Generation 3 Electronics

I cant seem to find any links to 3rd generation software. I can find the discussions for the code, but what sort of time scale is expected? 1 months, 6 months? I am planning to get the 3rd generation electronics pcbs and start making them. If I'm planning to get it finished by july, with no building started as yet, would generation 2 electronics be a better choice?

---

Nick Southon

Waiting around for the next generation of anything is rarely rewarding.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Thomas A. Edison

I was mainly checking that I hadn't missed a link to 3rd generation software Forrest. If it's the case that the software electronics aren't here yet, I'll take your advice and stick with 2 nd generation stuff until the software is up and running, and then I can get down to the business of SMT.

---

Nick Southon

I've added a link to the 3rd gen electronics page with a notice that it is still under development and hardly used in the field, mostly for that reason. To me, it seems almost ready for prime time and already would be a feasible option for some.

SMT seems hard to many, as it did to me, but I was able to solder the magnetic rotary encoder without flux or a hot air gun, tweezers or the reflow method. And this was my first time with SMT. Just using traditional soldering techniques, it's quite possible. I did need a little solder wick to correct a small mistake. I don't recommend doing it like this, you should get some simple SMT soldering tools, but don't be scared to easily. It even went faster than a PDIP board would go, because you don't need to clip wires. Actual completion took 'a bit longer' when I lost one of these tiny components (the magnet) which was picked up by another tool to be found months later

---

Regards,

Erik de Bruijn
[Ultimaker.com] - [blog.erikdebruijn.nl]

Thanks for all the replies, since the actual host and Slave software seems to be available, I'm assuming its a working solution, if possibly a big buggy/unoptimised. If so, I shall be ordering all the electronics next week, and will also start sorting out getting some bits laser cut out. Anyway, thanks for clearing this issue up

---

Nick Southon