Nuts and Volts - February 2009

CLASSIFIEDS

MICROCONTROLLERS

AUDIO/VIDEO

READER

FEEDBACK

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MicroStamp11 World’s Smallest 68HC11 Microcontroller Module!

telemetry microrobotics smart toys animatronics model railroading home automation

tiny (1 by 1.4 in.), light-weight (0.5 oz.) on-board 5V reg., crystal, & reset chip choice of 8K or 32K EEPROM

or 32K RAM + 32K EEPROM (64K version) SCI, SPI, Output Compare and Input Capture channels, timer, pulse accumulator all 14 I/O lines and 2 interrupt lines brought out to versatile 20-pin connector program in BASIC, assembler, or C easy code-loading with Docking Module Starter Packages:*

8K EEPROM (#MS11SP8K).......$49 32K EEPROM (#MS11SP32K)...$77 32K EE/32K RAM (MS11SP64K)$90

includes MicroStamp11, manual, PC software (assemblers, SBASIC compiler, MicroLoad utility, and sample programs), serial cable, Docking Module, & accessories. www.technologicalarts.com Toll-free (USA & Canada): 1-877-963-8996 Visa • MasterCard • Discover • Amex

HARDWARE WANTED

DESIGN/ENG SERVICES

LIKING WHAT THEY CNC

Congratulations to Vern Graner on his review of the Fireball V90 Router kit in the December ’08 Personal Robotics column.

I was surprised to see a CNC machine kit at a price below $1K. The cheapest I've been able to find previously has been over $2K. For example:

http://buildyour cnc.com/default.aspx. His article skirts one problem in the low cost Cad/Cam/CNC arena. Something you might want to consider for a future article, e.g., the cost of the software.

When I acquired my Sherline mill almost 10 years ago, Sherline didn't sell a CNC package. (I got mine back then from Flashcut; they still sell one.) When Sherline did offer a CNC package, they went with the Linux-EMC solution for the same reason that I'm looking at it for my next system: zero cost. I'm looking at the combination of Ubuntu EMC, GCAM for the CAM part

( http://gcam.js.cx/index.

php/Main_Page) and QCAD for 2D CAD ( www.qcad.org/qcad.html). I'm still looking for a Linux based 3D CAD package; there are a number of possible candidates.

DEC EQUIPMENT WANTED!!! Digital Equipment Corp. and compatibles. Buy - Sell - Trade CALL KEYWAYS 937-847-2300 or email buyer@keyways.com

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

I enjoyed your article about the Probotix Fireball V90 CNC Router. I make "techno geeky" clocks from discarded computer parts. I need a way to customize blank CD-ROMs or DVDs, and while there may be easier, less expensive ways, I'm intrigued with your review. To start with, I've used a PC with Windows for years and, of course, DOS.

I have lots of unused computers in my garage ( 30+) and would like to take the best/premium one of this group and possibly convert it to Linux. Based on your article, the EMC-2 route is a less troublesome way to go.