out to be harder than I thought. Some of the plastic cover areas needed trimming to make room for the solenoid rack. While I was pushing the cover down, I broke one of the 3D printed brackets, but it was a weak model. It still needed replacement.
Broken rack mount
The printer seemed to be dispensing items in the correct size, but with lots of gaps. I thought this could be a case of a low flow rate. I increased the flow by ten percent, and then twenty percent to great effect. Some of the gaps closed, and the latest piece even felt weightier in my hand. These should be sturdier, but as the picture below shows, it is not perfect. The lower part of the photograph is 110%, and the other piece is 120%.
Replacement mounts
The rest of the summary posts have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
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