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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Maximite PCB’s

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trippyben

Regular Member

Joined: 26/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 91
Posted: 10:41am 26 Jun 2011
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Hi all, I have some surplus Maximite PCB's I ordered from my PCB supplier because I got sick of waiting for the kitset suppliers to come up with the goods. These were made using the gerber files on Geoff's website.

ebay item 270771354277

Should Interest be sufficient, I can get more in about 8-10 days. Just send me a message indicating how many you might want.

Ben
 
Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3194
Posted: 11:16am 26 Jun 2011
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Let me know if you decide to make that listing more permanent and I will add a link to it from my website. I get lots of people asking for the boards (although demand will probably drop a bit now that Altronics are shipping some kits).

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
VK6MRG

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Joined: 08/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 347
Posted: 12:33pm 26 Jun 2011
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I've just bought one, thanks.
I may use this one for the keyboard maximite
Remote mount the on/off switch, leds, SD card reader and away we go!!
Its easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission!

............VK6MRG.............VK3MGR............
 
aargee
Senior Member

Joined: 21/08/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 255
Posted: 07:07am 27 Jun 2011
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Ben,

Bought two off you, where did you source your PIC from, Microchip direct? Or somewhere closer to home?

Thanks,

Rob.

For crying out loud, all I wanted to do was flash this blasted LED.
 
VK6MRG

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Joined: 08/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 347
Posted: 07:41am 27 Jun 2011
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Ben, I'm in the same boat as Rob. Will require a pic chip also
Its easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission!

............VK6MRG.............VK3MGR............
 
donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313
Posted: 07:43am 27 Jun 2011
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Hey, this company has one only prototype Maximite SM1 (SMD) for sale.

Could be a collectors item.

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/maximite-sm1.html

Cheers Don...
https://www.dontronics.com
 
trippyben

Regular Member

Joined: 26/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 91
Posted: 08:30am 27 Jun 2011
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I got some of the PIC32MX795F512H chips from microchip direct.
You guys might be lucky, I do kinda have 3 spares for now.

I could:
1) Supply them blank on their own with the boards (say $10), or
2) Solder them to the boards, unprogrammed (maybe $20), or
3) Solder them to the boards and program them (probably still $20).

I wouldn't be able to offer any significant warranty other than a printout of a successful program report from MPLAB, as I can't control the environment in which subsequent parts loading is undertaken.

Please make contact using tripmeters at optusnet dot com dot au to arrange your chip supply option.

All boards on the original listing are now gone, post up your interest and convince me to get more - probably 50 this time around.

Ben

 
donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313
Posted: 09:04am 27 Jun 2011
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  donmck said  
Hey, this company has one only prototype Maximite SM1 (SMD) for sale.

Could be a collectors item.

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/maximite-sm1.html

Cheers Don...


Took an hour before anyone noticed, gone now, sorry.

Cheers Don...
https://www.dontronics.com
 
trippyben

Regular Member

Joined: 26/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 91
Posted: 10:51am 27 Jun 2011
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Spare chips gone. Thanks guys.
 
James_From_Canb

Senior Member

Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 265
Posted: 11:38am 27 Jun 2011
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  donmck said  
Hey, this company has one only prototype Maximite SM1 (SMD) for sale.

Could be a collectors item.

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/maximite-sm1.html

Cheers Don...


Don't give up on them. I would much prefer to buy my Maximite pre-made. I'm sure others would too. That way, when something goes wrong we won't spend ages checking all the soldered connections and component alignments. Like yesterday's time spent checking why the power sometimes cuts out if the power lead is bumped. Tonight I've been checking connections from my breakout cable to my breadboard to figure out why the LCD program doesn't work. It's frustrating. I can't get to the bit I want to do (the software) until I can get the hardware interfaced reliably.

I would much prefer high quality pre-made and tested gear, with tested cables and connections. It will cost me more, but I can focus on finding problems in my additions, not a board and cable I put together myself. Then maybe I'll have time to spend on the stuff I really want to do.

When I say pre-made, I'm not really keen on a bare board. I want a complete solution like the Altronics case and board. Maybe after a couple of years when I'm a lot more confident, I'll start building from scratch. Until then I'll pay money to reduce grief.
My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention.

Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles (1974)
 
donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313
Posted: 03:58pm 27 Jun 2011
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  James_From_Canb said  
  donmck said  
Hey, this company has one only prototype Maximite SM1 (SMD) for sale.

Could be a collectors item.

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/maximite-sm1.html

Cheers Don...


Don't give up on them. I would much prefer to buy my Maximite pre-made. I'm sure others would too.


We will have two versions assembled & tested, but I am still waiting on time frames for these.

