Electrical Engineering V2 - Developers

[QUOTE=scratch (nl);43957798]Managed to connect a PS2 controller with my Arduino. It was a bit of a hassle at first, but after using a pull-up resistor somewhere it worked all fine. I'll be using it for the project I'm in to controll a model-scale gantry crane.[/QUOTE] Could you provide some info on doing something like this? I'd like to fiddle with a Gamecube controller.

[QUOTE=Nightrazr;43960054]Could you provide some info on doing something like this? I'd like to fiddle with a Gamecube controller.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.int03.co.uk/crema/hardware/gamecube/gc-control.html[/url]

Hngggg, I hate how Farnell sometimes says that the item is in inventory and after ordering you get an email with new estimated delivery times: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/1h0jwup.png[/thumb]

[QUOTE=alexaz;43962905]Hngggg, I hate how Farnell sometimes says that the item is in inventory and after ordering you get an email with new estimated delivery times: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/1h0jwup.png[/thumb][/QUOTE] Call them up, they will offer you a replacement with free shipping (if they have a similar product in stock of course).

I forgot to buy capacitors today. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_5287.jpg[/IMG] The MAX232 needs them. Fuck. :suicide:

[QUOTE=pentium;43980805]I forgot to buy capacitors today. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_5287.jpg[/IMG] The MAX232 needs them. Fuck. :suicide:[/QUOTE] Ahah, I generally stock every component i ever need and restock anything i use a fair chunk of. so i usually only order unique parts or such.

[QUOTE=pentium;43980805]I forgot to buy capacitors today. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_5287.jpg[/IMG] The MAX232 needs them. Fuck. :suicide:[/QUOTE] How can someone not have 0.1 uF, 1 uF caps? That's a sin!

Does anyone know what program might be used to make something like the document shown below? [img_thumb]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7741496/IMG_7816.jpeg[/img_thumb]

[QUOTE=zman115;43983243]Does anyone know what program might be used to make something like the document shown below? [img_thumb]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7741496/IMG_7816.jpeg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Basically any CAD program.

Interestingly that above drawing is in the sort of industry I work in. Live and Installed audio. I've used MS Visio in the past for sound system diagrams, but I could see how you could make Eagle work by creating components that represented different bits of audio gear.

Would OmniGraffle be something to use also?

I'm making a robot for a micro mouse competition at my college. The plan is to program it in Arduino and custom build the hardware. Here is the schematic [URL=http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/kingmysion/media/Screenshot2014-02-22225323.png.html][IMG]http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g427/kingmysion/Screenshot2014-02-22225323.png[/IMG][/URL] The layout here is horrific and would probably make a professional engineer cry buutttt it works for now. This is the current progress in designing the PCB [URL=http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/kingmysion/media/Screenshot2014-02-22220853.png.html][IMG]http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g427/kingmysion/Screenshot2014-02-22220853.png[/IMG][/URL] Need to finish this by Wednesday when the last bit of material for making the PCB comes in. Still got a lot to do... I'm working on part of the code too. The function library that will allow the person doing the maze algorithm to get basic control of the bot. Also holy crap I used nearly every single pin on the 328p!:pwn: There's just a lone ADC pin left. Any idea what to do with it? It's just so lonely! poor little pin.

[QUOTE=Mysion;44014332] [...] The layout here is horrific and would probably make a professional engineer cry buutttt it works for now. This is the current progress in designing the PCB Need to finish this by Wednesday when the last bit of material for making the PCB comes in. Still got a lot to do... I'm working on part of the code too. The function library that will allow the person doing the maze algorithm to get basic control of the bot. Also holy crap I used nearly every single pin on the 328p!:pwn: There's just a lone ADC pin left. Any idea what to do with it?[/QUOTE] Is that software you're using Diptrace? (I'm not snooping I swear) However, I accidentally jumped to the next image and saw a tricopter with a remote camera, what was the goal with that project (If you don't mind me asking). Also, you should consider doing some sort of remote start system with that extra ADC (Such as a laser pointer or other remote)

I've noticed USB to UART chips are fairly expensive, are there any alternatives or cheaper ones? often the whole modules you can buy from china are cheaper... Is there a really cheap tiny microcontroller that is programmable to do a similar function? EDIT: oooh 600 posts :3

Honestly the FTDI family of chips are your best bet (They typically only run around[URL="http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/FTDI/FT230XS-R/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvVkErl6zY%252bqR%252b6A%252bu%2f1HB5"] 2USD a pop[/URL]). However, [URL="http://www.obdev.at/articles/implementing-usb-1.1-in-firmware.html"]V-USB[/URL] is a well supported firmware that turns AVRs into full fledged USB controllers, given that you clock them correctly (I don't think you can use the onboard clock)

What you can try are FTDI cables. They take the TTL serial signals in, and have the FTDI chip in the cable. That way you only have to spend money once, and are set for life.

