Sending for beta batch manufacturing by end of this weekend. Prototype tested good with SpaceOrb360, SpaceOrb 4000FLX, SpaceOrb 5000, Magellan SpaceMouse. Think I'll celebrate even though I'm sure we're not done yet.
New run of orbshields
Forum rules
Re: New run of orbshields
Sending for beta batch manufacturing by end of this weekend. Prototype tested good with SpaceOrb360, SpaceOrb 4000FLX, SpaceOrb 5000, Magellan SpaceMouse. Think I'll celebrate even though I'm sure we're not done yet.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_20130118_192623.jpg (175.83 KiB) Viewed 15992 times
Re: New run of orbshields
Re: New run of orbshields
I think an SMD version is in the works as I've heard a lot of people say "I'd be interested but I don't want to build it" as well as some offers to help build. The only question is if I want to duplicate this or "do it right" with an AtMega 32u4 which has "real" USB support... but will take a little more effort (and I gotta admit, this is tiring after a while even though I love learning about it).
- Attachments
-
- 2013-01-31 12.52.31.jpg (183.45 KiB) Viewed 15957 times
Re: New run of orbshields
Tired, and still lots more to do, but a good day!
- Attachments
-
- orbotron_beta.jpg (239.55 KiB) Viewed 15948 times
Re: New run of orbshields
1) Boards are in and ready to go to beta testers as soon as packaging arrives (next few days)
2) Already found some problems with the boards so new design is out for manufacturing (the ones shipping function just fine; this is convenience on placement of connectors, case redesign, etc)
3) Work going in with x360CE to allow orbs to be usable in Windows as XInput controllers
4) Started exploratory work on the NEXT generation of the orbotron; months away but an SMD version, much smaller and tidier, will be manufactured by me (not a kit) and have USB functionality native to the device. This will take a while because I need to learn SMD manufacturing and I won't expect end users to have to deal with SMD soldering, but I think it will be a better solution (technically) and many people have asked if I would make a completed device. Through-hole soldering is even more labor intensive, so once I get some manufacturing at home and learn how, this will happen, but we're talking early summer at the earliest. Still, much cleaner programming, even SIMPLER device than the one about to come out (but don't let that hold you up from loving the one coming out; it's nice).
Ugh, tiring. But... so cool...
Re: New run of orbshields
Okay, the existing through-hole Orbotron kits are going as planned, but in just about two hours tonight I got the Arduino Leonardo working with native USB spitting out six-axis sixteen-button messages, which means the SMD version of the Orbotron is going to definitely be a go, have far far fewer parts than the existing design, and be less than half the size. It's just going to be SMD and thus not available in kit form, and I like kits, so we're going ahead with the kit and going to have an SMD version as well in a few months. This is really good stuff actually; I hope to have the software working this weekend and start working on more prototypes.
At some point I should probably admit that I have a problem
Re: New run of orbshields
Wow, big news getting that working today. Exciting times.
For my next trick, though, I'm going to need a hot plate, a really good temperature controller, and an IR temperature sensor, but that's all doable
Re: New run of orbshields
Also is the source code available for the all s/w driver you did?
AxiomX
Re: New run of orbshields
The old windows driver should be still at
Plans for the new prototype went out yesterday, so I should have them by end of week along with a new small batch of parts (literally; these SMD resistors/capacitors are the size of a grain of rice; I have bought a USB microscope to help)... the problem is I still don't know how to solder SMD very well, and no idea if these schematics work. I am literally going to be cooking boards on a hot plate to try and reflow them! If this new version works, I am probably going to do a kit version as well (where the SMD-only parts come presoldered on the board but the rest of it will be done by the user) because kits are cool, but I know many people just want to use their orbs, so I figured a single-board version I can build and test in house is probably a good idea.
Re: New run of orbshields
I'm new here, but too interested in the orbshield-drivers and boards.
Last months I've got two of the Spaceballs 4000 FLX and a Spacemouse Pro Magellan, so was searching for methodes interfacing them with Win7.
With WinXP (even with one installed in a VirtualBox in Win7 x64) I'm using the 3Dconnexion drivers, but drivers for Win7 and up would be perfect
Viktor
Re: New run of orbshields
But I do have a three-week trip coming up, so the chances of getting something buyable (particularly the new batch) before April is doubtful. Not to worry; it will still happen and before too much longer.
Re: New run of orbshields
With the FTDI-converters I've simply wired the 5V from USB to the pin, one of the spaceballs has a special SUB-D9 adapter with 5V wallplug-PS, so supports the voltage external ...
There's a guy on ebay selling a big bunch (actually 119 selled, 34 in stock) of the spacemouse pro Magellan for 19€ each, maybe a good source:
Viktor
Re: New run of orbshields
Re: New run of orbshields
The existing orbduino software has trouble being detected in some games and other apps, such as x360CE (a nice "patcher" program that makes DirectInput8 devices look like XInput devices for modern games) and Retrovirus (a new "Descent tribute" game which so far seems pretty fun).
The problem seems to be that I did it "right" and enumerated the axes of the orb as X/Y/Z Rx/Ry/Rz, which means Windows decides it's a "First person shooter" controller (DI8DEVTYPE_1STPERSON). The problem is, many game developers don't bother enumerating that to find game devices--they enumerate joysticks and gamepads. So the orb doesn't show up.
I made a change to the HID report in testing to make Ry appear as a "Slider" and bang, now it's a joystick and it appears in games. But that's somehow unsatisfying to me, because I want it to show in Control Panel as "X/Y/Z Rx/Ry/Rz", not "X/Y/Z Rx/Rz Slider".
Hm. Will think on this.
Re: New run of orbshields
Return to “Spaceware Software”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 79 guests