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Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller (Page 3)
Old 05-21-2008 02:06 AM
Adrenalynn
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Category: Mod, Hack
Views: 5,827
Replies: 9
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Skills Required: Basic Soldering
Parts Required: SparkFun TTL/RS232 Converter


Requires a TTL Level Converter for RS232 [optional if you only want TTL]. I used the one from SparkFun ( Found Here) - price at the time of this writing was $14.


Requires a decent soldering iron


A female connector with 0.10" spacing to go from the Sparkfun adapter to our new headers
Tutorial Navigation
  1. Page 1
  2. Scavenging Parts
  3. But I only want RS-232! I'm short-sighted!
  4. Time to add the RS-232!
  5. Now let's go test it!
But I only want RS-232! I'm short-sighted!


If you only want RS-232, you could skip ahead to the section on wiring the RS-232 level converter from Sparkfun. But come on, we're not that short-sighted, are we?

Let's solder the header onto the board. The pins should line-up and slip right into the holes without any real effort. Remember to use rosin and keep the heat to the bare minimum you need. The gold on the pins heats up fast, and the pads are nice and shiny. Use a light gauge of solder, we don't need anything more. Take your time and let things cool a bit between pins.



I like to trim mine nice and short, but that's a personal preference.

Once you're done soldering, clean up the rosin and make sure that you don't have any pins shorted together. You can clean up any bridges like this with a little bit of solder-wick (braid) or by desoldering and starting over with that pin. Make sure the solder looks shiny instead of dull and matte. If it's not shiny, reheat and try again - that's a cold-solder joint. Mine look nice and clean here, so we'll move on.

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Replies to Tutorial: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
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Old 05-21-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
WOW Adrenalynn, excellent job

Now, if somebody could only put up a "getting started with the Make controller" tutorial, hehe
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Old 05-21-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Hope it was worth the wait... I'll document the testing and interface this afternoon.

There are a lot of "getting started" tutorials on the makingthings website. I could knock off something a little more creative, perhaps, a little more robotics-centric maybe. Let me give it some thought.

The "problem" with something like the Make Controller is that I spin my wheels a lot. Too many opportunities, not enough hours (or boards...).
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Old 05-21-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adrenalynn View Post
Hope it was worth the wait... I'll document the testing and interface this afternoon.
I like this tutorial, even though I would not attempt these mods on my own. I'd need these mods if I got a Make Controller, so will hold off and hope for an eventual new board version that makes these things easier.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adrenalynn View Post
There are a lot of "getting started" tutorials on the makingthings website. I could knock off something a little more creative, perhaps, a little more robotics-centric maybe. Let me give it some thought.
Oh, I have lots of ideas for ways to use this in robotics and process control. This is the type of controller I could just tinker with for hours on end, because it can do so many different things, even with the stock software. Then, with custom software, ummm, oh, wait, I don't have one of these yet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adrenalynn View Post
The "problem" with something like the Make Controller is that I spin my wheels a lot. Too many opportunities, not enough hours (or boards...).
I would have difficulty deciding what to do next with this controller. I could see using it for a lighting controller, auxilliary robot processor for expanding I/O (like for Hammer), and so many other things.

8-Dale
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Old 05-21-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Heck, I'd be happy to mod it for you. Let me figure out what other mods make sense first. Just parts cost, no problems. I did the serial mod, including all the photo-taking, in ten minutes. The I2C mod in 15 mins including photos, most of that under the microscope which slowed it down. I could mod another board with both mods in sub ten minutes tops now.

When you're ready, let me know and we'll set it up. Just a make controller+app board and a level converter, which is like $12+ship.
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Old 05-21-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adrenalynn View Post
Heck, I'd be happy to mod it for you. Let me figure out what other mods make sense first. Just parts cost, no problems.
I really appreciate that. All that's required for the serial port mod is installing a header. I can do that one.

It's the I2C and similar mods I would not want to attempt myself - better to have somebody who can do it better do it instead. Now I just have to get a Make Controller - other things have priority right now though, like unburying my finances. Cost of parts + s&h is more than reasonable. I'd just want TTL level on the serial port though - no need for RS-232 there. I wish I had your abilities in this stuff.

8-Dale
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Old 05-22-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Thank you for the compliments! Soldering is just practice and technique. Having good tools doesn't hurt, but really it comes down to practice and developing what works best for you. I was born with a soldering-iron in my hand - I've been soldering since I was 6. When SMT came to pass, everyone said "oh woe is us! That's the end of hand soldering!" - and then we all learned to do it. I reworked the first SMD I ever saw in the wild.

I would still be happy to do any of the rework when you're ready. Just let me know and I'll pick up a board, rework it, and send it off to you.

I'd personally still get the RS-232 just to future-proof yourself. It's dirt cheap and then you can swap back and forth whenever you want.
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Old 05-23-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Ok - who didn't like my photos? 'Fess Up! :P
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Old 06-01-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
I just went to read this today... and um, yeah, Who stole Adrenalynn's piccies!!!
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Old 06-01-2008
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Re: Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller
Sorry, Sienna. A huge transformer exploded in the DC that I have my servers in, knocked down some walls, and damaged the grid switches. When the generators kicked in with the damaged grid switches - they started more fires.

Upshot is: No pics from me for a day or two!

 


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