110 replies to this topic

[HiassofT]

Stephen, on Fri Mar 9, 2012 1:54 PM, said:

I really hate to even ask, but are there any updates to this?

No problem with asking :-)

Current status is: still delayed

I'm still very busy with my job and haven't been able to work on it (writing the docs, start production planning) since december last year :-( This week I got an email from Wolfram, as I suspected he's still waiting for telephone and DSL.

so long,

Hias

[Larry]

It would not solve all the time constraints, but feasible to sell as a KIT? (I looked briefly through the thread but didn't see an pics of the actual internals of the freezer, and if it has SMT components, that probably rules out a kit.)

-Larry

HiassofT, on Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:58 AM, said:

No problem with asking :-)

Current status is: still delayed

I'm still very busy with my job and haven't been able to work on it (writing the docs, start production planning) since december last year :-( This week I got an email from Wolfram, as I suspected he's still waiting for telephone and DSL.

so long,

Hias

[HiassofT]

Hi Larry!

Larry, on Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:45 PM, said:

It would not solve all the time constraints, but feasible to sell as a KIT? (I looked briefly through the thread but didn't see an pics of the actual internals of the freezer, and if it has SMT components, that probably rules out a kit.)

Only very few components are THT, here's a pic of the PCBs:

Selling it as a kit wouldn't make too much sense, you'd need a JTAG programming cable and be experienced in soldering fine-pitch SMT stuff (even I don't like soldering TQFP, so I leave this to Wolfram :-)

The hardware and software is finished but we still have to do 2 important things:

I have to write the docs. The German manual is approx 2/3 finished (currently on page 40 or so) but I haven't started with the English version yet. Selling the TurboFreezer without a manual doesn't make any sense, you wouldn't know how to use all it's features.

We have to get quotes for all the components, PCBs etc, check assembly-, packaging- and shipping costs to calculate the final price. The price calculation is very thight, we don't make any money from it, but also can't afford to make a loss.

so long,

Hias

[sloopy]

looks simple to assemble, I will take 3 kits ;'D

they look nice.

sloopy.

[Larry]

They sure do look nice! I figured there would be SMT components -- scares me!

Thanks for the pics.

-Larry

[flashjazzcat]

Very nice! Regarding a kit - only thing which would intimidate me is that Xilinx, but I need to learn sometime.

[candle]

why 3 board design?
if this is all of components that are there, then you should fit on that bottom board

[HiassofT]

candle, on Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:36 AM, said:

why 3 board design?
if this is all of components that are there, then you should fit on that bottom board

Wolfram had routing problems, especially with the 2 PLCC flashes- using TSSOP would have been easier to route but he got a good price on those PLCC chips

so long,

Hias

[candle]

it would be hard to route with passthough on the other end, but with 4 layer pcb it should be a cheaper solution than 3 board design
you don't want to deal with loose connectors issues - its already complicated as it is, without this kind of b-s
if you need some help - just ask

[HiassofT]

candle, on Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:55 PM, said:

it would be hard to route with passthough on the other end, but with 4 layer pcb it should be a cheaper solution than 3 board design

Back then when we started designing and checked PCB prices 4-layer wasn't an option. It was much more expensive than 2-layer.

BTW: just saw that iteadstudio is now also offering 4-layer PCBs (but only in prototype quantities). Still the price is 3-4 times the price of a 2-layer.

so long,

Hias

[candle]

check technoservice - prices are very reasonable, not to mention if you decide to go china