Post pics and comments (like erco already has) about what you think. It's designed as a significantly lower cost ping stand to help drive down the cost barrier of a Madeusa, etc.
Sure. I'm looking forward to it. Another option for the bracket would just like the one you use for the servo PING bracket. Instead of bolting on the sensor you could just use two large holes with large rubber grommets to hold it in place.
I received my prize this evening! Woo Hoo! It was a late delivery, so it tottally surprized me. Working on putting it together now, will try it out later this evening or tomorrow.
Here are a couple quick pictures of the new Ping stand with the Ping sensor mounted:
I think the new bracket will work well on the new base to hold the sensor. There is clearance between the transducers and the plastic bracket. Assembly took less time than getting out the small Phillips screwdriver. There are just two screws that thread right into the plastic bracket. A set of two plastic spacers go on each screw to ensure the Ping sits properly on the bracket. The only concern I have about mounting this is that a flat washer be used on the mounting screws so you don't crack the plastic. The details are nice on this and it is a great looking bracket.
For holding the ping this new bracket should work very well. However if the Ping is going to be mounted in a place that may end up bumping into something then you may still want to consider the aluminum bracket.
Got my Ping and bracket today. RobotWorkshop already covered the pictures; I consider it sharp looking and aesthetically much nicer than the aluminum bracket. And the cost advantages are obvious leveraging the laser cutter.
Without instructions, it was not immediately apparent why there were two spacers supplied. I figured the idea was to install the small ones as RW did, but it would be nice to have a warning that they are there for a reason.
I think the way I would try a Boe-Bot mod would be to drill new edge holes the right distance apart to catch two arms of the servo horn and cut the base shorter with a Dremel tool cutting wheel. I might do this but I've temporarily shelved my BOE-bot project for a higher priority Honey Do bullet point (which, interestingly enough, also involves a P8X32A).
I am curious as to how the edgewise base holes were cut. All I can imagine is the acrylic blanks being clamped together face to face, and an entire block of them placed in the laser cutter bases up, but aren't there thickness variations in the acrylic which would create positional errors if you do that?
By the way, Ponoko has begun offering "flourescent" tinted transparent acrylic, which tends to collect light from flat surfaces and radiate it out the edges, making it look lit up from within even without power. I tried one of my acrylic boxes (designed like the C3 box, but a bit bigger for a Protoboard sized custom board) in this material and the result is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure both the C3 box and this stand would be impressive in such material. The picture isn't enhanced or photoshopped; the material really does seem to glow from its edges:
@localroger: Agreed, that edge-lit acrylic is quite dramatic (more dramatic than wood anyway). Trademarked LISA material has been around for a long time, the stuff you point out may be an enhanced version of it. http://www.acrilex.com/pdfs/fluorescent.pdf
Without instructions, it was not immediately apparent why there were two spacers supplied.
Thanks for the feedback!
That's right, no instructions. These are so new that I haven't written them yet. In fact, we weren't even sure we'd sell them - they don't even have a product number yet - you Winners of the Contest, are holding (18) of only (20) in existence (I have the other two). Yes, we will supply instructions when the product is real.
When we go into production, I'll show you'all how they're made (and drilled) - once we figure it out...
-Matt
if the Ping is going to be mounted in a place that may end up bumping
Hi Robert, We've done some preliminary crash tests. This is Cast (not Extruded) Acrylic. It's like 40% more expensive So the holes can be tapped (threaded), and it is far less likely to chip, splinter, or crack.
However, you're right - the aluminum ones are far stronger.
Now, all we need is Transparent Aluminum, and we'll be set.
Of course the ")))" is the Ping's symbol. By putting them in that configuration, the intent was three-fold:
a) To have the Led shine through the top ")))", like a brain, twinkling and thinking,
b) By adding the bottom ")))", creating a " contemplative look" - like "listening intently for a faint echo", and
c) We just thought it looked cool, and it gives the assembly some extra personality.
I showed my assembled PING to my wife, who is an avid bird watcher, and she insists it resembles an owl. Probably a screech owl. When I pointed out that some people thought it looks like an alien, she said that while the lower group of ((( could be either a beak or a mouth, the top ((( look like the tuft of feathers most owls have between and above their eyes.
I've just received my prize today the noon! Thank you Matt!! Thank you Parallax!!!
The product is amazing and the quality of the acrylic stand indicates the high parallax manufacturing technique.
Here is my prize next to some electronics parts of my new project: " Propeller planetarium and suntracker".
