User:Dboyer
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[hide]About Me
I am a MS CompE student at UAH. I've been getting involved at ML256 because it's been a great place to work so far and it's fun to have like-minded folks around. I'm originally from Alaska so I'm a bit out of my element here, but it's nice to have a place to hang. I'm still getting to know people and am still learning names, so please feel free to (re)introduce yourself if you see me in the shop tinkering. If you have any questions or want to collaborate on something, let me know! I'm pretty knowledgeable about digital electronics, embedded systems, and a whole slew of random things. I also tend to horde electronics parts so feel free to hit me up if you are building something and need a weird part asap.
Interests
Programming
I know a handful of languages, and can usually get by alright learning a new one.
- C / C++ (usually C for embedded work, C++ on PCs)
- C# (not very knowledgable about .Net so I tend to do things the hard way)
- Web development using PHP & SQL mostly (bit of hacking CSS in there as well)
- Processing, a neat Java wrapper but looking at my code you'd guess I don't know Java... and you'd be right.
- HDLs like VHDL & Verilog
- Visual Basic (borderline embarressing)
- Bash & tcl because I'm hella lazy and love to automate things
Microcontrollers
I love microcontrollers. I'm most familiar with MSP430s thanks to Uni classes, but I have had my fingers in a ton of projects over the years. I have done some assembly work with microcontrollers (beats the hell out of x86 assembly) but mostly do C any more.
- MSP430 - I have a USB Olimex programmer and generally use CrossStudio for development. They are awesomely power efficient but a bit of a PITA to configure. I usually have a few on hand, and tend to prefer one of the following:
- MSP430F149
- MSP430F169
- MSP430F1611
- PIC - I have a Pickit2 and use MPLAB for development. I started on the PIC16 series but have found dsPICs to be pretty sweet for what I've been doing lately; cheap, easy to use, and plenty flexible for a number of jobs. Lately I've been using dsPIC30F4012 for a lot of odds and ends.
Music
I love music. I consume to much, and waste too much time attempting to play it. I've been 'playing' guitar forever, and have picked up bass, drums, and saxamaphone. I can sort of play a piano, but even worse than the aforementioned instruments. Nice thing about electric guitar is there is plenty of room for electronics projects!
Art
I think a lot of my electronics and music work ends up crossing into the 'art' category, but that's natural. Lately, I've been playing around with glass etching and stenciling; mostly things I can print and trace because I'm a terrible artist!
- Related Projects
Metalworking
I love taking a piece of generic metal and turning it into something useful. I was sad to see the shop didn't have a decent sized mill and lathe. Mills are awesome, and there is something fascinating about machining something with perfect radial symmetry on a lathe. Plus metal objects polish nicely and end up shiny!
Robotics
Electronics
DIY
It's amazing in a world where retail products often sell for less than the material to make then would cost that there is still room for DIY. Sometimes though, you can't find something that fits your needs exactly, you're in a niche where the manufactures don't have the benefit of scale, you're doing something new and wonderful, or you have to DIY just because it just feels good man.
- Related Projects
3D Printing
Something that is fairly popular at the shop. I have a few ideas that I will have to explore in the future!
Projects
| Project Name | Description | Status |
| The rakish rats' posh pad | Homemade cage to house my pet rats | Completed |
| Engine Mount/Dynometer | Heavy mount for testing RC engines and motors | Engine Mount/Dynometer |
| Stencil art | I have been experimenting with spraypaint stenciling | Experimenting |
