Automatic Programmer

There was a long eries ofg posts about mass programming PICAXE chips a while ago.

I thought this was a pretty clever project:
<A href='http://hackedgadgets.com/2007/05/27/automated-microcontroller-programmer/' Target=_Blank>External Web Link</a>

Myc

Same principle as the Data I/O programmers used for PICAXE bootstrap programming

www.dataio.de/produkte/pm3000/pdf/ProMaster3000.pdf

(although they probably cost a bit more...!)

If you read the specs on the programmer they use, you'll find that Technical just admitted that the equipment they use for programming the PICAXE chips could put labels on the chips.

The question now is why they don't...

Two cents more per chip would not reduce sales and would be more than covered by the reduced losses for those who find their 14M chips getting lost among the other 14 pin chips.

John

Especially if they could keep their info at one end of the label so that one could then write on the other end to identify application, serial number, version number, or whatever.

Actually the machines are not capable of putting labels on all chips (e.g. 8 pin devices). These specialist labels are certainly not 2 cents each either, they are considerably more than this and would increase the cost considerably.

As an aside the labels (by their very nature) also regularly jam hence stopping the machine, causing production downtime which, in the end, costs a lot more than the labels themselves.

what a cool project. I fix copiers and see this sort of carry on all day (slightly higher speed mind you) Off to buy a zif socket for my 18x.

Someone who can build an automated programmer has probably got a lot of career opportunities. I know a guy who runs a factory that makes automation machines like this and they are given orders from, say, a cheese manufacturer, to build them a machine capable of wrapping a block of cheese in plastic and then folding a box around it. The typical value of such an order is about a million dollars.

if you want to write on the top of the chip get some white house paint and stick a layer of that on top of the chip you can write on it with pretty much anything then
and if you modify a printer you could print on it as well

i was thinking a while ago about a picace based pic programmer with an 24lc256 to store the hex file and even with an lcd screen to give you some kind of a simple menu

Or somebody could maybe hack a Dymo letra tag machine with a picaxe chip so that it can print out little picaxe tags

I use light colored cheap nail laquer [e.g.white or yellow or silver] and after it dries well write p/n on it with fine tip marker - works on bottom if you don't want to cover the mfr's p/n....

or a brother p touch labeller

I was looking at LASER Engravers, after seeing the prices, don't even bother ~ (

With all those HP Printer innards I've just collected, (+ 2 more) I reckon I can have an
auto chip programmer or two up n running by lunchtime tomorrow ~ ;o)

I've posted this endlessly in the past, but as it's again arisen point out the exact size downloadable .pdf labels Martyn rustled up in 2004. They're now hosted,along with recent 14-M additions, at =&gt; www.picaxe.orcon.net.nz/pcxlabel.pdf <A href='http://www.picaxe.orcon.net.nz/pcxlabel.pdf ' Target=_Blank>External Web Link</a>

A layer of clear tape on top pre cutting out makes for a very professional looking job. See samples (which are in fact from my own efforts) =&gt;<A href='http://picaxe.orcon.net.nz/duo08m2.jpg' Target=_Blank>External Web Link</a> Stan

Is there anyone willing to try printing out Stan's .pdf on a Laser Printer and using
PVC Contact film, something like 3M used to make.
I tried to buy some White Contact a few months back but they only had clear and dark
green locally.
And I don't have a laser printer either. I wish.
The newer products don't seem to be PVC, they may be even better ?

PS: I just printing the .PDF, normal paper was fine, I then tried a full sheet of Glossy Paper Label and the results were not
very good, I guess you really need a laser
for reasonable results.
My printer is a HP PhotoSmart 8230 (got it cheap), it did seem to auto detect the paper
as it printed 5x slower than plain paper.

Just in case anyone was going to waste time trying the same thing. I'll go next door, think they have a real printer.

Edited by - Michael 2727 on 02/06/2007 06:54:36

Timely topic. I just sorted out my junkbox last night and found a handful of parts marked 12F683.

Some of them are '683s and some of them are 08Ms, but I won't know until I try to program them.

I ordered an extra-fine-point opaque white marker from my local office supply store. I'll see how that works after I sort the chips.

Tom

It often seems to me to be a case of gettig on and 'doing' rather than worrying about doing it ...

For home use and not many PICAXE's I've found normal stick-on envelope labels hand-written to work okay. A bit fiddly to cut to size and place but using the tip of a scalpel to lift and place works for me. Easiest if the PICAXE is in a socket on a board so you're not chasing it around the worktop.

I always draw a 'half-blob' where the Leg 1 notch is to help avoid orientation errors.

Stan,

Any chance of an update with the 40x1 and 28x1 chips on there ?

(and just for fun 40x2, 28x2 ?)

I tried in Acrobat professional and they are all coming out as graphics rather than the source text ?

Craig

Edited by - craigcurtin on 09/06/2007 18:13:57