BS/L Beta Test First Report
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I finally have all of the parts to assemble the BS/L Robot Controller
which I am beta testing and I just finished the logic section.
Happily the logic section works and I can blink some LEDs as a test.
My comments regarding the instructions for the logic section follow:
> The Component Layout drawing (figure 1.1) looks like it drawn with
a low resolution and is hard to read. In particular the resistor
labels are hard to read and I can't tell which ones are R18, R19
and R20 - the zero ohm jumpers. The rest of the instructions are
much better.
> The + (plus) connection point on figure 1.1 is labelled +5V when
in fact it is either +9V or +6V depending on which battery type you
choose.
> The paragraph where C4 is installed does not mention the C4 label,
it is identified as the "large capacitor".
> The text mentions that the artwork for the PCB is in the appendix
but it isn't there. This may have been intentional with the beta
test kits.
> There is no schematic and I would find one helpful. This may
not be useful to your target audience (students), but surely
their teacher should have one.
> I had two problems with components holes in the PCB.
- The holes for the switch SW1 were too close together for the
pins on the switch. I did use the exact switch in the parts
list - from Jameco. I was able to bend the leads and make
it fit.
- The holes for the switch SW2 were a little two far apart, but
with just a small bend of the pins they lined up. The bigger
problem was that the holes were too small for the pins on the
switch - again I used the exact switch from Jameco. I was
able to drill out the holes to a large enough size, but
_very_ litte of the copper pads for this switch were left
after drilling it to the correct size. I was able to get it
soldered in OK, but many students would have problems here.
More later - I hope to get to the motor control section later
this week.
==/ Alan /
which I am beta testing and I just finished the logic section.
Happily the logic section works and I can blink some LEDs as a test.
My comments regarding the instructions for the logic section follow:
> The Component Layout drawing (figure 1.1) looks like it drawn with
a low resolution and is hard to read. In particular the resistor
labels are hard to read and I can't tell which ones are R18, R19
and R20 - the zero ohm jumpers. The rest of the instructions are
much better.
> The + (plus) connection point on figure 1.1 is labelled +5V when
in fact it is either +9V or +6V depending on which battery type you
choose.
> The paragraph where C4 is installed does not mention the C4 label,
it is identified as the "large capacitor".
> The text mentions that the artwork for the PCB is in the appendix
but it isn't there. This may have been intentional with the beta
test kits.
> There is no schematic and I would find one helpful. This may
not be useful to your target audience (students), but surely
their teacher should have one.
> I had two problems with components holes in the PCB.
- The holes for the switch SW1 were too close together for the
pins on the switch. I did use the exact switch in the parts
list - from Jameco. I was able to bend the leads and make
it fit.
- The holes for the switch SW2 were a little two far apart, but
with just a small bend of the pins they lined up. The bigger
problem was that the holes were too small for the pins on the
switch - again I used the exact switch from Jameco. I was
able to drill out the holes to a large enough size, but
_very_ litte of the copper pads for this switch were left
after drilling it to the correct size. I was able to get it
soldered in OK, but many students would have problems here.
More later - I hope to get to the motor control section later
this week.
==/ Alan /