# Ep 186: Weighing Cats, Slamming VU Meters, Slimmer Skimmers, and Clean Air on the Cheap

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2022-09-23
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 186
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-cheap

## Summary

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney review a week of hardware hacks, including a load-cell-based cat feeder by Thomas Diaz Wall, a mechanical VU meter percussion instrument by Giskies, and a budget air purifier known as the Corsi-Rosenthal box. They also discuss deep-insert ATM skimmers, a variable capacitor made from soda cans, and a PCB art cube by Noteo Vides. The episode covers the James Webb Space Telescope's Miri instrument friction glitch, a solar flare's impact on radio, and the history of the International Geophysical Year.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=1) Introduction: Solar Flare and James Webb Telescope Glitch
- [5:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=340) What's That Sound: Siemens ES 64 U Taurus Locomotive
- [11:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=676) Cat Feeder: Load Cells and HX711 ADC Challenges
- [19:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=1194) Mechanical Percussion: Giskies VU Meter and Relays
- [24:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=1441) Clean Air: Corsi-Rosenthal Box and MERV Filters
- [28:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=1737) Variable Capacitor: Stretching Aluminum Cans
- [33:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=2006) PCB Art: Cube Touch and FR4 Construction
- [38:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=2312) Security: Deep-Insert ATM Skimmers
- [44:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=2641) Quick Hacks: 3D Printing, Macro Pads, and Lock Picking
- [50:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=3020) Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance Detection
- [56:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-23-ep-186-weighing-cats-slamming-vu-meters-slimmer-skimmers-and-clean-air-on-the-ch#t=3361) International Geophysical Year and Data Sharing

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Siemens (company)
- ES 64 U Taurus (product)
- James Webb Space Telescope (product)
- Miri (product)
- HX711 (chip)
- Corsi-Rosenthal box (product)
- Noteo Vides (other)
- Cube Touch (product)
- Brian Krebs (other)
- Giskies (other)
- Thomas Diaz Wall (other)
- Shiven Taneja (other)
- North Carolina Prepper (other)
- 3D print bunny (other)
- John Park (other)
- Chris (other)
- Hosaka Mark one (product)
- Adam DeMuth (other)
- Sammy Kamcar (other)
- Maya Posh (other)
- Al Williams (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [73: That's a Waste of Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-22-73-thats-a-waste-of-bits) (Embedded.fm)
- [74: All of Us Came in Sixth](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-29-74-all-of-us-came-in-sixth) (Embedded.fm)
- [Look at nature and meet nerds](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-03-13-look-at-nature-and-meet-nerds) (The Amp Hour)
- [Space Difficulties and Lost Heroes - Wanzing Workshop Whemmle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-11-06-space-difficulties-and-lost-heroes-wanzing-workshop-whemmle) (The Amp Hour)
- [Biarchy Birthday Bavardage](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-07-26-biarchy-birthday-bavardage) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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