Post by thread:[OT]: Competitions..

part 0 44 bytes his is a multi-part message in MIME format. part 1 269 bytes content-type:text/plain; charset=x-user-defined (decoded 7bit) Hello to everyone! Does anyone know is there any competitions about electronics? I am student of electrotehnical school in Yugoslavia and I am interested in competitions about electronics ... Is there any inos on internet?? Thanks! part 2 201 bytes content-type:text/x-vcard; charset=x-user-defined; (decoded 7bit) begin:vcard n:Pavlica;Milan x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:SuperSonic Systems adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:spam_OUTmpavlicaTakeThisOuTptt.yu title:Chief fn:Milan Pavlica end:vcard part 3 154 bytes -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

Hello Milan, Saturday, April 07, 2001, 9:11:28 PM, you wrote: MPY> Hello to everyone! MPY> Does anyone know is there any competitions about electronics? MPY> I am student of electrotehnical school in Yugoslavia and I am interested MPY> in competitions about electronics ... MPY> Is there any inos on internet?? MPY> Thanks! The Circuit Cellar magazine always seems to have one these days. Check out their website at http://www.circuitcellar.com/ -- Best regards, Dincer .....dinceraydinKILLspam@spam@softhome.net -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

There is always a design challenge and competition going at http://www.sxlist.com The next one will start next month and will probably involve embedded internet applications or inexpensive but useful robotics. Ideas? What do we want to hook to the internet today? or Little robots with whiskers and hammers to "hunt" and smash nuts? Let me know if you have contest ideas... James Newton 1-619-652-0593 phone jamesnewtonKILLspamsxlist.com Ubicom code http://www.sxlist.com {Original Message removed}

James Newton wrote: > > There is always a design challenge and competition going at > http://www.sxlist.com > > The next one will start next month and will probably involve embedded > internet applications or inexpensive but useful robotics. > > Ideas? How about a one-PIC (or SX) solution to drive a stepper motor with proper microstepping PWM with just step/direction inputs? I'm only mentioning it because i've already done it. ;o) Seriously after visiting many robotics sites i've noticed a lack of longer range distance sensing stuff. You can get the Sharp module to do a couple of feet range, but nothing good for longer ranges. Maybe a time-of-flight laser system or a laser dot and linear array (triangulation) system. So a robot or machine can measure distances common in a house or building. -Roman PS. I put up that encoder circuit you wanted: http://www.ezy.net.au/~fastvid/encoder.htm -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

> How about a one-PIC (or SX) solution to drive a stepper > motor with proper microstepping PWM with just > step/direction inputs? I'm only mentioning it because > i've already done it. ;o) Me too - we can split the prize - what is it James ? :-) I actually do variable speed microstepping between selected positions as an internal part of a system. . Russell McMahon -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

Actually, I'm very interested in this "encoderless" DC motor drive that Roman and a few others mentioned. Scott Dattalo has a page on "Magic Sinewave" PWM that might help to reduce the noise from the drive signal and help to not miss the pulses back from the commutation. If anybody seriously thinks it can be done, I'll offer the standard "Your a PIC guru" announcement on the site and a write up, etc... James Newton, PICList Admin #3 .....jamesnewtonKILLspam.....piclist.com 1-619-652-0593 phone http://www.piclist.com {Original Message removed}

Applicable to unipolar steppers, without any other external smart device (excluding power transistors ) ? Vasile On Mon, 9 Apr 2001, Russell McMahon wrote: {Quote hidden}> > How about a one-PIC (or SX) solution to drive a stepper > > motor with proper microstepping PWM with just > > step/direction inputs? I'm only mentioning it because > > i've already done it. ;o) > > Me too - we can split the prize - what is it James ? :-) > I actually do variable speed microstepping between selected positions as an > internal part of a system. > > . > > > Russell McMahon > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics > (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

