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Interesting SX/B Project — Parallax Forums

Interesting SX/B Project

Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
edited 2005-11-18 03:30 in General Discussion
One of my recent work tasks turned out to be an interesting SX/B project: a serial inkjet printer driver.· This is part of a Parallax/HP project that will be released as a kit toward the end of the month.· Included with the kit will be a book on BS2-based experiments with the print-head by our friend, Matt Gilliland.· I've attached the SX/B file and a couple photos, the·driver board schematic,·and the SX/B program.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2005-10-08 12:19
    JON !
    You are light years ahead of the rest of us.

    I am amazed that you can create a bot that can actually write text as it wanders. Lots of Kudos.
    I really enjoy reading your Nuts and Volts articles and appreciate your on-going support for us learners.

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    G. Herzog in Taiwan
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-10-08 13:52
    Jon, any chance you could replace "Serial Inkjet Driver Board.JPG" with a photo whose focus is on the board and not the table? Id love to see a little more detail of the board, thanks. BTW awesome project, takes the scribbler concept to a whole new level.

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  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-10-09 00:27
    I'm down in SoCal at the moment (apartment hunting) so when I get back to the office Monday I'll have the company photographer take some pictures. Sorry, I'm better at code writing than photos!

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-10-09 00:32
    Ah, I wouldn't say that I'm ahead of anybody -- I just have a little more practice with SX/B as I'm part of the development team.· What I really need to do is work (as I learn) more assembly into my programs to make them really fly.· My goal with this program, though, is to demonstate that SX/B is not a bad little product when given half a chance, and can be pushed to do neat things.· Hopefully something in the program will inspire other SX/B programmers, and if you happen to spot an area I can improve, by all means speak up!
    Kramer said...
    JON !
    You are light years ahead of the rest of us.

    I am amazed that you can create a bot that can actually write text as it wanders. Lots of Kudos.
    I really enjoy reading your Nuts and Volts articles and appreciate your on-going support for us learners.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-11-11 17:48
    These are fun to play with!

    Ryan

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2005-11-11 17:54
    Is there any chance that this Printer-Bot could be made to operated with any of the BS2 modules running off a serial cable?

    Sid
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-11-11 19:27
    Jon coming from the stamp domain before delving into the SX, whould have implemented it on the stamp if it were possible, I strongly suspect that the communication required is too complicated and/or too fast for a stamp to handle.

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  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-11-11 19:34
    The SIP board has an SX on it, but the unit is being controlled by a Stamp....

    This setup does not require any SX programming to use...

    Ryan

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-11-11 19:53
    Ah, gotcha, thanks for the clarification Ryan.

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  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2005-11-11 20:32
    Tell me more about that board, Ryan.

    Sid
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-11-11 20:56
    I can tell you that it will be released shortly, and that Jon Williams did a great job coding the firmware. John B did a great job on the board.

    Watch our website, it will be out soon. I'm only giving this info because some info was already out there- but we are working on not releasing information until product release is official from now on.



    Ryan

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • SN96SN96 Posts: 318
    edited 2005-11-11 21:32
    I understand about keeping info under wraps, however, I think some times letting the community know in advance about certain products, you can get valuable feed back from the community and implement those wishes / ideas in the new product.

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    Mike


    "Don't always think outside the box, sometimes thinking inside the box is more pratical and simple."
    ·
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-11-12 13:47
    Mike,

    Please understand that we do work with members of "the community" but have to be careful not to turn the design committee into an entity so large that a project never gets done. The product is NOT a printing robot, that's just one of the demonstrations that is part of a kit that is about HP printer cartridge technology. We partnered with them on this project.

    Specific to your request, last week I started a discussion about a GPS "helper" chip that I will be programming in SX/B.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-11-12 13:57
    Mike,

    I definitely understand the desire for a release date that comes from anticipation for a new product, but if you'll notice in Jon's original post:
    Jon Williams (Parallax) said...
    This is part of a Parallax/HP project that will be released as a kit toward the end of the month.
    As it is now mid-Nov, obviously that original estimation was not conservative enough. Parallax has been burned time and again, by announcing a release date, even if the date is a ballpark such as the one above, and customers express dissatisfaction with the date not being met. Just look at the discussion about the anticipated release·of the new internet module, with some customers complaining that Parallax "dropped the ball" and other disparaging comments.·Similar to a child learning they will be shocked when they stick a pin in an electrical socket, Parallax has learned it's just not worth giving advanced release date, the downside outweights any benefit (Im not saying Parallax is child-like just comparing the process of learning through experience). They want satisfied customers, and providing release dates generally creates customer dissatisfaction.

    PS, after re-reading your post, I missinterpreted what you were asking Mike. Jon's reply was more appropo to your question.


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    Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 11/12/2005 2:07:04 PM GMT
  • SN96SN96 Posts: 318
    edited 2005-11-12 17:06
    I fully understand about all this. A company that wants to keep a release date confidential is good practice. You certainly do not want to string along your customers about a product that could be abandoned. I am patient about anything new and exciting, and I have always thought that a company should take the time needed to provide a quality product.

    My original post in regards to asking the community for input is also good business practice in my opinion. Just like Jon has done about asking for people's input with the new SX/B project.

    I guess all I am tiring to say is: Keep up the good work and don't stop asking the community for their input."

    Agreed, protect NPI (new product introduction), but still stay in touch with the community.




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    Mike


    "Don't always think outside the box, sometimes thinking inside the box is more pratical and simple."
    ·
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2005-11-14 14:58
    I had misposted that the product was available. {I wrongly assumed so.}
    I really find it hard to keep up with my learning curve and all the innovative new things you keep putting out.

    If that has caused any disconcertation, please forgive me.

    I still think it is a great addition and that getting it out now would putting a lot of boxes under the Christmas Tree.

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,395
    edited 2005-11-14 23:37
    Details on the subject application have been posted at:

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=558155

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.
  • cbmeekscbmeeks Posts: 634
    edited 2005-11-15 18:53
    Oh yeah? Well my Print-Bot has a color laser toner/fuser unit and takes 75 D-Cell batteries....LOL

    Seriously, awesome project. When I first read it, I thought you had made a printer driver for the SX to interface to a printer (you know, for *normal* printing) lol

    Very cool indeed.

    cbmeeks

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    http://metroidclassic.com

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    DMCA Sucks
    RIAA Sucks
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2005-11-16 14:53
    With a Parallax Bluetooth link, you just might get it to write your master's thesis on a roll of toilet paper. Heh... All on one line!

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • Guenther DaubachGuenther Daubach Posts: 1,321
    edited 2005-11-16 17:55
    Hmmm - toilet paper? I fear the ink will criss-cross, not leaving very readable charaters left. Maybe, HP is willing to depelop a special ink for that purpose. Most recently, on a German Autobahn rest station, I found toilet paper with ads printed on it. With HP's new "TP Ink" you could nicely produce your own customized toilet paper. I'd like to have one with the faces of all people I hate on it. So I can put them where they belong... I'd better shut up now!

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    Greetings from Germany,

    G
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2005-11-16 18:29
    G
  • Oliver H. BaileyOliver H. Bailey Posts: 107
    edited 2005-11-18 03:30
    That's great.. Parallax has developed a robot that leaves droppings..How about calling it robopet...
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