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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : ColorMax Shields
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CircuitGizmos Guru  Joined: 08/09/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 1425 |
Has anyone written code for different shields for the ColorMax? Would it make sense to include shield code in the MM library? Perhaps a directory for each shield. I think that the Maximite needs example code much more than it needs additional hardware changes. Has anyone used shields that they would like to talk about? Here are some example shields: 
1) LCD shield 2) Relay shield 3) VGA shield 4) Ethernet shield 5) Cell shield 6) Motor shield 7) TouchLCD shield These are all mounted on a CGCOLORMAX1. Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I agree, the more data there is "out there" the better it is for the MM future. As for shields, I don't use them - not because I don't like them, I do, but because I do most of my external functions using the I2C bus. I designed and built a range of I2C modules based on the F88 and F819 pic chips a few years ago however if I needed ethernet or similar, I would go for a shield. David M. |
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| TinkersALot Regular Member  Joined: 20/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 72 |
I agree with you that more "application notes" using different shields would be a great thing to do to "add hardware without having to add hardware" (that's what the expansion bus is for right?). The selection you have showing is a great starting point (another good choice may be a CAN shield for those of us that purchased before the CAN-enabled processor was specified for the next board revision.)-- and I have personal interest in at least 3 of these -- but have been dragged into other projects at present so my efforts on this front are currently languishing and waiting for my return. Ah the joys of a "busy bench"... |
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muddy0409 Senior Member  Joined: 15/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 125 |
Hi Mobi, Have you got a list of the i2c gear you have done? (have I asked this previously? OldTimers is setting in again.) Don't poo poo conspiracy theories. Remember that everything ever discovered started somewhere as a theory. |
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MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
I really don't like shields. They are big, clumsy and i was never able to make a decent project out of it that can be used over a long time. The problem is housing it. The worst shields are those with LCD and buttons. Try getting it in a box, just terrible. The way Gadgeteer does it is in my opinion much better. Like this: 
They use sockets and connect modules with small flat cables. This allows freedom of placement and is because of that much easier to put in a box. Or these: SmartDuino Arduino style shields have their place, for prototyping it works ok, not great. Try having a LCD shield and a motor, relay or ethernet shield at the same time. Physically impossible. Limiting the use of shields greatly. I question how many CMM users actually use shields. In my estimates it is a very very low number. But i could be wrong, as i have been many times before. :) Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I don't want to hijack this thread - better asked in one of my first (if not, the first) topic - "PIC based I2C devices". I'd like to know if anyone else on the forum has created their own I2C devices? David M. |
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| muddy0409 Senior Member Joined: 15/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 125 |
I haven't made any I2C things yet, but what I am in the middle of doing is a range of modules that suit those "one or two off" projects. Probably the most complained about feature of MM, CGMM, Arduino, Chipino, RasbPI, or any of the others is lack of versatile housings for them. So I decided to select a freely available instrument case and make mu modules fit it. I've done an LCD "shield" to pinch someone elses name that stands up behind the front panel, with either a 2 x 16 or 4 x 20 LCD with headers to join to my MCU board. Have 3 MCU boards, 'F88,819 or just about any of the 18 pinners, an F886 and an F877. Yeah, I know they are getting old, but they do what I want done, so why use anything newer? (boy, I'll get flamed for that comment.) Much as I like the GCMM I wouldn't like to have to develop librarys for simple things like LCDout or serial or I2C comms, so I'll stick with PBP as my preferred compiler etc. As much as practical, all my modules have the same size footprint, with those Arduino type stacking headers so they can be stacked inside the instrument case, or laid out side by side on the base-plate of the inst. case. The basic module size is 75mm x 50mm as this fits the case front panel perfectly. I will also be doing a "shield" (I gotta think of a new name for them.) to handle the front panel switches I need for my current project that has to be finished by October for a client in Qld. A stackable relay board is also to be done by then. So I'd just like to have a stickybeak at the I2C gear you've done to see what I could use so I don't have to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. Back to the old drawing board. Don't poo poo conspiracy theories. Remember that everything ever discovered started somewhere as a theory. |
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elproducts Senior Member Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 282 |
Not impossible. Just need another shield. 
Switches allow you to reroute the pins just about anyway you want. Pretty handy for only $15. http://smartmaker.org/wiki/Products:MIX_UP www.elproducts.com |
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donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
Or buy a bare board for $6 (or in a world wide letter form for about $8) that will cross patch for you in the same vertical stack. http://www.dontronics-shop.com/the-donduino-patch.html Designed specifically for the MaxiMite in July-2011 by big Mick. Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Good luck trying to keep that in working order, let alone put it in an enclosure. The horror! 
@Don, that is a pretty nifty board! Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2914 |
Hi Tz, Thanks for that... When I designed it for Don you would not believe the flack about it all, as I believe its purpose seemed to escape all but Don and Myself ... We often had conversations about it and why it wasnt deemed a valuable addition but I dont believe we ever really knew why. Now I can start wiping the tears from my eyes because someone else can see its merit. 
Regards Mick PS. When are you likely to have a set of yours available? Pencil me in for at least one pair. I dont care if built up or bare PCB. Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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| TinkersALot Regular Member Joined: 20/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 72 |
Wonders: Would be possible to use ribbon cables for interconnection of shields? They don't HAVE to be directly stacked do they? If they can be, then (admittedly maybe a bit messy from a cabling perspective) could that alleviate some of the potential problems with mounting shields-based systems? |
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| TinkersALot Regular Member Joined: 20/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 72 |
You know what I find particularly enticing about this touch shield is that if this is coupled with on-board VGA display in a "sensible way" then you are could be looking at an interactive graphics-touch-menu driven terminal/kiosk. |
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| elproducts Senior Member Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 282 |
For that you want the DonDuino Cross. It brings the Arduino pins out to 26 pin headers that you can then connect with ribbon cable. http://www.dontronics-shop.com/donduino-cross-letter.html www.elproducts.com |
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jebz Regular Member Joined: 13/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 79 |
The March Circuit Cellar magazine features the CGCOLORMAX in the new products section. |
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| donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
AHA! Great work Rob, Unfortunately when they doubled the price of the digital copy, I dropped my annual subscription. And I had subscribed from Issue #4 (and Steve Ciacia's byte magazine before CC was born). Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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Zonker Guru Joined: 18/08/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 761 |
Yes... Where can you get one of these LCD Shields..? I have been using kinda the same thing from 4-D systems on an EIS display. http://www.4dsystems.com.au/ It has a buitl-in GPU you can write code for, or (in my case) just use there "Gene" code, select the graphic objects you want, (including touch buttons) and talk to it using a serial port... |
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| CircuitGizmos Guru Joined: 08/09/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 1425 |
This shield was from RadioShack. Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite |
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