T&L Publications

You could learn to spell hobbyists for starters

check out rev-ed.co.uk their PicAxe system is a bootstrapped PIC, programmable in BASIC. Software is a free download with full tutorials. Programming hardware doesn't come much simpler than 2 resistors and a D9 plug. I have no connection with Rev-ed, just a satisfied user, and yes, I can program pic...

Silicon Chip magazine have something you may be able to adapt. Check
http://siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_101797/article.html

just for the record, re the first computer, ENIGMA etc, have a look at
http://www.picotech.com/applications/colossus.html
Sorry guys, it wasn't ENIAC.

presuming you want to speed control your lathe, no way home-brew unless you change to a DC or universal motor. Every lathe I have used, metal or wood, uses an induction motor. The only way to control these is with a variable frequency controller. The complexity, parts availability and safety issues ...

check out rev-ed.co.uk They supply a range of PicAxe chips which are bootstrapped PICs, programmable in BASIC. Software is a free download with full tutorials. Programming hardware is 2 resistors and a D9 plug out of your serial port. The 'basic BASIC' language includes a 'servo' one-line command fo...

Have a look at
rev-ed.co.uk
They supply a bootstrapped PIC chip series, programmable in BASIC. Software is a free download, and the programmer is 2 resistors and a D9 plug outta your serial port. Full tutorials are provided with the software, and the chips will drive leds directly.
Rgds, Lin

Agree, in part, with what Chris sez above but best advice is forget it and buy an AC HF TIG. It aint that simple. When welding aluminium, the positive half cycle cleans the oxide film from the metal, the negative half cycle provides the heat into the parent metal and filler wire. Get the balance wro...

Along the lines of Ed B's suggestion, take a look at
http://www.homemetalshopclub.org/news/sep01/sep01.html
Rgds, Lin

You really married to the serial port? If not, just use the parallel port. You've got 8 data lines dedicated to going click-clack. Use a ULN2803 darlington driver to pick off the signal and drive a relay.

Best advice is, forget it. The power costs of driving an alt/az mount outweigh any advantage gained. Having said that, I've had success using 2 leds as sensor elements, op-amp comparator and feed the OP to a simple transistor switch or an H-bridge controller. Not being hypocrytical here ,I was using...

Re cutting fibreglass PCB, I use 5" metal cut-off discs in an angle grinder. These discs are only 1MM thick and I also use em for cutting stainless steel, they're tough! Inox is the brand commonly available here in Oz. Sorry if this seems like a smartarse reply, but consider it. A little ingenu...

Marc, you are speaking my language. I have an old XT (yes with 5 1/4" floppy drive) doing the sorta stuff of which you speak. Too long to go into here, but if you'd like to leave a personal message, I'll get back to you with as many details as you like.

PS, I've just googled "picaxe code" and come up with 429 hits

Yup, me again. Yes I did it the hard way first, PIC assembler etc. When I came across the picaxe system I damn near wept! It is cheap, not much more than the original PIC chips. It is so easy for the beginner (and pro). The software is free and well supported. The programming "hardware" is...