The Maximite SM1 prototype is shown at:
http://www.themaximitecomputer.com/maximite-sm1-prototypes/

The Maximite EV (Embedded Version)
This will be basically the same as the SM1, but has no keyboard, no Video, and uses a microSD Card. Board Measures 66mm x 68mm

Richard or myself will announce it when it is available, and I would hope to have pictures in the next week or two.

Cheers Don...
https://www.dontronics.com
 
Glenn

Newbie

Joined: 14/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 29
Posted: 02:08am 28 Jun 2011
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Ben, are you getting more PCB's ?

Was after 3 boards

Glenn

vk3pe

VK3PE
 
jman

Guru

Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 10:05am 28 Jun 2011
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Hi Ben

I would like a PCB are you getting more ?
Can you ship to New Zealand ?

John
 
trippyben

Regular Member

Joined: 26/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 91
Posted: 10:45am 28 Jun 2011
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Sounds like there's probably enough interest for antoher batch.

Posting to NZ should be OK, I'd just have to look up the cost etc.

Will let you all know when more are here.
 
jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 10:46am 28 Jun 2011
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Thanks

Looking forward to it

John
 
donmck

Guru

Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313
Posted: 05:30pm 29 Jun 2011
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  donmck said  
Hey, this company has one only prototype Maximite SM1 (SMD) for sale.

Could be a collectors item.

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/maximite-sm1.html

Cheers Don...


He now has another single Maximite SM1 Assembled and Tested, prototype in stock.

Specs:
http://www.themaximitecomputer.com/maximite-sm1-prototypes/

Test: 03:30 Melbourne time, see how long it lasts with this small message.

And a little bit of product news:
http://www.themaximitecomputer.com/category/maximite-product -news/

Cheers Don...

Edited by donmck 2011-07-01
https://www.dontronics.com
 
trippyben

Regular Member

Joined: 26/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 91
Posted: 08:11am 12 Jul 2011
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Ok Guys, they are here.
I have 50 in total, will be $10 each + $9 express post.

I will list some on eBay shortly, and am open to selling direct if you want. Send a message on here or email to tripmeters at optusnet dot com dot au.

No chips on hand as yet though. I haven't decided whether to get the '695 or '795 just yet as I'm curious about the C5 thing that seems to have only affected the homebrew maxi's and wondered if the chip has any impact. I would be keen to hear from others who have built their own (i.e. not an Altronics kit), which chip they used and if C5 had to be padded with an extra cap to Vcc for booting.

Ben
 
aargee
Senior Member

Joined: 21/08/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 255
Posted: 08:45am 12 Jul 2011
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Hi Ben,

I received the two boards and PICs, thanks very much.

I've assembled one and yes the cap mod is required to get it to boot. It's darn strange as the UBW32 Bit Whacker(using a '795) that I have running Maximite firmware doesn't need the cap or the 10 ohm resistor in it's design and it worked first time every time. I have the feeling that it's rather dependent on the layout, I did try shorting out the 10 ohm resistor but it didn't help.

Just another note to those building their own and wanting to program the Maximite with the Microchip Pickit3 or similar (which you will need to do). Once the keyboard socket is mounted on the board there is no room to plug in the programmer! I constructed an extension cable, as I thought it might be useful in the future.

- Rob
For crying out loud, all I wanted to do was flash this blasted LED.
 
trippyben

Regular Member

Joined: 26/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 91
Posted: 08:49am 12 Jul 2011
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  aargee said   Hi Ben,

Just another note to those building their own and wanting to program the Maximite with the Microchip Pickit3 or similar (which you will need to do). Once the keyboard socket is mounted on the board there is no room to plug in the programmer! I constructed an extension cable, as I thought it might be useful in the future.

- Rob


Hehe, I thought i was the only one silly enough to solder everything in before trying the pickit to see if it fits. I ended up soldering another set of header pins on top of thos in the PCB - a bit double decker like - to get the clearance needed.
 
Dave Everett
Regular Member

Joined: 24/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 43
Posted: 12:48pm 12 Jul 2011
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  aargee said   Hi Ben,

Just another note to those building their own and wanting to program the Maximite with the Microchip Pickit3 or similar (which you will need to do). Once the keyboard socket is mounted on the board there is no room to plug in the programmer! I constructed an extension cable, as I thought it might be useful in the future.

- Rob


I did the same Rob, I don't know if the position differs from Geoff's board, but if the header were moved slightly, we could plug the pickit3 straight on without needing a connector cable.

As I don't have a PS2 keyboard, it is also VERY tight getting the VGA connector on and fitting a usb to PS2 adapter. I should probably rewire the keyboard I am using. It's the nice miniature one Altronics sell.

Dave
 
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