Title: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: matseng on June 30, 2013, 01:12:09 pm
Post by: matseng on June 30, 2013, 01:12:09 pm
As you all might remember I previously tried to do one PCB/Project per week and publish (http://http://dangerousprototypes.com/for.um/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=4892) them here at DP. I managed to do eleven project plus some extras earlier this year before the workload of my real job got in the way and put a temporary halt to it.
Well, I'll try to start the PAWs up again in a slightly different model. This time I'll not keep the every-Monday-send-to-Seeed timing so rigorously, but I'll do it whenever it seems reasonable. I'll try to do something at about weekly or 10-day intervals. And some boards will come from Smart Prototyping (http://http://smart-prototyping.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_60&product_id=142) instead of Seeed.
This PAW is a small utility board for your breadboard that have some of the most common things you need when building a microcontroller-based project on the breadboard. It's a small (2.5x1.5cm / 1x0.6”) PCB with a Power Led, a Reset button with a pullup and goes low when pressed, a Signal button with pulldown that goed high when pressed and two general Indicator Leds that are connected to ground via resistors.
[attachment=1]
It's a simple thing, but oh so convenient to have sitting in a corner of the breadboard ready to be used whenever necessary.
The schematics is embarrassingly simple but I show it here anyways :)
[attachment=0]
Well, I'll try to start the PAWs up again in a slightly different model. This time I'll not keep the every-Monday-send-to-Seeed timing so rigorously, but I'll do it whenever it seems reasonable. I'll try to do something at about weekly or 10-day intervals. And some boards will come from Smart Prototyping (http://http://smart-prototyping.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_60&product_id=142) instead of Seeed.
This PAW is a small utility board for your breadboard that have some of the most common things you need when building a microcontroller-based project on the breadboard. It's a small (2.5x1.5cm / 1x0.6”) PCB with a Power Led, a Reset button with a pullup and goes low when pressed, a Signal button with pulldown that goed high when pressed and two general Indicator Leds that are connected to ground via resistors.
[attachment=1]
It's a simple thing, but oh so convenient to have sitting in a corner of the breadboard ready to be used whenever necessary.
The schematics is embarrassingly simple but I show it here anyways :)
[attachment=0]
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: Bertho on June 30, 2013, 02:47:50 pm
Post by: Bertho on June 30, 2013, 02:47:50 pm
It still amazes me that a few buttons and LEDs can be useful ;-)
Anyway, I do look forward to another round of PAW; maybe we'll get a brain-to-gadget interface out of the inspiration gathered from the series.
Well done matseng.
Anyway, I do look forward to another round of PAW; maybe we'll get a brain-to-gadget interface out of the inspiration gathered from the series.
Well done matseng.
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: matseng on June 30, 2013, 02:54:32 pm
Post by: matseng on June 30, 2013, 02:54:32 pm
I sold nine of them on Tindie (http://https://www.tindie.com/products/matseng/bb-price-breadboard-utility-pcb/) during the first 8 hours after listing them. So it seems like there are more than me that have problems inserting switches/buttons into a breadboard. :-)
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: Bertho on June 30, 2013, 03:24:39 pm
Post by: Bertho on June 30, 2013, 03:24:39 pm
[quote author="matseng"]I sold nine of them on Tindie (http://https://www.tindie.com/products/matseng/bb-price-breadboard-utility-pcb/) [/quote]
But at that volume and price it will be hardly retirement funding :-)
But at that volume and price it will be hardly retirement funding :-)
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: matseng on June 30, 2013, 03:38:16 pm
Post by: matseng on June 30, 2013, 03:38:16 pm
Very true.... In this case I've marked them up almost x10 from the cost for the parts (since I purchase the generic parts in volume) and the postage ($0.95) covers the stamps,envelope and bags. I really can't charge more for them with a straight face. ^_^
But I'm not doing this for a living or to save the earnings for a rainy day/year. This is just for fun and if I can spread some of the stuff I do for fun to others for a reasonable low cost it feels good. (And it keeps my wife happy to see that I actually sell some of the stuff that the courier companies and mail man brings home to me at a regular basis)
Currently I go to the post office and drop off a dozen or so letters twice a week, something that isn't too much of a hardship. If the volumes increases too much I might just call it a day and get out of the Tindie business - or I raise the prices so I get no buyers :)
But I'm not doing this for a living or to save the earnings for a rainy day/year. This is just for fun and if I can spread some of the stuff I do for fun to others for a reasonable low cost it feels good. (And it keeps my wife happy to see that I actually sell some of the stuff that the courier companies and mail man brings home to me at a regular basis)
Currently I go to the post office and drop off a dozen or so letters twice a week, something that isn't too much of a hardship. If the volumes increases too much I might just call it a day and get out of the Tindie business - or I raise the prices so I get no buyers :)
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: Bertho on June 30, 2013, 04:00:44 pm
Post by: Bertho on June 30, 2013, 04:00:44 pm
[quote author="matseng"](And it keeps my wife happy to see that I actually sell some of the stuff that the courier companies and mail man brings home to me at a regular basis)[/quote]
That may be the best reason I heard in a long time. Keeping peace at home can be a challenge.
[quote author="matseng"]Currently I go to the post office and drop off a dozen or so letter twice a week, something that isn't too much of a hardship. If the volumes increases too much I might just call it a day and get out of the Tindie business - or I raise the prices so I get no buyers :)[/quote]
That is not too bad. At least it is not a negative cash-flow business this way. You may be surprised what one will pay for a gadget. Sometimes I do not get it. At least, I never get the "hang" of the right price until I already set it too low. And then, for things where I think is worth it, it is always too high, sigh.
That may be the best reason I heard in a long time. Keeping peace at home can be a challenge.
[quote author="matseng"]Currently I go to the post office and drop off a dozen or so letter twice a week, something that isn't too much of a hardship. If the volumes increases too much I might just call it a day and get out of the Tindie business - or I raise the prices so I get no buyers :)[/quote]
That is not too bad. At least it is not a negative cash-flow business this way. You may be surprised what one will pay for a gadget. Sometimes I do not get it. At least, I never get the "hang" of the right price until I already set it too low. And then, for things where I think is worth it, it is always too high, sigh.
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: FourthDr on July 24, 2013, 05:53:55 am
Post by: FourthDr on July 24, 2013, 05:53:55 am
Hi Matseng
Received my free BB Prince kit.
Here is the envelope (nice touch with the Darlek!):
[attachment=5]
Here is what came inside:
[attachment=4]
[attachment=3]
Here are the parts ready to be soldered:
[attachment=2]
And finally, the finished product:
[attachment=0]
[attachment=1]
Anyone else receive their kit? I'm going to use mine with some minimal Arduino circuits on my bread board along with the crystal module you made.
Thanks again
Received my free BB Prince kit.
Here is the envelope (nice touch with the Darlek!):
[attachment=5]
Here is what came inside:
[attachment=4]
[attachment=3]
Here are the parts ready to be soldered:
[attachment=2]
And finally, the finished product:
[attachment=0]
[attachment=1]
Anyone else receive their kit? I'm going to use mine with some minimal Arduino circuits on my bread board along with the crystal module you made.
Thanks again
Title: Re: PAW12 - BB Prince
Post by: matseng on July 27, 2013, 07:15:35 pm
Post by: matseng on July 27, 2013, 07:15:35 pm
Quote from: FourthDr
Received my free BB Prince kit. Here is the envelope (nice touch with the Darlek!):QuoteI felt that I just had to spice up the envelope a bit when I sent a letter to "Dr Who" :)