Arduino shops in Tokyo

[Joe]

Hi,

  I see a good number of arduino-related posts on this board and I was hoping to get some feedback about non-online retailers in Tokyo.

  I'm new to arduino and looking to get started with the Lilypad line and a wireless or bluetooth connector.  I've found a good number of places online to buy parts, but I'm still not exactly sure which bits to buy to get the lilypad and wireless connection going and was hoping to find a real-live retailer I could visit and kind of pepper with questions, just to hopefully avoid buying parts that won't actually work together, or that I don't actually need.

  Sorry if this is a bad place to ask this.

Best,
-Joe

 

[Kalin KOZHUHAROV]

Hello,

It is not a good place to ask, but I'd suggest slightly different
approach to your problem "getting started with Lilypad on the
cheap"...

What about coming to one of the THS Tuesday meetings and "pepper with
questions" people that have some understanding/experience.
Then you can actually buy the stuff on-line.

Just from experience, you'll end up buying at least 1.5-3.0 times more
than what you would use no matter what you do. After all you are
looking to "get started", not do a on-time project and then never
touch electronics, right? As long as you get generic enough parts,
they'll be usefull later in other projects.

Just my JPY 2 ;-)

Kalin.

[Akiba]

Yeah, I would probably 2nd Kalin's statement. If you don't know what to buy,
you will usually either overbuy or underbuy. However if you want to go it
alone, you can check the Sengoku main shop, 2nd floor. They have Lilypads
there. You can find Sengoku from our Akihabara Tour guide videos:
http://www.tokyohackerspace.org/akihabara

Akiba
FreakLabs Open Source Wireless
Web: http://www.freaklabs.org
Shop:http://www.freaklabsstore.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/freaklabs

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
> To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> tokyohackerspa...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/tokyohackerspace?hl=en.

[Torsten Wagner]

To "pepper" a local reseller would require to be fluent in Japanese ;)
At THS you can choose between a wide range of languages and discuss
without any sales pressure...
Think about it for a 1.5 min and keep looking on your computer display....

<autosuggest mode on>
for (x=0;x==100;x++){
print("Buy FREAKLABS units !");
delay_ms(10;)
clean_screen;
delay_ms(1000);
}
<autosuggest mode off>

Bye

Totti

[MRE]

Hey Joe,

Yes, I second Akiba's suggestion of Sengoku. Really good shop.
There are a few other places you can buy Arduino and clones from.
Anyway, that whole street is just pure awesome, so spend lots of time
browsing around.

But, as to asking questions, very few shop keepers in Akihabara are
'experts.' At best, some are hobbyists, or as the shop owner, quite
knowledgeable, but many are no different than Lawson's employees. They
sell items. They know the stock very well, but are either unable to
answer your specific usage questions, or don't have the time. Some of
the Sengoku and Akizuki staff are an exception, but rarely have much
patience for more than a question or two.. and it better be about
what's in stock or not.

Essentially, the knowledgeable staff will not waste their time on you
if you dont really know what you are asking about. I have found that
even with my very limited Japanese skill, I have no problems with
their staff, mainly due to the fact that I know precisely what I want/
need or am unsure about. So, its more like I look at a Japanese data
sheet and confirm that a value I see IS or is NOT the value I expect
(I cant read kanji after all).

Most "newbies" have a rough time in Akihabara with the staff at shops.
You have to put in some face time over repeat visits before they are
willing to take pitty on you. Only slightly more immediately friendly
if you happen to be a woman ;)


I suggest you follow Torsten's advice: Come to Tokyo HackerSpace and
ask your questions here. Several of us are quite knowledgeable on
embedded hardware in general and Arduino in specific. Also, we
sporadically run an introduction to Arduino. It is usually once a
month. The only reason we have not had one this month is because I
have been super busy, and THS is gearing up to make a move to Shibuya.
I will strive to not let it slip again.

[Taylan Ayken]

I was planning to have an introduction to Arduino class 2 weeks later. I'll just post that up. I was super duper busy but managed to survive.

Then next week there will be Electronics 101 and a week later Electronics 102. But we have to form some kits for those. I have some ideas but I have to test them out by myself. Maybe a week after that there can be an advanced Arduino class.

---

From: MRE <epre...@gmail.com>
To: TokyoHackerSpace <tokyohac...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 5:55 PM
Subject: [THS:17799] Re: Arduino shops in Tokyo

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[AbH Belxjander Draconis Serechai]

Anything about programming the Arduino?

because there is the Arduino used in setting up the RepRap printer
controllers... if you want to organize RAMPS and Sanguinololu
building?

this can have electronics, programming and mechanical elements split
across several classes.

