Electronics class is in session with Synth Diy Guy, who has a detailed video explaining the hex inverter – the chip at the heart of this idea – and how it all turns into an oscillator.
His inspiration is quite clever: it’s the beautifully retro Heathkit model ET-3100 Electronic Design Experimenter. American builder Heathkit inspired early experimenters in computation and electronics – it even influenced some of the people who would go on to make the personal computer revolution. Their kits are laid out like consumer products, complete with handsome cases. And they’re models of simplicity – a fundamental notion in logic, wiring, and calculation would be laid out in spacious, minimalist demonstration boards. Built-in breadboards then let users modify the designs and learn more.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
CD4049 or 4069 seem to be much more common than the 40106. Can they be used instead of 40106? Thanks for the video.