- Joined
- Apr 4, 2013
- Messages
- 681
Hi Folks,
I've been working on upgrades to the TouchDRO glass/magnetic scale adapter(s), so just want to give some heads-up. By mid November I expect to have the new adapters in stock, and will be cycling out the old ones. So here is the "short version" of what's coming:
First, the "bad news":
1. I will no longer sell the current version of the kit. Note: I have about 20 left, once they are gone, I will not order anymore (there will be a different kit, so read-on)
2. Once I sell the last of the iGaging adapters, I will not be ordering those.
The "good news":
The current Quadrature board will be replaced by 3 different adapters:
1. DIY-ish kit that will have 4 differential inputs (current kit doesn't support differential inputs) and tachometer input, and will have BlueTooth and USB connectivity. It will come as a partially assembled unit (SMT parts will be populated; headers and the ESP32 module will need to be soldered by the end user. The kit will come with an enclosure and will cost $130 (in spirit, it replaces the current board).
2. Fully assembled "Essential" board will come, as the name suggests, fully assembled with a few different pinout options to cover the standard scale pinouts (about 99% of the Chinese scales use one of the 3 standard pinouts). Compared to the current board version, it add support for reference track (software-configurable), USB connectivity (either USB or BlueTooth can be used at any given time), USB-C connector that can deliver more current, and pre-installed tachometer input. It will sell for around $200
3. Fully assembled "Plus" board will sell for $280 and add some features to the "Essentials" board:
Below are the photos of the new boards:
Kit:
Now, as far as the TouchDRO Plus app version goes:
Initially it will be bundled with the Plus version of the board. The board, in fact, is the "activation dongle". Additionally, everyone in the closed "Alpha Testing" program will have access to it automatically. I will also give access to it to everyone who helped with testing, reported bugs.
My plan/hope is to have the Plus version of the app in Beta in about two months (well, in reality it's already in production, but you need to know the special hand shake and be allow-listed for access).
Regards
Yuriy
I've been working on upgrades to the TouchDRO glass/magnetic scale adapter(s), so just want to give some heads-up. By mid November I expect to have the new adapters in stock, and will be cycling out the old ones. So here is the "short version" of what's coming:
First, the "bad news":
1. I will no longer sell the current version of the kit. Note: I have about 20 left, once they are gone, I will not order anymore (there will be a different kit, so read-on)
2. Once I sell the last of the iGaging adapters, I will not be ordering those.
The "good news":
The current Quadrature board will be replaced by 3 different adapters:
1. DIY-ish kit that will have 4 differential inputs (current kit doesn't support differential inputs) and tachometer input, and will have BlueTooth and USB connectivity. It will come as a partially assembled unit (SMT parts will be populated; headers and the ESP32 module will need to be soldered by the end user. The kit will come with an enclosure and will cost $130 (in spirit, it replaces the current board).
2. Fully assembled "Essential" board will come, as the name suggests, fully assembled with a few different pinout options to cover the standard scale pinouts (about 99% of the Chinese scales use one of the 3 standard pinouts). Compared to the current board version, it add support for reference track (software-configurable), USB connectivity (either USB or BlueTooth can be used at any given time), USB-C connector that can deliver more current, and pre-installed tachometer input. It will sell for around $200
3. Fully assembled "Plus" board will sell for $280 and add some features to the "Essentials" board:
- Bundled with TouchDRO Plus application (this is the way to get the Plus application, at least for the foreseeable future, but with an asterisk; more on that later)
- Power loss data retention - when the adapter looses power, it uses an on-board super capacitor to power the CPU for about a second to write current scale positions to non-volatile memory. When the power is restored, it re-loads the positions. As long as you don't move the axis, you can leave the board powered down for days and pick up where you left
- Four configurable inputs that can be used to connect two touch probes (really, a touch probe and a hight setter), two tachometers (for a multi-spindle machine), or [possibly] two additional quadrature inputs. This last part is still iffy - I got a proof-of-concept to work, but haven't performance tested it.
- Simultaneous USB and BlueTooth connectivity with pass-through (in future, there will be a companion Windows app that can be used for logging, etc.
Below are the photos of the new boards:
Kit:
Now, as far as the TouchDRO Plus app version goes:
Initially it will be bundled with the Plus version of the board. The board, in fact, is the "activation dongle". Additionally, everyone in the closed "Alpha Testing" program will have access to it automatically. I will also give access to it to everyone who helped with testing, reported bugs.
My plan/hope is to have the Plus version of the app in Beta in about two months (well, in reality it's already in production, but you need to know the special hand shake and be allow-listed for access).
Regards
Yuriy
