Hardware Hacker IV
`
`Don Lancaster’s
`
`Hardware Hacker
`
`Selected reprints — volume IV
`Electronics Now series (January 1992 - January 1994)
`
`Copyright c. 1994 by Don Lancaster and Synergetics Press
`Box 809, Thatcher, AZ 85552 (602) 428-4073
`
`ISBN 1-882193-04-0
`
`Book-on-demand self-published using the Apple IIe computer, a duplex LaserJet and the
`PostScript language. All graphics were done in their entirety by ProDOS AppleWriter 2.1.
`
` i
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`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 1 of 12
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`Hardware Hacker IV
`
` ii
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`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 2 of 12
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`Hardware Hacker IV
`
`Introduction
`
`Welcome to the fourth volume in our ongoing series of my Hardware Hacker
`reprints from Electronics Now magazine. This volume includes the January 1992
`through January 1994 columns.
`
`As before, I do use the term "hacker" in its original context, namely anyone who is
`genuinely interested in pushing all the limits of software and hardware and is
`willing to do so in a fully cooperative, low cost and sharing network environment.
`
`I’ve tried to expand the topics beyond the strict boundaries of traditional
`electronics. Going into the science and math subjects many of you have asked for
`over our voice helpline.
`
`I still get lots of pseudoscience and "free energy" questions. So, focus areas of this
`volume include thermodynamics, power transfer theorems, and related engineering
`fundamentals. Stuff that outright precudes all perpetual motion scams. At the same
`time, I have indexed and listed most of the fake pseudoscience sources. Mostly,
`because they make wondrously bizarre reading, I guess.
`
`Some of the more popular subjects in this volume include distant FM reception,
`Newtek’s Video Toaster, advanced halftone imaging, and new solar energy
`developments. Plus updates on wavelets, caller ID, and GPS navigation. And great
`stuff on cubic splines, UFO’s, and phone interfaces.
`
`Preprints and reprints of most of my columns are also available electronically via
`GEnie PSRT. Presented in both PostScript and Adobe Acrobat formats. For GEnie
`access, have your modem dial (800) 638-8369. After the prompt, enter JOINGENIE.
`When you are later asked for your keycode, enter DMD524.
`
`I continue to offer my no-charge voice helpline at (602) 428-4073, and offer free
`referrals from our Synergetics Consultant’s Network. I’ve also got a free and newly
`expanded Hardware Hacker Inside Secrets and catalog waiting for you when you
`call or write. You can also grab this as SYNCAT1.PS off GEnie PSRT, or else
`request one through my Internet address of SYNERGETICS@GENIE.GEIS.COM.
`
`The Electronics Now subscription number is (516) 293-3000.
`
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`Hardware Hacker IV
`
`About the Author
`
`As he said in his classic Incredible Secret Money Machine II, Don Lancaster
`writes books. And quests tinajas.
`
`Microcomputer pioneer and guru Don Lancaster is the author of 33 books, 2 videos,
`and countless articles. These include his TTL Cookbook and CMOS Cookbook
`internationally published million seller classics. Don is considered by some to be
`the father of the personal computer, for his early ground-breaking work with hacker
`digital electronics and low cost video terminal displays. He is considered by others
`to be the patron saint of the Walter Mitties of the World. And by yet others as the…
`Uh, I guess we better skip that one.
`
`Don is the Hardware Hacker in Electronics Now (516) 293-3000, runs his Resource
`Bin in Nuts & Volts (714) 371-8497, and is the Blatant Opportunist in Midnight
`Engineering (719) 254-4558. Don is also the sysop for GEnie PSRT, a leading
`Hardware hacking, PostScript, laser publishing, and money machine on-line
`resource. His Ask the Guru columns continue to be published electronically on
`PSRT. For fast GEnie modem access, dial (800) 638-8369. Then JOINGENIE and
`DMD524.
`
`Don is also the head honcho of Synergetics, a new-age design and consulting firm
`that specializes in computer applications, laser printing, PostScript development
`work, electronic prototypes, Book-on-demand publishing, technical writing, and
`innovative software design. His avocations include firefighting, cave exploration,
`bicycling, and, of course, tinaja questing.
`
`Don maintains a no-charge voice helpline at (602) 428-4073. He does welcome your
`calls and letters. The best calling times are 8-5 weekdays, Mountain Standard Time.