You can see one X-Y rotate base and two options of the project one with the QuickStart board and the other with the propeller proto Board. Each one has a DS1302 real time circuit.
Actually I haven't decide yet what type of XY rotated base to use. This one with mini servos or another one with stepper motors?
I hope that parallax will proceed the manufacturing of a XY base so I won't have a dilemma!
Just received my prize too! (We don't do post like usa surface!!)
Had a quick peek at the Pings... It will likely be September before I get to experiment with them on my own projects, but I don't mind too much... I did just spend a fun weekend with the children learning to make the S2 draw their names!. I think they actually enjoyed that more than the ambulance routine, so we are making progress!!
Anyhow, back to the Pings...
May I make a mechanical observation.... that the gap between the small mounting screw holes and the center "ping" hole seems really close. On at least one of my ping stands, I can actually see the thread is about to bust through the edge of the acrylic. Might it be possible to reduce the diameter of the large "Ping" hole, perhaps by 0.5 - 1mm, which would then provide some additional safety margin on the mounting holes tolerance. As they are, I can imagine you might have some potential for disappointment.
Otherwise they look great and feel substantial enough for a few robot death matches! I will post pics of my Propeller Ping Project on a new thread later in the year.
So, finally it leaves me so say a BIG BIG thank you, to Parallax, Matt and also our helpful local distributor "ChipCAD".
Hi Maxwin -
Thanks for the feedback! I'll take a look and see if we can tighten that up a little.
So, everybody - What's your consensus? With a few minor tweaks for a production model, would this suffice as a "far less cost" Ping stand? (compared to our fantastic aluminum one)?
The intent here is not to discontinue the aluminum version but to offer multiple choices and qualities.
We've compiled the winners (and some "non-winners" - but still good ideas) into a master list, and will be evaluating which are the "low hanging fruit". Then we need to look at our current product pipeline, and see what we can do to start implementing some of these ideas.
Which leads me to ponder (as was mentioned in an earlier post) - Maybe we should have a series of "help Parallax design it contests"?
We could establish a certain specification for the device, and then let you'all go at it. We have the engineering /production capabilities, and many of you have great conceptual ideas of how to go about the design.
We wouldn't be looking for a "finished design" from any of you, but rather we'd be looking for sketches and/or component suggestions about how to go about it.
The prize would be that you get a finished unit or a couple (like the others), if/when the product should be real.
As an example...We've already received some great ideas about how to make an xy table (you know who you are ;-)
What do you think? After sorting all this out, would yawl be up for some more "help us create fantastic new products" Contests?
What a crazy (good kind) idea to spawn new products and capture a bunch of ideas. Not having the production capbilities and all the engineering skills myself, many ideas die on the notepad. This would be a neat way to open up those possibilities and probably get a bunch of new product ideas to try and fit into the production pipeline.
So, everybody - What's your consensus? With a few minor tweaks for a production model, would this suffice as a "far less cost" Ping stand?
Definitely. (Although I would think it's a great complement, rather than a lowly 'suffice' !!)...
This could be your new "Standard Stand" ... try repeating that one quickly
Just a little follow-up on the holes... I checked more carefully; the stand which "concerned" has a tad under 0.5mm thickness of acrylic to the ping hole, the others have more like 1mm. Maybe this is just an issue with the prototype jig vs the production jig?
As they are now... if I were tapping the holes, perhaps the 0.5mm might be cutting it a little close. Especially using a wonky screwdriver , and so if there were room to enlarge the ping hole by 0.8 mm (or even 0.6) , then even the extra 0.3-0.4mm thickness for each screw might be useful. However, for nut'n'bolt assembly, no worries as they are. I can feel this Acrylic is mighty strong stuff!!
Thinking sideways... I suppose you are also juggling with the mechanical tolerance of the ping transducer, and its placement on the pcb..... And maybe there is something aesthetically pleasing about the 1mm air gap around the ping sensor... :yikes: Well, something to watch out for, or even to try... could be a good excuse to play with the laser!
A couple of days ago I got my PINGs. Yes, PINGs. I got two. I know that one was from erco, but I don't know who the other one was from. I would like to thank whoever else gave me theirs.
Anyway, the stands. Very nice. I love the smooth texture. I only had one issue: I was worried I was going to break it while mounting the PING. The screws went in very slowly with more work than I had thought they would. I guess I know that my PINGs isn't going to fall off the stand. Also, no matter how many times I tried mounting it, the PING was always ever so slightly crooked.
This sensor and stand will go perfectly with my first non-kit robot I'm constructing (some parts are currently on their way from Parallax).
