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Toddler for erco donations - Page 2 — Parallax Forums

Toddler for erco donations

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  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2016-05-24 18:43
    I still do not have a set of "Twinkle Toes" - the bumper sensors show several posts above. I think Carol Lynn Hazlett got the last set available. They were sold by Hobby Engineering.

    Did find this though... Toddler Toes - see this thread! Good stuff. http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/158103/where-to-find-toddler-parts

    Wonder if anyone ever recreated the PCB?

  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Found a photo of the Blue Bell Home Center Walker... as posted above.

    HC_Walker.jpg
    426 x 568 - 40K
  • Whit wrote: »
    David and all,

    Old-timers like erco, Ken Gracey and me remember this project... The Home Center Walker - by Harry over at Blue Bell Design, Inc.

    I wish Harry still had that Co-Processor kit, or the parts list and code to reproduce it.


  • ercoerco Posts: 20,244
    edited 2016-05-24 19:36
    Yup, I love that walker too. Everybody (Jim & Parallax) save that PDF for posterity and future builders. Until Toddler 2 or Penguin 2 comes along, it's as good as we can do!

    Edit: the website http://www.bluebelldesign.com listed in the PDF is long gone and up for sale. Even more reason to save the PDF. It's a clever use of found parts at a hardware store.

    There is a partial kit (wood & hardware only) to make a plywood Toddler-ish bot: http://kelvin.com/kelvin-autonomous-walker-robot/
  • Whit wrote: »
    I still do not have a set of "Twinkle Toes" - the bumper sensors show several posts above. I think Carol Lynn Hazlett got the last set available. They were sold by Hobby Engineering.

    Did find this though... Toddler Toes - see this thread! Good stuff. http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/158103/where-to-find-toddler-parts

    Wonder if anyone ever recreated the PCB?

    I started, but never finished. I may look at it again now that we have a new member in the fold.



  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2016-05-24 19:59
    erco wrote: »
    Yup, I love that walker too. Everybody (Jim & Parallax) save that PDF for posterity and future builders. Until Toddler 2 or Penguin 2 comes along, it's as good as we can do!

    Edit: the website http://www.bluebelldesign.com listed in the PDF is long gone and up for sale. Even more reason to save the PDF. It's a clever use of found parts at a hardware store.

    There is a partial kit (wood & hardware only) to make a plywood Toddler-ish bot: http://kelvin.com/kelvin-autonomous-walker-robot/

    Been trying to get Bluebell on the waybackmachine, but it is choking. May have to go back a few years..

    EDIT: It can be view at:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20140701215237/http://www.bluebelldesign.com/


  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2016-05-24 21:09
    Great work Publison! Brings back some memories...

    Edit and Update:: Believe it or not, I just spent a few minutes on the phone with Harry over a Blue Bell Design. He sounds great and is doing well.

    He still has some Co-Processor PCBs, Kits and a few Co-Processor - his PIC programmer is messed up - but he says he might be able to get it working. If anyone is interested in contacting him - I have a working email - PM me - Or post here and maybe we could get up a want list and see what is hiding out in the valleys of PA. ;-)

    What fun!

    Looks like - like most erco threads - this is turning into web shopping spree! - Sorry for the hi-jack - but this sure is fun.
  • Just spent a half hour on the phone with Harry . Great guy! We spent most of the time reminiscing about the 80's when he was with National Semiconductor and Fairchild, and I was with Gerber Scientific.

    He is going on a trip for about a week, but when he gets back, he is going to give me a list as to what will be for sale. Hopefully he will have enough Coprocessors to satisfy all of our Toddler needs. (I at least need one, if not two and erco needs one). I guess it would come down to who does the fastestest figure 8 with the Toddler. :)

  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Yes, think I want a kit board and co-processor...

    Publison - I will use your post to make some Toddler (Twinkle) Toes too.
  • Harry said he made some toes in an hour out of perf board. Not pretty, but should work fine.

  • All total we are at $100.00. Thanks to all that donated. I will be sending erco's Toddler out and donating half of the funds to Make A Wish Foundation per erco's request. Thanks again to all that participated.
  • Yay! Good job guys!

    Thanks, Andy!

    Congrats, erco and Make a Wish!
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Thanks Andy - Congrats erco! Yay for Make-A-Wish!
  • I love a happy ending.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,244
    Thanks all, you guys are the BEST!

    Check out my new thread about a Cricket robot chassis kit for $25. One only!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,244
    I didn't recall that Whit had a Toddler too. Now I'm right in with all the Cool Kidz!
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    erco wrote: »
    I didn't recall that Whit had a Toddler too. Now I'm right in with all the Cool Kidz!

    Yes - I have a Parallax Toddler and two real Toddlers who are growing up - One who just graduated from High School and the other will be a Junior next year (and is now the tallest in the family - aka ScribblerKart)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,244
    So soon we'll both have 3!
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    ;-)
  • Putting together the Twinkle Toes. It has been a pain just getting outside dimension of the board. The X (long dimension was no problem, made it 2"), but the Y had to be deep enough to fit at the holes and components and not interfere with the leg in the extreme back condition.

    Here is how it looks right now. You can't see the back layer because it is hidden by the top ground plane.
    1198 x 414 - 517K
  • I might do it in SMD, (resistors and LED), just to have some more room to do more stuff.
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Hard to find good photos - this is from an old catalog - Left and Right

    TwinkleToes.JPG
    298 x 337 - 22K
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Even better - Love the wayback machine!

    27312.jpg
    600 x 564 - 39K
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2016-05-28 15:27
    I think I have the boards done.
    Panel%20Screenshot.jpg

    I'm going to get them done with Solder Mask and Silkscreen so the would look finished. The difference was $3.00 per set with no mask or screen.

    I'm going with ExpressPCB right now. I will get 7 sets, (with one board left over).

    Looks like on set of Twinkle Toes boards, (right, left), will cost $11+ shipping. You will have to supply the two resistors. the Red/Green LED , and the headers.
    640 x 431 - 208K
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2016-05-28 17:41
    I'll send this order out Tuesday and get them back by Thursday. I'm taking two sets, erco gets one and Whit gets one. That leaves three. Should we make Ken buy a set? :)
  • Also you will need 4-40 screws and nuts and the wire, available at most hardware stores and R/C outlets.
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2016-05-29 02:00
    Fantastic Publison! Can you pm me a way to PayPal you?

    Return of Twinkle Toes story at my blog - http://roboticsunderthestole.blogspot.com/2016/05/return-of-twinkle-toes.html
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,244
    Way to step up and bang this out, Jim! You're my new robot hero! I'm good for $11, will Paypal you.

    BTW, I must be the only guy who has never made a PCB. 2016 is the year to right this egregious wrong!
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2016-05-29 03:24
    erco - no you aren't - I really want to try PCB making too - seems very reasonable! Jim is the man!

    This is a perfect project for a first PCB! Need to find something like this to start on!
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Publison - Ken wants in on the fun too!
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