TreadBot

[skimask]

They're really cheap cams. Resolution isn't all that good, color's a bit off, but they work.

Welding - I didn't think of that. The pins on those chains are probably pretty cheap metal anyways.

MCLR cap - usually, it's there to keep MCLR held off for a split second during power up. The built-in power up timer handles that for 72ms if enabled. And the cap will also help with keeping transient power flux's from tripping MCLR.

40mhz vs. 20mhz - If you've got anything 5-10mhz laying around, try enabling the internal 4XPLL. The board should run at 40mhz, especially since you aren't trying to interface with anything major like static ram or whatever...yet...

[dragons_fire]

i actaully thought about it, there the backup cams arent they?? i have seen them...

we have a wonderful store here called "princess auto", its a surplus store. sprockets were a dollar each, chains were $8 for 6 feet.

it was actually designed as a snow plow, not a lawnmower. we have a driveway big enough for about 6 cars, and its a real pain to shovel it. at no load, the motors run at about 1.4amps each, and when im sitting on it, riding around, it runs at about 3.5 amps each. in a couple minutes, i will upload the new board design, and see what you guys think, then maybe i will make a new one..

[dragons_fire]

heres the board as it is now.. rught below the tilt sensor, i have a resistor, its supposed to be a cap, i just put the wrong symbol, so that has already been fixed..



let me know if you see anything wrong, i will probably start making it soon.. or if you have any opinions on what i should do differently.

[skimask]

let me know if you see anything wrong, i will probably start making it soon.. or if you have any opinions on what i should do differently.

Nothing wrong that I can, but I think I would make another +5v line run from your regulator up the left side of the board to make a complete loop instead of a half a loop. The way you've got it right now, whatever is at the 'end' of your 5v run will probably pick up a lot of noise, and if it draws any sort of load, it'll really put spikes on the run going back towards the PIC. Might mess it up.
Maybe a 'sprinkling' of .1uf cap's across +5v and ground here and there, if you can fit an extras in there, might not be a bad idea, even if they're surface mount and you have to solder them across the traces themselves. I've done that a few times just as a precaution, used 0805 sized, just laid them right there, no marking or anythiing, just added them in...

And I think it looks much better without all those 90 degree angles in there...

[mackrackit]

I knew it! Been 20 years since I have seen snow, BIG BOT brings back memories.

The board looks good. Agree with Skimask about the VDD trace, if you do not have room put the caps at the end of the run.

[skimask]

I knew it! Been 20 years since I have seen snow

Want me to send you some snow?

[mackrackit]

Want me to send you some snow?

NOPE!!! I like my sand. It gets to 120+f here in the summer, but I do not have to scrape it off the windows or shovel/plow it out of the way.

At the moment it is about 85, with a slight breeze

[dragons_fire]

i think it looks better too without the 90 degree angles.

i added a complete loop around for the power. the thing at the end, was the motor driver. it uses battery voltage for the motors, and 5V for the components on the board..

i also added 2 more caps around the board.

[dragons_fire]

im actually supposed to be getting snow here today.. its gonna be fun workin outside...

i just looked it upo, and we have a snowfall warning here today

[skimask]

i just looked it upo, and we have a snowfall warning here today

Wow! You get warnings! Actually, it's 62F right now for me. Where are you at anyways? I see AB,Ca. I'm in Minot, ND. If you're getting snow right now, we'll probably get it in about 12-18 hours.