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To all of you who have made a Propeller based PCB - Take this poll — Parallax Forums

To all of you who have made a Propeller based PCB - Take this poll

MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
edited 2011-10-19 09:43 in Propeller 1
Hi,
Considering how I have been in the Propeller community for a while, I have started to notice an interesting trend in the terms of Propeller based PCBs that the users of this forum have been making. It appears that the vast majority are NOT projects, but rather, modules. I'd be willing to bet there are over 10 different PCBs for the simple Propller-EEPROM-Xtal setup out there. Therefore, to confirm or disapprove of this, I would like willing forum members who have made a PCB to take this poll: Is your PCB for a project of yours, or a platform?

If you have made multiple, please vote for the one you have made the most of.

Thanks,
Microcontrolled

Comments

  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-10-17 22:01
    Voted Platform. My M44D40+ module was born out of an idea during the "great DIP40 shortage of 2009". It was just a concept, but when an opportunity arose to have the design embedded into some panel deadspace on another fab, it became an actual product. Of the 2 other PCB projects on my to-do list, one fits the platform category and one fits the project specific category.
  • Paul MPaul M Posts: 95
    edited 2011-10-18 00:51
    4 project pcbs, and 1 platform. I use the platform (with homemade addon pcbs) to develop and prototype my projects
  • JLockeJLocke Posts: 354
    edited 2011-10-18 01:40
    Just 2 project pcbs with the propeller (so far) and 1 platform (although I built 2 of them).
    My 'Propeller Breadboard' platform is modeled after the 'Bare Bones Board' (Arduino) from ModernDevice. It brings all the Propeller I/O pins out to a single row header on the edge of the board, and has pins that will transfer regulated +5V and GND to the breadboard power rail (it has a 3.3V regulator as well). I can plug this into a breadboard and take up virtually zero real estate on the breadboard for my Propeller and its support circuitry (xtal, EEPROM, etc).
  • Toby SeckshundToby Seckshund Posts: 2,027
    edited 2011-10-18 02:33
    Virtually all of my homemade efforts have been very "DemoBoard" based. Even the DracBlades are basically thesame.

    I have a version of experimental "DemoBoards" I named it the "LunchBox" is the one usually played with as it is self contained in a Sony small BetaCam tape case with a 6" long breadboard on its top and could go to work with me in the laptop bag. I also have two surviving "DracBlades" both in keyboards ( for my Z80 habit,(sniff) I can handle it).

    I have got a QF Prop but to allow me to do Toner Transfer PCBs, single and double sided, I recycle the 40DIPs, and other components, over and over ...

    To date I have probably made 30+ PCBs for various projects
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-10-18 04:36
    Many of mine are for projects, but I did tick both.
    I wanted modules for various things so that I can configure whatever is desired from a number of basic modules. Recently I made a lot of these modules and they are coming together nicely. I use a number of these modules on an almost daily basis.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-10-18 12:16
    Wow, unlike what was expected, there is a good bit more projects than platforms out there!
  • WossnameWossname Posts: 174
    edited 2011-10-19 04:23
    My open source project ("Protopeller") is basically analogous to the Arduino - except it's a bit smaller and uses a DIP-40 Propeller chip. It's not specialised to any particular purpose but it is very handy for times when you just want to throw some code on a Prop and grab the pin IO.

    Also, I'm working on another Propeller project in my spare time. It is a control / user interface board for a 2-axis pen/laser plotter. So far it's going well, In my opinion, the Propeller platform lends itself very well to both embedded applications and to general purpose use. I find the architecture very intuitive and easy to understand. I never had that with either Arduino/Atmel nor PIC platforms.
  • PaulPaul Posts: 263
    edited 2011-10-19 05:23
    I've made 5-6 different projects so far but recently noticed Cluso99's 1" x 1" form factor and I'm now converting to something similar to gain a little more space and besides, the DIP40 just looks a bit dated.
  • max72max72 Posts: 1,155
    edited 2011-10-19 05:26
    How do you take apart platform from project? I have problems deciding in which area I fit best.
    I created a couple of PCBs for a project, including an ad hoc part or interface (GPS, Xbee, SD, and so on), but I included also pins compatible with gadget gangster's pinout.
    So I have a generic PCB, platform like, but born with a project in mind (or to fit a case, or a display dimension). The board has been adapted to be used in other projects, so we are still in this grey area... where shall I place mi tick?
    Massimo
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-10-19 08:41
    When I first learned I could get PCBs made, I went crazy and placed everything on a single board, so I had boards that were, for example, 8"x8" crammed with every possible function I could think of. But then I learned the hard way that a single soldering mistake or mishap could mess up the entire board, costing me hours to fix it, etc. So now I go for the more modular approach, using Propeller Protoboards when I can, and just snuggling all the other application PCBs up against it. For me, this has been the best way to run things, and then the Protoboards are reusable, too.
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2011-10-19 09:43
    4 project pcb's so far
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