Letting go of the "MegaSquirt mindset" (hardware)
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:08 pm
To quote myself from the firmware version of this thread :
To this end, we really need to try hard to keep whatever INITIAL design we come up with accessible to everyone. More complex and better designs with nice connectors etc will definitely come later if we proceed correctly at first. If we get lofty with our dreams for a first board, we will rule out low budget types, and end up creating something that is more expensive than it needs to be in a minimalistic form.
We should be aiming for the parts used to be available world wide (even if this means crappy connectors by default)
We should be aiming for the parts used to be cheapish.
We should be aiming for the design to be simple and comprehensible for simple minded folks like myself :-)
We should be aiming for the design to be adaptable to future needs.
This is all for the INITIAL design. None of this is a limitation for what comes in the future. Already someone I know is planning a hand soldered full SMD board design. Though that would be difficult to build, MAN would it be fun! :-) That is great, BUT, for now, KISS :-)
http://www.diyefi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27
I think a good initial goal is this :
2x 2 layer through hole boards
Places for as many IO conditioners as possible
Good power supply topology
All inputs protected properly so that the user can't kill their cpu.
All outputs protected as much as practically possible, possibly by optional component selection.
In that way, a basic user with a 4 cylinder could get 2 boards for maybe 30us each printed, buy the adapt card, the power supply stuff, the input conditioning stuff, 5 fets (4x injectors, 1x fuel pump), 4 small fets (4x ignition drivers for external ignitors), a case, some DB connectors, and have themselves a basic but kick arse EMS for under 300US with plenty of room for expansion later piece at a time.
Once the foundations are there and we have a user base built around a low end setup like that, we can start thinking about other alternatives like "NanoFreeEMS" and "MonsterFreeEMS" at each end of the "does bare minimum and is tiny" and "does everything and includes the kitchen sink and fries with that" scale.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Admin.
And this, modified slightly for this thread :There have been quite a few instances of people thinking in the "ms way". While this isn't a bad way to think, I think it limits us a bit. I've been proven to do this myself, and consequently I've been making a conscious effort to think outside the box and really consider what is missing and what is there.
Firstly, ms1 and ms2 do a great job in almost any circumstances. Where they are lacking is in IO. COP + Sequential + lots of accessories and data logging.
We need to remember why we are here, and that is, we need a sequential COP solution that is the same price as an MS2/v3 setup.Another area that I don't like is the complexity of configuration. This exists because of the attitude present that says "we must support all cars ever made", and "we must do it on a single board"
To this end, we really need to try hard to keep whatever INITIAL design we come up with accessible to everyone. More complex and better designs with nice connectors etc will definitely come later if we proceed correctly at first. If we get lofty with our dreams for a first board, we will rule out low budget types, and end up creating something that is more expensive than it needs to be in a minimalistic form.
We should be aiming for the parts used to be available world wide (even if this means crappy connectors by default)
We should be aiming for the parts used to be cheapish.
We should be aiming for the design to be simple and comprehensible for simple minded folks like myself :-)
We should be aiming for the design to be adaptable to future needs.
This is all for the INITIAL design. None of this is a limitation for what comes in the future. Already someone I know is planning a hand soldered full SMD board design. Though that would be difficult to build, MAN would it be fun! :-) That is great, BUT, for now, KISS :-)
http://www.diyefi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27
I think a good initial goal is this :
2x 2 layer through hole boards
Places for as many IO conditioners as possible
Good power supply topology
All inputs protected properly so that the user can't kill their cpu.
All outputs protected as much as practically possible, possibly by optional component selection.
In that way, a basic user with a 4 cylinder could get 2 boards for maybe 30us each printed, buy the adapt card, the power supply stuff, the input conditioning stuff, 5 fets (4x injectors, 1x fuel pump), 4 small fets (4x ignition drivers for external ignitors), a case, some DB connectors, and have themselves a basic but kick arse EMS for under 300US with plenty of room for expansion later piece at a time.
Once the foundations are there and we have a user base built around a low end setup like that, we can start thinking about other alternatives like "NanoFreeEMS" and "MonsterFreeEMS" at each end of the "does bare minimum and is tiny" and "does everything and includes the kitchen sink and fries with that" scale.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Admin.