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Help moving from Homework Board to Real World — Parallax Forums

Help moving from Homework Board to Real World

TanoshimiTanoshimi Posts: 3
edited 2007-11-05 12:35 in BASIC Stamp
I purchased a kit from Radio Shack that contained a book and the Homework Board with integrated BASIC Stamp.· I created the project I wanted to do, but don't want to put my expensive Homework board into the device, as it's bound to take some pounding.· Can i just buy a Board of Education and a Stamp, load my software onto it, then incorporate that into a Printed Circuit Board with the other necessary components?· As you can tell, I am new at this.· Been a programmer for years, and can do almost anything in that department, but need help with the electronics.· Here's the project I did:

Basically, it's a popup target for use at a rifle range (hence not wanting the Homework board in there).· There are two buttons, Add and Accept.· Pressing the Add button increments the difficulty level (which is displayed on an LCD or 7 pin LED) for Player 1, which goes from·0 to 5, then loops back around.· Pressing Accept locks it in and allows you to set the Difficulty level for Player 2, with zero indicating no Player 2.··A servo raises and lowers the target(s), with pauses·based upon the difficulty level selected.· A dual state LED indicates whether to shoot or not (simulating a terrorist/hostage target).· Two LED's indicate whether Player 1 or Player 2 is shooting.· The target falls on a button when hit.· If the target falls prior to being brought down with the servo (there's a mechanical collapsing target), the score is adjusted.· If the green light is lit a point is added, but if the red light is lit the score for that player is reduced to zero.· At the end of the round, the scores are displayed on LCD.· The Accept button resets all.

As I said, using the kit I have I was able to build a circuit and code to do all of the above.· Just not sure how to get that into a seperate, standalone unit i can use at the range.· If anyone wants to build this for me, I'd pay them for it (send a bid).· Otherwise, if someone can tell me how to move from the project board to the real world, I'd appreciate that.
-Tano

Comments

  • jmassonijmassoni Posts: 7
    edited 2007-11-02 20:04
    If you have relatively few support components on the board your best bet would probably be the Super Carrier Board Parallax #27130. It's only $19.95. You can also look at the Basic Stamp 2 Carrier Board #27120. It is really no frills $14.95. Either case you'll need to do some wirewrap and solder.

    You can also be real adventurous and check out the OEM modules. You can buy the basic parts and assemble one or get the assembled OEM module (27290) $59 includes stamp.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2007-11-02 20:50
    The most basic part of a Basic Stamp is the interpreter, this is the pre-programmed PIC that contains the Parallax software that turns it into a Basic Stamp (the higher end model is an SX chip, not a PIC). You can start with one of these and by adding just a few additional components, build your own Stamp. You'll have to do a lot of electronic construction work if you go this route.

    Basic Stamp 2 Interpreter Chip

    The Basic Stamp 2 Carrier Board is pretty cheap, but you still need a Basic Stamp to plug into it.

    The Basic Stamp 2 OEM is an economical version of the BS2, but it won't plug directly into any of the boards designed for the 24 pin DIP form of the Stamp, which means more construction work.

    It sounds like what you really need is a BS2 version of the Basic Stamp 1 Project Board, unfortunately there isn't one. Maybe you could convert your code over to the BS1?

    You might also want to look into the Homebrew Basic Stamp Protoboard from Peter Anderson. He also has an eBay store with some other nifty stuff.

    stores.ebay.com/PHAnderson-Electronics

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    - Rick
  • TanoshimiTanoshimi Posts: 3
    edited 2007-11-02 21:12
    Excellent replies from both!· Thanks·a ton.· I checked out the pre-built protoboards, and this seems like the best bet for me.· Again, I'm knew so bear with me on this.· I should (in theory) be able to design a circuit on the Homework board, write the software using the editor, test it on the Homework board, then just download the software to the Protoboard and rebuild the circuit using connecting wire.· Does that sound correct?· $35 for something that's going to be shot at (not directly anyway) is much better than doing that with the more expensive Homework board, and the Protoboard can be a permanant solution.· Does all of that sound correct?

    -Tano
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2007-11-03 03:14
    >>> I should (in theory) be able to design a circuit on the Homework board, write the software using the editor, test it on the Homework board, then just download the software to the Protoboard and rebuild the circuit using connecting wire. <<<

    That's basically the idea, regardless of the type of board that the circuit is built on.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2007-11-03 10:03
    Tanoshimi said...
    Does all of that sound correct?

    That's how it works.

    Actually, you could bypass the Homework Board and use the Protoboard from the beginning.

    Also, once you have a Protoboard with it's socketed eeprom chip, you have a way to load your program into an eeprom (your program is stored in the eeprom, not in the interpreter chip) which you can then transfer to a very minimal (and cheap) OEM BS2 based circuit if you need to make multiple copies at the lowest cost.

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    - Rick
  • TanoshimiTanoshimi Posts: 3
    edited 2007-11-05 12:35
    Thanks to all!
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