Gaussmeter Kit Group-Buy

[RedHouse]

A box of 100 screws costs almost nothing, so the simplest solution is to choose metric and provide the screws. If the posts are threaded, then two threads per post will allow one to mount to a plate. Throw a few extras in the box as insurance against lost or malformed screws.

This is $0.14 per screw. MSC Item Detail

Some of my local hardware stores do carry M4 hardware, the Ace Hardware chain does in fact sell over the web (although they don't make a lot of noise about it), and MSC has an infinite supply.

Geez Joe, can I get ya a fry and a coke with that too? maybe rub your feet? wash your car?

The simplest solution? lets review...I'm doing this for nothing, spent countless hours over the last 4 weeks on this forum and traveling, with gas at $2.65/Gal I've driven 20 miles to meet with Wolfe, 20 miles (and a $22 Ferry ride) to meet Jason and now here we are at the end of this thing and you also want me to buy a box of screws for $14.09 and pay $8 shipping to my house ...and throw a few extras in the box as insurance against lost or malformed screws? ...that's the simplest solution?".
(not mention I still have to sort and box-up 18 orders and take then to the Post Office 3 miles away)

That's classic Joe.

Sorry if it sounds like a rant, but I was kinda thinking I went the full mile already, if you really can't get your own screws and Bruce can't deal with it, then I suppose I can. Everyone will need to send more money.

[David Schwab]

I say lets go with M4 threads in the standoffs. If everyone has to get their own screws, so be it!

It beats having to find the right standoffs and the screws.

[StarryNight]

Being Canadian eh, we've got a whole bunch of metric up here. Even the weather is metric! You can't swing a dead cat without hitting something metric. Brad I can volunteer to send you a box of M4 screws if you want. It's obvious you've gone the extra mile (literally). Let me know.

[Bruce Johnson]

No need to get everyone else involved....I'll make up the standoffs and provide the screws and mail them all to Brad to distribute with the kits. This kind of hardware stuff is routine for me, and I'm glad to contribute to this group project.

We'll go with 7/16" long standoffs, threaded M4 in both ends. Is 1/4" OD okay, or should they be smaller for clearance? Aluminum or Delrin? It's (4) standoffs and (8) screws per kit x (20) kits, right?

Do we need another set of standoffs to hold the whole assembly from the front panel of the enclosure? Let me know. The deadline will be whenever Brad is ready to ship the kits.

Brad, if there are any other details or questions, it may be better to e-mail me directly. I don't always check this forum every day. (And it's getting really hard to find the ends of the threads!)

[RedHouse]

That would be very cool, thanks to both of you for stepping up. Bruce you have the ball.

We will have to be carefull with getting the length correct on the threaded portion of the screws, I'm calculating it would have to be no more than 8mm because the stand-off will be like 11mm+

But first, look at the data sheet and confirm it's a 4M please:

http://www.newhavendisplay.com/index...-FSW-FBW-L.pdf

I will have to wait until the Mouser parts show up to confirm on my end because I already reamed the holes out on the test unit to accept 4-40's.

Actual Dimensions:
Space between the two boards (LCD & PIC) is: 10.92mm (.430")
LCD Board is (double sided - double layer) is: 1.06mm (.063")
PIC PCB stock I use for this is: 1.54mm (.060")
Washers are .55mm (.022")

Lets not go south of the above measurements because we might encounter manufacturing tolerances with the header/socket arrangement.

The header/socket when fully seated are the components that dictate the minimum distance between boards.

The Newhaven LCD module board is a double layer - double sided board and we dont want to bend or otherwise distort it structurally when screwing it down.

[automan]

UPDATE:

This group-buy was closed 8-1-2009

There has been a new development dealing with the international currency exchange. When I went to Paypal Elepro the funds we didn't get the same Dollar-to-Euro currency exchange rate as we would have got a month ago when this first started. Apparently it has gone up (for us) so our $27 PIC is now $30 and since we have to pay the Paypal (15euro) that went up too.

So... we all need to ante-up another $3.06.
(David Schwab and Bruce Johnson will have PM's)

I covered the difference and we can fugure out how to get this settled before I ship out the packages.