THAT guy, Matt mentioned earlier that the PING stands are made of cast acrylic rather than extruded, which is a bit more expensive but also quite a bit tougher and lacking the fracture plane that extruded acrylic has. You're probably remembering how extruded acrylic reacts to just a bit too much pressure.
Comments
Sure. I'm looking forward to it. Another option for the bracket would just like the one you use for the servo PING bracket. Instead of bolting on the sensor you could just use two large holes with large rubber grommets to hold it in place.
Thanks Matt & Parallax!
Jay
That'll teach me to pick on Matt!
Just picture my poor little robot running into walls (or worse) while it waits for its Pings! Ohhhh, the horror!!!
I think the new bracket will work well on the new base to hold the sensor. There is clearance between the transducers and the plastic bracket. Assembly took less time than getting out the small Phillips screwdriver. There are just two screws that thread right into the plastic bracket. A set of two plastic spacers go on each screw to ensure the Ping sits properly on the bracket. The only concern I have about mounting this is that a flat washer be used on the mounting screws so you don't crack the plastic. The details are nice on this and it is a great looking bracket.
For holding the ping this new bracket should work very well. However if the Ping is going to be mounted in a place that may end up bumping into something then you may still want to consider the aluminum bracket.
Without instructions, it was not immediately apparent why there were two spacers supplied. I figured the idea was to install the small ones as RW did, but it would be nice to have a warning that they are there for a reason.
I think the way I would try a Boe-Bot mod would be to drill new edge holes the right distance apart to catch two arms of the servo horn and cut the base shorter with a Dremel tool cutting wheel. I might do this but I've temporarily shelved my BOE-bot project for a higher priority Honey Do bullet point (which, interestingly enough, also involves a P8X32A).
I am curious as to how the edgewise base holes were cut. All I can imagine is the acrylic blanks being clamped together face to face, and an entire block of them placed in the laser cutter bases up, but aren't there thickness variations in the acrylic which would create positional errors if you do that?
By the way, Ponoko has begun offering "flourescent" tinted transparent acrylic, which tends to collect light from flat surfaces and radiate it out the edges, making it look lit up from within even without power. I tried one of my acrylic boxes (designed like the C3 box, but a bit bigger for a Protoboard sized custom board) in this material and the result is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure both the C3 box and this stand would be impressive in such material. The picture isn't enhanced or photoshopped; the material really does seem to glow from its edges:
http://www.ponoko.com/make-and-sell/show-material/261-acrylic-fluoro-green
Thank you Parallax!! Now my S2 doesn't need to go bump in the night....ok, as soon as I get them hooked up and working!!
This is more exciting than when the new phone books came out!!
Now that is a perfect quote to put on the Product page as a customer testimonial!
Thanks for the feedback!
That's right, no instructions. These are so new that I haven't written them yet. In fact, we weren't even sure we'd sell them - they don't even have a product number yet - you Winners of the Contest, are holding (18) of only (20) in existence (I have the other two). Yes, we will supply instructions when the product is real.
When we go into production, I'll show you'all how they're made (and drilled) - once we figure it out...
-Matt
Hi Robert, We've done some preliminary crash tests. This is Cast (not Extruded) Acrylic. It's like 40% more expensive So the holes can be tapped (threaded), and it is far less likely to chip, splinter, or crack.
However, you're right - the aluminum ones are far stronger.
Now, all we need is Transparent Aluminum, and we'll be set.
-Matt
-Phil
First impression, You have to do something about the PING)) style curves etched in the plastic.
I mean it looks like a mad alien, or this was my first thought. I don't know why:
Sorry Jon
EDIT: I'd turn them both 180 degrees to make a Smiley Face
The empty bracket also looks like a big wind-up key IMHO...
Well, Jon does have a couple of projects in Disney
I like the "mad alien" look! Although I saw a face, I didn't consider it a mad face as much as a stern face...
And no I didn't think of Jon first.
Jay
a) To have the Led shine through the top ")))", like a brain, twinkling and thinking,
b) By adding the bottom ")))", creating a " contemplative look" - like "listening intently for a faint echo", and
c) We just thought it looked cool, and it gives the assembly some extra personality.
-Matt
Of course it was a tough-in-cheek observation. Nothing against the most excellent engineers at Parallax!
It was more of a jab at Jon's avatar. I liked his old one a lot better.
I'll give a report of the mounting this weekend.
Mere coincidence? I think not!
Hmmmm...I think your on to something erco.....
Wait..there's not a bit of Plywood in Roger......??....is there???
