Project:Fire Pong Meeting 2016-06-18

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Fire Pong Meeting 2016-06-18

Attendees

  • Ian D
  • Mouse

Happenings

At the space

  • Played a sparkers some more
    • Tested using a spark plug - used slightly less current; sparks not just in spark gap!
  • Discussed heat proof insulators
    • Ceramic beads for craft - cheap, might be able to find good size

About Town

  • Went to The Bead Shop, but they do not do ceramic tube style beads
  • At Anchor, discovered long fuses for 10p each! Perfect internal diameter
    • Back at space - blow torch to desolder caps - works well! WE HAVE A WINNER!

At Ian's place

  • Tested updated arduino switching code (allows over-lapping puff sequences)
    • 400ms offset between puffers seemed nice, but we'll have to see all 12 in a row before we really know
  • Another sparker blew... this time it was shorting out on the damp grass... we must make sure they're elevated well. This also really rules out running in the rain.
  • Tested different nozzle designs:
    • 15-22 mm copper expansion: nice flame, but flames lick around longer, causing more heating, and melting of insulation on sparker wires over the lip of the barrel
    • 15-28 mm copper expansion: like 15-22 expansion, but more pronounced heating
    • Tin can: even worse heating, although nice flame
    • Conclusion: standard 15mm copper tube creates a nice flame, doesn't suffer from much heating and is easy to attach the sparker electrodes to, so we'll stick with that
  • Start button was triggered in damp grass... s/w change to only detect start when button depressed continuously for 500ms - more reliable

Homework

  • Ian:
    • Power calculations for 6V lead acids (how many do we need to run for 2 hours, cased on average or 2 sparkers operating continuously?
    • Think more about the sparker mounts, but don't sweat it - we can always tape on those ceramic resistors!
    • Remember to bring offical WiiMote on Saturday.
  • Mouse:
    • Continue looking at supply / regulator section
    • Review parts and order list and order remaining bits for small puffer segments (BSP fittings etc)
    • Make event packet construction and parsing code for clients and command modules
    • Hook up 2 relay boards and connect to serial and start to write code for actual pong game (with buttons)