geekmomprojects

geekmomprojects, 6 months ago to random

I've become obsessed with this cleverly designed articulated mannekin build (https://www.printables.com/model/622290-dummy-13-beta-on-runners-easier-to-print) and am printing a cohort to use as place card holders for Thanksgiving.

geekmomprojects, 6 months ago to random

First glimpse

geekmomprojects, 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago) to random

I've decorated three denim jackets with LEDs to bring as an installation for the CETI institute in the #portlandwinterlightfestival . The CETI installations will be displayed in an abandoned GAP storefront, so this project feels particularly appropriate. Just got the basic animation working for the rain cloud jacket, and hope to find time to enhance it.

geekmomprojects, 5 months ago to random

This project was for a gift exchange, so I couldn't share it until now. It's a (large!) laptop bag/backpack with 100 LEDs in the front flap arranged in a Fibonacci spiral (inspired by @jasoncoon ) and diffused through a Voronoi arrangement of 3D printed translucent black PETG tiles.

geekmomprojects, 2 months ago to random

Sadly, I wasn't able to fix all of the flaws (a tendency to explode being the primary one) in my robot, "Footloose", so we won't be competing. However, I'm here at UIUC to cheer on my son Justin and my bouncing 1-lb grand-bot, "Singularity," (pictures below) as well as his team's 30 lb bot "Collosal Avian." The tournament is livestreamed ("Live" link at the "Robobrawl UIUC" YouTube channel) if you want to check it out.

geekmomprojects, 7 months ago (edited 7 months ago) to random

Current me is simultaneously miffed at past me for thinking that it wouldn't take long to sew a bunch of resistor-shaped glasses cases and happy that past me is bad at time estimates, because I wouldn't have tried it at all if past me had been remotely sensible.

geekmomprojects, 9 months ago to random

Today's procrastimake. I may have some issues...

A home sewn glasses case shaped like a resistor with green, blue, and red value bands and a silver tolerance band made from glitter iron on. A pair of reading glasses is halfway inside the case, which snaps closed.
A home sewn glasses case shaped like a resistor with green, blue, and red value bands and a silver tolerance band made from glitter iron on. A pair of reading glasses is next to the case.

geekmomprojects, 1 month ago to random

I was disappointed that I couldn't get my combat robot, Footloose, ready in time for the Robobrawl tournament last month. However, I found a plastic antweight tournament in Southern California that takes place today and will finally get a chance to put Footloose to the test. Had to modify the weapon, as there is no metal allowed here. It's a single elimination tournament, so it could be over quickly, but there are lots of bots here and it should be a fun event regardless.

geekmomprojects, 2 months ago to random

My combat bot, "Footloose" is coming together. I had a lot of problems with the shuffling mechanism due to the 3D printed cams deforming over time. Amazingly, I found a business that could laser cut an aluminum set for me with a 24 hour turnaround, and the locomotion is now much more stable. Weapon is working, (and fun to test!) Now I'm going to add a wedge in the front and figure out how to shave off about 20g overall to make weight. Almost there...

geekmomprojects, 9 months ago to FiberArts

The recent flurry of sewing projects has come full circle. It started with a crossbody bag that looked like an addressable LED (https://mastodon.social/@geekmomprojects/110929578697233525)
Today I sewed a zippered tote bag (no electronics, but still cute) that looks like a standard LED. I think it's all out of my system now. Maybe.
#sewingproject #sewing #makersgonnamake

A red home sewn tote bag shaped like a standard LED, with iron on applique that looks like the interior electronics of a through-hole standard LED. The strap of the bag is connected where the LEDs legs would attach.

geekmomprojects, 3 months ago to random

The panel-mounted jack for the foot pedal slipped into the interior of my sewing machine, and the only way to access it was to open up the machine. I'll be stunned if (a) I can get it back together with all the parts & screws in the right places and (b) it works properly afterwards. 🤞🤞🤞

geekmomprojects, 5 months ago to random

Re-designed my edge-lit seven-segment digit to take advantage of the super skinny (2.7mm wide) LED strip I found. When I feel up to tackling the project, I'm going to create a thinner version of my edge-lit digital clock (https://www.geekmomprojects.com/edge-lit-seven-segment-display/)

A seven segment display showing a single digit is constructed from 1/8 inch acrylic cut into segments with a skinny addressable LED strip winding around one edge of each segment in the digit. The video shows the digits 0 through 9 displayed in different Illuminated colors, which fill each segment of the displayed number.

geekmomprojects, 5 months ago to random

Made a counting cube out of edge-lit acrylic seven-segment digits. Here's a demo where each side counts at a different rate:

A clear acrylic cube rests on a table. Each side contains seven cutout segments that form a seven-segment display. A skinny LED strip is wrapped around the acrylic pieces such that each one borders the LED strip on one side. The cube is Illuminated and each side starts to display the digits advancing from zero to nine at different counting rates. Every time a side reaches zero, the Illuminated color of that side changes to a different color of the rainbow.

geekmomprojects, 5 months ago to random

Two good things happened together. I got a gorgeous new Lux Lavalier pendant from @jasoncoon, which uses WS2816 LEDs for high color fidelity at low brightness, AND I discovered this clear black PLA from Hatchbox which does a reasonable job transmitting light colors while still appearing opaque. It's not as good as LED acrylic, but since it's filament, I can do a lot more with it, like make a snap-fit cover for the Lux Lavalier pendant. Looking forward to more experiments with it.

