Homebrew PCBs

For anyone who is intimidated by the microcontroller board or just 
not in a mood to build one, I believe I can simplify it quite a bit. 
You can probably even do without it by using the original sensors to 
read slots in the carrier, but as a better and easier compromise I 
think you can use a simple 8 pin micro with minimal other components 
(a diode and a bypass cap) to control the printer. When I get a few 
minutes I'll give it a try.

Assuming this works, I'd like to offer a little board with the mcu 
already programmed to anyone who would like to give DLP a try. The 
cost will be minimal, should be under $5 USD. I only ask that you 
refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are 
serious about the project.

Mark

>think you can use a simple 8 pin micro with minimal other components
>(a diode and a bypass cap) to control the printer. When I get a few
>minutes I'll give it a try.
>
>Assuming this works, I'd like to offer a little board with the mcu
>already programmed to anyone who would like to give DLP a try. The
>cost will be minimal, should be under $5 USD. I only ask that you
>refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
>serious about the project.

I'd like to buy one.Already bought the printer.
Meanwhile could you post the flowchart, to allow us to try write a 
program, please?
Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the 
programmers are widely spread.
Cristian 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The program is explained in detail in the pdf. It's been a very long 
time since I've programmed in PIC, and as I recall it isn't a very 
intuitive language, so I'd rather not struggle with it.  In the 
change I want to try you would not be disconnecting the Manual Feed 
Solenoid, so the program is very simple. I'll try to get to writing 
an actual flowchart if it will help and post it in a few days.

Mark

At 09:06 AM 5/18/2010, you wrote:

> >think you can use a simple 8 pin micro with minimal other components
> >(a diode and a bypass cap) to control the printer. When I get a few
> >minutes I'll give it a try.
> >
> >Assuming this works, I'd like to offer a little board with the mcu
> >already programmed to anyone who would like to give DLP a try. The
> >cost will be minimal, should be under $5 USD. I only ask that you
> >refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
> >serious about the project.
>
>I'd like to buy one.Already bought the printer.
>Meanwhile could you post the flowchart, to allow us to try write a
>program, please?
>Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the
>programmers are widely spread.
>Cristian
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

>I only ask that you
> >refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
> >serious about the project.

That sounds very fair and the possible $5 price tag is more than reasonable!!  Thank you for all your work.
 
> Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the 
> programmers are widely spread.
> Cristian 

and here it was I though the AVR chips were most "widely spread" {grinning}..... well, maybe not yet, but they sure are gaining!!!

I do really like this idea, and as I've mentioned before, if the TT method wasn't working so good for me, I'd sure be looking at this..... and once the double sided issue is worked out I might have to try it anyway....  

I WILL be following these threads.

Ken H>

To anyone intimidated by MCUs, I'd recommend the Arduino platform.  It's AVR
based, costs about $30, and doesn't need any additional hardware for
programming or serial debugging (except for a USB cable).

I particularly like that it comes with an IDE for Mac/Windows/Linux and
doesn't require you to set up a cross-compiler environment.  With my old
SAM7X controller, I think I spent more time setting up and IDE and a
cross-compiler than I ever did writing code or using the controller.

The MCU is socketed and can be built into your project and replaced for
around $5 after you get it working correctly.

-Andrew

On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 9:35 AM, sailingto <sailingtoo@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> >I only ask that you
> > >refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
> > >serious about the project.
>
> That sounds very fair and the possible $5 price tag is more than
> reasonable!! Thank you for all your work.
>
>
> > Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the
> > programmers are widely spread.
> > Cristian
>
> and here it was I though the AVR chips were most "widely spread"
> {grinning}..... well, maybe not yet, but they sure are gaining!!!
>
> I do really like this idea, and as I've mentioned before, if the TT method
> wasn't working so good for me, I'd sure be looking at this..... and once the
> double sided issue is worked out I might have to try it anyway....
>
> I WILL be following these threads.
>
> Ken H>
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Your note below touches on a topic I've been thinking about but haven't 
found a starting place.

I'd like to learn about microcontrollers. What they are, what they do, 
how to make them do what I want. Eventually use them in some of my 
homebrew projects.

You mention Arduino. Someone gave me a beginner's book about the 
PIC16F676. There are probably other entry points into this broad topic.

Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there, 
perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site? 
A book? An email reflector?

Steve

On 5/18/2010 11:00 AM, Andrew Villeneuve wrote:
> To anyone intimidated by MCUs, I'd recommend the Arduino platform.  It's AVR
> based, costs about $30, and doesn't need any additional hardware for
> programming or serial debugging (except for a USB cable).
>
> I particularly like that it comes with an IDE for Mac/Windows/Linux and
> doesn't require you to set up a cross-compiler environment.  With my old
> SAM7X controller, I think I spent more time setting up and IDE and a
> cross-compiler than I ever did writing code or using the controller.
>
> The MCU is socketed and can be built into your project and replaced for
> around $5 after you get it working correctly.
>
> -Andrew
>
> On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 9:35 AM, sailingto<sailingtoo@...>  wrote:
>
>    
>>
>>
>>      
>>> I only ask that you
>>>        
>>>> refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
>>>> serious about the project.
>>>>          
>> That sounds very fair and the possible $5 price tag is more than
>> reasonable!! Thank you for all your work.
>>
>>
>>      
>>> Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the
>>> programmers are widely spread.
>>> Cristian
>>>        
>> and here it was I though the AVR chips were most "widely spread"
>> {grinning}..... well, maybe not yet, but they sure are gaining!!!
>>
>> I do really like this idea, and as I've mentioned before, if the TT method
>> wasn't working so good for me, I'd sure be looking at this..... and once the
>> double sided issue is worked out I might have to try it anyway....
>>
>> I WILL be following these threads.
>>
>> Ken H>
>>
>>
>>
>>      
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

There are a lot of options out there, and I do believe PICs are probably far
more popular in the long run.  They've got a pretty broad line, from very
sophisticated MCs to dirt simple ones you can buy for around $1 to do simple
projects.  I have very limited experience with them, and would be interested
if anyone could recommend a good starter setup.

I'm fond of the Arduino because there's a good community out there answering
the questions of hobbyists and beginners (such as myself), and there are no
obstacles to putting code on it and testing it out.

http://arduino.cc/en/

-Andrew

On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 11:53 AM, Steve <steve65@...> wrote:

>
>
> Your note below touches on a topic I've been thinking about but haven't
> found a starting place.
>
> I'd like to learn about microcontrollers. What they are, what they do,
> how to make them do what I want. Eventually use them in some of my
> homebrew projects.
>
> You mention Arduino. Someone gave me a beginner's book about the
> PIC16F676. There are probably other entry points into this broad topic.
>
> Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there,
> perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site?
> A book? An email reflector?
>
> Steve
>
> On 5/18/2010 11:00 AM, Andrew Villeneuve wrote:
> > To anyone intimidated by MCUs, I'd recommend the Arduino platform. It's
> AVR
> > based, costs about $30, and doesn't need any additional hardware for
> > programming or serial debugging (except for a USB cable).
> >
> > I particularly like that it comes with an IDE for Mac/Windows/Linux and
> > doesn't require you to set up a cross-compiler environment. With my old
> > SAM7X controller, I think I spent more time setting up and IDE and a
> > cross-compiler than I ever did writing code or using the controller.
> >
> > The MCU is socketed and can be built into your project and replaced for
> > around $5 after you get it working correctly.
> >
> > -Andrew
> >
> > On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 9:35 AM, sailingto<sailingtoo@...<sailingtoo%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> I only ask that you
> >>>
> >>>> refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
> >>>> serious about the project.
> >>>>
> >> That sounds very fair and the possible $5 price tag is more than
> >> reasonable!! Thank you for all your work.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the
> >>> programmers are widely spread.
> >>> Cristian
> >>>
> >> and here it was I though the AVR chips were most "widely spread"
> >> {grinning}..... well, maybe not yet, but they sure are gaining!!!
> >>
> >> I do really like this idea, and as I've mentioned before, if the TT
> method
> >> wasn't working so good for me, I'd sure be looking at this..... and once
> the
> >> double sided issue is worked out I might have to try it anyway....
> >>
> >> I WILL be following these threads.
> >>
> >> Ken H>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Steve, you might enjoy poking around this site:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Steve <steve65@...> wrote:

>
> Your note below touches on a topic I've been thinking about but haven't 
> found a starting place.
> 
> I'd like to learn about microcontrollers. What they are, what they do, 
> how to make them do what I want. Eventually use them in some of my 
> homebrew projects.
> 
> You mention Arduino. Someone gave me a beginner's book about the 
> PIC16F676. There are probably other entry points into this broad topic.
> 
> Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there, 
> perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site? 
> A book? An email reflector?
> 
> Steve
> 
> On 5/18/2010 11:00 AM, Andrew Villeneuve wrote:
> > To anyone intimidated by MCUs, I'd recommend the Arduino platform.  It's AVR
> > based, costs about $30, and doesn't need any additional hardware for
> > programming or serial debugging (except for a USB cable).
> >
> > I particularly like that it comes with an IDE for Mac/Windows/Linux and
> > doesn't require you to set up a cross-compiler environment.  With my old
> > SAM7X controller, I think I spent more time setting up and IDE and a
> > cross-compiler than I ever did writing code or using the controller.
> >
> > The MCU is socketed and can be built into your project and replaced for
> > around $5 after you get it working correctly.
> >
> > -Andrew
> >
> > On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 9:35 AM, sailingto<sailingtoo@...>  wrote:
> >
> >    
> >>
> >>
> >>      
> >>> I only ask that you
> >>>        
> >>>> refrain from asking for one till you have purchased a printer and are
> >>>> serious about the project.
> >>>>          
> >> That sounds very fair and the possible $5 price tag is more than
> >> reasonable!! Thank you for all your work.
> >>
> >>
> >>      
> >>> Or the hex file for a PIC, as those are more common and the
> >>> programmers are widely spread.
> >>> Cristian
> >>>        
> >> and here it was I though the AVR chips were most "widely spread"
> >> {grinning}..... well, maybe not yet, but they sure are gaining!!!
> >>
> >> I do really like this idea, and as I've mentioned before, if the TT method
> >> wasn't working so good for me, I'd sure be looking at this..... and once the
> >> double sided issue is worked out I might have to try it anyway....
> >>
> >> I WILL be following these threads.
> >>
> >> Ken H>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>      
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

>
>Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there,
>perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site?
>A book? An email reflector?

I'm using FlowCode 4 for PIC from MatrixMultimedia.
It is good for the beginner.
Cristian 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On 05/18/2010 11:53 AM, Steve wrote:
> Your note below touches on a topic I've been thinking about but haven't
> found a starting place.
>
> I'd like to learn about microcontrollers. What they are, what they do,
> how to make them do what I want. Eventually use them in some of my
> homebrew projects.
>
> You mention Arduino. Someone gave me a beginner's book about the
> PIC16F676. There are probably other entry points into this broad topic.
>
> Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there,
> perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site?
> A book? An email reflector?

http://www.amqrp.org/elmer160

Would be a geed place to start.

Wayne

PICs / Basic Stamp:   Check out http://www.parallax.com/
Atmels: http://www.smileymicros.com/

On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 1:07 PM, Cristian <bip@terranet.ro> wrote:

>
>
>
> >
> >Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there,
> >perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site?
> >A book? An email reflector?
>
> I'm using FlowCode 4 for PIC from MatrixMultimedia.
> It is good for the beginner.
> Cristian
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>



-- 
Paul Mateer, AA9GG
Elan Engineering Corp.
www.elanengr.com
NAQCC 3123, SKCC 4628, FPQRP 2003


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
>Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there,
>perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site?
>A book? An email reflector?

I'm using FlowCode 4 for PIC from MatrixMultimedia.
It is good for the beginner.

Google for PicAxe too.
They can be programmed directly from the serial port, without any 
physical programmer.
Also, their FlowCart is free,

You can do simple programs, for the beginning, using intuitive flow charts .
For more sophisticated ones you have to learn programming in Basic or C.
Cristian  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
>Is there a place to go to get an overview? Learn what's out there,
>perhaps get enough insight to enable me to pick a direction? A web site?
>A book? An email reflector?

I'm using FlowCode 4 for PIC from MatrixMultimedia.
It is good for the beginner.

Google for PicAxe too.
They can be programmed directly from the serial port, without any 
physical programmer.
Also, their FlowCart is free,

You can do simple programs, for the beginning, using intuitive flow charts .
For more sophisticated ones you have to learn programming in Basic or C.
Cristian  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]