I can deal with the Frame construction which would at best be
acquiring and assembly of a set of parts...

the Electronics and motors will need more than the skills I have (I
organized getting pre-assembled parts where possible) which may allow
for members who want to do so to make their own customized controller
setups.

If anyone has any interest in stage-building any 3D printing equipment
over time?

> tokyohackerspa...@googlegroups.com.

> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/tokyohackerspace?hl=en.
>
>
>

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
> To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to

> tokyohackerspa...@googlegroups.com.

[Taylan Ayken]

Here it is: http://www.tokyohackerspace.org/en/event/2012-06-06-arduino-night-introduction-to-arduino

This is the introduction to Arduino class. You are highly encouraged to bring your own laptop and Arduino board if you have any. If not, we have some stock which you might be able to buy. We also have a couple of laptops that you can use during the event.

I will talk about the IDE, digital inputs and outputs, analog inputs and outputs. Then according to people, we might go into PS2 keyboard interfacing, LCDs, or making sound with Arduino.

---

From: AbH Belxjander Draconis Serechai <belxj...@gmail.com>
To: tokyohac...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 6:56 PM
Subject: Re: [THS:17804] Re: Arduino shops in Tokyo

> tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/tokyohackerspace?hl=en.
>
>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
> To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to

> tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/tokyohackerspace?hl=en.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[MRE]

We have considered more formalized series lessons.. it always comes
down to either not having the time to work on such a deep lesson plan,
or not being certain of the interest of the participants. For example,
in Arduino 101, it always works better to do a 20 minute intro to the
hardware, uses, and basic programing (such as reading a digital input,
analog input, digital output, and the Serial library).
Then, I ask people "What would you be interested in learning about
tonight?" And we have done everything from accelerometers, motor H
bridges, PWM of RGB LEDs, color light sensing, temperature sensors,
etc. It is really nice that people can say "I want to know about X"
and then we do it.

AS for a reprap building course, I think a LOT of people would be
interested!!!
We might need to reduce it to either building one, or four, rather
than each building their own.. just because of costs and ordering
parts timing. Those that want, can follow along with their own
hardware. Perhaps something like 2 times per month, for 4-6 months?
If we are working on a THS set of 4, then the members attending the
class does not always have to be the same people.. "This month we are
building the Z stage" is fine.

I would really like to consider a design that can be sourced out of a
combination of TokyoHands, Super Viva Homes, and parts cut on the Fab
Cafe laser cutter.

On May 23, 6:56 pm, AbH Belxjander Draconis Serechai

<belxjan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Anything about programming the Arduino?
>
> because there is the Arduino used in setting up the RepRap printer
> controllers... if you want to organize RAMPS and Sanguinololu
> building?
>
> this can have electronics, programming and mechanical elements split
> across several classes.
>
> I can deal with the Frame construction which would at best be
> acquiring and assembly of a set of parts...
>
> the Electronics and motors will need more than the skills I have (I
> organized getting pre-assembled parts where possible) which may allow
> for members who want to do so to make their own customized controller
> setups.
>
> If anyone has any interest in stage-building any 3D printing equipment
> over time?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 9:43 PM, Taylan Ayken <taylan_ay...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I was planning to have an introduction to Arduino class 2 weeks later. I'll
> > just post that up. I was super duper busy but managed to survive.
>
> > Then next week there will be Electronics 101 and a week later Electronics
> > 102. But we have to form some kits for those. I have some ideas but I have
> > to test them out by myself. Maybe a week after that there can be an advanced
> > Arduino class.
>
> > ________________________________

> > From: MRE <epreme...@gmail.com>

[Joe]

Hi,
  Thanks very much for your replies.  I'm going to try and reply in one go here.

  It sounds like the consensus is that I should try to attend a meeting and get some tutelage. 
  That sounds pretty good to me. 

  I guess my main concerns were that:

    a.) I'd order parts but not get enough or the right stuff to do what I'm interested in trying,

    b.) I would not be able to ask any questions online in a quick manner, the way I can in a store. 

  I speak Japanese so I'm not worried about that, but it sounds like the bigger issue is actually just that, while I know how to program, I'm clueless about hardware.
  On that last note, I guess one other thing I'm a little hesitant about is that, while in the context of a store, and making a purchase, I feel at liberty to ask really, really dumb questions about how things work, that can be more difficult in other contexts. 

  In any case I guess what I will plan on doing is visiting the parts store you guys kindly recommended, try to get the basics I think I might need, and then attend a class when the opportunity presents - preferably after doing at least a tiny bit of bumbling around by myself first.

