I’m working on an open-source project which consists in driving an astronomic head in order to make a photo panoramic head.
This head (The Merlin/Orion teletrack) as an external remote talking to the internal electronic using a serial protocol. It is mainly like RS232, but with 5V open collectors. So, I made a little interface based on a MAX232 and a few transistors to connect the head to my computer. I also developped a specific software to drive the head. This software is planed to run on a PDE.
As some non-electronician people (mainly photographers) are interested in this interface (and the software), I need to find a solution to sell them a ready-to-go circuit (within a little box).
I already made a prototype which works fine, with a PCB designed under Eagle. My first though was to order the PCB at Olimex, and then buy components and solder them. But I don’t have enought time to build 10, 20 or 50 pieces.
So, I’m looking for a low cost industrial solution. Is SFE/Olimex able to do that? I have to add that this project is developped with the help of Kolor, a french company developping Autopano Pro, one of the best automated picture stitching program. They are OK to buy several pieces, and resell them, if needed.
Tanks,
PS : here is a link to the wiki where I put all informations (in french only at the moment, but an english version will come):
How many are you looking to make? Either way, I would recommend designing your PCB so that it uses all surface mount components. Then, get a solder paste stencil for it, and you can use one of many techniques to mass produce the boards. I would suggest getting the PCBs made at a Chinese place like Gold Phoenix if you want them cheap. There are of course many services that will solder your boards for you - even Gold Phoenix will do it for you. But unless you’re producing tons of these things, it really is not difficult to mass assemble surface mount PCBs.
I’m just going down the road of getting this running, and while fma has a solution that uses a bluetooth serial adapter and a level shifter board, I’m wondering if a BlueSMiRF could be connected directly?
(If you’re wondering why Bluetooth, the best software to control this device is [papywizard on the Nokia 770/N800.)
The Orion/Merlin mount uses ‘one-wire’ serial, so using a conventional TTL serial interface, you tie TD and RD to the ‘one-wire’ with 220ohm resistors. Will the BlueSMiRF tolerate this?
If so, then it’s adding two resistors and a cable to a BlueSMiRF, unless I’m missing something.
fma:
As the head outputs 9-12V (depending of the batteries used), is there a simple solution to power up the module, or do one need to use a regulator?
It’s too bad the BlueSMiRF v1 isn’t available any more, it could tolerate a 10V supply. I still have a couple of those here, but if we’re doing development work we should work with the current product.
As such, I just ordered a BlueSMiRF Silver and one of the little [LM 317 boards and will try to get that put together. I should have some time to tinker with it the weekend of the 6th/7th.