Hi there -- I just wanted to let anyone who is interested know that I and a friend have just launched a Kickstarter project for a Universal Screw-Block Proto-Shield for Arduino (works with Unos, Leonardos, Dues, and Megas):
In the spirit of the Arduino community we're going to make all the design files available under an Open Source license at the end of the Kickstarter project.
In the meantime, anything anyone can do to spread the good word would be very much appreciated.
Or, mine continues to be available and at a much lower price - and didn't need a whole kickstarter project to get it going. Also a lot more stable when using the double row of end pads. Worldwide shipments continue ... http://www.crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17/
Wow -- very cool -- if we'd known this was available when we started we might not have bothered building our own LOL
This all came about because I was working on a hobby project requiring a lot of prototyping and I couldn't find a screw-block proto-shield that would work with an Arduino Mega -- so my chum (Duane Benson) and I designed ours -- I'm already happy because now I have my shield -- but several people asked us if we would make them available to others -- hence the Kickstarter project. The most expensive thing is the 0.1" pitch screw-blocks (your shield uses 0.15" pitch -- which are less expensive).
One other difference I note between your screw-block proto-shield and ours is that you seem to be using a single-pad system, by which I mean that you've hard-wired each screw-block terminal to its associated header pin and to a single pad in the prototyping area.
This is great if that's what you want, but as we noted on our Kickstarter page, sometimes you wish to insert components in the prototyping area between a screw-block terminal and its associated header pin. I have to say that I think we score an extra 10 points on this one LOL. Here's an image from our Kickstarter page:
The idea is that if you do want to connect a screw-block terminal to its associated header pin, all you have to do is add a jumper between the two pads. Alternatively, you can wire components between the two pads or wire them into the main prototyping area.
No one has ever asked for that. Everyone wants the ability to secure wires to a pin without it falling out of the female header, and occasionally to add another another shield on top.
So why do a whole kickstarter? Make some up and offer them for sale. "Put your money where your mouth is."
There are several reasons, including the fact that there are a couple of projects we have been thinking about for which Kickstarter would be a good way to go. The fact that we already had working prototypes of our screw-block proto-shield made this a low-risk project that would allow us to dip our toes into the Kickstarter waters. If this project is successful, it will give us some "street cred" with regard to future offerings.
Another big point is that we can get price breaks when we start fabricating say 500 boards instead of one-offs. The Kickstarter route is a great way to gauge interest -- if not enough people care about a project, then there's no point in doing it in the first place.
Make some up and offer them for sale. "Put your money where your mouth is."
The thing is that we aren't doing this as a money-making exercise -- we both have full time jobs -- this is more of a hobby project. I think that the #1 rule is that we don't want to lose money at it (LOL).
Maybe they hadn't thought about it. I know that for what I'm doing this is imperative -- like using PWM digital outputs to control antique analog meters -- I need a transistor and a resistor and a mini-potentiometer for each channel.
So, what do people actually use the prototyping area on your board for if they can't easily insert components between a screw-block terminal and it's associated header pin?
MaxMaxfield:
Another big point is that we can get price breaks when we start fabricating say 500 boards instead of one-offs.
A 10cm x 10cm board is only $2/ea in quantities of 10. You have a number of additional components and shipping, but $15 for one kit is much more expensive than I could do on my own.
Well, well. We seem to have a difference of opinion. We believe that we have priced this fairly. Not everybody will think the pricing is fair, no matter what the actual dollar amount. We respect that.
Once the Kickstarter period is over, the design files will be published as open source. If you like the concept, but think it's too expensive, all you have to do is wait a bit and you'll be able to make your own. We don't mind. If you don't like our concept, there are plenty of other options, including the Bobuino, Adfruit and Sparkfun offerings. We feel ours is unique and valuable.
Why a Kickstarter? Well, first, people have asked us for these. We can make more this way. Second, with a Kickstater project, we are putting our time where our mouth is and putting risk of our money where our mouth is. Not all Kickstarter projects make money or even break even. It's our risk.
We are doing this to contribute to the Arduino community and offer up, what we believe is a very useful piece of hardware. You can disagree with all of that and you can have a different opinion on the value of this board, but you disagreeing doesn't change our motivation.
Ultimately, the people who visit Kickstarter will have the final say.
Arduinos are cool.
Duane (Also with the Universal Screw-Block Proto-Shield Kickstarter project)
A 10cm x 10cm board is only $2/ea in quantities of 10. You have a number of additional components and shipping, but $15 for one kit is much more expensive than I could do on my own.
The longer size / second half of their shield ("expansion board") isn't included in the "master", $15 price. That's the $30 option. The "master" alone is about 7cm square.
