Communicating With Ardunio Using Micrsoft .NET (C#)
Being a .Net developer, I figured I needed to know how to get my applications to talk to the Ardunio board via the USB serial port. Took a few hours to get the Ardunio code working, but here is the final results.
I setup a simple VS2008 C# project (you'll need to modify to compile with VS2005) to turn a LED on and off by clicking a button on the form. You'll need to change the hard-coded COM port to the correct one for your setup and hook up the LED (don't forget your resistor) to the digial PIN 12 on the Ardunio board.
- A few things to note:
- I'm using a fixed char command "INLENGTH" which will need to be updated if you wish to increase the command char length.
- I've used # to pad the command when I don't have a 6 char command.
- LED must be on digital PIN 12 (you can change this in the code of course).
- COM port is hard-coded in the .Net code for my setup, change to correct COM port on our computer.
- Title : ArduinoSerialCommTest
Caption :
File name : ArduinoSerialCommTest.zip
Size : 43 kB
- Title : ArduinoSerialCommTest
Caption :
File name : ArduinoSerialCommTest.zip
Size : 43 kB
Learning To Count Again..
I decide to stop by Radio Shack and pick up a seven segment LED (RHDP) so I could learn to use it with my Arduino board. I had actually ordered a few from Jameco but I had a couple of hours to kill today so I decided to feed my impulse. The cool thing about these displays is that they are really easy to use. You can see in the pictures there are lots of wires, it basically takes 1 digital output per segment and a common ground to run it (I didn't use the decimal point), but really the coding was super simple. Ignore all those resistors on the picture below, I didn't have a 68ohm resistors so I had to improvise with some lower ohm resistors put in series. This is a very satisfying project and only took me about 45mins from start to finish, highly recommended for those new to the Arduino board... I've included a ZIP file with the code and a few hi-res pictures for anyone instrested.
- Title : SevenSegmentLED
Caption :
File name : SevenSegmentLED.zip
Size : 1 MB
- Title : SevenSegmentLED
Caption :
File name : SevenSegmentLED.zip
Size : 1 MB
Don’t tread on me! Dangit….
So a few months back I decided to get my act together and start realoding my own ammo. Finding reasonably priced accurate ammo is too rare these days. This is my setup before the presses were put on! My father-in-law hooked me up with the sweet table (solid maple table)! No reloading setup would be complete without the classic Gadsden flag!
I'll update everyone on my progress as I find supplies! It's tough to get primers these days!
Lockheed Martin’s MKV kicks major butt!
If you haven't seen this thing yet, you gotta check it out. Check out the video, this is for real...
Building your own PCBs
I ran across this article while shopping at SparkFun.com. They outline s
ome very good tips for eliminating quality issues with the boards you submit to the fab houses. If you use Eagle to build your boards, I strongly suggest you utilize their DRC and CAM files to get yourself started in the right direction. These guys have added so much to the community it's amazing.
Do we really need a bathroom exhaust fan?
I was at Lowes a few weeks back to exchange out our propane tank and pick up a few misc items and as I walked up to the store I couldn't help but notice they were having an annual clearance event (never knew they had one). Anyhow, the isle ways were full of junk and most of it was pure junk but I thought I'd find some little golden nugget in the piles of junk somewhere...
That's when I noticed this sitting on top of some busted doors. The box was ripped open but after a quick examination it appeared to be not only fully intact, but no missing parts (even had the owner’s manual). With no price listed, I asked one of the sales associates and he said that this was not supposed to be on clearance because they still stock them but he'd give it to me for 60% off. 2 scones and 140CFM, SOLD! WOOT! Not sure we need one but I think my wife will appreciate it, she always gets upset that she can't stay in the bathroom to do her hair while I'm in the shower because the bathroom quickly builds up with steam.
It'll be a few more weeks before I can get this project off the ground, I've been researching already but I have to work the next few weekends so all my plans are on hold...bleh.