A close up of a circular LED pendant with 64 LEDs arranged in a Fibonacci spiral, displaying a colorful twinkling LED animation. Hands reach into the frame, displaying a translucent black 3D printed cover, which is snapped over the LED pendant, resulting in a pretty light pattern diffusing through the cover while the other details of the pendant are hidden.

geekmomprojects, 6 months ago to random

Found this new form factor of diffused LED string on AliExpress ( https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMg3nRi ) It looks like a rope, is 15mm in diameter, quite sturdy and moderately flexible. There is a silicone diffusion layer around the LED string surrounded by a woven rope-like sheath. I wanted to try to work it into a wearable, even though it's a bit thick for clothing, so I'm sewing a bag which uses this string as piping and a strap. I'll post an update once it's taken shape.

geekmomprojects, 7 months ago to random

At #supercon I was checking continuity while soldering, but couldn't hear the beeps well. @maketvee found it quite amusing that I held the multimeter to my ear with my shoulder. His image and captions are pretty funny, but he may also have inadvertently launched my new career as an LED hotline operator!

geekmomprojects, 1 month ago to random

We adopted a super sweet 8 month old pup from a shelter two weeks ago and were convinced he was a Rottie-Shepherd mix. Just got the DNA results back, and, through his genes are primarily "mutt," the rest of the results have us going 😳

Photo of an adorable 8 month old pup with a Labrador build and German Shepherd markings laying down looking into the camera
DNA results for our dog Riley that reveal his genetic percentages as: 100% Riley 33.4% Supermutt 28.9% Australian Cattle Dog 12.9% Border Collie 11% Labrador Retriever 5.4% American Pit Bull Terrier 4.3% McNab 4.1% German Shepherd Dog

geekmomprojects, 9 months ago to FiberArts

After several failed attempts using a complicated technique, I successfully sewed a simple pattern to make a SMD resistor phone case. I forget to fully include the seam allowance in the size computation, so it just barely fits my phone. It makes a nice set along with my PTH resistor glasses case!
#sewing #sewingproject

A cutting mat with two small zipper bags on it. The glasses case bag in the background looks like a 47 Ohm through-hole resistor with a zipper in the tolerance stripe and the phone case bag in the foreground looks like a surface mount resistor with black body containing the number "103", and silver faux leather ends, with a zipper in one end and small D-ring attached to one side.

geekmomprojects, 5 months ago to random

Going to hold a contest, but instead of jellybeans in a jar, entrants will guess the number of M2 nuts embedded in my workspace rug.

geekmomprojects, 4 months ago to portland

Setting up my wearables installation with the CETI Institute in the Lloyd center (old GAP storefront) for the Portland Winter Lights Festival. Just need to clean up and tape down the power wires now. There are lots of other people setting up awesome original illuminated projects in the same space. If you're in the area, come by and check it out sometime this weekend. Info here: https://ceti.institute/event/constellations-2024/

#portland #winterlightfestival #wearables #ledwearables #ledart

A walk-by view of six mannequins wearing a varied assortment of illuminated clothing. The first three are wearing little black dresses enhanced with LED strips and fiber optic cables. The last three all have denim jackets with illuminated diffused shapes on the back, worn over clothing decorated with LED strips and strings. Each mannequin is carrying an Illuminated purse.

geekmomprojects, 4 months ago to random

I am having an absolute blast at the Portland Winter Light Festival! Ran around Downtown Portland last night looking at some of the exhibits, and taught a wearables workshop at the CETI Institute this morning. This is the only place I've ever been where I felt like I wasn't wearing enough LEDs! I'll try to update this thread with cool things I see or do here. Below is a picture of me with my wearables installation at the CETI institute gallery in Lloyd center:

geekmomprojects, 5 months ago to random

Broke some dowels while assembling a cheap wooden shoe rack. 30 minutes later (including modeling time) 3D printing FTW.

geekmomprojects, 8 months ago (edited 8 months ago) to random

Everybody, meet Karma, my new colorful companion bot designed with @Jorvon_Moss. She (she's definitely a girl, because Karma's a bitch) sits on my shoulders and responds to faces and to touch. One ear lights blue, depending on which side of midline she sees the closest face. Her head moves to track it too, though that part needs work. There is a small ($10!) "person" sensor in her head that locates face bounding boxes, plus a capacitive touch sensor that changes animation patterns when petted.

geekmomprojects, 8 months ago to random

It's possible I spent a large chunk of today designing and sewing a harness for Karma, my plush companion bot, and am now turning to social media in hopes of being convinced it was a worthwhile use of my time.

View of the belly of a lizard plushie wearing a hand-sewn vest. The view from underneath reveals that it is held shut with three snaps.
Side view of a lizard plushie wearing a beige military-style vest with a patch that says "IN TRAINING"
Top view of a lizard plushie curved into a half-crescent shape resting on a green cutting mat. Next to the lizard on the mat is a beige vest, similar to those worn by service dogs but sized for the plush lizard, with patches on both sides that say, "IN TRAINING"

geekmomprojects, 11 days ago to random

Had some custom temporary tattoos made to hand out at #Teardown. 😁