My own Basic Stamp ( How ?? )

Comments

• RobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307

  2008-01-24 19:35 edited 2008-01-24 19:35

  Hello Joe,
  
  Building your own BASIC Stamp based upon the OEM Parallax BASIC Stamp interpreter chips isn't too hard. You can easily mix both surface mount and through holw components. They are wired the same, just the package is different.
  
  I've got a board that I made for mounting an SX48 processor (Programmed in assembly or SX/B) that uses both through hole and surface mount parts. It could be used to mount one of the Parallax BASIC Interpreter chips for building your own custom stamp module. You'd have to buy the Interpreter chips directly from Parallax to make it. I build small modules like them with my regular soldering equipment.
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Robert
• allanlane5 Posts: 3,815

  2008-01-24 20:00 edited 2008-01-24 20:00

  +1 to making sure you purchase the Parallax "Interpreter" chip. An off-the-shelf PIC or SX chip of the proper type will NOT have the Parallax proprietary code burned into it that makes it a BS2.
  
  Still, you can save some bucks this way, and I understand Parallax has 'bulk' discounts too.
• Joe Posts: 184

  2008-01-24 20:24 edited 2008-01-24 20:24

  Hi
  Robert:
  
  
  About SMD soldering equipment , could you
  recomend or tell me a model and accesories ?
  
  ( I would like to build about five basic stamps per day)
  
  
  It seems that they use hot air.
  
  Thanks, Joe
• RobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307

  2008-01-24 20:34 edited 2008-01-24 20:34

  Hello Joe,
  
  I just have a regular Weller desktop soldering iron with a fine tip. Nothing out of the ordinary. It's all in the technique you use to assemble the boards. The only "special" tools I have is a nice quality tweezer for picking up the small surface mount parts and some solder wick to remove any excess solder. I've been soldering for years but if you are patient and careful you can do it. After the first couple parts it gets easier. Part of the trick is to just solder one pin first. That way if it isn't aligned correctly you can warm the solder and move the part. Just repeat until it is in perfect alignment. Then solder the remaining pins. On the CPU I don't worry about solder bridges as I clean those up later with the solder wick.
  
  There are other ways to work with the parts (using solder paste, hot air, etc) but I don't have any of that equipment. If you're just doing a hand full of modules a day you might be able to get by without it.
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Robert
• jmalaysia Posts: 97

  2008-01-26 05:02 edited 2008-01-26 05:02

  Joe,
  
  I solder everyday,· both with an iron and hot air.· I use a Weller pecil with an EPT tip,· which works for just about everything.· Well,· until you get to "flea" sized comonents,· then you're screwed no matter what you use!· I·have a digital·"micro" Weller soldering station too,· but it really doesn't transfer enough heat to do much good,· so I would avoid getting one of those.· As for the hot air,· it easier to RUIN stuff than to solder it,· so you have to be really careful with one of those.· No way you should need one to solder anything related to building a stamp board anyway.· I think the one I have cost about 5k and it's a lower tier model.· Get a good iron with a correct sized tip and solder that is fine enough to work with...· then practice a bit and you should be fine.