No worries!. I didn't mean for my "dry post" to imply otherwise!
:-)
However, the striking resemblance that the stand has to erco - now that's a little concerning!
-Matt
The product is amazing and the quality of the acrylic stand indicates the high parallax manufacturing technique.
Here is my prize next to some electronics parts of my new project: " Propeller planetarium and suntracker".
You can see one X-Y rotate base and two options of the project one with the QuickStart board and the other with the propeller proto Board. Each one has a DS1302 real time circuit.
Actually I haven't decide yet what type of XY rotated base to use. This one with mini servos or another one with stepper motors?
I hope that parallax will proceed the manufacturing of a XY base so I won't have a dilemma!
Just received my prize too! (We don't do post like usa surface!!)
Had a quick peek at the Pings... It will likely be September before I get to experiment with them on my own projects, but I don't mind too much... I did just spend a fun weekend with the children learning to make the S2 draw their names!. I think they actually enjoyed that more than the ambulance routine, so we are making progress!!
Anyhow, back to the Pings...
May I make a mechanical observation.... that the gap between the small mounting screw holes and the center "ping" hole seems really close. On at least one of my ping stands, I can actually see the thread is about to bust through the edge of the acrylic. Might it be possible to reduce the diameter of the large "Ping" hole, perhaps by 0.5 - 1mm, which would then provide some additional safety margin on the mounting holes tolerance. As they are, I can imagine you might have some potential for disappointment.
Otherwise they look great and feel substantial enough for a few robot death matches! I will post pics of my Propeller Ping Project on a new thread later in the year.
So, finally it leaves me so say a BIG BIG thank you, to Parallax, Matt and also our helpful local distributor "ChipCAD".
Thanks for the feedback! I'll take a look and see if we can tighten that up a little.
So, everybody - What's your consensus? With a few minor tweaks for a production model, would this suffice as a "far less cost" Ping stand? (compared to our fantastic aluminum one)?
The intent here is not to discontinue the aluminum version but to offer multiple choices and qualities.
What do you all think?
-Matt
We've compiled the winners (and some "non-winners" - but still good ideas) into a master list, and will be evaluating which are the "low hanging fruit". Then we need to look at our current product pipeline, and see what we can do to start implementing some of these ideas.
Which leads me to ponder (as was mentioned in an earlier post) - Maybe we should have a series of "help Parallax design it contests"?
We could establish a certain specification for the device, and then let you'all go at it. We have the engineering /production capabilities, and many of you have great conceptual ideas of how to go about the design.
We wouldn't be looking for a "finished design" from any of you, but rather we'd be looking for sketches and/or component suggestions about how to go about it.
The prize would be that you get a finished unit or a couple (like the others), if/when the product should be real.
As an example...We've already received some great ideas about how to make an xy table (you know who you are ;-)
What do you think? After sorting all this out, would yawl be up for some more "help us create fantastic new products" Contests?
Not promising, just proposing...
-Matt
What a crazy (good kind) idea to spawn new products and capture a bunch of ideas. Not having the production capbilities and all the engineering skills myself, many ideas die on the notepad. This would be a neat way to open up those possibilities and probably get a bunch of new product ideas to try and fit into the production pipeline.
Keep on proposing!
Definitely. (Although I would think it's a great complement, rather than a lowly 'suffice' !!)...
This could be your new "Standard Stand" ... try repeating that one quickly
Just a little follow-up on the holes... I checked more carefully; the stand which "concerned" has a tad under 0.5mm thickness of acrylic to the ping hole, the others have more like 1mm. Maybe this is just an issue with the prototype jig vs the production jig?
As they are now... if I were tapping the holes, perhaps the 0.5mm might be cutting it a little close. Especially using a wonky screwdriver
Thinking sideways... I suppose you are also juggling with the mechanical tolerance of the ping transducer, and its placement on the pcb..... And maybe there is something aesthetically pleasing about the 1mm air gap around the ping sensor... :yikes: Well, something to watch out for, or even to try... could be a good excuse to play with the laser!
24 years ago I did just that - she's still with me!
hmmm...thinking.
-Matt
Anyway, the stands. Very nice. I love the smooth texture. I only had one issue: I was worried I was going to break it while mounting the PING. The screws went in very slowly with more work than I had thought they would. I guess I know that my PINGs isn't going to fall off the stand. Also, no matter how many times I tried mounting it, the PING was always ever so slightly crooked.
This sensor and stand will go perfectly with my first non-kit robot I'm constructing (some parts are currently on their way from Parallax).