`Referrals to Don’s Synergetics Consultant’s Network are available through this
`same number. F
`
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`Hardware Hacker
`
`Table of Contents
`
`Caller ID chips update
`Perpetual motion again
`New wavelets shareware
`Common lab test pitfalls
`Lumeloid and Lepcon films
`
`Using the IC master
`Wavelets info update
`Another Caller ID chip
`Piano & organ resources
`Musical note frequencies
`
`Laser printing repairs
`Sync separator circuit
`GPS navigation update
`Video interface module
`Hacking Super Nintendo
`
`FM stereo broadcasters
`Super Nintendo update
`CD to car radio adaptors
`DYS and other resources
`Ockham’s razor revisited
`
`Dye-based solar energy
`Another sad patent story
`Neo-Geo interface cables
`Micro-avionics newsletter
`RGB monitor fundamentals
`
`Santa Claus machine BBS
`Direct toner breakthrough
`Laser printer repair video
`Synchronous rectifier ideas
`Fundamentals of correllation
`
`Electronic halftones
`Apple’s PhotoGrade
`Consultants network
`Two great new books
`Marketing your ideas
`
`Alternate action latches
`Histogram equalization
`Gamma curve correction
`Digital image processing
`Semiconductor IC houses
`
`Distant FM reception
`UFO resources listing
`TV/FM booster circuits
`UHF & VHF amplifiers
`Pseudoscience research
`
`Conventional currents
`Assorted wonderments
`FM Yagi antenna design
`Navigation & navicubes
`Two new piezo rate gyros
`
`High side FET drivers
`Drawing semilog plots
`Laser printer repair kits
`Resonance fundamentals
`Far East electronic sources
`
`Relaxation oscillators
`NewTek’s video toaster
`Broadcast trade journals
`Syncronizing video sources
`Electric Discharge Machining
`
`more . . .
` v
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`

`Hardware Hacker
`
`
`
`Epoxy encapsulation myths
`Nichrome & resistance wire
`Semiconductor suppliers III
`FCC part 68 phone interface
`Copy protection absurdities
`
`Using cubic splines
`Switchmode resources
`Electrorheological fluids
`National’s simple switcher
`Non-ionizing radiation safety
`
`Video game repair videos
`Piezoelectric fundamentals
`Understanding Curie Points
`Simple home EDM machining
`Stunning new ic opportunities
`
`Steam calliope sources
`Micropower oscillators
`Avoiding energy scams
`Thermodynamic basics
`The comm trade journals
`
`Short haul telemetry
`Max-min slope theory
`SETI books & resources
`Unique new optical link
`Maximum power transfers
`
`A flying car newsletter
`Photopolymer resources
`Amateur television books
`Royalty-free real PostScript!
`BASIC Stamp microcontroller
`
`Single station FM traps
`FM DX reception update
`Free GPS receiver boards
`Resources for "free energy"
`Nonlinear graphic secrets
`
`Pulse monitor resources
`New wireless comm mag
`An update on free energy
`Aerobic exercise software
`Thermoelectric guidelines
`
`Magic resources listing
`Dialog and Usenet access
`Data compression secrets
`Alternator to stepper video
`Gaining comm transparency
`
`Digital photo imaging
`Magnetic field resources
`Fluxgate compass papers
`A pair of new GPS books
`Error diffusion techniques
`
`Digital Bogey contest
`Multimedia resources
`CTCSS tone squelching
`Coin mechanism sources
`Low distortion sinewaves
`
`Hacker’s data exchange
`Adobe’s Acrobat system
`New pseudoscience mag
`Voice messaging circuits
`Special effects resources
`
` vi
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`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 6 of 12
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`

`

`Hardware Hacker
`Areminder once again that I
`
`Don Lancaster’s
`
`July, 1993
`
`do try to gather most of our
`mentioned items into a pair
`of sidebars. You will usually
`find one for all the regular
`Names &
`, and a second that targets a
`Numbers
`special resource category.
`We try to triple check all entries.
`First by my own research. Second by
`Kathy, our superb proofer and fact
`checker. And third by
` editorial
`EN
`spot checks.
`To date, I have received over
`two
` helpline calls asking me for
`hundred
` source
`the
`Integrated Circuit Systems
`from two columns back. Well, it was
`right where it belonged. Smack dab in
`the middle of that
`Names & Numbers
`sidebar. Complete with reader service
`number.
`Before calling my no-charge tech
`helpline, please read the
` story,
`entire
`double check both sidebars, and have
`a pencil or pen ready.
