Working on a TouchDRO install.

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DavieJ75

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Hello. After finally joining this site. I saw the forum for touchdro and I fell deep in to the rabbit hole. I already had installed the capacitive slides on my lathe 9x20 and had another set to install on my rf30 mill. I cut down the slide for cross slide on the lathe. I never really liked the displays that came with the slides but they do work and are better then nothing. After seeing Yuriys site, was blown away by they work he has done. I read I think ever post on his site and then those on the touchdro site. In my enthusiasm I missed the part that your slides have to be similar in operation. My bed slide is an igaging and my cross slide is a shahe. I wanted to try before I buy so I built an arduino uno setup with hc05 bluetooth and some lm317's for 5v and 3v power. Everything worked for the igaging slides. Digging in to the shahe slides I cut and made a connector for the difference in wiring. Still doesn't work.

Now am I reading correctly that this is a one or the other issue and I can not use a single controller for both types? If they will work on one is there wiring or some thing else that is needed. If not then I might look in to putting one type the shahe on the lathe as I have already cut one and mounted it to the cross slide and the igaging type on the mill.
 
DavieJ75,
so there are a few different things in your question.
1. I don't support the Arduino version anymore, and strongly suggest not to use it. Some revisions of iGaging scales are very finicky, and a LOT of people had issues with random scale resets, etc. At least use the MSP430 version (if you want to scratch-build an adapter)
2. MSP430 capacitive scale firmware auto-detects and handles both scale versions. The caveat is that some Shahe scales have output level that is below MSP430 threshold, so the adapter might need a signal amplifier circuit to boost the input to above 2V or so.
3. Pre-made boards are optimized for their respective scales. The code is identical, but the input circuit is completely different. iGaging board can read Shahe scales in theory, but it's designed for 3V input, and Shahe scales output 1.5V. Shahe board doesn't have the clock output for iGaging scales. In other words, if you go the pre-made route, you can't mix and match capacitive scales. In return you get MUCH better stability, since the firmware handles noise and glitches much better than MSP430 could.

Regards
Yuriy
 
Thanks for the fast reply Yuriy. I went with the arduino route as more of a try before I buy idea. I have a couple dozen arduino's floating around. We migrated from the arduino nano to the arduino nano 33 ble for a project at work so I have several of the regular nano. I also have several other esp32 and d1 mini, from various projects. I will look in to buying some msp430 and the recommended lm339 that you have detailed on your site. Is there a specific chip that I should like for? On your site it lists the MSP430G2553 is this correct?
 
DavieJ75 said:
Thanks for the fast reply Yuriy. I went with the arduino route as more of a try before I buy idea. I have a couple dozen arduino's floating around. We migrated from the arduino nano to the arduino nano 33 ble for a project at work so I have several of the regular nano. I also have several other esp32 and d1 mini, from various projects. I will look in to buying some msp430 and the recommended lm339 that you have detailed on your site. Is there a specific chip that I should like for? On your site it lists the MSP430G2553 is this correct?
Click to expand...
Yes, it has to be MSP320G2553. The firmware is specific to that chip.
 
ycroosh said:
Yes, it has to be MSP320G2553. The firmware is specific to that chip.
Click to expand...
Hi Yuri. I am waiting for components to come in. Do you have an updated wiring diagram that you can share with me. On your site the only connections to the launchpad board I could find are from several years ago. I ran in to info that the connections for the different scales are wired differently with the new firmware but I could not find an update drawing for those connections. Unless I am missing something.
 
OK, go it. Does this help?

DIY Kit Schematic.png
 
Thanks Yuri.. I will get my order in to digikey for the parts. I can not believe how back ordered everything is.
 
I still have a box of bare PCBs for this kit. If you send me a pre-paid shipping label, I can throw one into an envelope and send to you (not sure how expensive it will be to ship to CA, though. Probably around $15-ish USD)
 
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