A thought for handheld designers

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

I was in the surplus store this weekend, (they carry scratch & dent, and old stock, etc)
and noticed a wall of small leather cases designed for PSP, etc.

(Found a 20-drawer parts cabinet for $3.00!)

I had a thought.. One of the hardest things that all of us have dealt with is finding
a source of cases for our Propeller projects. Why not adapt our designs to fit existing
popular designs?

It would be tricky, but lets say we created a board which fit the gameboy case and
took advantage of the button placement, etc. These can be purchased cheaply
from Ebay.

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

OBC,

I agree with you 100%. This is something everyone (including Parallax ) should do when they design a PCB: find an inexpensive, readily-available housing for it ahead of time and design the board to fit. Even if 99% of the users/customers don't use it with a housing, the ones who do will be spared the agony of finding an imperfect solution after the fact. It all boils down to economics: PCBs are cheap to fabricate in small volumes; injection-molded housings are not. Plus, finished projects that do use the designated housing will look great and be a good advert for the board itself. It's a win-win strategy, IMO.

-Phil

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

I vote we give the award "Propeller head of the year" to the first person who
designs a Propeller PCB which fits the Gameboy. Bonus points for use of the
existing screen. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

Unknown

The Gameboy has been hacked.

http://hackaday.com/?s=gameboy

W9GFO

I've been looking into getting a custom enclosure for a project of mine. I have some samples from Envision which does not use molds. The quality is much better than I expected and the cost isn't too bad. The pictures on their website do not reflect their product well - I thought they looked cheezy, but they really are nicely made. Perhaps what I need for an enclosure would work well for other projects as well.

What do you think is the ideal size for an enclosure?

Rich H

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The Servo Boss, a 12 channel servo tester kit from Gadget Gangster.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

I've always been partial to aluminum extrusions for housings. With a stock extrusion, the PCBs just slide in without needing fasteners or standoffs, and the only parts that need custom fabricating are flat panels that either slide into the top or screw onto the ends. These guys have a particularly nice selection, which I have used for many projects:

····www.lansing-enclosures.com/

Also, Parallax will soon be offering their own extruded housings for the MoBo line of products (and anything else that fits). Here's a teaser:



This particular project displays weather forecasts from Yahoo! Weather and receives data and power from an attached PC via the USB port.

-Phil

Post Edited (Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)) : 9/27/2009 8:08:03 PM GMT

Beau Schwabe

Darn Phil!!!,

I was going to use that same aluminum extrusion display box for my name tag at the next EXPO. My problem has been finding one with 12 Characters and an alpha-numeric version to display the "W" in my last name. -

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Beau Schwabe

IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.

jazzed

Nice case Phil ... reminds me of fishing for some reason.

I remember seeing those gameboy housings and had the same idea.
But what do you do about a cheap LCD to go with it?
Ended up using another cheap pre-fabbed and roomy case [noparse]:)[/noparse]

The Sony PSP housing looks more attractive now with Rayman's LCD work.

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--Steve

Propeller Tools

• Propalyzer: Propeller PC Logic Analyzer
• BMA: An on-chip PASM Debugger
• SPUD: Spin Source Level Debugger

HollyMinkowski

Altoids boxes


Also various PVC pipes, end caps and electric wiring cases at the hardware store could be used.


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"Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?"

jazzed

Go Altoids! I'm saving all mine.

The other one? Well ...

<Airplane II>

Striker: Which passenger is Joe Solucci?
Mary, Shuttle Stewardess: 16C. Why?
Striker: He's carrying a .....
Mary, Shuttle Stewardess: A bo - ?
Striker: No, not a bo-. A ..... Now, discreetly as possible, I want you to move the passengers, into the lounge.
Mary, Shuttle Stewardess: We don't, have a lounge.
Striker: That's not important right now but, you got to do is get those people away from that .....
Mary, Shuttle Stewardess: Well, what should I say?
Striker: Anything, don't let Solucci think, that we're getting onto him.
Mary, Shuttle Stewardess: I'll do my best.

</Airplane II>

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--Steve

Propeller Tools

• Propalyzer: Propeller PC Logic Analyzer
• BMA: An on-chip PASM Debugger
• SPUD: Spin Source Level Debugger

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

Be careful buying short pieces of pipe and end caps.

My father spent some time talking to the feds (friendly conversation, he's a plumber by trade.)
They interviewed every person who made those purchases when they were trying to
locate a pipe bomber a few years ago.

Amazing how the feds can get the records on pipe fittings when they want them. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

RiJoRi

Oldbitcollector said...
Be careful buying short pieces of pipe and end caps.

My father spent some time talking to the feds (friendly conversation, he's a plumber by trade.)

OBC

Steve Ciarcia (once of Byte fame, now with Circuit Cellar) had a similar problem that he relates in his editorials in CC.

I have a number of projects in those old black anti-static boxes that sample chips used to come in. A DIY logic probe wound up in a magic marker tube. The project boxes at Radio Shack seem to be at just that awkward size -- "no size fits one."

Then, there was the "Monster Detector" featured in Nuts & Volts a while back: the project went into a peanut butter jar!

--Rich

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Hey Beau,

Your name isn't that awful in 7-segment form:



Okay the "W" is a little weird, but context is everthing, right?

-Phil

Whit

What does a U + backwards L look like using two spaces?