`A new microcontroller
`As figure one shows us, the
`BASIC
` from
` is a brand new
`Stamp
`Parallax
` hacker computer the size of a
`$39.00
`commerative postage stamp. This is
`basically a
` microcontroller,
`PIC16C56
`a
` byte
`, a resonator and
`256
`EEPROM
`a voltage regulator. Eight
` lines
`I/O
`form your real world interface. These
`are provided for in a breadboard area.
` is the supplier
`Microchip Technology
`of the
`.
`CPU
`This one is cute as a bug.
`An approximate schematic appears
`in figure two. Burned into the custom
` is a
` interpreter. The fully
`CPU
`BASIC
`tokenized instructions are prestored
`into the companion serial
`EEPROM
`and then automatically interpreted on
`each power up.
`The
` program and data storage
`total
`area is only
` bytes in the
`256
`EEPROM
`plus an additional
` internal working
`16
`registers.
`No, you can not run multi-tasking
` on this machine. But since each
`UNIX
`tokenized
` command requires
`BASIC
`only a very few bytes, and since some
` fancy macros are available, you
`very
`can create surprisingly sophisticated
`
`A flying car newsletter
`Photopolymer resources
`Amateur television books
`Royalty-free real PostScript!
`BASIC Stamp microcontroller
`
`programs on your own.
`Program development is normally
`done on your
` host, using the fancy
`PC
`editor and interpreter provided. On
`the host, you are working directly in
`. And have all of your normal
`BASIC
`resources available. The interpreter
`then tokenizes the final program and
`uploads it to the
` Stamp via a
`BASIC
`three-wire cable that connects to your
`host’s parallel port.
` Stamp
`Once uploaded, your
`BASIC
`becomes a dedicated computer which
`can be used just about anywhere.
`Power can come from a clip-on
`9
`volt battery. Power consumption is an
`impressive mils when running and a
`2
`mere
` microamps when asleep.
`20
`Figure three shows the instruction
`set. Besides all the usual tiny
`BASIC
`commands, there are some powerful
`macros offered.
` debounces
`BUTTON
`input contacts. With a lot of options.
` returns variables to your
`DEBUG
`host for debugging and analysis. A
` macro offers a direct option
`BRANCH
`picking. Just like the
` command
`CASE
`in fancier languages.
` gives you selectable time
`PAUSE
` is an 8-bit
` converter
`delays.
`POT
`A/D
`that reads a potentiometer input. It
`can also read a photocell, thermistor,
`or whatever.
` can measure the
`PULSIN
`duration of any input pulse with a ten
`microsecond resolution. The similar
`
`PIC16C56
`
`EEPROM
`
`Fig. 1 – THE BASIC STAMP is a
`$39.00 hacker microcontroller using
`a Microchip Technology CPU.
`
` command delivers a timed
`PULSOUT
`output signal.
` directly outputs pulse width
`PWM
`modulation. Adding a resistor and a
`capacitor can change this to an 8-bit
`accurate analog voltage.
`Now for the neat stuff. The
`SERIN
`macro is a full serial data receiver
`with selectable baud rates from
` to
`300
`. This can become
`self-qualifying
`1200
`in which you can wait for a specified
`character sequence.
` directly
`SEROUT
`generates serial output data for
`RS623
`use.
` with an external driver.
`RS232
`A
` output can produce
`SOUND
`128
`tones and
` noise effects.
`128
`A
` number generator is
`RANDOM
`even included. Use this one for white
`noise audio sources or to randomize
`video game effects. Naturally, you
`can selectively read, toggle, or write
`any individual
` line. You can also
`I/O
`temporarily or permanently go into
`sleep mode. You get out of the sleep
`mode by cycling your power off and
`then back on. Sixteen subroutines are
`allowed, nested two deep.
`The
` series of microcontrollers
`PIC
`use a non-Von
` architecture. The
`RISK
`bit instruction words are used in
`12-
`conjunction with
`bit data words.
`8-
`The chips by themselves (less any
`custom operating system code) can be
`bought for as little as
` each.
`$2.70
`See the
` and
`MicroChip Data Book
`their companion
`Embedded Control
` for additional details.
`Handbook
`Speeds? The
` series blows away
`PIC
`pretty near all of their competition in
`execution time and code length.
`On the other hand, serial
`EEPROM
`access for your tokens does slow you
`down considerably. But hundreds of
`internal machine language commands
`may get executed at full speed for any
`one token fetch. Clock frequencies as
`high as
` Megahertz can be used. So
`20
`long as low power is not critical.
`One possible trick: Use the
`BASIC
`Stamp to develop your ap. Then you
`switch to plain old machine language
`for full speed and ultra low cost on
`your production units.
`Much more on the fundamentals of
`working with microcontrollers can be
`66.1
`
`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 7 of 12
`
`

`

`router, or a Santa Claus machine.
`You could use two of your
`BASIC
`Stamp lines for
` serial comm
`RS423
`with your PostScript printer. Use two
`lines for both x-axis stepper phases.
`And two lines for those y-axis stepper
`phases. One line for pen or drill or
`whatever up/down. And a final line
`that zeros only when both steppers
`are in their home position.
`The hidden beauty here is that all
`of those fancier PostScript fonts and
`the level 2 tools immediately become
`available for use on your own custom
`homebrew rig. At unbelievably low
`cost. With
` royalties!
`zero
`Do let me know if you want more
`details. Meanwhile, I’ve posted lots
`more on PostScript to
`.
`GEnie
`PSRT
`In particular, be sure to check out
` for an intro PostScript
`STARTUP.PS
` for lots of
`tutorial, and
`POSTVECT.PS
`details on vector output. I’ve also got
`a free PostScript secrets brochure to
`get you started.
`Ferinstance, say you lash up your
`own vinyl sign cutter. You use your
`PostScript printer to create, debug,
`and proof all the artwork. Then you
`can capture the graphic paths by
`using PostScript’s rather powerful
` and
` operators.
`flattenpath
`pathforall
`Next, you use
`-like code
`POSTVECT
`to vectorize the captured paths.
`Finally, a series of
` commands
`print
`sends your cutting sequences out the
`serial port where the
` Stamp
`BASIC
`can act on them. Should any longer
`sequences be needed, serial feedback
`can be used with a
` sequence
`readchar
`to wait for task completion.
`Thoughts on a PC drill
`The really big hacker breakthrough
`that everyone is waiting for is a
`$199
`automated printed circuit drill. The
`new
` Stamp used along with a
`BASIC
`PostScript printer seems to give us a
`brand new handle on this project.
`I recently noticed that dentist’s air
`turbines cost only
`. Junkers might
`$30
`end up free from a reasonably curious
`dentist. The handle on most drills is
`usually empty. These turbines can be
`cut down to the size and roughly the
`mass of a plotter pen. It sure would
`be interesting to see if they provide
`enough power for board drilling.
`Let’s restrict our goals initially to a
` board. An
` system might
`4" x 6"
`X-Y
`introduce all sorts of bad mechanical
`
`Hardware Hacker
`
`breadboarding area
`
`I/O line #0
`
`I/O line #1
`
`I/O line #2
`
`I/O line #3
`
`I/O line #4
`
`I/O line #5
`
`I/O line #6
`
`I/O line #7
`
`+5v
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`
`RA1RA1 RA0 OSC CLK +5V RB7 RB6 RB5 RB4
`
`PIC16C56
`
`
`RA2 RA3 RTC CLR GND RB0 RB1 RB2 RB3RA3 RTC CLR GND RB0 RB1 RB2 RB3
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`
`+Vin
`
`+5v
`
`4 Mhz
`piezo
`resonator
`
`sip
`network
`
`programming
`connector
`
`nc
`5
`6
`7
`8
`VCC PRE PE GND
`
`93LC56
`
`RA2 RA1 CLK CS
`1
`2
`3
`4
`
`.005
`m m
`F
`
`10
`F
`+
`
`+5 volt source
`
`5 volt
`reg
`
`out
`gnd
`in
`
`(+)
`
`+Vin 9-volt
`battery
`connector
`
`Fig. 2 – SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM of the BASIC Stamp.
`
`,
`
`Micro Cookbooks
`
`found in my older
`volumes I and II.
`Homebrew PostScript hacking
`One potential use for the
`BASIC
`Stamp is shown in figure four. I’ve
`been doing a lot of work with the
`stupendously great PostScript general
`purpose computer language. In fact,
`this is the
` language I use for
`only
`all
`of my electronic design, pc layouts,
`stock market analysis, schematics,
`Book-on-demand publishing, and just
`about everything else.
`All the
` figures you
`camera ready
`have seen here in
`Hardware Hacker
`for years have been done by using
`nothing but my word processor and
`PostScript. Device independently.
