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Adding a Serial Port to the Make Controller (Page 4)
Old 05-21-2008 02:06 AM
Adrenalynn
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Category: Mod, Hack
Views: 5,875
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
Time to add the RS-232!


So now we have a spiffy header.



If you want to be anal, you can put an O'Scope on it, and jump ahead to testing (after reassembling the card). I'm going to trust my work here and move on...



The adapter and its pretty box...


Again scrounging around, I found some 0.10" spacing connectors. You can also buy these at your favorite electronics parts supplier.

We also have to think at this point about how we're going to want to mount the adapter to the board. I had an old VGA card which I was able to cut down and machine to fit. The most naked part of the board within reasonable distance was the standoff hole over by the potentiometer and JP3. I drilled a new hole in my VGA card plate and mounted it between the board and the standoff on the underside, after cutting it down to size. Feel free to fabricate your own mounting method, just make sure you don't short any pins. Here's how mine looks:




Alas, we can't just solder the RS-232 adapter to the pin header here. The TX from the adapter needs to go to the RX on our Make Controller, and the RX needs to go to the TX. The CTS/RTS aren't used for this adapter.

Here's what I started with, and also the pinout and connections on the sparkfun adapter:




I soldered mine directly to the RS-232 adapter on one side, and plugged it into my make controller on the other:




WooHoo! We're all plugged in and ready to go! Don't forget to stress relieve your connections on the adapter! I used small zip-ties through the holes on the side...



Now let's reassemble the board. Pay attention to orientation. Single row of pins on the processor card to single row on the Application Board is the key to lining it up. Be careful and make sure you don't bend any pins. Constant even pressure is the game here!

(Page 4 of 5)
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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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