All posts in reverse chronological order
last modified: October 19, 2025
Posted on 2016-09-08— Projects
I built an 8×8 neodymium magnet matrix to keep steel-ball switches in place under a PCB for my Outmoded Sequencer. I walk through marking and drilling 64 holes, gluing each magnet, and sealing with acrylic paint. If you're curious to try this practical approach, read the full post for step-by-step tips.
Posted on 2016-09-05— Projects
I received the final black-and-gold PCBs for the Outmoded Sequencer and I’m pleased with the glossy finish, strong solder-mask contrast, and simplified routing after rearranging components. I cover the size changes, routing choices, and manufacturing details—please read on if you’d like the full build and photos.
Posted on 2016-09-02— Projects
The steel balls for my Outmoded Sequencer arrived today and they look great. I’ll use them to program the sequencer matrix, with small magnets underneath so each ball clicks into place. I’m excited to test this first version — read on if you’d like to see how it comes together.
Posted on 2016-08-31— Projects
I spent today shaping the Outmoded Sequencer case—switching from planned acrylic to a Dremel-cut wooden shell, sanded and spray-painted deep black. I fitted the knob panel, planned standoffs and PCB placement, and refined the circuit with caps and a line-out. Read on for photos and details.
Posted on 2016-08-24— Common
I walk through the errors I made moving from prototype to the first PCB — wrong values, unconnected copper pours, inaccessible pads, pin misassignments and spacing issues. I share practical fixes and prevention tips so you can avoid the same traps; read the full post for the complete checklist and examples.
Posted on 2016-08-23— Projects
I received beautiful violet PCBs for my Outmoded Sequencer project and I’m using them to experiment with different matrix approaches. Ordered from OSH Park to keep costs down, these boards make hands-on testing easier. If you’re interested in the build or my findings, please read the full post.
Posted on 2016-08-19— Fun, Projects
I made a small composition using the outmoded sequencer after my demo video and recorded it straight from the unit into an audio interface. I then layered percussion and bass while changing the matrix. If you're curious, please listen to the SoundCloud demo and read the short post about the process.
Posted on 2016-08-18— Projects
I started the Outmoded Sequencer Project to build a playful, minimal 8×8 music machine using only basic, inexpensive parts and no microcontroller. It loops simple melodies you can edit live. If you're curious about the design and how to build it, read the full project page for details.
Posted on 2016-08-17— Fun
My new Boldport Club project, "The Cuttle," arrived today — a minimal ATMega328-PU board shaped like a cuttlefish. Soldering was straightforward; I photographed each stage and made a short video of a simple LED effect. Read on if you'd like photos, the code, and a closer look.
Posted on 2016-08-11— Learn
I photographed common SMD components through a microscope to reveal how small imperfections appear up close. I cropped each image for clarity and included a 1 mm scale and captions describing the parts. If you’re curious about what resistors, capacitors and tiny ICs look like under magnification, read on.
Posted on 2016-08-11— Fun
I demonstrate SMD soldering in a short practice video, working through 1206 and 0805 packages and wrestling with tiny 0603 parts. If you’re curious about surface-mount techniques or improving your hand-soldering, watch the full video — I share what I learned and a few practical tips.
Posted on 2016-08-10— Software
I released Micro Disk, a tiny application that builds SD-friendly disk images for resource-constrained embedded projects. It stores ASCII filenames and sequential, 512-byte aligned files for simple, fast reads. I invite you to read the full post for downloads, format details, and source build instructions on GitHub.
Posted on 2016-07-21— Recommendations
I received my Boldport Club projects this week and enjoyed assembling Tap, The Lady, and the Cordwood Puzzle. I share photos, a short video, and honest notes about soldering, power needs, and assembly quirks. If you'd like a closer look, read the full post for details and tips.
Posted on 2016-06-29— Recommendations
I recently discovered Boldport Club, a monthly subscription that sends a single, artfully designed electronics project to assemble and solder yourself. Each kit centers on a crafted PCB and a few components. If you enjoy hands-on projects and neat design, I invite you to read the full post and see the projects.
Posted on 2016-05-22— Common
I filmed a short demonstration video that shows all 50 modes of my table light so you can see how each effect looks in real life. It won't replace hands-on use, but it's a useful first impression—watch the video and try adding your own colors and effects.
Posted on 2016-05-21— Projects
I recently built a simple, budget-friendly table light from an IKEA candle holder using a NeoPixel ring and an Adafruit Trinket. I walk through parts, wiring, and the ready-made software with 50 color and animation modes. Read the full project page if you'd like to build one.
Posted on 2015-11-24— How and Why, Projects
I explain how to use the Cat Protector project's scripts to prepare an SD card with audio samples. I walk you through installing SOX and Perl, converting WAVs with ConvertAudio.pl, building a disk image, and safely writing it with dd on Linux or macOS. Read the full guide for commands and tips.
Posted on 2015-10-08— Projects
I've published a step-by-step tutorial for building the Data Logger Deluxe. I split the documentation into clear parts — start page, overview, usage, parts list, hardware and software build — so you can follow at your own pace. Please start on the start page and read the full guide.
Posted on 2015-10-04— Projects
I've finished the deluxe data logger and made a short video showing the menu-driven interface, capacitive keypad, and sealed case built for high humidity. I ran into tight flash memory limits and simplified the code; I'm documenting the build and software — please read the full post and check the repo.
Posted on 2015-09-14— Projects
I'm putting the finishing touches on the deluxe data logger: hardware is built and tested, and I'm finalizing the menu-based software. It includes five capacitive inputs, record/view/send/erase functions and wireless charging. Please read the full post for details and prototype photos.