`66.2
`
`The only little problem has been
`that PostScript
` tends to end up a
`I/O
`tad on the skimpy side. Usually you
`only have three choices: Dirtying up
`otherwise clean sheets of paper or
`plastic; writing files to the hard disk;
`or returning your data back to a host
`for recording or other reuse.
`The
` Stamp can instantly let
`BASIC
`you extend the genuine Adobe Level
`II PostScript to any personal project
`or machine of your choosing!
`Assume you’ve got a homebrew
`machine that has an x-axis and y-axis
`stepper, an up/down mechanism, and
`a "both steppers home" sensor. This
`can be a vinyl signcutter, engraving,
`or embroidery setup. Or an automated
`printed circuit drill, a wooden sign
`
`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 8 of 12
`
`

`

`problems. Instead, the board could be
`moved along a single axis. The drill
`could be moved along a second axis.
`And it might be simplest to
` your
`lift
`board, rather than drop the drill. Or
`maybe use a raising cam and gravity
`feed on the turbine.
`My current thinking for a stepper
`would be the linear
`. While
`Hurst
`SLS
`kinda pricey, this does offer twenty
`pounds of force in two mil steps. And
` offers some dandy
`Texas Instruments
`new peripheral driver chips.
`Let me hear your thoughts on this
`great new project.
`Fun with photopolymers
`I have long been fascinated by the
`. These are just plastic
`photopolymers
`compounds of one breed or another
`which are only partially cross-linked
`during manufacture. A later exposure
`to light and a development process
`will selectively harden portions of the
`material. Which can result in a state
`change from liquid to solid or a shift
`in dissolvability.
`The results could be used for etch
`resists, a 3-D model, a Braille sign, a
`rubber stamp, a printing plate, an
`integrated circuit mask, a silk screen
`master, or a vinyl stick-on letter. Or
`for zillions of new aps.
`Because of fundamental chemistry,
`most photopolymers demand strong
`ultraviolet light for exposure. Three
`minutes using a contact printer out in
`direct sunlight often will work well.
`Photopolymers are typically
`negative
`, hardening in the presence of
`acting
`light.
`This month, I thought our resource
`sidebar might give you a rundown of
`the more hackable photopolymers.
`The classic one you might be most
`familiar with is spray-on etch resist,
`often in the form of
` by
`Eastman
`KPR
`. And stocked by
`.
`Kodak
`Radio Shack
`More modern substitutes are the
`dry
` such as those now
`film photoresists
`. These are both
`offered by
`Dynachem
`uniform and pinhole free. They also
`develop with sodium triphosphate, a
`low cost garage floor cleaner.
` is a fine stocking supplier of
`Kepro
`printed circuit supplies. A good trade
`journal here is
`.
`Circuits Assembly
`Photopolymer solder mask resists
`are also readily available.
`Photopolymers offer lots of options
`for silk screen printing. The leading
`
`, while
`film supplier is
`Advance
`Ulano
`, and
`,
`Process Supply Southern Sign
` offer smaller quantities.
`Dick Blick
`, the
` folks, have a
`Scotch Tape
`3-M
`number of interesting photopolymer
`products. One is known as
`.
`Color Key
`Actually, this is more a diazo-like
`process, but it uses the same drill of
`contact print exposing and wiping on
`glop to alter selected areas. What you
`end up with is a clear polyester sheet
`that has translucent or opaque color
`areas selectively applied to it. Dozens
`of color options. Lots of graphic arts
`uses here.
` imaging products
`Their
`Dynamark
`seem great for labels and prototype
`dialplates. Typically, you will have a
`white self-stick vinyl having a color
`overlay. You then selectively remove
`the color by exposing. Then you use a
`wiper pad to develop. Any "reverse"
`effects get done by using positive art.
`
`July, 1993
`
`Aluminum backed versions are also
`offered. Price is in the
` per square
`$8
`foot range.
`The photopolymers have long been
`essential for
` printing as
`flexographic
`used on cardboard containers. One
`leading supplier for the materials in
`larger quantities is
`, while
`Merigraph
` is a wholesale source in
`R. A. Stewart
`more modest amounts.
`The same material can make great
`"rubber" stamps. Any "real" rubber
`stamp will be pink or black, while a
`photopolymer stamp will be clear to
`translucent. The photopolymer ones
`often last longer and provide sharper
`images. Of the many rubber stamp
`photopolymer suppliers,
`Grantham
` and the
`Polly-Stamp
`M&R Marking
` are my favorites.
