Open Programmer

[sbucciafragole]

Ok this isn't strictly pedal-related but it should be useful in a lot of pedal application (for example programmable LFOs).

Today I found this page ( http://openprog.altervista.org/ ) about a programmer for a bunch of microcontrollers. The basic programmer is intended for common PIC models but it provides connectivity for expansion boards so that you can use it with less common PICs, AVRs and a lot of other things.

The whole project is open source so schematics and PCBs for both the basic programmer and the expansion boards are available and free to use.

A vero layout would come out pretty big (it uses a 28 pin PIC...) but it should not be a problem since I don't think anyone would put this in a 1590B :P

Let me know what you think about this!

[sbucciafragole]

Ok if anyone is interested or is working on this, I think I did it (in a way that's anything but clean and elegant, but should work).
I made the layout but I didn't checked it and almost certainly it will have at least one mistake (I did it in one run and it's been a while since I did anything on veroboard).

Once I have checked and improved it I will post it here. If anyone is interested I could make layouts for the adapter boards, if noone is I will only make (and post since why not) the ones I need.

[sbucciafragole]

Ok I will stop starting each post with ok

I checked and tweaked the layout and this is the result



Basically the idea is to split the layout over two boards, connected vertically with stackable headers. The red pads are the points where the two boards are connected (the bottom board in the layout is placed under the top one). Instead of having a female type B usb plug I marked the traces you need to solder the USB wires to, so you can solder and hot glue a standard male USB cable instead.
I tried to keep everything in a 41x34 veroboard (that you split on line AA) that is the "big" board sold by Tayda.
By having CONN4 and S1 on a daughterboard you could avoid using wires on the bottom board and you could shrink the overall size of the completed board.
The names of the components on the layout match the schematic/PCB on the website, the GNDs are only for helping understand the wiring since you have to wire the USB cable only

BTW I have just discovered how easy it is to program AVRs with an Arduino and obviously you can program PICs too (even though it's not that straightforward) and that makes this layout even less useful and interesting, but I've already made it, so...

[IvIark]

Nice job. I really should get more into the microprocessors a bit more as they will definitely be useful for a number of functions in pedal building. Hopefully I'll get enough time to devote to it at some point