Buttonbox Encoder Project

[barbbq]

I am about to make a control panel for a friend.  I made a buttonbox for my own control panel and will be making another for him.  I thought if there was enough interest I would put up a website to document my progress and give a step by step tutorial.

Let me know,

Louis

[Sasquatch!]

We're always curious to see a new project, so yeah!

(If/when you do it, you might wanna post it in the "Project Announcements" forum.)

[Druin]

Using the PIC or ATMEL chip?
I once tried the PIC version but with a different chip rev number, either A or B, whichever wasn't in the project, and I didn't get it working on the first try so I gave up, assuming the rev of the chip was vital, and I had never used Atmel so didn't have any on hand to try out.

[barbbq]

I am using an atmel chip.  I got it working on the first try.  I am not using the board
layout that he has on his site.  It is to complicated to etch at home.  I managed to layout a single sided pcb as long as you can program the chip off the board.  Works fine, I just need to pop out the chip if I want to change anything but then again he hasn't updated his code in a long time.  One of the things I am doing is working on adding the code to add an optical interface for a spinner and trackball.  I should be able to do it if I keep the button count to an 8x6 matrix which is fine for my four player cabinet.

[Grasshopper]

I'd definitely be interested in your proposed site. I was toying with the idea of building a Button box myself but I was put off by the cost of obtaining the components (particularly the Atmel chip) locally. The build cost is even harder to justify now that the Keywiz encoder is available.

However, having said that, a few months ago I came across a company that sold the Atmel chips and other components very cheaply (www.futurlec.com) so now my interest has been rekindled.

I think it would be useful if someone could design a stripboard layout for the circuit as getting circuit boards etched in small volumes is seriously expensive.

[barbbq]

The board is single sided so you could probably do a strip board using it as a guide.  Cost wasn't a problem for me.  Most electronics makers will give you free samples upon request.  I only paid for the copper clad board, everything else was a free sample.

Louis

[barbbq]

Forgot to say.  I etched my own boards.

[NAH]

Whats a button box?
Are you guys just making your own encoders?
I'd like to see a tutorial.
Does anyone else already have one up?

Thanks

[Tiger-Heli]

Whats a button box?
Are you guys just making your own encoders?
I'd like to see a tutorial.
Does anyone else already have one up?

Thanks

http://www.surf.to/buttonbox