`Systems
`We’ve seen in previous issues how
`Santa Claus machines are starting to
`revolutionize prototyping. A leading
`
`BRANCH
`BUTTON
`DEBUG
`EEPROM
`END
`
`FOR…NEXT
`GOSUB
`GOTO
`HIGH
`IF…THEN
`
`INPUT
`LET
`
`LOOKDOWN
`
`LOOKUP
`LOW
`NAP
`OUTPUT
`PAUSE
`
`POT
`PULSIN
`PULSOUT
`PWM
`RANDOM
`
`READ
`RETURN
`REVERSE
`SERIN
`SEROUT
`
`SLEEP
`SOUND
`TOGGLE
`WRITE
`
`Option picker similar to a CASE command.*
`Read and debounce mechanical input.*
`Send register contents to host.*
`Store data in memory.
`Go into sleep mode until power cycles.
`
`A looping construct.
`Execute subroutine.
`Jump to another location in program.
`Make the chosen I/O pin high.
`Conditionally execute instructions
`
`Make selected pin an input.
`Optional definition. Includes add, subtract,
`multiply hi/lo, idivide, modulo, min, max,
`AND, NAND, OR, NOR, XOR, and NXOR.*
`Search table for match.*
`
`Read values from table.*
`Make the chosen I/O pin low.
`Enter sleep mode for a selected time.*
`Make the chosen I/O pin an output.
`Short selected time delay.
`
`Read a potentiometer (8-bit A/D convert).*
`Measure input pulse width.*
`Output pulse of selected width.*
`Output pulse width modulation (D/A convert).*
`Generate pseudorandom number.*
`
`Read variable from memory.
`Return from subroutine.
`Change direction of selected I/O pin.
`Read serial input and interpret format.*
`Format and output serial data.*
`
`Long selected time delay.
`Output musical notes or white noises.*
`Change state of selected I/O pin.
`Store data to memory.
`
`Fig. 3 – INSTRUCTION SET FOR THE BASIC STAMP. The macros marked
`(*) above make the stamp surprisingly powerful.
`
`66.3
`
`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 9 of 12
`
`

`

`Hardware Hacker
`
`PHOTOPOLYMER RESOURCES
`
`Advance Process Supply
`400 N Noble Street
`Chicago, IL 60622
`(312) 829-1400
`Dick Blick
`Box 1267
`Galesburg, IL 61401
`(800) 447-8192
`Cooley Sign Systems
`50 Esten Avenue
`Pawtucket, RI 02860
`(800) 992-0072
`Dynachem/Thiokol
`2631 Michelle Drive
`Tustin, CA 92680
`(714) 730-4200
`Dynamark
`3M Center Bldg 220-7W-03
`Saint Paul, MN 55144
`(800) 241-4819
`Eastman Kodak
`343 State
`Rochester, NY 14650
`(716) 724-4000
`Grantham Polly-Stamp
`418 Central Avenue NE
`East Grand Forks, MI 56721
`(218) 773-0331
`IMEC
`Rt 4, Box 79
`Monell, MO 65708
`(417) 235-3053
`Jet USA
`1116 MacDate Boulevard
`Collingdale, PA 19023
`(800) 528-1153
`
`Kepro Circuit Systems
`630 Axminister Dr
`Fenton, MO 63026
`(800) 325-3878
`Kimoto
`2915 182nd Street
`Redondo Beach, CA 90278
`(213) 370-7411
`M&R Marking Systems
`100 Springfield Avenue
`Piscataway, NJ 08855
`(908) 562-9500
`Merigraph
`Box 3064
`Naperville, IL 60566
`(800) 323-1832
`Southern Sign Supply
`127 Roesler Road
`Glen Burnie, MD 21060
`(410) 768-8600
`RA Stewart
`641 S Palm, Unit H
`La Habra, CA 90631
`(310) 690-4445
`3-D Systems
`26081 Avenue Hall
`Valencia, CA 91355
`(805) 295-5600
`3M/Color Key
`3M Center Bldg 223-2N-01
`Saint Paul, MN 55144
`(800) 328-1303
`Ulano
`255 Butler Street
`Brooklyn, NY 11217
`(718) 622-5200
`
`x-axis
`stepper
`
`y-axis
`stepper
`
`pen
`up/down
`
`home
`sensor
`
`vinyl cutter,
`wood routing,
`milling machine,
`animation stand,
`awards engraver,
`embroidery lashup,
`circuit board drilling,
`Santa Claus machine,
`etc. etc. etc…
`
`BASIC
`Stamp
`
`task feedback
`
`task commands
`
`PostScript laser printer
`
`Fig. 4 – THE BASIC STAMP can be used as a royalty-free interface to let you
`apply real Adobe PostScript level 2 to any old homebrew project!
