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Topics - ian

77
Project development, ideas, and suggestions / Chainable nixie board massive thing project
Over the years we've amassed an assortment of Nixie and VFD tubes. They're cool devices, but mostly we hide them in the closet. Our magnificent nixie tube thing will put out tube hoard on display in the workshop, and we can take sections to Maker Faires too.

The Magnificent Nixie tube thing consists of 3 separate boards. A high voltage power supply, a chainable controller board for 2 nixies, and a carrier board that holds the delicate tubes.

The HV supply is from here:

Our Eagle files are attached. See the video and post here:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/?p=56967
78
Project development, ideas, and suggestions / ATX breakout board v2 in KiCad
[attachment=3]

Over the last week we re-visioned the ATX power supply breakout board in KiCAD, free of the confines of Eagle's 100mm by 80mm cell. We chose the ATX board because it's already at the limit, and it's fill of big connectors that can't be miniaturized.

This version builds on the already popular ATX Breakout Board v1.1, but adds new features and hackability. Stuff that simply wouldn't be possible without the unlimited routing area available from the open source alternative to our usual program.

Features of the ATX Breakout Board V2:

    Adjustable positive and negative power rails
    Fuse blown indicators on every rail, complementing the line good LEDs
    Ground terminals on every line
    1.25A polyfuses on all power lines, including the adjustable ones
    2nd ATX jack for easier enclosure design
    2x8 0.1'' header connected to all the power and control lines of the PSU, including the adjustable ones.
    Open source, designed in KiCAD open source software

We'll post a complete update tomorrow on the blog. Love it? Hate it? Give me your wost :)

[attachment=2]
79
Bus Pirate Support / RS485 and Bus Pirate?
Quote
Hey Ian, I wanted to ask you if you have ever been asked about RS485 support for the Bus Pirate? I am working on some process controllers and would love to be able to debug the software interface before putting the Gelato (Yes I said icecream :) ) maker in production.

Hey Kevin,

Cool project ;)

I wasn't super familiar with RS485 so I read a little on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-485#Applications

It looks like it is a physical layer only, a standard of how to push signals down long cables. Many different protocols can travel over it (SCSI, DMX512, Modbus, maybe simple async serial?). If you use simple serial over RS485 the Bus Pirate would just need the hardware adapter for RS485 and you could use it would the UART mode (to some extent, not sure every master/slave topology would work). Do you have any idea what protocols you're working with? maybe I can recommend an adapter.
80
General discussion / USB OHS summit presentation first try
Collecting some notes here:

Quote
Ian

I just watched your presentation on USB IDs.  I thought it was very good, but sort of just ended.  Were you hoping to have a "call to action" or just raise awareness?  It did the later very well, not so much on the former.

And another thought.... create product similar to the picaxe.  Each device sold is a microprocessor with pre-installed firmware that does CDC or what-ever and a bootloader to allow addition of custom functions. Sell this as not as a dev-board but as a device (like an ftdi or picaxe) and open-source the project. 

Maybe seeed would like to get into the chip programming business and sell these chips, now people have a legit way to get USB project without the constraints of using an arduino or the extra BOM expense of having an FTDI.

Thanks for your comments. At this point I just wanted to see how long my off the cuff comments about USB ID lasts, so there wasn't really a conclusion.

I have heard the idea to sell chips like this before, and I encourage you to pursue it. My feeling is that we need a real, USB-IF sanctioned way to get USB IDs so we have some certainty and legitimacy to OSH.

I'll start a thread for this too since there isn't a post for it yet.

Thanks again,

ian
81
General discussion / New York City electronics tour
Stores to visit in New York. Two are near each other so no problem, the others are a bit far flung. Will get these on a map soon:

http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Local_ ... es_/_Parts

Argo Electronics

    393 Canal Street, New York (Manhattan - Chinatown)
    (212) 226-4945
        Mostly broken A/V gear, PC boards etc.
        Some old CRO's & other test gear.
        Surplus components of likely little value unless you're lucky.
        Junk products.
        Some new A/V cables, connectors, power supplies.
        Has the occasional gem to be found.

