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Blank Proto Boards (new product and UPE event giveaways) — Parallax Forums

Blank Proto Boards (new product and UPE event giveaways)

Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
edited 2010-05-12 18:04 in Propeller 1
Hey all,

Our customer Robert DeBoer requested that we make some low-cost, blank proto boards that have the same size as the Prop Proto Board. Quite some time ago our PCB layout engineer Thomas put a design together. Snooping around our "engineering stock cabinets" I came across 500 units! These boards have a "xxxxxx" in the place of our part number so they are not suitable for sale. But in form and function they're every bit as useful as a board with a correct part number.

I'll bring 100-200 units to the Propeller Expo in Ottawa this weekend. And I'll save some for the Rocklin and Norwalk UPEs as well.

In the meantime Thomas has made the silkscreen revision and ordered another run. They'll retail at $3 each, maybe $2 if Lauren has it her way.

Ken Gracey

attachment.php?attachmentid=70225

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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.

Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
BlankProtoBoards.jpg
800 x 600 - 152K

Comments

  • mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
    edited 2010-05-11 15:30
    Ken how can we order for us far away people who can not attend?
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,887
    edited 2010-05-11 15:35
    Very nice. These are also the same size as the BOE, right?

    If so, it could be an easy way to add stuff to my BOE bot (now with Spin Stamp).

    Just need the right height standoffs...

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  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2010-05-11 15:43
    @mikediv, if somebody from the Propeller forums is willing to collect up 50 consistently-formatted names and shipping addresses (include the Parallax customer number, if available) I'll send each of them two units for free. But I can't be the secretary of this service. However, if I'm handed a shipping list I can talk our sales crew into printing the USPS labels. If you or somebody else is willing to coordinate collection of addresses then we'll do the rest.

    @Rayman, same size as all of our standard 3x4 boards.

    - Ken

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    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.

    Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
  • mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
    edited 2010-05-11 17:21
    Ken that is very nice of you thank you,, Guys I would be more than willing to do this ,, Ken would you mind if I made a post on the forums about it asking for the names?

    Guys mikediv@comcast.net or I will just keep checking here ,, Again Ken that is very decent of you I am so jealous I can not attend these I am sure there are a lot of people that would love to come Maybe someday you can do one on the East Coast.

    Oh Ray that is exactly what I thought when I saw these an awesome project board for my Boe-Bots
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2010-05-11 17:30
    Ken, in my opinion, $3 each is a steal; I'll be buying them for all sorts of projects, nut just to piggyback protoboards. However, being that I can stack it right on top of my protoboards is a MAJOR plus, especially if I can put headers in the center of it to plug right into the socket strips I have planted around the prop chip on my protoboards to bring the IO lines right up top for use.

    so do you call it the Protoboard Protoboard? turn.gif

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  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2010-05-11 17:57
    Here's a blank form everyone can use. (You may recognize it as being a slightly modified Parallax sales order confirmation).

    Jim
    rtf
    rtf
    Blank Proto Board.rtf
    13K
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2010-05-11 18:03
    @WBA - just a tip, the Boss Board and Full Board all have the same footprint as the BOE & Parallax Protoboard.

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  • mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
    edited 2010-05-11 22:15
    Hover. guys started emailing me there info would it be OK if I used your form to submit the info to Ken? WBA Consulting I hear you that's awesome that Ken is doing this for us but to be honest if Parallax plans on selling these I will buying a lot more than 2
    They are the perfect size for all my crazy Parallax parts projects ..lol

    Post Edited (mikediv) : 5/11/2010 10:20:03 PM GMT
  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2010-05-11 22:35
    Yes! I posted it for you!

    I will also be purchasing a dozen or so when they go on sale at the site.·A couple·may become an umbrella board for my Toddlers! (They had a smaller, non-consistant, board outline)·

    Jim
    mikediv said...
    Hover. guys started emailing me there info would it be OK if I used your form to submit the info to Ken? WBA Consulting I hear you that's awesome that Ken is doing this for us but to be honest if Parallax plans on selling these I will buying a lot more than 2
    They are the perfect size for all my crazy Parallax parts projects ..lol
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2010-05-12 01:33
    @mikediv, absolutely you have our support. Please work on our behalf - that would be great. Make a post and let it be known that you'll be handling the collection of mailing addresses.

