Minimig PCB run - interest thread

[Belial6]

I'm kind of a fan of the ribbon cables.  It would make custom cases easier to make.  I would expect that we will see lots of  custom cases for the mini-mig.  With how small the board is, I would think that it would be trivial to make an adapter plate for anyone wanting to mount the mini-mig in a mini-atx case.  Personally, I would like to put the mini-mig into an old gutted laptop.

[Belial6]

I would also suggest adding a few extra dollars per unit so that Dennis could be sent one or two free units.

[Belial6]

@amigadave

I think you hit the nail on the head.  If the first run waits for improvements, we will be another two years out.  Our best bet is to do the simple modifications that Dennis has already suggested, and get it out as is.

Slap a MiniMig 1k sticker on it, and THEN start talking about all of the cool additions that could be made for future models.  The MiniMig 1/2k could be for those of us that want a small form factor, and are not concerned about upgrades, while the MiniMig 2k could be the larger form factor with expansion ports.

What is needed now is working MiniMig 1ks that people can start playing with, and can find the limitations, so the second run can be better.

Maybe the real question shouldn't be, who would be interested in a MiniMig, but

Who would be interested in spending $150 now on a MiniMig 1k, knowing that there will be a better model available a year from now?

I definitly am.  I have no problem spending a $150 today, so that production gets started.  After all, no matter how much talking is done before the first run, as soon as the units are in our hands, people will start finding things that could have been done better.  That is what future models are for.

[Belial6]

Dennis,

Thanks for giving your input here.  There are a lot of dreams, and desires on what the MiniMig should and could be.  People have been waiting to have an Amiga compatible for a long time, and you have made it possible.

Because you have single handedly raised the dead, you by default have become the Amiga's second coming.  This means your word concerning all things MiniMig are going to be taken largely without question.  This also means that you have the power to do what no one else in the community can do, which is to end arguments by just stating the way it should be.  We will all understand if this is not a responsibility you want to take on, but the community will grow better if you do.

So, please, if you are willing, step in and state your opinion to help those that build on your work stay on the right track.

[Belial6]

Xenepp wrote:
Little update here, Dennis is updating the PCB afterall to V1.1, we decided it was best if he did it since it'd take too long for me to recreate it in Eagle and don't have a gerber capable editor.

Patience is key here as he is very busy with real world commitments. Once I have the new PCB though, I'll send it to my guy in China and from that point it will be two weeks before the boards arrive with me to test.

I'll keep you guys posted.

 -Joel

Just wanted to see where we are today?  Has Dennis done the fixes yet?  By no means is the meant to be a whine.  I'm sure will all be happy to accept that it's done when it's done.  Just wanted to see if the design stage was complete or not.

[Belial6]

I'll take a V1.0.

For those wondering, it is usually about $2US for each £.  So, expect the price to be in the $50 range.  I figure that if the V1.1 comes out before I get the V1.0 populated, the V1.0 will become a framed nostalgia art piece.

[Belial6]

PM Sent.

Preferably a pre-assembled, but if they are all taken, I will take a bare board.

[Belial6]

Hardfile support would be great, but that should be able to be done without any hardware changes, right?

Now that I am on the list for a 1.1 board, I can indulge in a little future dreaming.  I don't have the board yet, so only a little dreaming....

Of all the things people want for v1.2+, the one that I think would be the biggest benefit would be adding a USB port.  Almost any hardware can be had to run off of a USB bus.  Everything from CD drives, to hard drive, to mice, to video capture cards.  It might not be the best interface for any particular piece of hardware, but it is the most... universal.  With a USB port, drivers become the only problem to add new hardware to the MiniMig.

I'm not saying that in the long run, other interfaces wouldn't be great.  The more the merrier after all, but given the jump start that I expect the MiniMig to give to the hobby, USB would bring the most benefit with the least effort.

The second biggest boost for our hobby would be getting AROS fully running, and compatible enough to run most Amiga software.

[Belial6]

"It would be beneficial if someone can clarify this matter. I have noticed this company in the past. Debunk time?"

I have also been seeing their ads a lot recently.  They have been advertising in Nuts and Volts for a while, and I think Servo also.  I have also noticed that Fry's has started carrying their products in their stores.

It doesn't seem like an outrageous claim to me.  I can think of a couple of ways to do this.  The first would be to make a mask that would have pins that fit between the pins.  If solder does not stick to the material that the schmartboard is made from, but does stick to the solder pads, you can easily tin the board and chip.  Then you just hold the schmartboard in place and heat it.  Even better if the schmartboard has a highly heat conductive material with leads down to the pins.

I'm not saying that this is how they do it, but that is just one solution of the top of my head.  I'm sure with some thought, several solutions for hand soldering these parts could be worked out.  Particularly if the tools to do it were going to be made in large quantities.

[Belial6]

Ok, I looked up their address, and found their PDF that explains how it works.  Basically it is a board that you solder your part to, so that you can add it to your project.  The description seems perfectly reasonable to me.

http://www.schmartboard.com/schmartboard_dc_ez_instructions.pdf

[Belial6]

Good question.  The next time I'm in a Fry's, I'll look and see if it is obvious from just looking at the board.  It will probably be a few weeks, as I don't live close to one anymore.

[Belial6]

Could we use something like this to solve the BGA problem?

http://www.ironwoodelectronics.com/catalog/Process/GHz_BGA_Sockets.html

[Belial6]

Any word on where this run of MiniMigs is?

[Belial6]

Three questions then...

1)  Have you been able to assemble your own MiniMig to make sure the boards work?  (I hope you will have enough time to assemble at least one board for your own use.)

2)  Did you already get the components for the boards you were planning?

3)  If you did, can you sell the parts and board to us so that we basically have a kit?