When working with components like capacitors and inductors it is always helpful to know how to calculate a resonant frequency. This Resonant Frequency Calculator is an excellent resource because it allows for calculating for Frequency, Inductance, or Capacitance. Sometimes plugging in what you know is faster than working through some algebra.
Check out the: Resonant Frequency Calculator.
When I was working on BinBoo (A Binary Clock), I decided I was going to create a custom enclosure with a laser cutter. The process took me a couple of iterations. The very first box I had cut didn’t hold together because I didn’t make enough “teeth.” The 2nd box included these and holds together solid.
After all of that work, I was pointed to BoxMaker which makes Laser Cutting a Box very simple. Check out how easy it is with these 4 steps.
One of the big advantages to using this script is defining the material thickness. For example, BinBoo is stuck with 3mm material because that’s how I designed the notches. I have to re-design from the start to use another type of material.
At this point the you can submit the file to a laser cutter or import it into a vector program to make modifications. Simple, eh?
What’s really cool is, the script is open source and can be found here: 
Recently I realized most of my projects were all Arduino-based. There are lots of other prototyping platforms available in the market, and the TI LaunchPad, based on the MSP430 is one of them. In fact, I have had one of these boards sitting in my box of stuff ever since they came out. At $5, they because an impulse purchase when I was buying some other stuff.
So, I dusted off the original box and recorded opening it up. Let’s see how it works.
Martin Rowe over at Test & Measurement World asks an interesting question: Are you a Scotty or a Geordi? While both were engineers in the Star Trek universe, they approached their jobs with a different philosophy.
Which engineer are you most like?
[Via: Are you a Scotty or a Geordi? | Test & Measurement World.]
One of the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s developers, Rob Bishop, is heading out on a Hackerspace tour in the US. Looks like he’ll be visiting a couple of spaces on the west coast, east coast, and my home town: Austin, TX.