  Thanks again for all the advice.  I look forward for a chance to learn a bunch more in person before too long.

Best,
  Joe

[Akiba]

One thing you might watch out for is that they may get a little huffy or snobby if you ask beginner questions. Sengoku is kind of okay but Akizuki will just shun you. Japanese isn’t really an issue. It’s more like the attitude. If you’re familiar with the comic book store guy in the Simpsons, that’s kind of how it is there. The best questions to ask are where a particular part is where you have the part number and know the part description. The worst types of questions are open ended like “how do I make an amplifier”. You’ve been warned.

 

p.s. It’s not really that bad, but if you hang out there a bit, you can start to feel the undercurrents that go on there. That’s mainly why everyone was warning you about knowing what to buy before you go out there J

 

Akiba

FreakLabs Open Source Wireless

Web: http://www.freaklabs.org

Shop:http://www.freaklabsstore.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/freaklabs

 

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tokyohackerspace/-/KzpgWqrzgxkJ.

[Nava Whiteford]

Depending on what you want to do...

I'd suggest getting an Arduino Uno (make sure you also have an A to B USB cable).

With that you can try a few simple programs, and make some LEDs flash, for example:

http://41j.com/blog/2012/01/arduino-uno-getting-started/

From there it's not too hard to go to stepper motor control:

http://41j.com/blog/2012/05/dvd-drive-stepper-unl2003-driver-and-arduino/

(rather than that project,you probably want to use an EasyDriver I guess, Sengoku have those, but you get the idea).

and insane CNC projects:

http://41j.com/blog/2012/05/laser-cnc-from-dvd-parts/

Don't use lasers though... Because that's insane...

I've actually found the staff in Sengoku and Akizuki really helpful but I've never gone beyond "kore arimasu ka" and "motto chiisaii saizu arimasu ka"...

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tokyohackerspace/-/KzpgWqrzgxkJ.

[Akiba]

Ha ha ha. Yeah, it depends on when you go and the mood of the staff. At
Akizuki, it's worst on weekends when the place is crowded and the staff is
stressed :)

Akiba
FreakLabs Open Source Wireless
Web: http://www.freaklabs.org
Shop:http://www.freaklabsstore.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/freaklabs

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tokyohac...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:tokyohac...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Nava Whiteford
> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 11:32 PM
> To: tokyohac...@googlegroups.com

[MRE]

Yeah they dont tollerate questions unrelated to stock on weekends.

A good idea might be to start a thread describing exactly what you
want to do. Then we can offer very specific advice. Possibly even go
with you to shop.

[Usmar A Padow]

I was also just a programmer. But in a short time I have been able to do many things I wanted to do with the arduino. Asking any hardware questions on the freenode IRC #arduino channel

A few trolls there but it has worked for me. Check out all my arduino projects at http://YouTube.com/amigojapan 

I am most proud of my arduino retro computer that got featured on hack a day and my LED matrix display

Don't fear the hardware   It is easier than it would seem

And yeah ask at the hackerspace. Not at the stores

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tokyohackerspace/-/KzpgWqrzgxkJ.

[MRE]

'Dont fear the hardware' by Blue Oyster Cult.
Great song.

Oh wait...

On May 31, 7:57 pm, Usmar A Padow <usmpa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was also just a programmer. But in a short time I have been able to do many things I wanted to do with the arduino. Asking any hardware questions on the freenode IRC #arduino channel

> A few trolls there but it has worked for me. Check out all my arduino projects athttp://YouTube.com/amigojapan

> I am most proud of my arduino retro computer that got featured on hack a day and my LED matrix display
>
> Don't fear the hardware   It is easier than it would seem
>
> And yeah ask at the hackerspace. Not at the stores
>

> > To view this discussion on the web visithttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/tokyohackerspace/-/KzpgWqrzgxkJ.

[Jud Taylor]

I'm thinking of making an automatic cowbell, run by an Arduino, and
physically controlled using a stepper motor.

3 points!

[Taylan Ayken]

Use a solenoid ;)

---

From: Jud Taylor <jud.t...@gmail.com>
To: tokyohac...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 1:08 AM
Subject: Re: [THS:18083] Re: Arduino shops in Tokyo

>> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

>> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/tokyohackerspace?hl=en.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
> To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.

> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tokyohackerspace?hl=en.
>

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TokyoHackerSpace" group.
To post to this group, send email to tokyohac...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tokyohackerspace+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[MRE]

I have a feaver.
The only cure... is more robo-cowbell.