Hi Ken,
On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 7:42 PM, Ken Pettit <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Frank, > > Using Kicad is certainly a possibility, though I have never used it and it > would be a bit of a learning curve. I know Cadence Allegro like the back of > my hand as I have done many PCB designs over the past 3 years using this > package. I've also done a few years (about 5) with kicad, I never imported anything but the eagle libraries, which sometimes save me a few hours of design. A quick google search shows this: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/kicad/orcad-allegro-to-kicad/ However, if the circuit isn't that big, I could redraw the schematic on kicad in my spare time (I can't promise how many days or weeks it will take anyway). > > Does Kicad import from Orcad schematic? The schematic doesn't need to be > redone (other than any parts that my be obsolete / unavailable). how many parts and nets? > Ken > Frank > On 7/31/17 10:02 AM, Francesco Messineo wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> just a little suggestion here. If anyone is going to redo this >> project, why not doing it with Kicad which is free and available in >> many platforms? >> I'm working with kicad since years and I think it's well suited to >> even large designs (I didn't check about this particular one though). >> HTH >> Frank IZ8DWF >> >> On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 5:42 PM, Ken Pettit <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Hey Guys, >>> >>> Sorry for the delayed input to this thread ... been busy getting ready >>> for >>> my China trip on Friday. >>> >>> If we were going to do another run of NADSBoxes (and possibly REX) via >>> "group funding", I would want to set it up as an official project with a >>> schedule, milestones, etc. Particularly expectations on >>> return-on-investment for anyone contributing to the fund. When it was >>> just >>> me spening my own money (and even more than that, time), it didn't matter >>> when or even if I ever got it done. But that changes considerably when >>> other start to have real money involved. >>> >>> When I did the original run of NADSBox, I was effectively single with no >>> kids (they had moved to a different state). So I had an abundance of >>> time >>> on my hands. Now I am re-married with two kids ages 5 and 3 and I have a >>> building full of ASIC engineers who report to me. To me, my time has >>> become >>> more valuable than money (never thought I would say somthing like that! >>> :) >>> Deveoping the original NADSBox took 2,200 hours. A second run wouldn't >>> be >>> *nearly* as much time, but it would take on the order of 300-400 hours. >>> This is because I no longer have a PADS PCB license and must re-do the >>> layout in Cadence Allegro. A project schedule would look something like: >>> >>> 1. Check for parts availablity (I know the PIC is obsolete but still >>> available). >>> 2. Select a new SD card socket >>> 3. Redo the PCB layout (this would be identical layout, just in a new >>> CAD >>> package). When I tried to import to Allegro, it sorta got there, but all >>> of >>> the net names were lost and it shows thousands of design rule check (DRC) >>> errors. DRC count should be zero. >>> 4. Do a small test run of 5-6 PCBs to validate the "new" layout. >>> 5. Program and test the new boards. Validate they fit in the existing >>> NADSBox enclosure. >>> 6. Make any necnessary changes to the PCB if it doesn't work. >>> 7. If needed, do a second run of 5-6 PCBs to validate the potential >>> changes >>> from #6 >>> 8. Make any necessary changes to the enclosure diagrams and have new >>> enclosures built. These were done by Serpack in the LA area and have a >>> 3-4 >>> week lead-time. This is largest expense of the project in terms of cash. >>> The setup fee for pad printing and machining is on the order of $2,500 >>> alone. That doesn't include actual price of the enclosures or the >>> per-unit >>> cost of performing the machining (these two together probably add up to >>> $23). The setup fee is amortized over the number of enclosures you >>> purchase. >>> 9. Generate instructions, software and tools so a PCB house can perform >>> programming and testing of the boards. >>> 10. Get a PCB house to manufacture, assemble, program, test the PCBs >>> 11. Provide enclosures to PCB house along with mounting screws, etc. and >>> get them to assemble the final units. >>> >>> With a bit of Steve's assistance I could manage getting the board house >>> to >>> do assembly and programming of REX also. We would probably want to >>> change >>> the Gerbers such that the PCB edges are true castellated edges instead of >>> needing to be hand grinded. There are PCB houses that can do these >>> cleanly >>> with the proper copper clearance from the edge of the PCB and liquid >>> solder >>> mask rules. >>> >>> Ken >>> >>> On 7/30/17 12:13 AM, Gary Weber wrote: >>> >>> With a Woolly, the REX would be obsolete, no? But if there's indeed a >>> need >>> for all three products, then indeed I would stand beside you on the >>> sharing >>> of all three. >>> >>> On Sat, Jul 29, 2017 at 11:42 PM, ray gordon <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Gary; >>>> >>>> I'd be happy to have someone share putting up the money for everything. >>>> If >>>> you don't think rex is as an attractive an idea, I'm willing to bear >>>> that >>>> burden alone, and we could split nads and woolly costs between us. >>>> >>>> Glad to have you aboard! >>>> >>>> ray >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> From: M100 <[email protected]> on behalf of Gary Weber >>>> <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2017 3:41 PM >>>> >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [M100] Model T upgrades >>>> >>>> Ray, >>>> >>>> If you feel compelled to contribute to another production run effort, I >>>> guarantee you that you are not the only one interested in sharing in >>>> that >>>> contribution. >>>> >>>> Here's my take on things: >>>> >>>> NADSBox -- I think there probably is quite a bit of interest in this >>>> product even today. I'm willing to bet there would be at least 10-15 >>>> immediate pending sales on this given the interest I've seen on this >>>> list >>>> alone. >>>> REX -- This might be interesting as well, however it sounds like WOOLLY >>>> would likely be a better place to put engineering effort & dollars. >>>> WOOLLY -- I'm betting the majority of folks on this list would likely >>>> want >>>> one of these. If I had to pick only one product alone to focus on and >>>> bring >>>> to market, I'd pick this one! REX functionality, RAM expansion (for >>>> CP/M), >>>> and WiFi capability. All of that would be amazing to have in one piece >>>> of >>>> hardware that can fit into an Option ROM socket. We're talking about a >>>> potential replacement for all of the ReMem and REX variations that >>>> existed >>>> previously, and then some. >>>> >>>> I'm willing to contribute significantly to the effort to bring any and >>>> all >>>> of these products to life (for the second time for REX & NADSBox of >>>> course). >>>> And when I say contribute, I don't just mean encouragement & testing & >>>> labor. I'm talking about financial. :) Probably the areas I can best >>>> help >>>> in would be fronting a good chunk of the costs for sourcing of parts & >>>> production, and then also on the eventual fulfillment. (Either hosted >>>> on >>>> Club100.org or on Web8201.net or some other central hub, doesn't matter. >>>> I >>>> can definitely assist on the eCommerce end.) >>>> >>>> Gary >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sat, Jul 29, 2017 at 3:26 PM, ray gordon <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hi Ken, >>>>> >>>>> That's all fine by me. I would have to get a cashier's check and mail >>>>> it >>>>> to you, because I can't pay that much by paypal all at once. Maybe I >>>>> could >>>>> paypal it to you over the course of a week. >>>>> >>>>> Let me know when you're all set to move. >>>>> >>>>> ray >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ________________________________ >>>>> From: M100 <[email protected]> on behalf of Ken Pettit >>>>> <[email protected]> >>>>> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2017 8:50 PM >>>>> >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> Subject: Re: [M100] Model T upgrades >>>>> >>>>> Hi Ray, >>>>> >>>>> When I did the first run of NADSBoxes in 2008 / 2009 timeframe, my >>>>> up-front cash expenditure was $13K for 240 NADSBoxes. This is when I >>>>> was >>>>> having them built and assembled in China. I probably still could have >>>>> them >>>>> built and assembled there, though it is a bit more challenging since I >>>>> no >>>>> longer live there. >>>>> >>>>> Turns out I am traveling to China next week and will be visiting >>>>> Shenzhen >>>>> for 5 days! YEA!!! Maybe I could visit my old haunts while there (in >>>>> fact >>>>> I am looking forward to it). >>>>> >>>>> One of the concerns with NADSBox is that I need to update the layout a >>>>> bit to select a different SD card socket ... the socket used in the >>>>> last >>>>> round of NADSBoxes was acquired from a Chinese source with no real part >>>>> number or way to track it. So the footprint is specific to that part >>>>> which >>>>> is no longer available. >>>>> >>>>> I am working actively on Woolly which would replace REX and in a way, >>>>> NADSBox, via TPDD access to a host via WiFi. But this is still a big >>>>> development effort, both in terms of hardware and software. >>>>> >>>>> If you still wanted to put up the cash after reading this, we probably >>>>> wouldn't need to build 240 NADSBoxes as demand isn't what it was in >>>>> 2009, >>>>> but it would still be in the $8K - $9K range I would guess for NADSBox >>>>> alone. I don't know for REX. >>>>> >>>>> Ken >>>>> >>>>> On 7/28/17 7:05 PM, ray gordon wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I'm willing to put up the cash necessary if Ken & Stephen would be >>>>> willing to do another run of NADS & REX. >>>>> >>>>> Ray g >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ________________________________ >>>>> From: M100 <[email protected]> on behalf of Gregory >>>>> McGill <[email protected]> >>>>> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2017 11:50 AM >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> Subject: Re: [M100] Model T upgrades >>>>> >>>>> nope.. it seems we go through this weekly, rex is open source, you are >>>>> welcome to make your own if you are up to it,. i have two i am meaning >>>>> to >>>>> build but surface mount is not my thing so they keep getting put off.. >>>>> boards are on oshpark and the instructions are googlable nadsbox is not >>>>> available.. you can use a pc and laddiealpha or other tools there's >>>>> one for >>>>> android too with a togo cable >>>>> >>>>> Greg >>>>> >>>>> On Fri, Jul 28, 2017 at 11:06 AM, Robert Prather >>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi All, >>>>>> >>>>>> Just got a Model 100 off of eBay. If I'd known of the Club 100 site, >>>>>> I'd >>>>>> have purchased one there. There's some yellow on this one, but the >>>>>> memory >>>>>> appears maxed out (installed internally), so wasn't a bad find >>>>>> overall. >>>>>> >>>>>> I've used a color computer 2 for years, and love it, and decided to >>>>>> try >>>>>> out the Model 100. Love it so far. >>>>>> >>>>>> From the Club 100 site, I saw that there used to be NADSBox's >>>>>> available >>>>>> as well as REX modules. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm emailing to find out if it's still possible to purchase these? I'm >>>>>> also trying to track down the little legs that can prop up the Model >>>>>> 100. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'd really appreciate any help anyone can provide. I didn't want to >>>>>> try >>>>>> ordering from the Club 100 site, because I wanted a confirmation >>>>>> before I >>>>>> did. >>>>>> >>>>>> thanks, >>>>>> >>>>>> Robert >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> >
