Possible Arduino Mega 2560 replacement?

[Jamesarm97]

Just received this email. Any thoughts on feasibility of getting the existing code to port? I haven't read over everything but it mentions compatibility. I don't know about the libraries used on the original since I haven't done any programming on the Arduino. Twice the memory of the 2560 and 80Mhz instead of the 16Mhz, 128K ram instead of 8K

Specs:

• Microchip® PIC32MX795F512 processor
  • 80 Mhz 32-bit MIPS
  • 512K Flash, 128K RAM
  • USB 2.0 OTG controller
  • 10/100 Ethernet MAC
  • Dual CAN controllers
• Provides additional memory and advanced communications peripherals
• Compatible with many existing Arduino code examples, reference materials and other resources
• Can also be programmed using Microchip's MPLAB® IDE (along with a PICkit 3 and our PICkit3 Programming Cable Kit, seen below)
• Arduino™ "Mega" form factor
• Compatible with many Arduino™ shields
• 83 available I/O
• User LED
• Connects to a PC using a USB A -> mini B cable (not included)

http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,892,894&Prod=CHIPKIT-MAX32

http://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/5951840132/sizes/l/in/photostream/

[Dan Newman]

On 22 Mar 2012 , at 12:02 PM, Jamesarm97 wrote:

> Just received this email. Any thoughts on feasibility of getting the
> existing code to port? I haven't read over everything but it mentions
> compatibility. I don't know about the libraries used on the original since
> I haven't done any programming on the Arduino. Twice the memory of the 2560
> and 80Mhz instead of the 16Mhz, 128K ram instead of 8K

Well, it's a PIC so it would likely require porting work. Entirely
different instruction set. Sure, you can still program PICs in C,
but there are non-trivial differences in how you program PICs vs.
AVRs.

Personally, if I were to change architecture, I'd look at an ARM
and not a PIC.

Dan

[Ethan Dicks]

On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 3:34 PM, Dan Newman <dan.n...@mtbaldy.us> wrote:
> Personally, if I were to change architecture, I'd look at an ARM
> and not a PIC.

I completely agree.

-ethan

[Ward Elder]

The MBED is an inexpensive yet powerful platform. We are looking at
using it in the Lasersaur project to replace the Arduino Uno. AND it
supports Ethernet with the addition of an RJ45 plug + magnetics. It
would be nice to not have to keep moving the SD card back and forth
between RepG and the TOM. Pain in the ***.

Thank you,

Ward M. Elder
ElderSoft
42 Appleton St.
Winnipeg, MB
R2G1K5
(204) 791-7754 (Cell)

wa...@eldersoft.ca

I completely agree.

-ethan

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[MiseryBot]

> Personally, if I were to change architecture, I'd look at an ARM
> and not a PIC.

This is my favorite PIC quote:

"In my opinion, the Microchip PIC series represents an almost
perfect triumph of marketing over engineering. "

http://drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/184406485

Frankly there must be some good in the PIC stuff, but the ARM is the
way of the future. Think of it. How many companies make PIC? One. How
many companies make AVR? One. ARM parts are made by Atmel, TI, ST,
Philips, Freescale and a bunch of others.

[charlestx]

Just wondering, do they just make a faster Arduino Mega 2560 that we
can use?

On Mar 22, 2:02 pm, Jamesarm97 <armstrong.ja...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Just received this email. Any thoughts on feasibility of getting the
> existing code to port? I haven't read over everything but it mentions
> compatibility. I don't know about the libraries used on the original since
> I haven't done any programming on the Arduino. Twice the memory of the 2560
> and 80Mhz instead of the 16Mhz, 128K ram instead of 8K
>
> Specs:
>

>    - Microchip® PIC32MX795F512 processor
>       - 80 Mhz 32-bit MIPS
>       - 512K Flash, 128K RAM
>       - USB 2.0 OTG controller
>       - 10/100 Ethernet MAC
>       - Dual CAN controllers
>    - Provides additional memory and advanced communications peripherals
>    - Compatible with many existing Arduino code examples, reference
>    materials and other resources
>    - Can also be programmed using Microchip's MPLAB® IDE (along with a

>    PICkit 3 and our PICkit3 Programming Cable Kit, seen below)

>    - Arduino™ "Mega" form factor
>    - Compatible with many Arduino™ shields
>    - 83 available I/O
>    - User LED
>    - Connects to a PC using a USB A -> mini B cable (not included)
>
> http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,892,894&Prod...http://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/5951840132/sizes/l/i...

[W. Craig Trader]

Not to defend the PIC architecture, but I'll point out that this processor is built around a 32-bit MIPS core, not the traditional PIC architecture.  It's just called a PIC.

Of course, I'd probably prefer ARM over MIPS, too.

- Craig -

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[clive...@gmail.com]

I understand it can be programmed with the Arduino IDE. I am pretty sure some libraries are not supported.

Best regards,
Clive

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from SmarTone-Vodafone

---

From: "W. Craig Trader" <craig....@gmail.com>

Sender: make...@googlegroups.com

Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:19:28 -0400

To: <make...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: make...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: [MakerBot] Possible Arduino Mega 2560 replacement?

[Gian Pablo]

I actually looked at this device a while back, precisely as a drop in replacement for the Arduino Mega in the Thing-o-matic. Most of the Arduino libraries have been ported, the MPIDE is basically a fork of the Arduino IDE that auto-selects the Microchip compiler when you select the target board as being a chipkit device. Getting it to work is probably straightforward.

However, the added speed and memory won't do much good with the current firmware. You'd really have to change to support native G-code, arcs, etc for the higher performance to really do anything.

[neoteric]

I really love the Parallax Propeller. It's cheap, fast, multicore,
and has a ton of code out there for servos, steppers, thermistors,
etc. It can drive color displays and can easily take an ethernet
jack, including the fact it can have a built in web server, etc.

You can program it in C, Assembler, Spin, or a ton of emulators such
as basic and cpm.

It has a lot of pins.

[Ward Elder]

The Propeller is a cool chip. Version 2 is about to be announced. It is faster with more memory. Very cool chip.
Thank you
Ward Elder
Eldersoft
(204) 791-7754

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