So what do you need to get started, a few basic tools, a slack handful of electronic components, an Arduino, big jar of instant coffee…

This list is not the complete list of everything, there will be some other minor components required and I will update the list with further details as I work through the build. The components not included in the list will be cheap bits and pieces costing less than a quid so the build cost is not going to rocket skyward

If you are building a finished project using the Pro Mini you will need these items:

• Pliers with cutting blade.
• Soldering iron with a fine tip.
• Craft knife.
• Junior Hacksaw
• a 6mm drill bit
• Optionally a dremmel type tool with various cutting discs etc for mounting the project in a project box.
• Project Box for finished controller/ battery.
• Small project box for each sensor.
• Arduino Pro Mini 5V and 5V FTDI breakout board- £26.23 – SKPang Electronics
• veroboard – Ebay -  £1.39
• 2 x DIP sockets – Farnell – £0.45 each
• 1 x SPST switch – Maplin – £1.29
• 4 x 3.5mm stereo jack sockets – Maplin – £1.39 each
• 1 x 3.5mm stereo jack plug – Maplin – £1.29 (one for each sensor)

Component wise you will need the following items:

• Bread board + leads  – Ebay – £7.99 (not needed for finished project)
• 2 x Opto Isolators – Farnell – £0.26 each
• 4 x 20 line LCD display – Robot Electronics – £19.99
• Adruino Duemilanove – £23.81 – SKPang Electronics (Not needed for finished project.)
• 5 x Push to make buttons – RS Components – £0.99 each
• 1 x 5mm IR LED – Farnell – £0.70
• 3 x Red LED – Ebay – £1.49 for 25

For each laser trip wire:

• 1 x Laser module –  Odicforce £2.75 each
• 1 x Photo-transistor – Maplin – £1.29 each or – RS Components – £3.00 for 10
• 3 core cable – Maplin – £0.69 per meter
• Reflective tape for laser target (about 30 reflectors suitable for up to 2 or 3m range) – Ebay – £1.50 Or White bicycle front reflector (Long range 20m+) – Halfords – £2.99 each

For optical switch/ Interrupter (detect water drops/ small objects):

• 1 x Optical Switch – Farnell – £2.40
• 3 core cable – Maplin – £0.69 per meter

As you can see it’s not exactly going to cost nothing to make, but if you compare it to commercial equivalents such as This One or This One you are going to save a bundle making your own, check out the cost of laser sensors/ optical interrupters – my laser sensor is less than a tenner, and optical interrupter less than a fiver.

Tags: Arduino, DIY, Electronics, Photography

This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 1:26 am and is filed under Photography Tutorial. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.