Dial-a-Door technology to appear at Dork bot PDX tonight

About Us CTO, Ward Cunningham and his college roommate Rick Wartzok, had better than average audio/visual and beverage capability in their dorm room, at least for 1968. While happy to share with fellow residents, they then faced a dilemma. What about keys? They wanted some kind of combination lock that had a shared code that could be selectively enabled, and a longer, master code for private use. The solution was Dial-a-Door:

Now its 2008, forty years later, Ward has located the mechanical technology that decoded the combination, restored it to working order, and prepared a display which he will present at the bi-weekly DorkbotPDX tonight at the Lucky Lab in Northwest Portland. Here is About Us colleague Stephen Judkins inspecting the device.

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Mechanical, Quartz or Automatic Watches

Mechanical, Quartz or Automatic Watches
To help you appreciate the beauty of luxury watches as both a fashion statement as well as the movements used, there are many different types of watches to consider before choosing the one right for you. Fine watches are usually created around older mechanical technology and have existed for centuries. These types of watches last for decades and never need a battery. Usually, the more mechanical a watch, the more it is going to be worth. In today s market, the choices for luxury watches fall under the category of Chronograph, Quartz, Mechanical, Automatic, Jewel Movement and Perpetual Calendar. Quartz technology has gained in popularity over the years as it keeps time efficiently. The way quartz technology works, is that it passes a constant electric current through a quartz crystal and vibrates at a steady frequency. Swiss Quartz movements are the most accurate and reliable timepieces and have the greatest advantage when it comes to costs. The chronograph watch breaks down time into hours, minutes and seconds and is often used in competitive sporting activities. Other watches in this category offer moon phases and calendars complete with dates and years. The majority of watches that cost less than $1,000.00 usually use quartz movements, but the most sought after watches are automatic watches. Automatic watches are mechanical, but driven by human movement. They work so well that if cared for properly, automatic watches will last for generations to come.

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Bed Lifting System

  

Bed Lifting System

A bed lifting system utilizing a unitary block having bed leg receiving cavities, each of different depth, on reversable top and bottom sides of the block. One of these sides has four round cylindrical bore holes for stably supporting a bed leg (with or without a small wheel) at each of four different elevations. The other side has four cavities shaped to support a large bed leg wheel at each of four elevations. Extension blocks are provided for fitting over the unitary block to further raise the bed leg.

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Pipe Connection System

 

Pipe Connection System

A pipe connection system has a non-threaded, quick-pipe connection for connecting pipe in a pressurized system, for connecting piping components within a fire sprinkler system, including a flow switch to a fire sprinkler system riser port. A male and female member are attached through the use of a through-slot in the female member that aligns with a groove in the male member such that a locking clip may be inserted through the female and male members when they are joined, thereby blocking the members from being dis-joined. An O-ring seal in a groove on the male member and seal able bore on the female member allow for a sealed and pressurized piping system.

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Overflow Drain Outlet Cover System

   Overflow Drain Outlet Cover System

A system for covering drain pipe outlets, particularly, as they exit a building. The system includes a band that is tightened around the exterior of a pipe as it protrudes through the side of a building. Attached to the band is a hinged cover which is sized to entirely cover the pipe and hidden hinge. The cover may be covered with material to match or complement the building exterior surfacing, such as paint or stucco. In addition, the band portion may also include one or more restictors, such as bars, to prevent unauthorized access or debris from entering the pipe. The system provides for multiple size covers and bands for a wide variety of pipe sizes.

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Robotics Technology

Robotics Technology

A study of the applications and theories of automation as related to industrial robots. Students will learn to computer control and program a robotic arm. Activities include:

Program a computer to control a robotic arm.

use a robotic arm to perform various tasks.

Use a computer to control various output and input devices such as a motor, light, switch, or power supply.

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Pneumatic/Hydraulic Technology

Pneumatic/Hydraulic Technology

A study of how air, water, oil, and other liquids are used to help us move, shape, and control the world around us. Students will use math, physics, and problem solving skills to do various tasks, and solve problems. Activities include:

Experiments with various pneumatic devices.

Building machines from the various devices.

Using the pneumatic devices to solve problems.

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Mechanical Technology

Mechanical Technology
 

A study of how levers, pulleys, gears, etc. are used to help us move, shape, and control the world around us. Math, physics, and problem solving skills are used to accomplish various tasks. Activities include:

Using simple machines such as pulleys and levers to demonstrate the basic principles of mechanical power.

Building devices from simple machines.

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