Sydney PC User Group Incorporated
Helping Members for 32 Years
Visitors are always welcome
Meetings During the Week 13 - 18 June 2016


1st Floor
Sydney Mechanics'
School of Arts
280 Pitt Street, Sydney
http://www.sydneypc.com

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Sydney PCUG's Blog

Next week's meetings
  • Tuesday Forum
  • Family History
  • Digital Photography

 


 
Hello and Welcome,
 
Details of this week's meetings are below.

Tuesday 14 June - Programming - 6:00 - 8:00

At this month's meeting members will demonstrate and discuss the projects they are currently working on.

At the May meeting Andrew showed the electronic schematic for his water meter tester, and its program. All its functions are activated by a single PIC12F629, the smallest of the PIC micros.

Martin showed a 3.5in LCD touch screen he bought on Ebay for his Raspberry Pi minicomputer. We heard of an improved way of transferring PCB artwork to the copper when using the iron-on or laminator process. Peeling off the paper from the copper blank usually results in some of the toner coming away with the paper. Instead the artwork is printed on alfoil, laminated to the copper blank, and submerged in hydrochloric acid. The acid dissolves the aluminium, leaving the toner artwork adhering to the copper, which is unaffected by the acid. The copper is then etched away by adding some hydrogen peroxide to the acid, or by other means. Precautions should be taken, working outdoors using goggles, plastic gloves and tongs, and avoiding the liquids and fumes.

Alex discussed some sensors, the Doppler HB100 motion sensor, a microwave sensor, radar speed detectors, ultraviolet light level sensors, and passive infrared sensors. A kit of 37 Arduino compatible sensors is available from Wiltronics.

Lino described a bugbot, a toy that can be made by fixing a telephone vibrator to the brush head, cut from a toothbrush. On activation the device scurries along like an insect. A commercial version is sold by Jaycar, part no. YG2891.

Friday 18 June - Web Design - 2:00 - 4:00

At this month's Web Design group we will look at a menu project by Michael D Bray. This is one Bob sent in from a site called Codeproject and is a rather unique look at the problem of drop down, fly out menus.

Most menus are based on using the list element in html. This is understandable as most menus are lists, book chapters, meeting reports etc. However, this menu has no list, its all about nesting divs to create the menu structure and using css to position and display the menu either horizontally or vertically as needed. The original html looked rather daunting, especially as he doesn't comment the end divs so it took a bit of time to follow the nesting, but the concept and the css are relatively easy to follow. I have experimented with it to make a practical example we can use.

If time is with us we can have a Q & A session after the break so bring your ideas or let us see you latest projects.
Steve South

Information for Members and Visitors:
 
All Meetings, unless specifically stated above, are held on the
1st Floor, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
 
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