From: "Roger Scudder" 

On Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 1:29 AM Bruce D. Wedding wrote:

> Roger said:

> "I have a pipe dream that involves turning my garage into a machine
shop and delving
> deep into robotics."

> I encourage you to go for it Roger as it can be a lot of fun.  You
should start with a
> few stepper motors and some ball screws to build an x-y table. There
are now smart
> motors available with all the electronics built in that are controlled
serially with an
> ASCII protocol.  ie:
http://www.servosystems.com/animatics_features.htm  You can get
> good deals on ebay sometimes too.

I have done some looking around on the web and I can see that
robotics/automation at the hobbyist level has exploded.  I have also spent
some time looking around on ebay for servos, encoders, data acquisition
cards, etc...

> I have a some computerized woodworking projects in my mind like a
computer controlled
> router.  Once you get into automation stuff like this, it is highly
contagious.  I've
> put sensors and controls on my pool pump, home AC unit, golf clubs,
car, you name it.

Golf clubs, huh?  Do you remember the Rodney Dangerfield's putter in Caddy
Shack?  Going for an unfair advantage on the green, are you?  ;-)

> The next step is PICs and microcontrollers.  I just received the TI
MSP430 development
> kit today.  It is a beauty of a low power microcontroller with high
channel count, high
> resolution ADC and the first I've ever seen with op-amps built in.

Now that is somewhere I can see myself getting started at this point in
time.  I have looked at some D/A kits for $25 - $35.  I need to keep the
investment low or risk serious marital problems.  (We need a new kitchen).

> If you need any help, gimme a holler.

I sure will, Thanks!

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