I've moved jobs from EDM to a small company named VarTech Systems, Inc. We build touch-screen computers and, to a smaller extent, touch-screen monitors. Here, I am the Quality Badger, an inside joke referencing the Honey Badger and the recurring phrase "doesn't give a s4", largely because I find problems, report them, and "do not give a...".
But I also perform engineering jobs: since we are short an EE at this location I'm it! We do thermal testing here (on-site) on our products (that's how we know at which temperatures they run, and where they are liable to fail) and while we use some top-grade T-Type Thermocouples [(+) Copper, (-) Constantin/Copper/Nickel, good for -250°C to 350°C with a 0.75% error margin] we have no data logger for output.
I am building a thermocouple-based data logger. I designed it with ten channels in mind - big enough for just about anything we're doing - and everything was good until I realized I needed a Maxim MAX31855 Thermocouple-to-Digital Converter for each channel - thus the need for a 3.3 VDC rail that will successfully feed them all.
Yesterday's approach was simply a flight of fancy, something obtuse enough to get attention and maybe start a conversation; talking communicating with fellow Ufies makes my creative juices flow, if I can get their attention (they're always busy!) I'm always inspired. AndyA gave me a link to TI that totally blew me away - and got them the sale!
I was originally going to use a Parallax BASIC Stamp (because I know the MCU very well), but decided that a multicore approach might be just what the doctor ordered. So I shifted to using the Propeller (8 32-bit cores, no waiting...) and it has opened my eyes to a whole new level of detail. For instance, this data logger has the capacity to take readings at the 1-second level: I'm not even sure that's necessary for a Thermal Datalogger! But that's the level of detail that I've designed for - if they collect fewer data points it's not a loss, the machine will barely notice. And since I'm using the Gadget Gangster proto-USB board, it looks as though I may have the capacity to store-and-forward datapoints. I don't have enough depth on that bench yet to say (or not). Right now I'm finishing up the power supply, then I'll get the other parts in, and we'll start programming it (in Spin, naturally).
So, that's everything I can think of, no nutshell provided.
And yes, I believe we're in different hemispheres; I'm working in Clemmons, North Carolina, USA, middle-eastern North America. And since we arrive here at 0730 (or so) in the morning, we get to go home at (or about) 1600, but I almost always stay late (I enjoy what I do). Which kinda' explains why we seem to miss each other.
|
