SXmicro.com

While attending the Prop Expo a couple weeks back I had the pleasure of meeting Robert (aka RobotWorkshop on the Parallax Forums). Robert has a cool little kit, at a good price I might add, for the SX48. The module is a 40 pin DIP module with a MAX232 IC (for RS-232 com), EEPROM and a 20MHz. resonator.

This kit looks fairly easy to assemble and should be a good introduction to surface mount soldering as Robert told me. Here is a picture of it. You can find more information on this Forum Thread.

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Over in the Complete Projects thread on the Parallax Forum is a project that PJ Allen and T&E Engineer cooked up. The project is an LED Matrix sign controlled by an SX Micro. Check it out.

Project Thread

To get back on track, maybe I should provide a breif outline of what is to come. I was thinking the next steps I should show is how to write your first program for the SX. There will be several posts looking at the hardware and the software for a couple simple programs that light an LED or read a button. I think I have some new ideas and content to add to the standard “hello world” programs.

After the simple hardware/software examples I think it will be a good idea to start a small project. Often times I learn by example and applications. Having a problem and solving it is an excellent way to learn.

After reading Nuts & Volts, Servo, Elektor, Everyday Practical Electronics, and similar magazines, I have a small list of ideas for projects. What would you like to see in an SX beginner project? Let me know in the comments. We will walk together step by step through the design, fabrication and assembly of the project.