correct, turn off the switch and
connect the 08M as shown in Figure
10. Download the same LED blinking
program we used earlier to test the
FTDI cable. If the LED doesn’t begin
to blink, you will need to re-check
the AxMate and breadboard wiring.
AXMATE VARIATIONS
The AxMate approach to
powering and programming PICAXE
projects not only simplifies the
necessary breadboard connections, it
can also be incorporated into a wide
range of adapters and project boards
designed for specific purposes.
Figure 11 is a photo of four new
AxMate printed circuit boards (PCBs)
that are available on my website. The
board in the upper-left quadrant of
the photo is the PCB version of the
stripboard we just constructed. The
red PCB that’s attached to it is the
SparkFun Basic Breakout Board I
mentioned earlier. The large board in
the upper-right quadrant (the
AxMate- 18) is a complete 18-pin
PICAXE project board. Pins
underneath the board connect it to
the upper power rail, so no additional
power supply is necessary.
The board in the lower-left
quadrant (the AxMate-SF) mates with
the SparkFun FT232RL Breakout
Board; it includes an on-board
jumper that can switch the
breadboard power supply from +5V
to + 3.3V for low voltage projects.
Finally, the board in the lower-right
quadrant (the AxMate-RE) contains a
complete +5V regulated power
supply, as well as the standard stereo
connector that accepts the AXE027
USB programming cable.
This approach is suitable for
projects that require more than a 100
mA supply or for users who would
rather not switch from their AXE027
cable to a different USB to Serial
adapter. I’m also working on an
AxMate-08 board and an AxMate- 14
board which will be added to the
AxMate line in the next couple of
months.
In addition to my recent
involvement (a.k.a., obsession) with
the AxMate boards, I have been
working on a couple of possible
projects for the next installment of
the Primer. At this point, I haven’t yet
settled on a final choice, so I’ll leave
it as a surprise. See you then … NV
■ FIGURE 10. AxMate Installed
on a Breadboard.
■ FIGURE 11. AxMate Variations.
56
June 2010
