Brand new to this type of thing and even newer to this forum so all help greatly appreciated.
My project idea is to re-create (upgrade) the board in my paintball marker.
This is what the stock board looks like, the microswitch goes behind the trigger and using both the trigger switch and the switch on the board a fire mode can be selected through an unnecessarily complex menu which - depending on the mode - activates the gold solenoid a set number of times.
What I would like to create, using an arduino, the items off this board and a 4 position switch, is a simpler board that allows me to switch between 3 firing modes and an off position.
So my question is this, what Arduino should i buy and also, has anyone seen some sample code that may be similar to this?
To keep the final project small, what I would do is get any ordinary Arduino (e.g. Uno, or my preference would be Nano 3 because they are breadboard compatible) and use that for prototyping your circuit and sketch. Once its working, use the Arduino to program the sketch into an ATtiny85 (cheap and as the name suggests tiny) for final version. This can then put into a socket soldered onto a small piece of stripboard with the other components.
Hi,
I want to build a sound recorder and player and I currently have a Spark Fun Inventor's Kit. Will I be able to use it to make what I want?
Thanks,
Gyap
Hi gyap. Start your own thread for your question. This thread is for Gavlad's question. Also you will need to provide more information if you want a good answer.
Shall get myself a Nano 3, a breadboard, a few leads, an ATtiny85 and anything else?
I'm going to strip the solenoid and the rest of the parts off of the board pictured.
Do you also know of any articles or literature that i should read before starting this project? I can solder and have a very basic understanding of a multimeter but that's about the extent of my circuit board knowledge!!
Also, i noticed the ATtiny85 runs on a voltage of up to 5.5v does that matter if i'm using a 9v battery?
I've stumbled across a similar project on a forum (most of it is gobbledegook to me at the moment - http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=3546592) and they suggested the use of a 2n2222 transistor. Do you think that'd do?
It sounds like you're going to learn A LOT in the course of this project. That's a good thing though.
If you're not familiar with Arduino at all, and you don't plan on using the full Arduino that you purchase in your final product I would recommend picking up an Arduino UNO. This is the most commonly used Arduino for learning and the majority of the community support is based on this board. It can be used to program the ATtiny85 just like a nano would too.
If you're just starting to learn there's a few basic components you'll want to have on hand.
A breadboard
Some hook up wire
A few LEDs
A couple of push buttons and/or some switches
Some resistors of common values (100, 220, 10k come to mind)
Maybe a small potentiometer
All of thee above can be found at your local Radioshack in a pinch or very cheaply online. Ebay is a great resource for cheap components and devices.
After you get your UNO, or nano if you insist, the best way to learn how to use it is to go through the example files that come with the Arduino software. For everything you don't understand, first check out the reference section of the Arduino website and if you're still stuck, use google, and if you're still still stuck try the forums for assistance. Just play around with the things you have and your understanding will grow.
For your project specifically, you'll need a transistor to drive the solenoid, if you use the Attiny85 you'll need a 5v voltage regulator if you plan on using a 9v battery, you'll of course need the trigger and the 4 position switch from the original gun, some 10k resistors as pull downs for the switches and some wire, solder and soldering iron to hook it all together.
The code should be pretty simple but cross that bridge when you come to it.
Hi again gavlad. Lots of good advice from snowman and Bob (crossroads) there. Get a multimeter (<£10). Also a couple of 78L05 regulators, a few 0.1uF and 10uF caps and for transistor my suggestion would be bc337. Don't worry about the differences between Uno and Nano, they are pretty minor, so I leave that choice to you. Uno is not breadboard "incompatible" but you do see lots of Uno hooked up to breadboards on this forum and invariably they look like spaghetti. In my opinion the advice would be for shields get an Uno/mega, for breadboards get a Nano 3/pro micro/pro mini etc.
The Baby Orangutan is a Nano-sized clone with an integral dual h-bridge driver. It seems ideal for use as a relay driver - it may even be possible to use the h-bridge to drive the load directly and avoid the relay altogether.
Went and bought myself a nano, a starter kit from amazon (with connectors, buttons, resistors, breadboards etc), an Attiny85, some 2n222's and some 78L05's. Haven't bought caps yet as theres too many variations for my lack of knowledge and havent found a 4 position switch where u get a positive click between each connection thats small enough....
Any thing else i need to buy whilst im on the subject
Caps: nothing special needed, just get the cheapest. Exact type does not matter here. The 0.1uF will probably be ceramic. The 10uF will be electrolytic, rated either 16V or 63V and you are only working with 5V & 9V.
Switches: how about 2 x 2-position? Slightly less intuitive to use but you still get 4 positions in total.
Arduino: you did get a Nano 3 (atmega328)? Older Nanos, which you don't see offered very often, are atmega168 and won't be suitable for programming the attiny (to little memory for the AruinoISP sketch).
22 AWG/23 SWG solid wire is good for breadboarding and probably fine for your final project as I assume it will be entirely contained within the case of the paintball gun, and do won't need to flex regularly. Get a few colours if you can afford it. Red and black for +V and ground, plus perhaps another couple of colours for different signals. I find this helps keep things easier to follow what you have done when you come back to it the next day.
