Arduino Metal Detector

Using a Colpitts oscillator and an Arduino to upgrade a toy weed-whacker into a fully functional metal detector!

Read the full technical article on All About Circuits!

DIY Guitar Sustainer

This is my way of giving back to the guitar fam that I sorely miss after becoming an engineer and sacrificing spending time with my guitar.

I've decided to put up a detailed guide on how to build yourself an infinite guitar sustainer that will enable any guitar to hold out a note infinitely long, achieving that violin-like sustain goodness.

The Post-Apocalyptic Tin Can Amplifier

In the case of an apocalyptic nuclear fallout, and you emerge from an underground bomb shelter seeing nothing but a wasteland on top of what was once a thriving human civilization - have no fear! Let this video be your guide to scavenging the parts necessary to build yourself a guitar amplifier so that you can waste your numbered days away shredding guitar and rotting from the side-effects of radiation!

Arduino MIDI Drums

With the help of an Arduino, we can turn that Guitar Hero or Rock Band controller into a real MIDI drum kit for recording purposes!

The full Arduino source code can be found on my github here:
https://github.com/evankale/ArduinoMidiDrums

Figuring out a Key Matrix (Scan Matrix)

Knowing how to figure out a key matrix is a simple and essential skill to those who salvage lost equipment for spare parts. I've written a guide over at Instructables to explain the technique I use to reverse a key matrix cable ribbon so I can re-purpose the keys for other projects.

Continue reading at Instructables >>

How to Add Power Adapter to a Camera

If you have a digital camera with a dead battery that's too expensive to replace, here's how you can wire up an adapter to it so it can be powered from an outlet.

Materials required:
2 Popsicle sticks
1 Resistor
1 Adjustable Voltage Regulator
1 Female DC Jack
1 DC Adapter

Head over to the Instructable post I made to see a pictorial!

How to Add Midi Port to a Keyboard

Turn any cheap keyboard into a MIDI keyboard!

This is a tutorial for adding a MIDI port to a keyboard without one, so that you can use to interface with various programs such as FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cubase, Garage Band, Pro Tools, and more.

Also works with Synthesia!

Polymer Clay Retro Game Controller (that actually works!)

This is a DIY guide to build a mini retro game controller out of polymer clay and an old keyboard!

Materials you'll need:
- Polymer clay!
- Old Keyboard
- Tin Foil
- Plastic card
- Tracing paper
- Thread

Read the pictorial I wrote for Instructables here!

Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet Service Manual

How to take apart the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 tablet.

ThinkPad X61 Disassembly/Teardown video walkthrough.

Video guide for X61 (and other similar thinkpads) motherboard, screen, Wifi card, keyboard, memory, harddrive replacements.

Samsung TV Repair

This TV had a failed timing control board (T-Con board) and needed a replacement. A replacement board (AUO T460HW02) was bought on eBay for $40 USD.

Symptoms:

- Bright white screen (screen starts up normally, slowly fades to white)

- Picture looses color

- Looks "inverted"

Samsung SyncMaster Monitor Repair

How to service a Samsung Monitor.

This is a fix for the common blinking/flicker problem for Samsung SyncMaster (206, 223, 226 BW) monitors.