`66.4
`
`firm here that uses ultraviolet curing
`photopolymers is
`. More
`3-D Systems
`on Santa Claus stuff in future issues
`and the
` reprints.
`Hardware Hacker
`The photopolymer that I am really
`waiting for is a vinyl one which has
`only been partially cross linked. You
`do your PostScript artwork master on
`your laser printer and then you’ll
`contact print. Expose and then wipe
`on some glop. A repositionable and
`pre-weeded cut vinyl letter or a logo
`results. Without needing a costly sign
`cutter. I do keep hearing persistent
`rumors of these. But no results.
`Meanwhile, there are now two new
`products that come close.
`One of these is that
`Etch-n-Peel
`system by
`. This is basically a
`Kimoto
`self-stripping "rubylith". While great
`for its intended graphics art stripping
`purposes, you are stuck with red, and
`the results are not repositionable.
`The other one is known as
`Cooley
`. This
`Brite Eradicable Sign Material
`is an opaque white and fully outdoor
`rated reinforced vinyl. Color glop has
`been preapplied to its surface. In your
`choice of seventeen flavors.
`A magic developer will dissolve
`. To do this, put a vinyl
`only the color
`cover (or any suitable mask) onto the
`material. Then simply scrub the color
`away in selected locations.
`In the daylight, you have a color
`over white. At night and backlit you
`get white light or translucent colors
`per your selection. Neat stuff. Sanely
`priced. And eminently hackable.
`Finally, there is an interesting new
`variation on photopolymer printing
`plates that should open up all sorts of
`new hacker ideas. The
` folks
`Jet USA
`are using photopolymers for Braille
`and other low cost raised letter
`ADA
`signage. What you really have here is
`a metal plate with some raised plastic
`selectively applied exactly where you
`want. Unique business cards are one
`possibility.
`There is a slight chamfer to their
`resin, improving the appearance. Cost
`is in the twenty cents per square inch
`range. Jet’s processing equipment is
`ridiculously expensive, but it should
`be easy enough to fake.
`Their photopolymer offers a very
`high durometer. Free samples.
`Needless to say,
` hacker work
`any
`involving photopolymers can be very
`much improved by using PostScript.
`
`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 10 of 12
`
`

`

`. One little
`Full details on
`GEnie
`PSRT
`known capability of PostScript is its
` ability. This lets you get
`microsizing
`the final size of your printed circuit
`layout exactly right, even on a printer
`with sloppy tolerances and paper that
`swells or shrinks.
`In flexographic printing and other
`places where images stretch as they
`are bent around a drum, anamorphic
`scaling using PostScript gives you a
`fast, simple, and accuracte fix.
`Two contests
`Let’s have two contests this month.
`Either
` dream up a new ap for the
`(A)
` Stamp, or else
` see if you
`BASIC
`(B)
`can come up with some non-obvious
`hacker use for photopolymers.
`As usual, there will be a dozen or
`so of my recently updated
`Incredible
` book prizes,
`Secret Money Machine
`along with an all-expense-paid
`(FOB
`AZ)
` for two
`Thatcher,
`tinaja quest
`going to the very best of all.
`Be sure to send your
` entries
`written
`directly to me here at my
`,
`Synergetics
`and not to
` editorial.
`Electronics Now
`Let’s hear from you.
`New tech lit
`We have a super selection of new
`goodies this month. For great books
`and mags on
`, try out the
`ATV
` folks.
`Amateur Television Quarterly
`Gyro Gearloose is alive and well!
` is a unique labor of
`Roadable Aircraft
`love Ron Borovec newsletter for all
`of you flying car enthusiasts. Similar
`pubs include
`Experimental Aircraft
`from the
` and the
`EAA Aviation Center
` from
`Experimental Rotorcraft
`Rotary
`Flight International
`All the fundamentals of telephone
`operation are well covered in a new
`self-published
`Tech Notes from a
` by Dan Levels.
`Telephone Engineer
` is a new book
`Science Under Siege
`by Michael Fumento. It explores the
`nature of evidence and statistics in a
`scientific controversy, and does cover
`everything from the Alar worries to
` radiation. In a typical chapter,
`ELF
`strong evidence is given that alcohol
`is one outright scam rather than any
`useful motor fuel. Grain alcohol uses
`much more energy than it delivers
`and increases air pollution. This one
`is a must read.
`The
` just
`Colorado School of Mines
`completed their fourth
`Subsurface
`
`July, 1993
`
`NAMES AND NUMBERS
`
`Amateur Television Quarterly
`1545 Lee Street
`Des Plaines, IL 60018
`(708) 298-2269
`Colorado School of Mines
`SPACE
`Golden, CO 80401
`(303) 273-3321
`EAA Aviation Center
`3000 Poberezny Drive
`Oshkosh, WI 54903
`(414) 426-4800
`GEnie
`401 N Washington Street
`Rockville, MD 20850
`(800) 638-9636
`Hurst Manufacturing
`Box 326
`Princeton, IN 47670
`(812) 385-2564
`Integrated Circuits Systems
`PO Box 968
`Valley Forge, PA 19482
`(215) 666-1900
`Dan Levels
`PO Box 1125
`Tellevast, FL 34270
`(813) 356-2788
`McMaster-Carr
`Box 54960
`Los Angeles, CA 90054
`(310) 692-5911
`Microchip Technology
`2355 W Chandler Blvd
`Chandler, AZ 85224
`(602) 963-7373
`
`MSC
`6700 Discovery Blvd
`Mableton, GA 30059
`(800) 645-7270
`Parallax
`6359 Auburn Blvd Ste C
`Citrus Heights, CA 95621
`(916) 721-8217
`Resonance Research
`E11870 Shadylane Road
`Baraboo, WI 53913
`(608) 356-3647
`Roadable Aircraft
`338 8th Avenue South
`Edmonds, WA 98020
`(206) 778-0423
`Rotary Flight International
`5555 Zuni SE #281
`Albuquerque, NM 87108
`(505) 298-9362
`Small Parts
`13980 NW 58th Court
`Miami Lakes, FL 33014
`(305) 557-8222
`Synergetics
`Box 809
`Thatcher, AZ 85552
`(602) 428-4073
`Texas Instruments
`PO Box 809066
`Dallas, TX 75380
`(800) 336-5236
`Don Thompson
`23072 Lake Center Dr #100
`El Toro, CA 92630
`(714) 855-3838
`
` symposium.
`Exploration Technology
`Mostly on underground radar used for
`mining, caving, and archaeological
`uses. Proceedings are available.
`A video on
`Designing and Building
` is now
`High Performance Tesla Coils
`.
`available from
`Resonance Research
`New videos, parts kits, and training
`seminars on laser printer repairs are
`available through
`.
`Don Thompson
` now ships a new and
`Small Parts
`. These folks run the
`free
`Catalog #14
`greatest robotic resource in the world.
`They have everything your hardware
`store never heard of. And then some.
` is a
` alternate
`MSC
`McMaster-Carr
`that carries extensive local stocks of
`machine shop supplies and hardware.
`They are also a no-hassle source of
`the
` wires and dielectric oils. A
`EDM
` page catalog is offered.
`2000
`Turning to my own products, my
`
`new
`Book-on-demand Resource Kit
`contains lots of self-publishing info;
`and my new
` gives you
`Resource Bin I
`insider access to scads of my secret
`supply sources. Or if you really want
`to get into PostScript is a big way, try
`my
` package. See my
`Whole Works
`nearby
` ad for more info.
`Synergetics
`Over on
`, I have just
`GEnie
`PSRT
`added
`, a review of ham
`NUTS17.PS
`radio magazines. Or
`,
`NONLINGR.PS
`nonlinear graphics tutorial (use when
`mapping stuff onto oddball surfaces).
`Also a reminder that I have arranged
`for a newer and faster
` signup.
`GEnie
`Have your modem dial
`(800) 638-8369
`Then type
` to set your baud rate.
`HHH
`When promped, enter your temporary
`access code of
`.
`XTX99005,SCRIPT
`A reminder here that most of the
`sources mentioned also appear in the
` appendix.
`F
`Names & Numbers
`66.5
`
`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 11 of 12
`
`

`

`Hardware Hacker
`
`66.6
`
`COMPASS EXH. 1008 - Page 12 of 12
`
`