trying to understand..

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

first, i would like to apologize if i posted this in the wrong topic (i'm still new here). secondly, i look at certain electronics they do not use Arduino's - so how do you build stuff (soldier, program, etc..) like that without Arduino's?

the reason i ask is - it can get costly to build stuff with Arduino's especially if they are for 1x use.. spend $40 on an arduino, program it and seal it up in a case - then to go buy another one for another project (constantly repeating this) - would definitely be expensive and wonder if it would be really worth it in the end.

just trying to understand.. because you can make stuff with LEDS without Arduino's.

2

You can certainly make circuits without the Arduino like this 555 LED flasher.

or you can make your own cheaper stand alone Arduino to embed in projects.

3

You can also use smaller and cheaper Atmels microcontrolers. Just program them using an ICSP programmer (look at the "how to load a bootloader" topic, and also "arduino on ATtiny" if you want to continue to use the arduino IDE / libs).

You may also want to use other microcontrolers than Atmel's one (Arduino uno use a ATMega328P microcontroler), but I prefer atmel's MC, because I started with an arduino and I don't want to buy a programmer, learn a new architecture, etc..

So if you don't know about ICSP, and wan't to use cheap atmel's MC, you can start by loading a bootloader on an ATMEga328P, and then load your own sketchs without the bootloader. And after that, switch to cheapers and smallers atmel MC :slight_smile:

4

In my mind, there's a plethora of duino knock-off's that bring the price way down from Official Arduino's as well

I've had good luck with "dk-duino" off ebay

5

Here's a small list for you :slight_smile: