Kevin's Project FAQ ------------------- Version 1.00 07/27/99 Purpose of this document: I am writing this document to inform people as to the reasons why I cannot make available schematics, parts lists, etc. for my projects. Part 1: Legal Stuffs. --------------------- This document is the property of Kevin Horton, khorton@iquest.net and can be copied and transferred freely so long as nothing is charged for it, and it is not changed. If you wish to create your own document based on this one, please send me a pre-release copy so I can evaluate it. Part 2: Q&A. ------------ Q1? Why don't you make a schematic for project X available for download? A! Mainly because I don't make schematics in the first place. I do most of my design work with "skeleton" schematics, of just the important areas (for example on the SID player, the emulation/control address mapping switcher). I simply don't need or draw out the "standard" stuff which does not change like the main processor setup. D0 always goes to D0, no sense in writing it down. :-) For some reason I never write down the power supply section or much else either. I tend to use standard circuits for these that I've used in the past. A! Also, a schematic is not a magic piece of artwork, unlike what many people think. It does not tell you much other than how the parts are hooked up. It is not a board outline, and you have to manually connect each part up *exactly* as listed otherwise it most likely won't work, or it will work and be buggy, or worse the parts may explode! Not to mention the circuit's workings may rely on several programmed microcontrollers, microprocessors, EPROMs, EEPROMs, and programmable logic devices for it to function at all. (the SID player has 3 microcontrollers, 1 microprocessor, 1 EEPROM, 1 EPROM, and 1 programmable logic device). A! Do you know just how difficult it is to generate a perfect schematic for a device with 20-40 chips? It is incredibly difficult due to last minute design changes and other factors generally out of my control. A! And finally, the other reason is I do not want people sending me nasty e-mails such as "I bought $200 worth of parts and assembled it according to your schematic and it doesn't work! I hooked it up and all the chips exploded!" The quantity of crap in my in-box is high enough as it is, I don't need people who don't know how to hook TTL chips up properly sending even more. -- Q2? OK, since you don't want to *give* the schematic away, why not sell it? A! Basically it's too much trouble (See question #1), and even if I did, one person would buy it and copy it for all his friends. Even if that didn't happen, the number of people who would buy one is pretty small making my return on the investment a negative value. -- Q3? What about a parts list? Can you give me that? A! Maybe. I generally will list what is inside the unit with its description. Though I will only go as far as to list what chips and stuff were used, as well as a general basic outline for how the unit operates internally. As for a detailed parts list, there is no use to having one if you don't have a schematic or know how to wire stuff up. -- Q4? Since you won't give me a schematic or parts list, what about board artwork? A! Sorry, I don't give that out either. Many times I won't even make a board for a project, instead I'll just wire it up on some perfboard. And even if I do, I concider artwork a private thing which I don't like to give out (not to mention very few will know exactly what gerber and excellon format files are, or were to get single quantity boards made, and even then they will balk at the $200 price for a few boards). -- Q5? OK, mr. bigshot, won't you at least help me design/program/make my own? A! I do like very well aimed questions and will answer them to the best of my abilities, but please if you don't know what the heck a TTL chip is or how to program an FPGA or EPROM and ask don't be suprised if I don't answer you. But like I said, I do enjoy answering well-asked questions (like "did you use registered or clocked logic on your FPGA?). -- Q6? Will you give me the ROM for ? What about the FPGA fusemap for project X? A! No! Please do not ask for any ROMs, be them commercial or my own. I don't give them out under any circumstances. -- Q7? If I pay you, would you make me another of project X? A! Most likely not. The amount of money it would cost you is probably not worth it to you. For example, on my SID player, it would cost about $1500 or more to make another. Why? I'd have to spend hours and hours wiring it up, or designing a circuit board, then go out and buy the parts, solder them in, cut holes in the case, etc. Of course I do not want to do this unless it's for my use. Not to mention my time that is not used on my own projects costs money. -- Q8? But why would it be so expensive when I can go out and buy the latest DVD-RAM drive with the super-mega-32X speed attachment that also plays laserdisks for $300? A! Because you and most of America has been spoiled by cheap consumer electronics. Your typical products are made in huge quantities, in the millions of units at a time, in 3rd world countries by slave labour. They use all custom molded parts and custom-made components. My stuff is basically one-offs and I have to use standard parts and physically cut/bend/shape my own cosmetic parts (such as enclosures). I cannot afford the $100,000 tooling charge to make up a custom plastic case, for instance. -- Q9? But I reeely want Project X! I will pay you anything! A! Anything? Please tell. :-) --EOF--