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UPDATE:
The preassembled PCB's, 3D-printed shells and CNC-milled covers are here Quite impressive.
So, at the weekend I can start with final soldering, software flashing and final assembly.
This process will take some time - I'll keep you updated.

Oui et oui - voir PM pour les informations sur le paiement

Blitter a écrit : ↑25 janv. 2024 23:31 Thank you for keeping us posted.
No rush. Full trust in your knowledge, your time will be ours

You're wellcome
BTW:
I'll accept late orders within the EU until mid Feb or until the batch is sold out (see counter in main post).

UPDATE:
I just launched the production process for the 3D printed shells and CNC-milled aluminium covers as well.
If everything runs smooth at the factories, PCB and shell production will last around 8 business days. Another 10-12days for shipping to me.
So hopefully in 3 weeks I have all parts of the batch at hand so I can begin final assembly (soldering), IC-programming and final testing.
I'll try to involve some friends of mine to accelerate the final assembly.
I'll keep you updated.

Acknowleged. See PM for payment, please.

No, you can confirm a reservation or even place a new order, until the batch is full (see counter at main post of this thread) or I close the poll (probably at mid February.) But I'll remove the waiting list (i.e. the reservations) at end of Jan.

UPDATE:
Point of no return: I've launched the PCB production process (PCBs + partial assembly)
The sooner, I'll get the open payments, the sooner I can launch the shell production

Hello,
here is a major update:
I ordered the critical parts in advance, so I can be sure that the full batch of 30 units can be produced .
In order to be able to initiate production, I've started the payment phase since I can't finance the production in advance.
I've updates the main post of this thread accordingly.
Thank you very much for your support!
All the best
Tom

Prototyping and price calculation is done!
I've updated the main post of this thread with (hopefully) all necessary infos and some pictures.
You can place your orders now

Hi,
Yay - 3 days ago I've received the rev3 prototype boards from JLCPCB with component assembly
On the image you can see on the left side the boards as they come from the factory (frontend module + backend module). The backend board is a 4 layer PCB, the frontend a 2 layer PCB. Both are double sided automated assemblies. This makes it quite expensive, but I want a compact module.
To design all this and make it factory production capable was quite a challenge, but I've learned a lot as you can imagine.

On the right side you can see from top to bottom a final assembled and equipped module, a bulk copy test with DiskWorks, and a 3D-printed shell from the rev2 module, which needs to be adopted and produced for the new rev3. It has a nice aluminium cover.



During the last days I spent time to port the embedded software to the rev3 hardware (ATmega328P to ATmega32A). Since the rev3 backend now incorporates an external oscillator the frontend/backend communication is now stable at 57600baud, which is twice as fast as the rev2 hardware.
This determines the data transfer rate between the PC-1600 and the USB memory stick.

Next step (after Chrismas) will be price the calculation. I'll come back to you soon.
All the best and merry Christmas
Tom

Hello all,
There are some news
It was a very busy year in the job, but in last 2 months I found some time to redesign the PCBs for automated assembly, which is a necessary precondition for a small series (some connectors and the USB-host controller IC need to be hand soldered, but thats no problem). I placed a small prototype order at JLCPCB and it seems they can manufacture it - work in progress. Hopefully in a week or so, I‘m holding the first test units in my hand. If the hardware is error free, I then will port the embedded software to the new microcontroller (ATmega32A instead of ATmega328P - with that I can utilize an external oscillator in the backend, which is much more precise and provides a stable serial connection even with higher baud rates).
If everything is fine, a buddy of mine will care about the 3D-printed shells for the unit and give me a price tag.
Ideally I think in 2-3 weeks or so I‘m able to calculate final prices and will start the definite ordering process then.
Stay tuned!
All the best
Tom

engelen a écrit : ↑03 mars 2023 21:32 I found that the FTDI driver for MacOS M1 machines has a bug. There is no other explanation.
- Robert

ok, I see

You‘re not too late
@all:
Currently I‘m very busy in the job - but I need to do a PCB re-design for automated assembly - otherwise I had no chance to handle the demand.
I think I have to postpone the project to the second half of 2023. But of course I‘ll save the waiting list in case this thread fades out.
I‘ll keep you updated.

For the G850V/S the RTS-pulldown resistor mentioned above is essential (10-100kOhm). Without it the G850 can‘t reliably pause transmissions from the host, just as you experienced.

Harald produced a liitle video of the unit in use:
https://www.sharp-pc-1600.de/aktuell_sparkle.html
Nice