Help please I am so lost just need pointing in the right direction

[Rover999]

Please help I am so lost
Hi I hope some one can help me in any way they can please
I need to build a unit that has the following spec it has to be able to have the settings put in from an LCD display and do the following actions.
Move a stepper motor, stop, wait ,fire 2 outputs ,wait for an input ,wait ,fire 2 more outputs, Wait, fire a servo for a set distance ,then move again. I might want to loop this action.
Now the hard bit I have been off work for 2 years now with very bad depression as well as a host of other things wrong with me.
So cash is very tight I can only do this once so have to get it right is arduino or pic bet to do this job. I have never used either before and are these supposedly do any thing kits on eBay from china any god to do it.
Lastly any one wanting to sell any bit that might help or help with the Programing please contact me .
Thank you
Albert

[ScaleRobotics]

Welcome Albert. What you are proposing is relatively simple programming wise. Some new users get a little frustrated with configuration bits and other things required on the pics to get started. A lot of us started our journey on Basic Stamps. These can easily do what you mention, without some of the headaches of getting started. For one offs, and simple things, Basic Stamps are a cheap way to get started into programming. If you were needing multiple items, faster speed, more complex communication, and endless other possibilites, then you could upgrade to PicBasic Pro.

[Rover999]

Welcome Albert. What you are proposing is relatively simple programming wise. Some new users get a little frustrated with configuration bits and other things required on the pics to get started. A lot of us started our journey on Basic Stamps. These can easily do what you mention, without some of the headaches of getting started. For one offs, and simple things, Basic Stamps are a cheap way to get started into programming. If you were needing multiple items, faster speed, more complex communication, and endless other possibilites, then you could upgrade to PicBasic Pro.

Thank you just if some one could give me a list of the parts to buy I can order them then start just so many different parts I am so confused.
Once I had a parts list I can figure out Programing just as cash is so tight I don't want to buy what I do not need dose this make sense.
Albert

[ScaleRobotics]

I have been away from stamps for a while now, so maybe someone else will have a different opinion. I got up to a Basic Stamp 2 device (BS2), which they still offer, but are currently out of stock. For about $10 more, there is a faster BS2 SX. You would need a computer with a serial port, or a usb serial port adapter, to program these Basic Stamps.

For a comparison on their capabilities, you can see this: http://www.parallax.com/tabid/436/Default.aspx . Just click on the different stamps you want to compare. The BS2 is capable of what you describe, and probably the Basic Stamp 1. But I would definitely get a BS2 or above, rather than the BS1. A lot of the code transfers pretty easily, if you want to switch to PBP later on.

[mackrackit]

I think this might be the way to start.
http://www.myamicus.co.uk/
The compiler is free and all you need to copy the code to the module is an USB cable.

[mister_e]

Assembler is free, MPLAB is free, if you have a "older" PC (says running XP or even 98), then some JDM progammer are easy and so cheap to build (not the best one but may work really well). A PICKIT 2 or PICKIT 3 Starter kit is also pretty cheap, probably the same price (or not much than) an Arduino, Amicus board Or some Basic Stamp.

Once you get the concept and built few project, PICBASIC PRO pay by itself. Still, there's a limited Demo version available on Melabs Website. From what I feel, what you need to do will perfectly fit the limitation of the DEMO version,

HTH