RobotArm first project ever

bvandenbon · 2006-03-05T23:37:51+00:00

Hi,I am studying electronic engineering and would like to do the followingproject:1) make a computer aided design of a robotarm2) build or buy the constructionparts that I have designed3) buy about 5 small servomotors for it4) buy some chips and stuff to get everything working5) program the chips6) writing some software so that I can control the arm from my laptop.But I have never done anything like this before. So this leaves me witha 1000nd questions. I went to the library checked the internet. Butafter days of searching I made little improvement. I hope some peoplein this discussion group can help me with some of my questions.1) Can anybody tell me what my total balance of costs would be?2) Building the parts: Is it expensive to let some firm produce theparts I have designed? Or am I better of checking some catalog andusing default parts. I thought about using LEGO, but my professorswould be furious and annoyed if I did do that. Maybe making it in woodis a good idea? Any advice in this field would be welcome.3) I have very little experience with these computer chips. The onlything I ever did that comes near to this is programming theEPF10K20R240 from Altera in Quartus 2. Are there standard predesignedcards for what I try to do? What do I want? What do I need?4) I saw there are some default modules available on the market thathave functions like "Ethernet", "Light Sensors", "Camera", "SerialPort" etc... Is it hard to put several modules together into 1 system.How does one combine all these modules. Are there controller modulesfor that? Pfff, I know so little about it. For example, how to splitthe power of one adapter over the different modules that all requirepower ofcourse. Are there splitters for that? Probably a very stupidquestion but I'm overwhelmed by questions like that.5) I noticed when I programmed the EPF10K20R240 microprocessor, itloses it's program when it loses power. Is there an explanation forthat ? Is this common? Do I need to recompile and upload...

Mar 05, 2006 20 Replies

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gidesa 20 years ago

I can add a link to a circuit for a serial programmer also very simple:

formatting link

I have used it to program 16F628A and 16F84A. The only problem was because my serial port does not produces an adapt voltage for MCLR pin on Pic. So I add a 9v battery to "reinforce" the voltage in the MCLR line.

gidesa

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