StickOS

[Bruce]

Hi Darrel,

These will be boards based on the PIC32MX440F512H-80I/PT running at 80MHz.

See this thread on the StickOS http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13221 and the videos.

[rmteo]

Anyone notice how slow this is (considering it uses an 80MHz processor) - or am I missing something?

[Bruce]

Slow - compared to what?

http://www.cpustick.com/mcus.htm

[mackrackit]

Bruce,
Being you have already started the board design I say go with the Explorer 16 type.

Blue SMD.

[ScaleRobotics]

Hey Bruce,
I know you are a busy man. But any updates on the StickOs project?

I noticed that someone is making a zigflea wireless board for the SparkFun StickOS product. Here is the link: http://overtone-labs.ning.com/profil...oard-for-cui32

Thanks,

Walter

[Bruce]

Sorry for the delay Walter. I'll see if I can't get this ready by Monday.

[Bruce]

Walter,

Here's a couple of screen captures of the board so far. I've attached the DipTrace board file also if anyone wants to have a go at making it better, smaller, etc. It would be nice if someone else verified all connections also.

It's similar to the SparkFun board, but I dropped the USB host option, rearranged things a lot, and attempted to make it Stamp-Like, but it's tough to route if you keep the headers close enough together to insert in a small breadboard, and I did NOT want to go any smaller than 0805 resistors/caps.

Board size is 3.2" x 1.8". The smaller capture is 100%. The large is blown-up so you can see everything with connections.

I can have a BOM ready in a day or two, but will wait for feedback, changes, yada-yada...;o)

[Darrel Taylor]

Bruce,

What kind of breadboard will they fit into?

If JP6 is 0.1" spacing, then JP5 and JP7 are 1.5" apart.
But all my solderless breadboards are 1.1" max.

The headers would end up in one of the power rails.

[ScaleRobotics]

Looks great Bruce. Yeah, I kind of hoped it would fit on ONE breadboard, but that sure is a lot of I/O! I have two or three breadboards to put it on if I need to.

One other thing. What kind of USB connector is that? It looks like one of the printer styles, but I could be wrong. Not sure why I think it matters, but it would be cleaner to keep the low profile over the whole thing and do a smt mini usb connector instead. Who knows, someone might want to send this thing up in a model airplane or rocket or something. (Maybe that's just me )

Thanks a bunch Bruce.

Walter

[ScaleRobotics]

Only because I like the way it fits on my breadboard, I chose the UBW32.


Bruce's board is available on the BatchPCB site

[mackrackit]

Does the UBW32 takes the same chip as Bruce's board? And what will the cost be per board? I think you said but I do not know for sure.

[Darrel Taylor]

These will be boards based on the PIC32MX440F512H-80I/PT running at 80MHz.
See this thread on the StickOS http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13221 and the videos.

Oh, I see...

Didn't watch that thread after the "propeller" stuff.
Sorry, my bad.

What the hey, I'll take a couple.
Got a couple of brain cells left that need toasting.
That ought to do it.

I think you split the thread a little short though.
Didn't know what it was.

P.S. And fooy on the speed tests.
An empty FOR/NEXT is a terrible test of a "Systems" performance.

[Bruce]

Hey Darrel,

Yeah - I did stop that thread a tad short, but only because it totally didn't pertain to anything MeLabs related, so it was moved to off-topic - out of respect.

As for speed, what on earth would anyone expect when the whole user interface, compiler, and the works, is incorporated within the processor. What a silly question..

Got you down for 2 units.

[Bruce]

A BASIC Stamp 2px Module does about 19,000 instructions per second. So it's definitely faster than that.

And a low-end PIC running at a mere 4MHz (1 million instructions per second) stomps the living mud out of even the fastest BASIC Stamp..

And it only costs $0.99 VS 50 bucks.

[Bruce]

Dave,

Done. I'll make it with a blue SMD LED.

[Sneaky-geek]

Bruce,
PLEASE INCLUDE a port for a MEL U2. I wil take 2 also. I like the blue LED idea.

Thank you,
Terry
AKA
K9HA
Sneaky-geek

[mackrackit]

Bruce,
Just curious.
I have a rough count of a dozen units for folks here on forum:
Walter 3
Darrel 2
Sneaky 2
Malc 1?
Me. 4

How many can you do in a run with your oven?

[ScaleRobotics]

I have a rough count of a dozen units for folks here on forum:
Walter 3
Darrel 2
Sneaky 2
Malc 1?
Me. 4

Sorry, I never said. I have 3 chips coming that I will send. But I would like two boards, if that is ok? Someone else can use the third chip for theirs.

[Bruce]

Oh - I think we could build about 500 per day with so few components on a simple board like this, so keep em coming. We have a dual batch oven. Shove one set in one side, and others go in when you shove the hot batch out..;o)

Dave,

Can you keep the tally for me? I've got three commercial jobs to push out-the-door between now & next Friday, so it would be a BIG help!

Walter,

No problemo. We'll work out qtys once we have the boards & other stuff. I'll get initial quotes on the boards, hardware, etc, then we'll all get together to sort stuff out.

Never expected it to grow like this, but that's cool. We'll have more folks to bounce new ideas off of.

Been chatting a lot today with the StickOS creator. He's one very cool person. And a heck of a lot smarter than I am..;o)

Kinda nice talking to someone like that if you know what I mean.