James Newton Wrote: > Actually, I'm very interested in this "encoderless" DC motor drive that > Roman and a few others mentioned. Scott Dattalo has a page on "Magic > Sinewave" PWM that might help to reduce the noise from the drive signal and > help to not miss the pulses back from the commutation. > > If anybody seriously thinks it can be done, I'll offer the standard "Your a > PIC guru" announcement on the site and a write up, etc... > It can be done, the reason I know is that I did play around with an IC produced by Nat Semi (I believe) some time ago that controlled a DC motor by counting the commutator pulses. Unfortunately I cannot remember the number and it must have been withdrawn as nothing appears on their web site that I can find. (on the other hand it could have been another manufacturer) If I remember correctly the datasheets/app notes covered a description of the chips operation. This information could be valuable in implementing a pic solution. As this appears to be of interest I will spend some time hunting round the dusty sections of the library and the darker recesses of the junk box to see if I can find any residuals of the assessment exercise (it never got to being a project). As I remember it, a breadboard was produced, but use of the chip was abandoned as its cost was too high to incorporate in any attractively priced product. Don't hold your breath, but if you are still interested in a weeks time and I (or someone else) haven't posted a follow up by then, give me a gentle nudge. Perhaps we should change the subject line of this thread to something more appropriate such as DC Motor Control ? Regards Chris -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Vasile Surducan wrote: > > Applicable to unipolar steppers, without any other external smart device > (excluding power transistors ) ? > Vasile I can't speak for Russell's unit but mine is a linear ustep system using 2x fast PWM for the two motor coil transistors (current) and four more transistors for the phase switching. -Roman -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

James, maybe you convince Mike Predko to donate you some of his pic-related book for the prize...( btw, I presume inside of them are some functional routines, better than 16 bit fixed point division routine on his site xwhich is not working...) If you have a positive answer maybe I'll enter in this game too... Vasile On Mon, 9 Apr 2001, James Newton wrote: > The prize is fame! Your name in lights! Your code posted at piclist.com! It > makes you a hero to the newbie. > > --- > James Newton (PICList Admin #3) > jamesnewtonspam_OUTpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > > {Original Message removed}

>>=========== >>It can be done, the reason I know is that I did play around with an IC >>produced by Nat Semi (I believe) some time ago that controlled a DC >>motor by counting the commutator pulses. Unfortunately I cannot >>remember the number and it must have been withdrawn as nothing >>appears >>on their web site that I can find. (on the other hand it could have >>been another manufacturer) >>=========== >LM628 perhaps? >http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM628.html >Check out the appnotes also. Hi Pablo. Unfortunately that is not the IC I had in mind as the LM628/9 require some form of encoder to provide the feedback signal. The IC I was thinking about obtained a feedback signal by monitoring the current spikes produced by the motors commutator. By the way the small cheap "model" motors produce far too much rubbish for the technique to work with them. Swiss and other high quality motors, also larger motors worked OK. Regards Chris -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email @spam@listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Boy, I finish checking my mail at 2:00 AM last night and look what comes in at 2:05AM. First things first - what's wrong with the 16 bit division routine? I know there was a problem some time ago, but I thought I had fixed it... Please check my web site to make sure the updated version is wrong (I have also updated it to the same code in the tear sheets for the next printing of the PICmicro book so if it is still in error, I want to know about it). I've been watching the idea of the competition and I like the idea of it. I would also be happy to donate prizes to it. I would also be happy to place the write ups for the winning applications on the CD-ROMs of subsequent books or even put together a book of winning entries. My major comment about this thread is that I haven't really seen any projects as yet that really capture my imagination. The microstepping application is okay, but it doesn't set my shorts on fire. I almost feel like part of the competition should be coming up with the best project ideas... Anyway, I have been thinking about this since it first came up and the only reason why I've been quiet is because I haven't seen any really great projects and I haven't been able to come up with any on my own. myke ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vasile Surducan" <KILLspamvasileKILLspamL30.ITIM-CJ.RO> To: <RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 2:05 AM Subject: Re: [OT]: Competitions.. > James, maybe you convince Mike Predko to donate you some of his > pic-related book for the prize...( btw, I presume inside of them are some > functional routines, better than 16 bit fixed point division routine on > his site xwhich is not working...) > If you have a positive answer maybe I'll enter in this game too... > Vasile > > On Mon, 9 Apr 2001, James Newton wrote: > > > The prize is fame! Your name in lights! Your code posted at piclist.com! It > > makes you a hero to the newbie. > > > > --- > > James Newton (PICList Admin #3) > > spamBeGonejamesnewtonspamBeGonepiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 > > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > > > > {Original Message removed}

