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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : MM motherboard for Tibbit?
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| Tinine Guru  Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
Would be nice....IMHO http://tibbo.com/tps/tibbits.html |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9753 |
Interesting.  Here is a link to all the modules and prices. Some of them are quite cheap, others are more expensive, but that is a good thing, as you could start out playing with the cheaper ones. @ Tinnie - Did you have an idea as to PCB layout? How many modules would you want to support and what size? What MM chip? I will research those modules a little more, but they are cute. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
I would be interested in something that would fit their existing motherboard enclosures because these are available as empty shells. The same applies to the Tibbit modules so one is not restricted to only what they currently offer. I find their own BASIC and C languages have serious limitations for control applications. I emailed them regarding the fact that I couldn't find a timer with millisecond resolution and their "solution" is a for/next loop(!!!!) A MM brain housed in configurable, professional quality packaging, would open up all kinds of possibilities. Cheers! |
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MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
This is very very close to what i wanted to accomplish with "Microblocks". It became very difficult to do as making the enclosures would have a startup cost of about 10.000$ to get the enclosures within a reasonable price range per piece. I have lots of designs ready to go and they might fit in these tibbits enclosures. 50 cents is very affordable. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
Professional packaging is a problem for budding entrepreneurs and integrators (myself) who would like to substitute a product like MM for what used to be a Siemens, Omron, Allen Bradley device. The modular approach, obviously, allows each system to be tailored to the application http://tibbo.com/tps.html |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
I just ordered about 200US$ stuff (enclosures (size 2 and size 3), tibbit covers, some modules etc). Hopefully that will be enough to determine the exact sizes. I think the first try should be for a size 2 enclosure as that has a size a little bit smaller then 10x10cm.This size is very affordable for making PCB's. I am now studying the connections for each 'tile'. I could use some help with that as more eyes will see more. The size 2 enclosure has 3 'tiles' that can accomodate up to 6 tibbit sized modules. Each module has 4 i/o lines so a max of 24 lines will be available to connect. A 28 pin mx170 will be able to use about 22 of those, so for a first try i will suggest this easier and more affordable approach. If that works we can scaleup to bigger chips. Any suggestions (especiallyu at this stage) are very welcome. I am eager to get this going as i have this on a 'backburner' for some time. These enclosures, for very affordable prices is a big enabler! Now lets first see how long it takes to get the stuff that i ordered.:) Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
They are fast. Just got confirmation that it is packed and ready to ship first thing tomorrow. Good start. I made a quick pcb layout which matches the size 2 enclosure. Just thrown in the components to see if there is enough room. :) It has a USB connector, the 1455 and the MX170. All through hole! And it still fits. Also (still smd) part for supervisory and 3.3v regulator, together with the neede3d caps and resistors. They can easily be replaced with through hole parts also. The 64 or 100 pin chips in TQFP packaghes would fit also when all the other parts are also SMD, but that is for later.  This size 2 enclosure would also be a perfect fit for a Color Maximite. Together with some joystick (D9) connectors, Keyboard (PS/2) and a VGA (D15) it would probably fit comfortably. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9753 |
I see that those cases also come with LED light-guides, so you can have SMD LED's for indicating thing, and that is accommodated. The size 2 case allows for up to eight LED's - not bad!  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
VERY COOL!!!! How do you handle plugging/unplugging of the modules? This is a very exciting prospect! |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
The Tibbo mainboards use connectors that are soldered on the bottom side and the pcb has holes. I saw that in a unboxing video on youtube. Not sure which kind of connecters they are but first thought is that they are smd mounted ones. This is done i think to keep the tibbit modules tight to the pcb to minimize movement. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
I keep hoping that this thread will show up at the top  Any interesting developments? |
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palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2006 |
Just tried the Tibbo web site and none of the URLs I tried will open they all time out. Paul. "It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all" |
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Azure Guru Joined: 09/11/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 446 |
The site is working for me, try this link. The pricing seems varied, a base system seems very expensive and the accessories and modules seem quite cheap. Might be just what I looked at quickly. With such a high starting price it will keep a lot of people away from playing with it. |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
Hence this thread. It's about a MM based alternative motherboard. |
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| Azure Guru Joined: 09/11/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 446 |
Yes, but they need to be successful to continue, so others can us their products in designs that will last and the parts will be available. |
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plover Guru Joined: 18/04/2013 Location: AustraliaPosts: 306 |
""Microblogs"" Your initial sizing of the the board you showed, I am just wondering, the two module sizes you use for the "standard extras" were you thinking that should be a "double module" fitting a standard board? As a standard module it would probably be usable in its own right, perhaps fitting in a breadboard as well? |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
As a professional integrator, I consider this dirt cheap. I can plonk one of these units next to a Siemens/Omron/AB product and not worry about it looking out of place. Professional packaging and custom configurability. |
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| JackRabbit Newbie  Joined: 21/07/2018 Location: United StatesPosts: 14 |
The Tibbo site is working for me. |
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