The microscope basically consists of a CD-ROM pickup unit. It contains an infrared laser diode, some optical components, a movable lens and a photodiode array. The laser diode is driven by an LM317 in current control mode. A single photodiode is connected to an amplifier. The current sensing resistor is a trim potentiometer to adjust the sensitivity.

Forus and tracking coils (which move the lens) are driven by NPN transistors attached to the output of a DAC with a carefully chosen base resistor inbetween.

The whole pickup unit is glued to a CD-ROM BLDC spindle motor with the lens facing down. A spring keeps it in position. Current flowing through a single motor phase creates a small amount of movement in the direction perpendicular to the tracking movement of the lens. The movement is rotational and not linear. That creates some distortion in the resulting pictures.

The motor is also driven by a DAC and NPN transistor combination.

A microcontroller communicates with the DACs and slowly moves the lens across the object. After every small movement the photodiode response is sampled by an ADC and the value used as brightness value for a single pixel of the final picture.

Aspect ratio is just roughly adjusted. Several kinds of distortion can be seen in the resulting pictures, resulting from non-linear movement, friction, mechanical shaking and so on.

The aluminum tray is handy to get the target object into position. It is attached to the tray by adhesive tape. The tray also keeps metal objects away from the pickup unit. The focus and tracking coils inside need permanent magnets, making the thing magnetic.

The black tape next to the spring keeps outside light away from the photodiode array.

Here is my last solution to the Reverse Engineering 3's week 7 tie-break. This is sturdy, but not as much as my best solutions. Cross your eyes to see it in 3D.

I was wondering how asymmetry would change the center. Most of my other solutions were symmetrical in at least two directions. This one is only in one direction.

The exploded view is color-coded. The black bricks are travis bricks and the lime ones are 1x2 technic with 2 holes. The two travis-technic-travis units are held together with pneumatic tees, but it could use flex tube.

The travis and technic bricks hold 10 of the 12 side plates and two tiles of each of the "pyramids".

This uses the 1x1 plate with horizontal rod holder with a thick loop.

The thick loop is one plate thick and puts the red 1x1 plates flush to the top. Unfortunately, it also puts the one to the side slightly down from the top. This works fine for a connection to a 1x2 tile. So this connects the last two side tiles and one more of the end plates of each pyramid.

Then a pin-stud (4274) is placed in the bottom of the other two travis bricks and are used as the studs for the last two end plates of the pyramids.

Desoldered headphone jack

Here is my third very solid solution to the Reverse Engineering 3's week 7 tie-break.

I've been looking for a solution that connects everything with studs. This one comes closest, using a couple flex tubes for additional rigidity. This one is probably not stronger than my version 2, but is no weaker either.

The exploded view is color-coded. The black bricks are travis bricks, the lime ones are 1x1 technic, and the grey one is a plain 1x1. The two travis-technic-travis units are held together with flex tube.

The travis and technic bricks hold 10 of the 12 side plates and one of the "pyramids".

There are two kinds of 1x1 plate with horizontal rod holders in this -- the one with the thin loop and the one with the thick loop. Here the thin loop is light pink and the thick loop is dark pink.

The thick loop is one plate thick and puts the dark-red 1x1 plates flush to the top. Unfortunately, it also puts the one to the side slightly down from the top. This works fine for a connection to a 1x2 tile. So this connects the last two side tiles and two of the end plates of the second pyramid.

These plates will not fit on the other two travis bricks because that offset would make them run into the technic bricks.

Luckily we have the thin-loop ones. These are proportioned so that the red 1x1 plates on their loops line up with the side of their plate. They are connected to the other two end plates of the pyramid, and also to the same side tile as the technic bricks.

And to even further stiffen it, a pin-stud and regular 1x1 connect the plates through the center. (In the IRL model the center brick is round since I really seem to have lost my entire container of 1x1s.)

--An assembly note - notice the thin loop plate does not actually push into the travis brick. (The front corner of the bottom right inset.) This does not affect solidity in the least as it is securely connected in three other ways. However, it is best to connect it to the end plate first, and then assemble it in.

This is a reverse-engineering.

All credits goes to Mike Nieves

Link to original model: www.flickr.com/photos/retinence/31335395217/in/photostream/

Here is my fourth (or third-and-a half) very solid solution to the Reverse Engineering 3's week 7 tie-break.

This solution is slightly different from the third version I posted (www.flickr.com/photos/infrapinklizzard/8599529262).

I've been looking for a solution that connects everything with studs. This one comes closest, using a three flex tubes for additional rigidity. This one is probably the strongest by a tiny bit.

The exploded view is color-coded. The black bricks are travis bricks, the lime ones are 1x1 technic, and the grey one is a plain 1x1. The two travis-technic-travis units are held together with flex tube.