Ok Myke, you're a nice person... I will check again your site for division rutine. On Tue, 10 Apr 2001, myke predko wrote: > > My major comment about this thread is that I haven't really seen any > projects as yet that really capture my imagination. The microstepping > application is okay, but it doesn't set my shorts on fire. > What do you say about a pic application which will keep you forever young and happy ? hm? Thank's, Vasile -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList TakeThisOuTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseMEspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu

myke predko wrote: > I've been watching the idea of the competition and I like the idea of it. I > would also be happy to donate prizes to it. I would also be happy to place > the write ups for the winning applications on the CD-ROMs of subsequent > books or even put together a book of winning entries. > > My major comment about this thread is that I haven't really seen any > projects as yet that really capture my imagination. The microstepping > application is okay, but it doesn't set my shorts on fire. > > I almost feel like part of the competition should be coming up with the best > project ideas... > > Anyway, I have been thinking about this since it first came up and the only > reason why I've been quiet is because I haven't seen any really great > projects and I haven't been able to come up with any on my own. Hi, i only suggested the microstepping thing as a joke as I had already done it. I wouldn't enter previous work in a competition, that's rude. Maybe as another suggestion for a competition idea, what about a universal semiconductor tester? Like three leads, A,B,C, and a 2-line LCD display. You can clip it on any transistor or diode and it tells which leg is which, NPN, PNP, fet, darlington, etc etc, even measures beta and saturation drop. All these things would be easy to measure if you could adjust voltages and measure voltages, say with a 16F876 or even a F628. Just an idea. Hey, i'd like one!! -Roman -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

Roman Black wrote: >Maybe as another suggestion for a competition >idea, what about a universal semiconductor tester? >Like three leads, A,B,C, and a 2-line LCD display. >You can clip it on any transistor or diode and >it tells which leg is which, NPN, PNP, fet, >darlington, etc etc, even measures beta and >saturation drop. All these things would be easy >to measure if you could adjust voltages and measure >voltages, say with a 16F876 or even a F628. >Just an idea. Hey, i'd like one!! Darn you, Roman, you been reading my notebooks again? - dan michaels http://www.oricomtech.com ====================== -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList piclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseME.....mitvma.mit.edu

I don't think so - :) ========================== James Newton wrote: {Quote hidden}>Sounds like something that could easily be added to Tony Nixon's Pocket >Programmer > >www.piclist.com/techref/auction.asp?a=cat&c=17 >http://www.bubblesoftonline.com/pocket/pocket.html > >--- >James Newton (PICList Admin #3) >RemoveMEjamesnewtonEraseMEEraseMEpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 >PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > >{Original Message removed}

Roman wrote: >Maybe as another suggestion for a competition >idea, what about a universal semiconductor tester? >Like three leads, A,B,C, and a 2-line LCD display. >You can clip it on any transistor or diode and >it tells which leg is which, NPN, PNP, fet, >darlington, etc etc, even measures beta and >saturation drop. All these things would be easy >to measure if you could adjust voltages and measure >voltages, say with a 16F876 or even a F628. >Just an idea. Hey, i'd like one!! Farnell have one for AU$190 + tax at the moment. Silicon Chip magazine did one a few years ago. I probably have the article around here somewhere. Never did get around to building it - should have. :-) Regards... -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestspam_OUTKILLspammitvma.mit.edu

David Duffy wrote: > > Roman wrote: > >Maybe as another suggestion for a competition > >idea, what about a universal semiconductor tester? > >Like three leads, A,B,C, and a 2-line LCD display. > >You can clip it on any transistor or diode and > >it tells which leg is which, NPN, PNP, fet, > >darlington, etc etc, even measures beta and > >saturation drop. > Farnell have one for AU$190 + tax at the moment. > Silicon Chip magazine did one a few years ago. > I probably have the article around here somewhere. > Never did get around to building it - should have. :-) Yeah but the (overpriced) Farnell one does not do the beta and saturation drop, the things I am always having to test manually. and it's not as though they are hard to measure... -Roman -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

Roman wrote: >Yeah but the (overpriced) Farnell one does not >do the beta and saturation drop, the things I am >always having to test manually. and it's not as >though they are hard to measure... Roman, if you want a cheaper transistor tester that will do betas, jameco.com sells a kit from Elenco for $24.95 USD, P/N 119360. Touted as doing circuit testing, too. It apparently does not ID the leads or device type automatically, however. Anyone used this device? - dan michaels http://www.oricomtech.com ======================== -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads