Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #10161



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: BUDSCOTT@aol.com
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 13:56:31 EST
Subject: [alt-beam] Cool idea, or so I think II


From the responses, i'm gonna give it a shot. Solenoids it is (thats how ya
spell it).

So here's the run down for anyone interested

2 x 1381J CMOS voltage triggers (3.0 volts)
2 x 2N3904 NPN transistors
2 x 2N3906 PNP transistors
2 x .22uF Capacitors
2 x 2.2k Resistors
2 x 3VDC Solenoids
1 x 100k potentiometer
1 x 4700uF Capacitor (don't substitute lower, it's gonna need the current)
1 x Panasonic SolarCell 5.5v 37x66mm (so it charges fast)
2 x Photoelectric Diodes

I'm gonna use the typical photovore circut, with the substitution of parts, I
might change the value of the 2.2k resistor though. I plan on point to point
soldering the parts, trying to make it long and wide. The solenoids i'm gonna
put at a 30 degree angle from the ground parrallel to the cap. The angle is
going to be critical, because if it mounts at to steep an angle, it will tip
the unit. Coat hanger wire stabilizers might be a possibility if the tipping
becomes a problem. I'll need to find some rubber screw protectors or other
small rubber stoppers so the solenoid can grip the ground. I should have all
the parts by next weekend and if I finish it, I'll send 80k and under photos
(I don't have a web page). Should turn out nifty if it works. Thanks for the
response!

-Spencer



10162 Sun, 13 Feb 2000 11:12:39 -0800 [alt-beam] Re: Beams and robotics net beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Bruce Robinson Senior wrote:
>
> Sounds likes a load of crap to me, just there to pick up email adresses
> from people that reply.... My reasoning?

True, spammers do precisely that. However, don't be too quick to dump on
people. A little cautious research is in order.

Here are a few points to consider.
- spammers have to be a member of this list to post mail to it.
- nobody but the administrator gets to see the e-mail addresses of
subscribers, so your address won't get out if you just quietly
read the mail on this list.
- if you reply to spam mail, they've got your address.
- if you go to a spammer's web site, they've got your address.
- if you post a message to this list, they've got your address
(because it appears on the header information, and they are on
the list).

So ... if you intend to send a message to the list saying "That's spam",
then you might as well do a little research first, because they're going
to get your e-mail address either way.

(BTW, administrators go after spammers big time. They don't just through
them off their lists, they track down the offenders ISP and try to get
their access terminated).

> 1 - Robocom Technologies email address is bsblahblah@skynet.com??

Nope: ....@skynet.be

Pay attention to the suffix. ".be" refers to Belgium. That "bs" at the
beginning looked a tad suspicious to me, until I realized this was
probably not an English language site.

You can often track down a related website from an specific e-mail
address. I tried www.skynet.be, and found a very interesting, major ISP
based in Belgium. Website is in French, Netherlands, and English. The
company appears to be affiliated with Belgacom, the major Belgium
telephone company. So this begins to look legitimate (especially when
you discover the Belgacom offers free internet service to it's
customers).

> 2 - Who has the capabilities of just giving out a free server?

Telephone companies!

> 3 - Very unprofessional letter

Not if the person isn't a native English speaker.

> 4 - "I don't know if it's a good idea, I need your feedback"
> ALl he wants is you to reply so his little software
> can take your email adress from it.

That's how spammers work. But remember, when you sent this note you just
gave him your e-mail address anyway.

> Sorry, just hate spam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Caution is definitely in order, but a bit of research doesn't hurt. From
what I can tell, this is a legitimate enquiry.

Regards,
Bruce



10163 Sun, 13 Feb 2000 14:23:04 -0500 [alt-beam] Re: Cool idea, or so I think II "Dennison Bertram" Hey, out of curiosity, how exactly do you think soleniods work? Unless your
talking about rotary soleniods, (which have a small angle of motion usually)
solenoids don't rotate at all, they either pull a metal pin in, or push it
out. And they only do this for a small linear distance at that. If you
mounted the solenoids simmilar to the mounting of a pager motor, I don't
exactly see how that would help much. Of course if you solenoids 'pop' out,
and you have enough current to create a suffeciently strong 'pop' you might
get some interesting motion.

dennison


From the responses, i'm gonna give it a shot. Solenoids it is (thats how ya
spell it).

So here's the run down for anyone interested

2 x 1381J CMOS voltage triggers (3.0 volts)
2 x 2N3904 NPN transistors
2 x 2N3906 PNP transistors
2 x .22uF Capacitors
2 x 2.2k Resistors
2 x 3VDC Solenoids
1 x 100k potentiometer
1 x 4700uF Capacitor (don't substitute lower, it's gonna need the current)
1 x Panasonic SolarCell 5.5v 37x66mm (so it charges fast)
2 x Photoelectric Diodes

I'm gonna use the typical photovore circut, with the substitution of parts,
I
might change the value of the 2.2k resistor though. I plan on point to point
soldering the parts, trying to make it long and wide. The solenoids i'm
gonna
put at a 30 degree angle from the ground parrallel to the cap. The angle is
going to be critical, because if it mounts at to steep an angle, it will tip
the unit. Coat hanger wire stabilizers might be a possibility if the tipping
becomes a problem. I'll need to find some rubber screw protectors or other
small rubber stoppers so the solenoid can grip the ground. I should have all
the parts by next weekend and if I finish it, I'll send 80k and under photos
(I don't have a web page). Should turn out nifty if it works. Thanks for the
response!

-Spencer

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