    269 Electronics
        269 Canal St., New York (Manhattan - Chinatown)
        http://www.nycresistor.com/2009/09/16/269-electronics/
        In the very back of a generic looking Chinatown Gift/Watch/Purse Shop.
        (212) 625-0405
            Soldering Supplies & Beginners soldering kits (circuit board + components)
            Assorted hand tools (screwdrivers, tweezers, etc)
            NTE Distributor
            Resistors, Capacitors, Switches, Wire, Connectors
            Does not carry surface mount parts or 20Mhz crystals, but has more HAM Radio related parts

        Leeds Electronics
            68 North 7th St., Brooklyn ( Williamsburg )
            Map
            http://leedsradio.com/
                Odd Lot and "vintage" parts.
                Photo (found on flickr): [1]
                If you need a NOS or used tube, it's here, from audio tubes to cathode ray tubes
                From time to time there will be a few Nixie tubes as well for great prices
                Also a lot of heavy-duty connectors, enclosures and switches, great for effects pedals

Allstate Electronics

    170 - 30 Jamaica Ave. , Jamaica Queens
    Tel - 1 ( 718 ) 291 - 3388 / 3389 / 3769
        Store is an electronic parts counter. If they don't have it , it's not made.
        See here for picture of storefront -> http://i34.tinypic.com/30ud1xh.jpg
82
Bus Pirate Support / Bus Pirate firmware v6.2 beta 1
Here's a new beta firmware:
http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prot ... -beta1.zip

It should fix a bunch of strange bugs with Bus Pirate v4, and fixes tons of small bugs in various features. For a partial list see the project tracker:

http://dangerousprototypes.com/track/

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Includes updated STK500v2 firmware for v3 hardware.

Fixed:
SPI speed
SUMP logic analyzer mode
V4 UART bridge maybe
UART TX invert not set in invert mode
USB interrupt problems effecting all modes
83
General discussion / singapore maker faire posted from a380
This is the normal thread for any suggestions or requests for Singapore.

However... this one is really cool. We're on the first a380 flight out of Amsterdam. There is a USB and plug in power in coach. Really cool though is the inflight wifi I'm using to browse the net and write this post :)

$2 for 5 mb or 15 for 30mb.
84
General discussion / Re: Solder "Paste-Off"
I have a little thing of paste where I can try, but pastes are expensive and I don't buy them often so rarely do I have more than one to try.
85
General discussion / Part kit discussion, reservation, preorder
We've been working to put together a $100 SMD part kit using the common parts from our master partlist. You might have seen it on the blog.

Here's the working list of parts:
Quote
Resistors   Part number   Details   Package   
2k      0.1Watt+   0603   reel
10k      0.1Watt+   0603   reel
10k x 4 array      0.1Watt+   0603   200
10K trimmer/pot      0.1Watt+   6mm   20
E12 resistor kit 86 values 50 each   0.1Watt+   0603   1
            
Voltage regulators   Part number   Details   Package   
3.3   MIC5205-3.3BM5   150mA with enable   SOT-23-5   10
3.3   LD1117-33 or similar   800mA     SOT-223   10
5.0   MIC5205-5.0BM5   150mA with enable   SOT-23-5   10
5.0   LD1117-50 or similar   800mA     SOT-223   10
1.25-12volt adjustable   LM317, AMS1117-adj, or similar   800mA     SOT-223   10
            
Connectors   Part number   Details   Package   
USB–B through hole      Through hole      10
USB mini B      Surface mount      10
SMD power connecter      2.1mm connector pin   2.1mm SMD   10
            
LEDS 0805   Part number   Details   Package   
RED LED      Red   805   50
YELLOW LED      Yellow   805   50
            
Buttons   Part number   Details   Package   
SMD           5.4mm/4.8mm SMD   20
            
            
Header   Part number   Details   Package   
40 pin straight male         2.54mm/0.1inch pin pitch   10
40 pin female         2.54mm/0.1inch pin pitch   10
40 pin right angle male         2.54mm/0.1inch pin pitch   10
2 pin jumper         2.54mm/0.1inch pin pitch   25
            
Capacitors   Part number   Details   Package   
0.1 uF      50volts+   0603   1 reel
 10 uF tantalum      6volts+   A case/Kemet A/1206   20
Capacitor kit 1pF~1uF (50 values) 50 each  Small surface mount capacitor kit   0603   1
            
