I really feel that you can add a couple of holes to mount a two-pin power connector so that boards might be stacked within the footprint.· Obiviously, there is a lot of open space on this board.· So, use it to configure an easy to integrate board.· Also, it is very important to keep the corners open and uncluttered for drilling screw holes [noparse][[/noparse]even if you don't provide the holes].· At times, the plastic cases require you to actually cut off the corners to make a fit!
When the barrel plug is the only thing that permanently extends beyond the footprint, you get a sizable increase in the box dimensions.· Also, when there is no box, that barrel plug seems to be the only thing·sticking out and creates a limitation of using the boards 'power and port side' to the rear only.· Manytimes, it would be convienent to have the programming port available left or right, rather than rear.· Robots need the rear as well as the front for sensor placement.
Of course, it you are going to put a case around the thing with Wall Wart or other external supply, the Barrel Plug is fine when it is flush with the board [noparse][[/noparse]but at the corner when it interfers with screws and stand off stacks].· In this case it is necessary so that you may drill an appropriate hole through the case and have adequate reach.· That is why I recommend the generic pins as a secondary plug-in.· It is a win-win solution.
In the past, I have used barrel plugs on everything and placed them at the corner [noparse][[/noparse]just following other's designs] and I find that the little guys are expensive and a waste of space.· Also, I have a lot of boards that can only be mounted with three stand-offs.· It all seems pretty silly and funky.
They mentioned that most of the open space is for the addition of the SX28/18/20, so there's a definite limit for what they can add (I do like the idea of a couple generic SOIC pads (perhaps mapped to· periphery proto-through holes, could also double as probe points for those not using soic), though I concur there should be enough space for a .100" 2x1 pin-header.
Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 2/3/2005 4:09:43 PM GMT
Comments
Flexiblity & Modularity
I really feel that you can add a couple of holes to mount a two-pin power connector so that boards might be stacked within the footprint.· Obiviously, there is a lot of open space on this board.· So, use it to configure an easy to integrate board.· Also, it is very important to keep the corners open and uncluttered for drilling screw holes [noparse][[/noparse]even if you don't provide the holes].· At times, the plastic cases require you to actually cut off the corners to make a fit!
When the barrel plug is the only thing that permanently extends beyond the footprint, you get a sizable increase in the box dimensions.· Also, when there is no box, that barrel plug seems to be the only thing·sticking out and creates a limitation of using the boards 'power and port side' to the rear only.· Manytimes, it would be convienent to have the programming port available left or right, rather than rear.· Robots need the rear as well as the front for sensor placement.
Of course, it you are going to put a case around the thing with Wall Wart or other external supply, the Barrel Plug is fine when it is flush with the board [noparse][[/noparse]but at the corner when it interfers with screws and stand off stacks].· In this case it is necessary so that you may drill an appropriate hole through the case and have adequate reach.· That is why I recommend the generic pins as a secondary plug-in.· It is a win-win solution.
In the past, I have used barrel plugs on everything and placed them at the corner [noparse][[/noparse]just following other's designs] and I find that the little guys are expensive and a waste of space.· Also, I have a lot of boards that can only be mounted with three stand-offs.· It all seems pretty silly and funky.
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 2/3/2005 4:09:43 PM GMT