    Thanks for helping out. Without your assistance we couldn't handle this one easily.

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    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.

    Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2010-05-12 02:02
    @Nick I've been using the full board as a protoboard backpack and it does work well. However, and this is for the Parallax ones too, for a true protoboard they should NOT be through hole plated. Even with a solder bulb and braid you can't unsolder anything with more then 2 pins. This is why I have been painstakingly chopping Ripoff shack boards to fit my proto's ever since I couldn't get my Propeller headers unsoldered from a GG full board. Just my 2 bytes.

    Micro

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  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2010-05-12 02:34
    Why so negitive? Through hole boards are are a must in some situations, and are preferred by many people.
    If you do not like through hole, you can purchase perfboard.
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103804
    Unsoldering does take a while to get used to. Good equipment is a must.
    This thread is about an offering that Ken has so graciously·given us. Can we keep it at that?
    Jim
    Microcontrolled said...
    @Nick I've been using the full board as a protoboard backpack and it does work well. However, and this is for the Parallax ones too, for a true protoboard they should NOT be through hole plated. Even with a solder bulb and braid you can't unsolder anything with more then 2 pins. This is why I have been painstakingly chopping Ripoff shack boards to fit my proto's ever since I couldn't get my Propeller headers unsoldered from a GG full board. Just my 2 bytes.

    Micro

    Post Edited (hover1) : 5/12/2010 2:40:48 AM GMT
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2010-05-12 07:38
    Ken, those boards look great! I'll definitely be using them for my projects, and $3 is a good price.

    Microcontrolled, I know for me, it got a lot easier and better when I started buying better tools. Perhaps you might consider saving up for a good desoldering station?

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  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2010-05-12 11:55
    I vote to keep things with through-hole "vias" as well. It makes it a lot easier to put components on one side and headers on the other. Although, I will admit that I've "chopped" things up sometimes to make desoldering easier. Sometimes the header (or resistor, ...) is worth a lot less than my time.

    On the other hand, for connections between the holes (between any pair of holes) I like to see them on only one side. It makes it much easier to cut traces between pads if you only have to do it on one side.

    The boards look nice. I'm looking forward to seeing them at UPEC and at the price I'll definitely be ordering some.
  • BradCBradC Posts: 2,601
    edited 2010-05-12 12:23
    I find the large holes at the edges quite useful when they are plated through. The USB proto-boards are not.

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  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,887
    edited 2010-05-12 12:54
    I think the large holes are intended for strain relieve for hook-up wire and they work great for that...
    Allows you to save the expense of connectors and still have a robust connection...

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  • BradCBradC Posts: 2,601
    edited 2010-05-12 13:14
    Rayman said...
    I think the large holes are intended for strain relieve for hook-up wire and they work great for that...
    Allows you to save the expense of connectors and still have a robust connection...

    They probably are, but the happy co-incidence of having them plated through means a bit of extra mechanical support for large format connectors soldered into them.

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  • jrjrjrjr Posts: 22
    edited 2010-05-12 13:20
    Ken,

    Might you consider also selling the original protoboards as blank units ?

    a lot of times, I'm getting 'too populated to use for X in my lab, and

    could appreciate the raw boards for their hackability.

    I can't see how this would negatively affect the business model, just

    offer more choices for builds of the product.

    A lot of times, the units are going into a 3v3 location already, so

    chopping down a populated protoboard is a bit of overkill.

    I know there are other micro versions, but none that I am

    aware of follow the OEM layouts exactly.

    jack
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2010-05-12 13:27
    jrjr said...
    Ken,

    Might you consider also selling the original protoboards as blank units ?
    I wouldn't mind being able to order one of these with my order.

    The cons is that a large breadboard is the cheapest way to go because a lot of us are just experimenting.

    When you go the protoboard route, these Arduino sites are charging like 9.50 for headers and protoboards so their product is no longer low cost and they aren't really needed unless you have a permanent project.
  • mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
    edited 2010-05-12 18:04
    Guys I setup a Post for this topic right here in the prop forum just in case anyone missed it I will keep updating so it stays near the top
    "Regarding the free Proto boards"
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