amachinetech

Since this is the first of your instructables here are some tips for your next one. 1) Give links to where you got stuff, store or website, model numbers, power required, sizes, quantitys, prices, shipping the more info the better. If those reading your instructable are not able to get exactly what you have they will have the specs to be able to substitute with other things2) Share your failures and successes. If you tried something and it didn't work then share that and pictures of how it failed. Much more is learned from a valiant attempt and epic failure than a success on the first whack.3) If it succeeded but still isn't quite what you were aiming for then feel free to come back later and update the instructable with version 2.0 or 3.0 if needed. Ask for feedback from the instructab...

Since this is the first of your instructables here are some tips for your next one. 1) Give links to where you got stuff, store or website, model numbers, power required, sizes, quantitys, prices, shipping the more info the better. If those reading your instructable are not able to get exactly what you have they will have the specs to be able to substitute with other things2) Share your failures and successes. If you tried something and it didn't work then share that and pictures of how it failed. Much more is learned from a valiant attempt and epic failure than a success on the first whack.3) If it succeeded but still isn't quite what you were aiming for then feel free to come back later and update the instructable with version 2.0 or 3.0 if needed. Ask for feedback from the instructables community. Thousands of people will see your efforts and will freely give hints to help you improve your idea. Just ask.4) pictures, pictures, pictures...and a few more. Some of the people that are reading your instructables have english as a second or third language. The more arrows, pointers, diagrams and drawings you can give us the reader the better. Somethings that are crystal clear in your head don't always make the translation to english, then to cyberspace then back to english then to someone else's head.5) a short video of how it works when it is all done is very helpful for someone who is adapting your creation to their situation. If you have, for instance, a video of you in a beach chair under a popup, with the misters pumping out streams of cooling fog, then pan about some so we can see not only your imaginative invention but how you ended up using it this will give the reader a feel for how your invention made your world better. It is best if you post the video first before you get into the how to part of the instructable so we the readers have an idea as to what we will end up with after we're all done.6) never stop inventing. The more you do it the easier it becomes. We are your tribe and we are here to cheer you on. Good first effort on a worthwhile invention. I will make something like it myself. When I complete it Ill share the pictures with you.amachinetech

A way to substantially reduce the cost is to use the little magnetic door switches that are used for alarm systems. They are only a few dollars, are very light and can be mounted with double stick tape so no holes are drilled in the dorm room. By the look of the prox switch it is something that you had lying around so use what you have but if buying new look for it.

I have found that if you were to want to be completely evil you could make a stack of these wheels and place them in the treasure hunt. In the characters on the wheel place a word or a series of symbols that would identify that one wheel different to the others. The codes could change at every clue. This is just the basic hardware of the thing. Use your artistry and make it spectacular! If you a make it, please share as I am actively making a treasure hunt and could use all the ideas that I can get on this front.

I agree for the standard scrawl to remind myself of the cat or the groceries this is a bit cumbersome. But for that special touch it's a tool in my bag to make the wife go awww. That and I use them for my treasure hunts to print clues on and stick to things.

or more specifically lcd.print(f("blah blah"));

Most of the Serial.prints I commented out when I was getting toward the end of the build. Would that work for the lcd.print("blah blah"); ?