            
Crystal   Part number   Details   Package   
12 Mhz         HC/49-U   10
20 Mhz         HC/49-U   10
12 Mhz         4mm x 6mm   5
32.768khz      2.1mm cylinder    TC-26H or similar    10
            
Transistor   Part number   Details   Package   
NPN (BC818MTF)      800mA / 25volts VCEO   SOT-23   20
PNP (BC80840MTF)      800mA / 25volts VCEO   SOT-23   10
            
Diode            
Small signal   1N4148/BAS-16   250mA/100volts   SOD-323   50
            
Power related   Part number   Details   Package   
Ferrite bead      1.5amps   0603   50
Resettable polyfuse      1.25amp/16volt   1812   10

There's also a wiki with illustrations (but wrong quantities) here:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Partlist_kit

Our partkit can sell for $100, probably including shipping. All this stuff is $300+ at Mouser, check it out:
https://www2.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ ... 263A4E823A

The mouser comparison is a bit misleading because the 3 reels of caps and resistors cost $130 alone, which nobody would probably buy. On the other hand, the mouser cart doesn't include an E12 resistor kit, or a 50 value capacitor kit.

We have to buy 100 kits to start, and I'm not yet sure if there is enough interest. It's also the case that we won't know the quality of the kit before it arrives, it could be junk.

Would you be interested in this parts kit at this price? I'm afraid the contents of the kit cannot be changed at this point, though we could totally tweak it later on.
86
General discussion / India visa business invitation
A few forum members from India have setup a geek tour of Delhi. We'll visit electronics markets, co-working space (hackerspace), and PCB manufacturers and assemblers. We will of course fly our favoritist airline ever, Finnair.

There's one huge problem though. We need business visas, and for that we need an invitation letter from a business in India.

So far I've trolled linkedin, sent letters to the several PCB houses in Delhi, sent massive number of intro letters to component dealers on sites like alibaba, and contacted (sparkfun) Bus Pirate resellers in India. We're not getting many replies, and nothing develops very far.

I would really appreciate any contacts you know of who might be willing to invite us.

Feel free to suggest things you'd like to see, and please let me know if you can join us in late october in Delhi.

Thank you,

ian
87
General discussion / Re: BP on EEVblog
I have a Bus Pirate and Logic Sniffer for him here. I wanted to send some hand built prototypes of the demo boards and most recent BP v3 and v4 so it has taken me a while. I should just send whatever, but you know, it's Dave, and I want everything to be perfect ;)
88
General discussion / Bug/project tracker
Here's a public tracker for projects, bugs, errors, etc. Will try to get the major known stuff on there asap:

http://dangerousprototypes.com/track

I enabled the sponsorship/bounty feature and will probably put a bounty on all the major bugs. I have no idea if that would motivate contributors. Bounties would maybe start at $20 or more. Any thoughts?
89
Bus Pirate Support / PC Keyboard mode not working?
Quote
I am trying to use the kbd mode with a new v3a bus pirate. I loaded the 5.9 extras to get the functionality. I have made the proper connections to the keyboard. I have tried 4 PS/2 keyboards with differing results. None have been readable by the Bus Pirate, even though they work fine in a PC> The closest I get to functionality is to send an 0xff (Kbd reset) I get an ACK and then a parity error on the read. One of the others gets the ACK and them a timeout on the read. The otheres return NONE. Any ideas on what I am not doing right?

I'm sorry about the problem, thanks for the report. I'm not really sure. I double checked and the 5.9 extras firmware talks to the old keyboard we use for testing, so it might be a problem with setup or the library may be missing something to support your keyboard.

Could you please send (or post) the terminal output from your tests and a list of the connections you made?

Do you have any age/model info on the keyboards? Are they native PC AT/XT keyboards, or do they use a USB converter?
90
Sick of Beige / Scheme G standoff molding quote
A quote from a Chinese company I contacted about molding the scheme G standoff.

$3000 for the mold, $0.06 cents each for the standoffs. In acrylic though, and I think we want some form of flexible plastic. I am following up on materials, but suggestions are welcome :)

I'd really like to know what protomold gives as an online quote for a comparison.

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