Microcontroller lab startup help
Invent-O-Doc
Posts: 768
Hi everyone.
I have the opportunity to set up a microcontroller lab at one of my work sites. We will mainly be prototyping interfaces for medical training systems and building wireless response devices. We will also teach some basic classes on microcontrollers focusing mainly on propeller and a little tiny bit on the stamp. I'm largely trying to replicate the lab I have at home, but have things work well for beginners.
My rules are that it is very difficult to do purchase order (military), so things have to be simplified (kits help). We aren't too cost sensitive (but don't want to be extravagant). Each order has to be under $3,000 to qualify for a credit card purchase. I've selected three sources: Parallax, jameco, and sparkfun. Some items are cheaper at parallax but had to be purchased elsewhere to keep parallax bill under $3K.
As far as you can see, are there any major items I'm missing that you would recommend for inclusion?
I'm worried about forgetting about some huge show stopper because we won't be able to place another order until late Fall. (Spreadsheet attached w/ three tabs, plus text file version)
Thanks in advance!
I have the opportunity to set up a microcontroller lab at one of my work sites. We will mainly be prototyping interfaces for medical training systems and building wireless response devices. We will also teach some basic classes on microcontrollers focusing mainly on propeller and a little tiny bit on the stamp. I'm largely trying to replicate the lab I have at home, but have things work well for beginners.
My rules are that it is very difficult to do purchase order (military), so things have to be simplified (kits help). We aren't too cost sensitive (but don't want to be extravagant). Each order has to be under $3,000 to qualify for a credit card purchase. I've selected three sources: Parallax, jameco, and sparkfun. Some items are cheaper at parallax but had to be purchased elsewhere to keep parallax bill under $3K.
As far as you can see, are there any major items I'm missing that you would recommend for inclusion?
I'm worried about forgetting about some huge show stopper because we won't be able to place another order until late Fall. (Spreadsheet attached w/ three tabs, plus text file version)
Thanks in advance!
Comments
It looks like a lot of thought went into your selections. I would definitely ditch the obsolete 74LS parts kit, though, in favor of your own selection of 74HC-family parts, which should include basic gates, along with the 74HC165 and 74HC595 shift registers for port expansion. The HC family can run on either +5V or +3.3V, which makes them compatible with the Propeller. I'd also add some high-current drivers, like the ULN2803. 'Maybe some optoisolators, too.
-Phil
-Phil
Bench Supply @ MPJA - We have many of these where I work, and they're highly recommended.
Soldering Station @ MPJA - We have a few variations on this at work. They're not fantastic, but I don't expect you'll be doing a lot of soldering at such a lab, so it should be fine.
I would probably ditch both chip kits in favor of a small selection of Op-Amps and a few logic chips people mention here. For the most part, since you're building a "microcontroller" lab, you'll have little need for external logic, apart from the '165 and '595 that PhiPi mentioned.
The XBee kit from SparkFun is quite a bit cheaper than the one from Parallax, and I don't think you're missing anything in it. You could also buy XBee straight from Digi (Full disclosure: I work for a division of Digi).
In general, I've been pretty unimpressed by Jameco in the past, and would recommend DigiKey or Mouser where reasonable and SparkFun otherwise. Most of the Equipment you get from SparkFun could be sourced from MPJA to cut down on the SparkFun bill.
Rigol manufactures HP/Agilent's lower cost scopes.
Saelig also has that Lascar power supply.
Note that some low-cost power supplies are switch-mode, but that probably won't be an issue if you're working mostly with microcontrollers.
The LS kit ain't sexy but works for me at 3.3 and 5V (not efficient) I may end up ditching that purchase. I like my old one at home but it doesnt get too much use.
I'll add the 74HC165 and 74HC595 and ULN 2803 like Phil says and whatever is in Matt Gilliland's cookbooks. The linear kit has the LM386 (and a discontinued higher wattage version) & 555/556 though I use a newer philips chip for sound now but jameco doesnt carry it in DIP. The IRF510/3708 mosfet and optoisolators are also good suggestions (I have a similar set up at home and have optos/mosfets + more max232 chips). Oh yes, heat shrink stuff is a great idea I completely forgot about.
I would consider MPJA for power supplies but won't get any other iron than the Hakko cause Ken G says its the bomb. One better deal doesn't justify adding another source. (I use MPJA when i get their catalog about once a year - good deals especially on power supplies!). I'll switch oscilloscope to the one on sparkfun - thanks!
Thanks for the suggestions so far, these are thoughtful. I probably wont be able to place another order until December, so thanks so much for the advice.
I know XBees are easy to use but they sure cost a lot. SparkFun carries several different boards with Nordic's nRF24L01+ chip.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/691
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/705
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8602
While SparkFun's boards aren't much less than the price of an XBee, there are a bunch of nRF24L01+ modules on eBay. Some cost less than $2.50. It's hard to pass up ten transceivers for the price of one XBee.
I believe the little Nordic modules have a faster transmission rate (2Mbps) than XBees have. If you're going to make wireless sensors, I'd suggest taking a look at these Nordic modules.
The comments about heat-shrink tubing reminds me about what I learned from reading NASA's best practices.
After reading the above, I started using clear heat-shrink tubing and I've liked it a lot. It's really nice to be able to see how well a connection is holding together through the tubing.
I haven't purchased supplies from Jameco, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have clear (or at least translucent) heat-shrink tubing.
The cheap power supply I linked to is a linear supply; I know because I've opened them.
For audio amplification, a TDA1517P is a nice cheap option, as is a TEA2025, TDA2611, TDA7056.
I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but the power supply you linked to is quite obviously a switching unit, seeing how it says so on the front panel and in the specifications. Perhaps you linked to the wrong item?
That's ok, but for just some $30 more, you can jump to a 8" screen, and 1Gs/s ?
http://www.saelig.com/PSBE100/PSBE100008.htm
For a class, that bigger screen will be important. (and I see they mention a VGA output choice too... )
-Phil