The travis and technic bricks hold 10 of the 12 side plates and one of the "pyramids".

There are two kinds of 1x1 plate with horizontal rod holders in this -- the one with the thin loop and the one with the thick loop. Here the thin loop is light pink and the thick loop is dark pink.

The thick loop is one plate thick and puts the dark-red 1x1 plates flush to the top. Unfortunately, it also puts the one to the side slightly down from the top. This works fine for a connection to a 1x2 tile. So this connects the last two side tiles and two of the end plates of the second pyramid.

These plates will not fit on the other two travis bricks because that offset would make them run into the technic bricks.

Luckily we have the thin-loop ones. These are proportioned so that the red 1x1 plates on their loops line up with the side of their plate. They are connected to the other two end plates of the pyramid, and also to the same side tile as the technic bricks.

This is where it differs from the first. The thin-loop plates are turned 90° from the other version. This allows the same connections to the side and end tiles as the other version. The vertical stability is enhanced a tiny bit by having a full stack of brick and plate. The two plates are also connected more firmly by a piece of flex tube through the loops. There are three "1x1 round plates with hole" to brace the center of the top pyramid. (The flex tube in the picture is too long due to a CAD limitation. Also, looking at it again, I should have extended the flex tube out from those 1x1 rounds to fit into the loops.)

Here are two solutions to the Reverse Engineering 3's week 3 bonus.

The one on the left is pretty much like my first solution for this week, and works, but is disappointing in terms of elegance. The grey and red parts are obvious from the exemplar. the blue clips hold the cheese slopes together and also connect them to the 2x4 tiles. There's a green plate between them to provide stability. This completes a ring around the container. Then there's the roadsigns to attach to the sides. On each side is a 3L length of pneumatic tubing (black here). They are clipped into the roadsigns. To actually hold them in they are threaded through a 2L technic beam. (It shows as a collision in this CAD.)

Assembly order would be important with this one. Starting with the Technic beam, thread one tube through and clip the roadsigns on, then same for the other side. Attach blue clips to the red tiles. Add the green plates to one side. Now sandwich the tube assembly between the red tile assemblies. Last, hold them together by clipping on the cheese slopes.

It works, but as I said, is inelegant. As I was preparing to upload it, I thought of the method on the right.

Realizing that the blue clips connect a ring, I saw that the space between them could hold something that connects the roadsigns. That space is shorter than 2L, but the Exo Force robot hands fit perfectly with the rod in one side's clip and the hand's clip gripping the other. The transparent 1x1 round brick provides support.

The order of assembly would be 1. blue clips and the clear 1x1 round to the red tiles 2. cheese onto the blue clips 3. hand clips to roadsign clips 4. thread them in and attach roadsigns to other side.

I never saw this before, but it's quite simple and elegant. Just two sheets of plastic with conductive traces on them, with another sheet full of holes in between. The holes prevent the traces from touching until you press down through the rubber bump.

This was a very interesting experiment in solving the tie-break for the Reverse Engineering 3 contest. This failed to replicate the tie-break, but ended up interesting itself.

The bottom pyramid is held together by the two "1x1 plates with vertical clip" (4085) (red) separated by a 1x1 plate (pink). This holds them securely and even keeps them square.

Then eight of the side tiles are held by the four black travis bricks. The pin-studs become the studs for the other pyramid.

The center side tiles are then left. They are held by more of the 4085s. These are clipped as far out as they can be, and they are held out by the studs of the travis bricks. These can be clipped either as shown, or they can all be clipped to the top pyramid.

It holds together, but is not highly secure. A ten-year-old would probably not be able to assemble it.

But it looks cool.

The Space Shuttle called. They want you to turn off that LED.

This does not improve any of my solutions, but it is yet another different way to attach everything. Cross your eyes to see this in 3D.

Travis bricks are black, technic are lime. These connect to 10 of the 12 side tiles and the bottom pyramid.

The dark pink plates are 4081b. These connect the two bottom units and the center side tiles on two sides.

The light pink plates are 4081a. These connect to the center side tiles that are already connected to the technics, and also to two of the upper pyramid tiles.

The other two upper pyramid tiles are connected to a stack of two 1x1round plates with hole, which are connected to the travis bricks in their corner with a cut flex tube.

Additionally, there's a flex tube connecting them with some more 1x1 round plates with holes to brace the center of the top. (It's shown too long due to a CAD limitation.)

To assemble, the plates attached to the top should be attached before attaching the top assembly to the bottom. The center side tiles that attach the light pink plates assemblies to the lime technic bricks would be attached last.

Re-soldered with redundant wires

A reverse engineering of this.

The tan tiles are obvious from the picture. Inside are four red jumper plates (yellow in the photo), two grey pin-studs, and The One Ring (gold minifig ring). The red jumper plates connect opposite tiles, the pin-studs connect and support the jumper plates in each unit. The ring connects the two units together.

