MTF – Sem2, Wk5: Circuit Bending II

The exercise commenced by mistake. I was re-creating the voltage regulator from Thursday's workshop to use with my radio from last week. Breadboarded regulator - working, checked out radio - working; had break, came back to investigate some more and one of the wires from the (radio) circuit board to battery not attached, so I go about finding where the heck it's supposed to be soldered! Located (by fluke, when I was about to give up hope) and all fine. Then the other battery wire comes off. Finally got the board clipped up and the light coming on indicating power so my first task is to solder those two wires. Strange thing is, battery pack works but my regulator power doesn't(?). The battery pack and my regulator read identically on the multi-meter, but when I swap radio to regulator - nothing. Hmmm.

* Re-connecting the power leads

I intended to go for the same bend as last week's exercise, soldering a pot in between, hoping it would give a similar effect to me rolling my finger back and forward. I soldered two wires to the points I had still alligator clipped to remind me, touched the ends together and … nothing. Unsoldered one lead and with the end of the other searched for a new bend. I found one that made the radio play two stations at once. Nothing spectacular but that wasn't the point, so I went with it and below are some results.

* Finding bend and connecting leads for potentiometer

Homemade circuit boards and bent toys. I get a better idea of how to integrate the individual units into a functioning whole. One of the breadboards exercises in place of or as well as the potentiometer. Being able to troubleshoot and repair the radio (I really liked those hacks from last week) gave me further confidence, and although my soldering is still rubbish, a couple were perfect. The one good shot makes you come back for more. Definitely learnt about the fragility, keeping the housing to re-use if possible. A good bend in a box so it can't fall apart pronto. Box must be easy to open.

Haines, C. (2007, August 23). Circuit Bending II. Music Technology Forum, Semester 2, Week 5 .

Tomczak, S. (2007, August 23). Circuit Bending II. Music Technology Forum, Semester 2, Week 5 .

pp 83 - 100. Collins, Nicolas 2006, Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking, TFROUTL.

pp 149-174. Reed, Ghazala 2005, Circuit-bending: build your own alien instruments, Wiley

Publishing, Indianapolis.

pp 65 - 73. Collins, Nicolas 2006, Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking, TFROUTL.