Ken's Thermometer Project Rear Side-- EXPOSED!!! SEE THE SHOCKING PHOTOS!!!

RubrChicken

I sneaked (snuck?? no clue) a picture of the back of Ken's thermometer, which I assume everyone wants to see.

Sorry about the bad picture, I took it with a shoddy iPhone camera in a hurry... the lighting wasn't so great either. But you can still see the wiring!

Roger Lee

Scandal of the century!

we may never hear from you in forums again.
have you been banned for life and/or forcefully ejected from the building?

SRLM

That doesn't look to bad. I've seen (and done) much worse. More importantly, I think this violates the trust that Ken placed in you when he showed you his project. If (as I assume) you snuck the picture without his consent then your post is completely inappropriate. I personally don't care what the board looks like. Much more important to me is what can be learned from the project.

RubrChicken

@Roger Lee No, but I was attacked by my nephews teamed with the Gracey children wielding an assortment of nerf guns and lightsabers...

@SRLM I was being melodramatic, he was watching the whole time. I did ask him about posting it, and he doesn't really care.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

You know I never did find that project when I was at Parallax..

Suppose that Ken was keeping it hidden??? [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Nice picture.. was nice knowing you.. <SMIRK> [noparse]:)[/noparse] [noparse]:)[/noparse]

OBC

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Philldapill

I find this post highly offensive, to say the least. Most of my projects look like this and at times, worse.

However, learning to do my own PCB's makes me feel a little less naked when showing off a project. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Baggers

RubrChicken, what's so wrong with it, looks tidy to me, and what makes it even more tidy is that he was clever enough to put the wired on the back side, so they weren't seen, so all in all, I think it's perfect, not only that, but you're also forgetting the history behind it, he's a business man, not an electronics engineer, nor even an electronics hobbyist, ( although he is now ) I'd be proud to produce something that good for my first project, heck I'd be proud to produce something that tidy even now [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Baggers.

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http://www.propgfx.co.uk/forum/·home of the PropGFX Lite

·

Toby Seckshund

The "quality" of a project, to the maker, is the way the idea was formed and then built up upon, things get changed and perfected. The "quality" of a project to everybody else is based on the outer 1/10000000" that the light bounces off. To test this theory, just ask the missus what she thinks of that project that you slaved over.

ElectricAye

Looks to me like mallred and Dr. Gouge might have some competition on their hands. The use of white wires for every connection could only mean one thing: this is no ordinary thermometer, but an artificial brain in the making.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

I suspect a few have missed the humor of this post..

The fact that Ken didn't want us to see the flock of wires that
we all *knew* where there made the desire to see it that much
better. [noparse]:)[/noparse] (And that it was KEN who made it.) [noparse]:)[/noparse]

In truth the back looks great. I've personally wrestled with
all kinds of methods of making projects look less like a bunch
of wires. (and have lost) It's part of the fun.

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

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Toby Seckshund

I have to go from breadboard to PCB, to get things about right and then a bit neater. Toner transfer is ok for 0.1" through hole but struggles to do SM. But then my eyes struggle with SM anyway.

Loads of my past "masterpieces" worked great until I tried to tidy them up. Long live "Dead bug construction"

RubrChicken

Thanks OBC. I thought I was being over-the-top with the title straight out of a National Enquirer headline and mention of lightsaber attacks, but I guess not. I really do admire Ken's work. I looked at the back of this project, and proceeded to make my project as similar to it as I could (wires on the back, components on the front). I know very well Ken's history. If you read my post, I actually say nothing bad about how it looks.

Vaati

I agree with OBC. I have seen some pretty mutilated PCBs due to wires acting as a multicolored cushion when set down... As Toby said, cleaning up the wires is a good idea before posting it, or else there will be great scrutiny.

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Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!

Cluso99

First of all we need to understand Ken's objectives... Presume it was...

1.·Get a working prototype -·YES ·

2. Post the photo - YES ·

3. Post a description - YES

4. Post the code·- YES (presumed)

5. Lastly, learn a lot and have fun - YES

As this is a hobby for Ken, I presume there was nothing about how neatly this would be achieved. This picture shows what can be done by hobbyists and there is nothing to be ashamed of, and I presume this is why Ken has no problems with the posting. And as some of you have noted, it is actually neat anyway. You really should see some prototypes in commercial installations... and some of them are in real use!!!

As·a possible suggestion. You can use Kynar wire (preferably assorted colors) which is much thinner and therefore looks neater. This is wire-wrap wire and you need a specialised stripper - the wire-wrap hand tool usually has a manual stripper in the middle. Of course, most hobbyists will not normally have access to this. (see the photo of·my assembled TriBladeProp for 2 blue wires on the topside - I am not ashamed of this)

Congratulations Ken

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBladeProp, SixBladeProp, website (Multiple propeller pcbs)
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: Micros eg Altair, and Terminals eg VT100 (Index)
· Search the Propeller forums (via Google)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

Ken Gracey

Cluso99 nailed it. I have no problems with this picture. Soldering up dual seven-segment displays can become messy. My objective was to build a first project with the Prop, using parts I already knew and solely for the purpose of programming. The forum members were really helpful in sorting out some of the issues I encountered along the way. Most importantly, using our products helps me understand what you want from our company so I can get it accomplished for you with our team. I've always got a Propeller project in the works, and I'd do nearly anything to have more time for time for programming. I can't make the time so easily, though, as other tasks around Parallax will not get accomplished. You'll benefit more if I do what I'm supposed to do at Parallax instead of programming and soldering.