Then a part I'm not terribly happy with. To connect the end tile(s), we must cut flex tube and pneumatic tube. Cut the flex tube to 5mm and the pneumatic tube to half that. Stick the flex tube into the open stud of the jumper and then the pneumatic tube bit over the part that sticks out. That allows it to connect to the center tube of the end tile.

This is a reverse-engineering.

All credits goes to Mike Nieves

Link to original model: www.flickr.com/photos/retinence/31335395217/in/photostream/

Reverse Engineering technique allows to scan the frame of Caravaggio painting and the analysis of proportions for research and restoration issues.

Hypnose - Lukasheva, reverse engineered; www.kusudama.me/#/Hypnose/Hypnose

Re-soldered with redundant wires

I'm in skirt-making mode.

IKEA fabric, some pockets (REAL pockets, not dinky lady-clothes "pockets"), invisible side zipper, buttons, yoke. Semi-engineered from a favorite old corduroy skirt.

I want to make 8 more of these! Fast and comfortable.

This is a reverse-engineering.

All credits goes to Mike Nieves

Link to original model: www.flickr.com/photos/retinence/43949178682/in/photostream/

a project i made as part of an independent study at the university of michigan. i used to do live video projections at electronic shows using a software program i wrote. this was designed to replace that program in hardware.

sadly, i never really finished this, and that fact has always haunted me.

Desoldered headphone jack

Easter egg in the Mac SE ROM. Details: www.nycresistor.com/2012/08/21/ghosts-in-the-rom/

The two metal plates and the guts of the card. Notice the masking tape... uh... optical attenuator...

This is a video presentation by Diamond Tool & Die, Inc., of Oakland, California, from our 2012 Design 2 Part Trade Show, in Santa Clara, CA.. You will see precision machined parts, from tiny parts to large assemblies, in a variety of metals and plastics, for industries from Aerospace to Windpower. For more information, please go to www.dtdjobshop.

Video by Jenny Martens.

A preliminary cover design for my next novel, Incubus Sky, which will be a scifi exploration of the alien-abduction phenomenon. (Update 8/29/14: The title is now Ulterior Sky. Update 3/28/17: The title is now Ontogenesis (Libri Mysterii Book 5.) From my research into the surprisingly widespread phenomenon, I've learned that a lot of people are experiencing *something* that can leave them with post traumatic stress disorder but no one knows conclusively what it is. I'm not writing about the phenomenon because I think I know what it is or isn't all about; I simply find it a compelling scenario that affects people of all social classes all around the world. The implications are profound, and the experiences deeply affect those involved. It's an interesting subject that seems to expand the more I research it. So, just how deep *does* this rabbit hole go?

This is a reverse-engineering.

All credits goes to

Tyler Clites

Link to original model: www.flickr.com/photos/legohaulic/49874747658/in/photostream/

Model No. SW1200

120VAC 60Hz 2W input

From what I can find online:

Seawise Industrial Ltd

Hing Wah Centre

6th Floor, # 601

84 To Kwa Wan

Kowloon, Hong Kong

This model is apparently a 12.4 kV output.

7.5 kV output model is available for $10.95 here: Electronic Goldmine - 120VAC (7.5kV Output) Negative Ion Generator

Swanson Technologies - Inexpensive High Voltage Power Supply explains, with a schematic showing how it is negative high-voltage output relative to neutral AC wire.

The two plastic pieces are just glued at the three nubs. Razor blade got them apart with no damage.

3D Laser scanning is becoming ever more common in the engineering world and industry, which keeps me busy as a job. The basic principle is to create a Point Cloud or millions of points in 3D space. Any of these points could be measured or used in CAD.

The next step would be to turn these millions of points into thousands of triangles. This creates what is called an STL Mesh (Stereolithography). The file then becomes a surface file which can be used in CAD, rendering or a number of other packages.

So basically i get to spend my day scanning parts and Reverse Engineering them into CAD Models, Inspecting parts against the original model or just creating a 3D model for visual, film or gaming areas.

This photo was taken while out on site doing some scanning work using an NDI Optotrak and Perceptron V5 Laser Scanning Head. It allows very fast and very accurate capture of the surface.

See (http://www.europacmetrology.co.uk ) for more details)

Disassembly of a Rocketfish Bluetooth mouse and keyboard combo.

pluralistic.net/2025/01/14/contesting-popularity/#everybo...

A multiton bank vault door set in a red room. Within the vault, we see a 'code waterfall' effect as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. In front of the fault is a ghoulish, skull-faced figure in a tailcoat and a red sash, holding a tube that is vomiting out a poorly differentiated stream of rubbish and slop.