What happens when you can't manage water to flow in an sealed of tube? You insert a wick!
What a great fix. No I can continue without pumps or that kind of stuff.

Thanks to @HendrikLeper for the hint!

Working with liquids, as expected, results in a lot of mess on failure.
Pictures not included.

In the category CRYPTIC, blog posts.
Well I need 14 digital ports on my Arduino on I have only 13!

As for all the rest. The current status is this.

-Creature Alpha (So that's what I am naming this one until further notice), is falling into place.
The pieces of it. I'm figuring atm how to wire up this whole thing.
As far as I can see now the whole board will be occupied. I just realized i DO have 14 digital ports.
I hope I'll make some significant progress on that tomorrow.
I lost my pencils so 'ill need to go and buy new ones first, but apart from that. It is really all set.

-The Creature App (that's what I am naming this one until further notice), is making good progress as well.
Authentication with the API is in place, including increased security. Not that the API is an interesting hacking target but even so.
This last feature makes the api, security wise, solid. But we were talking about the app. So auth. Besides that a couple of classes which makes it easy to work with the api, messages, sprites, entities and a UI mod. Still some work, but most areas have been covered. It shouldn't take long anymore. The basics can be done in a matter of days.

-API. Well that one has been done for a while. The message system is in dire need of a recode. And the API will need user salt. Apart from that all is good.

-The community website. The website is almost transferred. So we'll get things running up there soon.
Not sure how this one should go yet. Probably a splash info screen and hopefully a js applet of our app.
If not possibly nothing else except maybe a dev and api page.

So that's it for now ttyl!

First liquid analyzing test are going great.
If we can upgrade this to color we will be in the perfect spot.

Version 0.1 of app is finished.
Beta Api slots soon.

The creature api has json support now! Hurray.
A first version of the desktop app interface is working.
It can do the two basic api calls and works nicely together with the alpha.

I'll start soon with a beta test program.

Updates on the alpha creature soon.

More on that later.
Main while, made my own tiny link share site.

All is functional.
This first version of the API has only 2 functions, none the less its solid.

Time hook up the machine.

Another c-starting post.
First version of my cutting module. It works but only cuts 2/3 and is 'buggy'.
A lot of annoyances need to be addressed. It looks like the parts won't be sufficient after all.

All clutter, gone.

I haven't yet shared my appreciation for cd's, so here we go, they are awesome.
It sounds old-fashioned, almost dreary retro, but they are just surrounded by very use and reusable technology.

I deconstructed a lazer foot part and sanitized a wormscrew and it's surroundings to use the frame for my cutting module.

Almost done. I simplified the api calls to two functions, which you could see in a simplified matter as a 'send' and 'receive'.
I might do a GUI for Processing next, it's not workable atm.

In a very literal sense. Creature A has improved paper cut and is close to go in beta.
In other news, the api is coming along very fast!

Back from the death.

Working on good AI for the creatures. And thinking bout an API. Accidentally i stumbled on this chat robot, which shows us again you better think it all through.

X-axis works is integrated. Now we need to rework the code. It's a bit bloated.

Working on our web dashboard panel. Xml seems to be perfect for what we need.

Apparat A. Is now getting its info from the web. It does this with mega delays though.
Approximately one minute.

Succes! Tonight we'll crack the Y-Axis (Hopefully)

Update: Still a lot of friction, but the problem has moved to our power supply.
Rechargeable batteries are too weak.

It seems like the x-axis will take a bit more work. The grip is on the rollers but not glued on it yet.
This results in bad friction, speed and power delays.

Tomorrow we will be fixing this.

Found it! I attached, very firmly, an old soldering absorber wire.
It forms a cap around the edge and makes the roller stronger. This also makes them roll better.

I could make these rollers in iron but for now wood should be good.

I was pretty far with this one, but it cracked. I need to find a solution for it.

I like this machine a lot.

I made the rollers for transporting the paper. I still need to coat them with rubber so they will have more grip.

More computer crashes evoked by the device. So far I had three today.
My computer still works but the back light shuts down. Good thing there's hard reboot.

Almost finished my x axis!

If you short circuit your computer with your Arduino, it might be time for a 5min break.
My computer survived, I don't know about my Arduino though. Stupid breakboards and their open wirering.

Update: All is still working. I can control DC motor intervals, so in a way I can control 'speed'. I also found a way to make my DC make sounds. Though I am not sure this is healthy.

Constructing a more workable frame. The drilling must be precise or my rotation axes won't work.
Starting with a half open with same size pieces. As I move along I'll cut out more suitable shape then rectangles.

For moving purposes.

My Sparkfun parcel arrived this morning!
Can't wait to try out these new servos.

Finding the right one can be a chore . I miss the search button on this one.

I need another IC to control the motor while so i can simultaneously control the servo.

Making some nice prototyping progress for my organic plant friend here.
I need a substitute for cardboard though. It's not very precise and to bendy.

If only...
This picture says it all, i guess. I'll post some more results of this awesome week later maybe.

Refreshing the site, twitter added, feedback loop setup.
More stuff coming up.

I'm quite happy with these models. Took me a good day to get comfortable again with Maya, another to model and think how it should look.

We need five axises, one cutting blade and a lot of sensors.
No word on caffeine sensors though. The only things i found where 'abstract patents'.
Weird. Maybe through heat and color.

I found a pencil which will do the job of drawing in any fluid perfectly.
I stumbled upon this by accident in the shop, it's kind of silly i have been using them for years.

void

First renderings of concept

up and running

Sends back too!
Another obstacle gone.
Now trying to send lots of data.

It goes with out saying this line of text information is in need of further investigation.
Maybe we can find an alternative for coffee!

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
Oscar Wilde

"As he spoke, the whole city was broken like a honeycomb. An air-ship had sailed in through the vomitory into a ruined wharf. It crashed downwards, exploding as it went, rending gallery after gallery with its wings of steel. For a moment they saw the nations of the dead, and, before they joined them, scraps of the untainted sky."
- E.M . Forster, "The Machine Stops" 1909