Custom open source microcontroller for 10$

[DrSlony]

Custom open source microcontroller for 10$

by DrSlony » Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:30 pm

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/startups/magazine/16-11/ff_openmanufacturing?currentPage=all

Merlin controller?

[Paul]

by Paul » Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:57 pm

Merlin controller?

I use an Arduino to control my panohead and it works great.
Pricewise Arduino as MCU is unbeatable.

But to get the flexibility of Papywizard you have do develop software which can compete.

AND: if you add bluetooth and a comparable display you need some more euros than shooting a N770.
The N770 has a standalone value as you can use it as internet tablet and and and ...

pimping an Orion, adding features, an Arduino mini could be great with its interfaces like PWM, TTL, digital IO, analag IO and ...

Last edited by Paul on Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[fma38]

by fma38 » Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:00 pm

Funny, I've just ordered an Arduino! The idea is to replace the internal Merlin electronic, to be much more flexible. This will also allow timelapse usage...

[mediavets]

by mediavets » Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:47 pm

Funny, I've just ordered an Arduino! The idea is to replace the internal Merlin electronic, to be much more flexible. This will also allow timelapse usage...

Paul and Frederic,

How doable do you expect replacement of Merlin electronics by standard Arduino board to be?

I guess you would retain motors, optical encoders and gears?

[fma38]

by fma38 » Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:59 pm

There are several possibilities: use the motors/encoders; use the motors, but replace encoders (by absolute ones, like potentiometers); replace motors/encoders by stepper motors (no encoders); replace motors/encoders by servos...

[Paul]

by Paul » Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:26 am

too much exchange of parts does not make sense to me
what is left from merlin, if you swap motors and electronics?

then one could make the hole thing when only the chassis of the merlin is left with its limits in size

imho stable gearboxes are the most difficult thing, backlash free and reasonable priced

[BeeZed]

by BeeZed » Sun Nov 02, 2008 8:41 pm

I have no reason to comment, as I am a functional illiterate when it comes to electronics, but I saw a cool project that uses gumstix boards.

The chosen computational platform is the Gumstix Basix400, which has a 400MHz Intel XScale processor with 64MB of SDRAM and 4MB flash providing all the basic components of a computer on a single board. It is extremely small in size (8cm x 2cm x 0.63cm), and has a correspondingly low weight of only 8g. The board comes with a pre-installed version of the Linux operating system, which enables fast development of the on-board software.

They go on to mention bluetooth as well. I have been following the progress of this project for a while, and have just received an Orion and blue smirf from the States. Wish me luck in my soldering today!

[mediavets]

by mediavets » Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:21 pm

I have been following the progress of this project for a while, and have just received an Orion and blue smirf from the States. Wish me luck in my soldering today!

Welcome to the club. Will you be using a Nokia Tablet to run the Papywizard software?

[BeeZed]

by BeeZed » Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:38 pm

I'm running a 770. Except for problems connecting to the repositories - I was able to reflash and configure and get it going. I am new to Linux, so I am pretty happy.

I had thought that the soldering of the wired remote adapter for my D80 was bad, but the Orion supplied cable has no conductivity in the middle section of the 2.5mm plug. I had to short it myself, as the Nikon won't fire with just the tip switched to ground.

[Paul]

by Paul » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:55 am

I found this post:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/special-mounts-applications/123980-timelapse-motorized-tripod-head.html

I have a teletrack as well and it handles the weight of the EX1 without a hitch. I have modified mine by allowing control of the motors with a variable speed PWM controller. No I can use it as a Pan and Tilt hot head as well as a slow speed panning device for timelapse.

Alister Chapman

Producer/Cameraman/Engineer
http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk

Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK

---------------------------

May be Andrew can contact him in UK
http://www.tvcameraman.info/ +44 (0)7711 152226

Last edited by Paul on Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mediavets]

by mediavets » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:16 am

---------------------------

May be Andrew can contact him in UK
http://www.tvcameraman.info/ +44 (0)7711 152226

Yes, I will.

Until 6 years ago I lived just a few miles from Bracknell.

If he is happy to tell how he modified his head I will have him communicate direcetly with you, Paul, because I doubt I will understand what he's talking about.