Nick Blanton

Mustang Update

2009-09-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

There are a bunch of pictures here. Unfortunately I didn't manage to finish before I made my way back up to school, so it will be a winter project as well.

Mustang Update

2009-08-09T14:18:00.001-07:00

In the past few weeks, the engine was pulled from the mustang. There are many plans for this car, but the first thing we are trying to deal with at the moment is rust. Much of the engine bay is either rusted or covered in a mixture of dirt and oil. So our first project with the engine out is to clean it up. We have been wire wheeling the rust off, and painting a rust converter over the top. Hopefully by next weekend, we can pressure wash the bay and prime and paint the entire thing. The main reason for pulling the engine is a leaking rear main seal. We have already noticed a leaking head gasket as well. Pictures to follow.

Arduino

2009-05-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to try an Arduino now for over a year but was unwilling to shell out the $50 + shipping to buy one. I started looking on the net and found the alternative, the boarduino. I bought the usb kit and soldered it all together, and it worked like a charm. For those of you who don't know the Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators.
Specifically the boarduino is set up to plug into a breadboard making the setups easier, not to mention you can use the same one and move it from board to board. I did a small project which was soldering a 3x3x3 LED cube together. It is soldered in a way in which you can control each LED individually. So I programmed a short program to do a little light show. I have big plans for the arduino this summer. I have recently learned the Motorolla 68HC11 and the Arduino makes things so much easier for the beginner. Here is a video of my project

2009-04-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

We finally got the mustang out this weekend, got it washed and waxed. Bryce and I pulled out the gauges to try and fix them up a little. If any one has ever seen the stock gauge lighting on a 66 it is horrible. They are so dimly lit they are very hard to see. I am planning on putting in super bright blue LEDs to match the rest of the car instead of the green. here is kind of a bit of a mock up I did. This basically required pulling out the gauges and I painted the needles white so they would glow a bit brighter. I also Painted the black metal bezel inside white so it would reflect more light. I will post some more pictures when I get a little further along.

Lori Smith

2009-03-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

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AR-15 Finally Complete

2008-11-22T15:18:00.001-08:00

I finally got the Ar-15 finished. The project has now been going on about a year and a half. I technically wouldn't even say it's done, just shootable.
The parts are as follows:
CMMG Lower Receiver
Del-ton Inc. Upper Kit
20" Chrome lined Barrel
Flattop w/ T-marks
Phantom Break
Flip up front Site
M4 Stock
A2 Handguards
Removeable Carry Handle

All Ended Costing about $750 if I had to guess. That price also includes 2 Magazines and 500rds of .223. I won't get to test it out until Thanksgiving, but it looks nice and I am exited to try it out for the first time. Hopefully a video to follow.

Honeycomb Tire: Bomb-Proof & Bullet-Proof

2008-11-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

A new non-pneumatic, honeycomb-like tire has been developed that is designed to withstand both bomb blasts and bullet-fire by allowing objects such as shrapnel, or even whole bullets to pass through it.

Developed in a collaborative effort between Resilient Technologies and Wisconsin-Madison's Polymer Engineering Center, the tire consists of a round honeycomb wrapped around the wheel hub, which itself is wrapped with thick heavy-duty tread.

The tires have been designed for the US Army so that troops don't get stranded when their tires are blown out, but could be equally useful on our roads for those smart enough to drive, but clueless enough not to know how to change a flat. The new design could someday, at long last, make spare tires completely redundant.

via Marks Technology News