[ISL]

Edit: This post was intended as a reply to https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30209618 , presently below

> The lead author, Dr. Craig Bennett, wanted to get something fresh, so he headed in to the grocery story first thing in the morning. At the fish counter, he spoke the words that will echo down the centuries as a testimony to the dedication and drive of neuroscientists throughout the ages:

>"I need a full length Atlantic Salmon. For science."

That reminds me of the day that I needed a strong lightweight cable for a silica-fiber melting/drawing apparatus. After some puzzling, I realized that bicycle shift/brake cabling would probably be perfect for the task.

I'll never forget the puzzled look at the bike shop -- "What kind of bike are you putting it on?" "I'm not, I just need some brake cable for a science experiment...." As I recall, I think we finally settled on some precut cabling for a GT Zaskar of some kind.

Similar things came up the day that I needed a valve that switched faster than our dedicated micro-switching valves. A similar light-bulb went on, and I went down to the nearby auto shop for a fuel-injector.

"What kind of car do you need it for?"

"I don't, but there are a couple of different valve-switching protocols, some that latch open and others that accept straight TTL at reasonable currents. I need one of those."

That experiment was brought to you by an injector for, I believe, a Dodge Caravan, and later, when I needed another, an injector for a Ford Mustang. Fuel-injectors are really good valves.

[mr337]

Some of the automotive stuff is really great to get started. Was working on an agriculture robot and needed a good way to detect a level of something. In short a IP65+ hall effect sensor that can get wet and dirt no problem.

The solution was a $12 ride sensor from a Cadillac SUV of some type. Worked perfect!

[lostlogin]

I had a friend automating a production line and he needed to detect the level of peanut butter in a vat. He settled on an ultrasonic device as basically anything else ended up caked in peanut butter. It was an impressive setup, all done in Arduino.

[TheMagicHorsey]

I wonder if its practical to DIY your own production line automation today with Arduino. Like if I had a simple product, could I buy stuff off the shelf and integrate it myself in my garage and end up with a little mini-factory? Exciting to think about.

[TaylorAlexander]

I obsess over this concept. I am a robotics engineer and my dream is local manufacturing with small DIY machines. But it's a lot of work! When I have a little more time I want to teach community robotics classes and build machines that makes shoes and hot food and other important goods, designed and built as a community. I designed a cheap large format laser cutter [1][2] and now I am designing shoes that can be made with a 3D printer, the laser cutter, a sewing machine, and some basic tools. [3]

[1] https://twitter.com/TLAlexander/status/1480332181285212160

[2] https://github.com/tlalexander/large_format_laser_cutter

[3] https://twitter.com/TLAlexander/status/1489519692712538113

[matheusmoreira]

That is so cool. I wish you success.

[TaylorAlexander]

Thank you!

[TheMagicHorsey]

Great concept!

[bsder]

> I wonder if its practical to DIY your own production line automation today with Arduino.

Computation is rarely the problem.

It's all about sensors and actuators.

One of the best college projects ever was to make a "drink pouring machine". You have a half-dozen bottles of various alcohols and other liquids, a circular table, and a glass. Now, pour a martini. Now, pour a gimlet. etc.

What a nightmare! The liquids have different viscosities and consequent pour rates. And shutoff is rarely clean. And don't rotate too fast or you will mess up your glass position. It goes on ... and on ... and on.

Everyone who did that project came out ... changed.

[lostlogin]

The person I was describing runs a food production line and has modified various bits of equipment for speed, efficiency, safety and ease of use. They have got great results. They have no formal training, have no software background and basically go to https://www.dfrobot.com and get what they need, then hack.

[simcop2387]

Probably not impossible, but I think the bigger thing will be the time to research the mechanical design of whatever you're doing. That and finding reasonably priced sensors that will be reliable.

[toiletfuneral]

Made a a pretty sick vacuum tube in high school with clear acrylic and put a shrader valve on it so it could be easily decompressed with an auto shop ac recharge machine. I won the shit out that science fair showing a feather drop like a rock