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Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

mikediv

I don't know guys I took apart my daughters game boy and still haven't been able to get it back together in fact Phil I have a few of the older ones I pulled apart the blue one and the gray one you can have them if you want them I thought I could use the displays with a prop project but no luck they are all there just all pulled apart one is the advanced the other one regular and I think I even have a real old one with cartridges . my kid gets a new one every time they come out with somehting new and dad takes the old one apart .
But seriously Phil if you want the things for the cases there yours

photomankc

My biggest question thus far is labeling. Even if I can find a reasonable 1-off enclosure and assuming I can manage to mill the openings without it looking like a baboon's posterior.... I can't put decent looking labels on it. I'm working on a custom home thermostat right now and that's going to be my big headache. I can't find lettering stencils small enough to fit my needs. I'd also need something that could be applied without an airbrush or maybe stick on? I just have not run into what I'm looking for yet.

Thanks for the lansing link though. The E series is just what I was looking for enclosure-wise if a bit pricy. Now to figure out how I will cut the LCD opening......

Getting the circuit built is easy..... getting it in a box seems to be the hardest part [noparse];)[/noparse]

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

For cutting out the panels, try cajoling a local trophy or sign shop into engraving them from plastic for you. Places like this have the necessary machines and, by using a bi-color laminate, they can even do your lettering at the same time.

-Phil

Microcontrolled

I think I'll take on your challenge, OBC! I have always wanted to create the "Propeller Moble Device Development Kit"! Maybe I've just found my case for it!

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Computers are microcontrolled.

Robots are microcontrolled.
I am microcontrolled.

But you·can·call me micro.

Want to·experiment with the SX or just put together a cool project?
SX Spinning light display·

Beau Schwabe

Funny Phil! - lol

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Beau Schwabe

IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.

Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)

* Ergonomically designed for a comfortable fit into the user�s hand.
* Perfect for instrument or mobile data enclosures requiring a keypad and display.
* Available with either a solid display area (1592ETSD) or a versatile opening with a clear lens (1592ETCD).
* Molded from flame retardant ABS plastic, choice of black or grey (material carries a UL flammability rating of 94V-0).
* 1592ETSD offers a solid display area 122 mm x 85 mm (4.8" x 3.4") that will accommodate display boards up to 118 mm x 60 mm (4.6" x 2.37").
* 1592ETCD offers a clear polycarbonate lens 102 mm x 45 mm (4.0� x 1.77") and a plain mylar mask kit allowing for installation of a wide variety of display boards with the protection of the clear lens and dressed by the mylar frame.
* The lens fits snugly into the case and provides protection from dirt and dust.
* The back of the case has been designed to accept a magnetic strip or velcro mounting tab (see accessories).
* The display area has been insert tooled in order to provide the capability of custom molding a low-cost display area to specific requirements.


www.hammondmfg.com/dwg7.htm

WBA Consulting

I recently started looking into a Polycase enclosure that would work for the Propeller Demo Board. A picture of the case open is on this thread. I found one that works for the most part, but proper mounting of the board would need to be resolved. The catch is having a PCB layout match the case mounting holes. Attached are pictures of my case using Polycase ID-3420PMBR. I do a lot with Polycase and have been extremely satisfied with their work, customer service, and pricing.

I have another very small box that has a rectangular cutout on top for a rocker switch and three holes in one side for three 2 wire cables. The cost of the box and to have it machined was less than the cost of the box itself, once I ordered the first 250.

I also really like their VM series of handheld enclosures. Especially with the boots. A few minutes of modifying one, and the Parallax RFID reader fits inside the VM-24 for a handheld RFID unit. (I don't have any pictures of that)

I agree with OBC, that using an enclosure that fits a "readily-available" product's form factor will make other items adaptable (like carrying cases, etc). I am looking at using the Otterbox waterproof case for the IPOD nano for my plunge logger for example instead of trying to find another case.

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Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010

Cluso99

Here are some DigiKey part numbers I have been looking at

HM356-ND,· HM967-ND (Newark have it in a nice transparent blue 64M6634LTBU and Rapid 30-1849), HM964-ND (Newark T/blue 77M9535, Rapid 30-1851)

Sparkfun have an expensive one SFE-BOX.

Jaycar have a T/Blue box but you have to cut it.

Now, has anyone seen a matchbox sized box??? I want one for my ZiCog/CPM computer · And transparent would be even better.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade, RetroBlade,·TwinBlade,·SixBlade, website
· 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) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

WBA Consulting

Cluso99: Try this one from Polycase. There is an optional clear cover. Matchbox sized!
www.polycase.com/item/lp-21p.html

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Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010

VIRAND

There are 9-segment and 14-segment and 16-segment Alphanumeric LED Displays.
If they don't need to change, for a name sign, just turn a "3" 90 degrees to make an M or W.
X is the hardest but if you clearly use H with lower case h then maybe get away with it.

I've used 7-segment alpha displays, but why not use dot-matrix LED's instead,
other than for nixie-tube like style. "E.T. phone home." The 1978 Buck Rogers series
used 7-segment alpha font on every sign on Earth. Probably because many single board
microcomputer kits had 16 keys and 8 digit seven segment displays then. Not sure, but
"KIM-1" sounds like one of those.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

microcontrolled said...
I think I'll take on your challenge, OBC! I have always wanted to create the "Propeller Moble Device Development Kit"! Maybe I've just found my case for it!

In the spirit of the original post.. (Sorry guys I can't drill, cut & label without my products looking very, very homemade.)

If you design a Propeller board which fits the GB (or similar mass produced casing) I'll bet Nick at GadgetGangster
would be happy to market them for you. GO FOT IT!

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

Javalin

>Now, has anyone seen a matchbox sized box???
One of these maybe? http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg9TBU.htm

James