The only problem I have is with RubrChicken's judgement and maturity. He's a high school student who I launched in Propeller programming (entirely for free of course, with the best Parallax hardware). Snapping photos in my private shop and proclaiming technical expos

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
I'll stick with RubrChicken. . . but he's not getting anymore hardware out of me until I see his autopilot fly hands-free. Time for him to put down the iPhone and show what he can do [noparse]:)[/noparse]

The gauntlet has been thrown down RubrChicken... [noparse]:)[/noparse]

You've got about 30 days till UPEW.. Let's see that project fly!
Time to get to work... [noparse]:)[/noparse]

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

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Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
I've always got a Propeller project in the works, and I'd do nearly anything to have more time for time for programming. I can't make the time so easily, though, as other tasks around Parallax will not get accomplished. You'll benefit more if I do what I'm supposed to do at Parallax instead of programming and soldering.

You suffer a little "celebrity" status here.

I don't think harm was intended, but I do wish he would have asked
you to be in on the fun.. You've been tagged by Paparazzi.

While we love you doing what your "supposed" to be doing, mind
sharing what kind of Propeller projects interest you? You have
the benefit of having a very unique perspective on the Propeller.

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

Ken Gracey

OBC,

Sure, I'll share. I'll take the que and take a break from work to reply. The kinds of Propeller projects that interest me include:

SCIENCE-BASED SYSTEM-LEVEL PRODUCT DESIGNS

I·enjoy projects that are developed by enthusiastic scientists who·have expertise in areas other than embedded programming, yet apply our·microcontrollers to·meet their needs. Strangely, none of these exploit·the Propeller's video capabilities. Some of these projects·were made possible with the Propeller.

Tracy Allen, EME Systems· One of them is Dr. Tracy Allen of EME Systems. He's an·earth scientist who has figured out how to measure all kinds of·parameters with his environmental dataloggers. He's measured dust transport, solar exposure as it relates to cow milk production, smoke in·Latin American kitchens, stream levels, meterological data, etc.·Tracy's approach is entirely scientific, calculated, and calibrated as required. He's done this all with the BASIC Stamp, but·maybe his registration at UPEW signifies·a new interest in the Propeller.

Dean Geodde, AttoPilot· Another example is Dean Geodde's AttoPilot, another scientist with initial expertise in physics. Dean's approach·to product design was also derived entirely from math and·physics,·with PID and all the right filtering/tuning.·While some autopilot products may function·quite well with a·more coarse approach of program-fly&try again - to development, seeing how Dean accomplished this project gives total confidence in the outcome when he hucks the plane into the air and turns the transmitter off.·Configuring his autopilot uses·most any parameter you'd want to enter·in a text·file, not to mention the whole Google Earth and SD card tie-in.·To hear him present the design·approach·and see the results really tied it all together in a jaw-dropping demo.

Phil Pilgrim's PropModem·The entire application is in the Object Exchange.·Phil was able to stuff a modem into the Propeller with only the use of a few external components.·His·project was derived from applicable sciences. Phil always includes helpful configuration utilities and programs to set up the hardware, too. Most interesting is that so much of his effort is buried in ZIP files; we need to figure out a way to bring that to the surface so our customers can find it more easily.

INTERACTIVE ART

Public or private art installations are really interesting. I just finished helping a friend of my son complete a·5' tall·California wall map for his 4th grade project. The map used super-bright LEDs to·tie the county legend key to regions on the map. While the project wasn't impressive from a Propeller hardware/programming standpoint and could be accomplished with any processor,·I enjoy·dynamic physical/visual creations that are interactive with people. To see people crowd around these creations·while they evolve is really rewarding.·So often, the best·projects are the·outcome of combining one person's skills in electronics with somebody else who·has abilities·in art, manufacturing or fabrication.

As far as the Prop is concerned,·it could certainly ease the simultaneous programming·for these kinds of projects by·compartmentalizing·code into·smaller helpful modules that run in their own cog or·object.·Many projects I've seen would even behave quite differently with the Propeller for this reason alone.·You can "see" single-threaded operation in some·art·projects.

The kinds of interactive art projects that interest me include Ken Rinaldo's Paparazzi Robots, RoboThespian, or even some of the gizmos we've·got in our office,·like the Parallax blue neon sign.

OTHER APPS

I suppose that as a businessman I'm supposed to rattle off the list of datasheet applications which will use millions of Propeller chips as "of interest" so you will think about making them and buy chips from us. But I·am most impressed with·projects that·involve physical science, art, and·solid design foundation (if they are commercial products). Some of these·applications may only use one Propeller. We need the datasheet applications to survive, though.

Many of you are into retro computing.·Chip and I grew up with Vic20s, Sinclairs, Apples, C64s, TRS-80s, Atari 400/800s.·Chip took most of these machines·apart but also made successful products for·two of them. I'm not as interested in retro computing, perhaps because my "interest bucket" is loaded with projects that weren't as possible or·easy to accomplish·in the early 80s. Chip would love nothing more to toss out the whole PC and see the Propeller take its place.

Something like that. . .

Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

Cluso99

Nice to see your perspective Ken. Keep up the good work at Parallax, and enjoy your hobby too

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBladeProp, SixBladeProp, website (Multiple propeller pcbs)
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: Micros eg Altair, and Terminals eg VT100 (Index)
· Search the Propeller forums (via Google)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

RubrChicken

Oh gosh... You've really let the cat out of the bag now. I wasn't planning to talk about my autopilot project on the forums yet, but I guess I deserve it.
I'll start a new thread rather than go off topic here...