[QUOTE=DrDevil;44017701]What you can try are FTDI cables. They take the TTL serial signals in, and have the FTDI chip in the cable. That way you only have to spend money once, and are set for life.[/QUOTE] This is mainly for embedded projects that i want to be able to plug into the computer. Ideally, reprogramming somthing like this: [url]http://uk.farnell.com/fujitsu/mb95f214kpf-g-sne2/ic-mcu-8bit-16k-flash-8fx-8sop/dp/1825568[/url] would be god-send

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;44017618]I've noticed USB to UART chips are fairly expensive, are there any alternatives or cheaper ones? often the whole modules you can buy from china are cheaper... Is there a really cheap tiny microcontroller that is programmable to do a similar function? EDIT: oooh 600 posts :3[/QUOTE] Depends, are signed windows drivers available from Microsoft update necessary?

[QUOTE=O Cheerios O;44018138]Depends, are signed windows drivers available from Microsoft update necessary?[/QUOTE] Im not too sure about most of USB, really i just want budget usb-serial for projects so they can communicate with the computer

Yeah I'm using diptrace. I had to get the educational license because I went over the limit for the free version. The photo-resistor or some thing like that for the ADC pin is a good idea. I have one lying around so I think I will do that. As for the hexacopter there was no real goal besides to build some thing fun. As of right now the goal is too make a good FPV rig out of it but that can be quite expensive. The pic is from the post in the multicopter thread. [URL="http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1130550&p=44014486#post44014486"]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1130550&p=44014486#post44014486[/URL]

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;44017618]I've noticed USB to UART chips are fairly expensive, are there any alternatives or cheaper ones? often the whole modules you can buy from china are cheaper... Is there a really cheap tiny microcontroller that is programmable to do a similar function? EDIT: oooh 600 posts :3[/QUOTE] I like the MCP2200.

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;44018294]Im not too sure about most of USB, really i just want budget usb-serial for projects so they can communicate with the computer[/QUOTE] Well, FTDIs for 2$ a pop are the easiest and most reliable solution in my opinion.

[QUOTE=DrDevil;44018892]Well, FTDIs for 2$ a pop are the easiest and most reliable solution in my opinion.[/QUOTE] Hmm, okey then, thanks for the help guys. Its a pity all the useful and cool chips are in surface mount packages... Say, anyone want some break out boards in the uk? im thinking of making a load on a pcb and getting them made.

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;44019123]Hmm, okey then, thanks for the help guys. Its a pity all the useful and cool chips are in surface mount packages... Say, anyone want some break out boards in the uk? im thinking of making a load on a pcb and getting them made.[/QUOTE] I would not mind some, got a bunch of TSSOP chips doing nothing.

[QUOTE=Chryseus;44019973]I would not mind some, got a bunch of TSSOP chips doing nothing.[/QUOTE] Anyone got a list of packages they could do with breakout boards for?

TBH I could make some cheap-ass homebrew breakout boards for you guys if you really want. As i mentioned its not even $0.50 per inch.

50 cents per square inch? how the hell do you do that? Tell me you secrete!

So if I gave you a layout and told you I needed 24, you could do that?

[QUOTE=alexaz;44020704]TBH I could make some cheap-ass homebrew breakout boards for you guys if you really want. As i mentioned its not even $0.50 per inch.[/QUOTE] I was planning to get a load done by a chinese pcb company. $19.99 for 10pcs of 10cmx10cm If i worked that out correctly, 10x10=100cm2 per board 100cm2x10 = 1000cm2 1000cm2 = 155inch2 19.99/155 = $0.13 per inch (admittedly you will get 10 boards of the same thing but not a real issue for breakout boards)

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;44027118]I was planning to get a load done by a chinese pcb company. $19.99 for 10pcs of 10cmx10cm If i worked that out correctly, 10x10=100cm2 per board 100cm2x10 = 1000cm2 1000cm2 = 155inch2 19.99/155 = $0.13 per inch (admittedly you will get 10 boards of the same thing but not a real issue for breakout boards)[/QUOTE] And you get the benefits of soldermask and through hole plating.