Three parts from Mouser are on back-order so we will have an additional 1-week (estimated) wait for the Mouser stuff. I'm sure Elepro will post when he ships our PIC's.

I sent extra just in case something like this happened. Let me know if I need to send more.

[RedHouse]

I sent extra just in case something like this happened. Let me know if I need to send more.

automan and Jeff Callahan are good, no need for them to send the extra $3.00 sorry, I should have made that clear this morning.

I'll try to keep updating post #253 above until the Edit button disappears in that post.

[RedHouse]

...Do we need another set of standoffs to hold the whole assembly from the front panel of the enclosure?...

Probably.

I measured 8.3mm from the LCD's board to the top of the LCD screen, but the data sheet specify's 8.6mm.
(dimension T1 on the data sheet)

So bruce, for this top part wouldn't we just need a spacer with longer screw?.

To clairfy we're on the same page, we're calling a stand-off a threaded thing and a spacer an un-threaded thing right?.

[Arndawg56]

The simplest solution? lets review...I'm doing this for nothing, spent countless hours over the last 4 weeks on this forum and traveling, with gas at $2.65/Gal I've driven 20 miles to meet with Wolfe, 20 miles (and a $22 Ferry ride) to meet Jason and now here we are at the end of this thing and you also want me to buy a box of screws for $14.09 and pay $8 shipping to my house ...and throw a few extras in the box as insurance against lost or malformed screws? ...that's the simplest solution?".
(not mention I still have to sort and box-up 18 orders and take then to the Post Office 3 miles away)

I just sent you an extra $10.00 Red House. I feel that you should not have to pay a penny out of pocket for anything, let alone all the hours youve put in, and we should show our appreciation by chipping in for your parts. I know not everyone will feel this way, and that some probably can not afford any more.
So seeing that you are a very generous guy (also knowing how much work you put into making those PCB's so nice) keep the ten as a gesture of my appreciation.

And thanks again
-Dawg-

[RedHouse]

I just sent you an extra $10.00 Red House. I feel that you should not have to pay a penny out of pocket for anything, let alone all the hours youve put in, and we should show our appreciation by chipping in for your parts. I know not everyone will feel this way, and that some probably can not afford any more.
So seeing that you are a very generous guy (also knowing how much work you put into making those PCB's so nice) keep the ten as a gesture of my appreciation.
And thanks again
-Dawg-

Hey, keep talking like that I might need ya as my PR man!

All kidding aside, I appreciate it Dawg, thanks.

[spy]

Brad, check your PayPal account....

[Bruce Johnson]

That would be very cool, thanks to both of you for stepping up. Bruce you have the ball.

We will have to be carefull with getting the length correct on the threaded portion of the screws, I'm calculating it would have to be no more than 8mm because the stand-off will be like 11mm+

But first, look at the data sheet and confirm it's a 4M please:

Okay, the first thing is that the screws we need are M2.5, not M4. The holes in the LCD PCB are sized for M2.5, which is around 0.098". You had to ream them to fit a 4-40, which is 0.110".

I'll work it all out today, but yes, my hardware kit will probably be:
(4) standoffs threaded M2.5 all the way through, to go between the boards,
(4) spacers with through holes to go between the LCD board and front panel,
(4) short M2.5 screws to go in the back
(4) long M2.5 screws to go in from the front, through the spacer and into the standoff.

I'll get these parts together and mail them out by the end of the week.

[spy]

Nice...

[RedHouse]

UPDATE:

This group-buy was closed 8-1-2009

The latest bump in the road is dealing with international currency exchange rates.

We didn't get the same Dollar-to-Euro currency exchange rate as we would have got a month ago when this first started and when we developed the participant cost figure. It has gone up (for us) and our $27 PIC is now $30 and since we have to pay the Paypal (15euro) that went up too.

So... we all need to ante-up another $3.06.

(I covered the difference with my Visa card for now, but we'll need to get this settled before I ship out the packages)

STATUS:

Funds have been transfered to and received by Elepro, he will post a message here when he ships the PIC's.

Mouser has shipped all but 3 parts on back-order so we will have an additional 1-week (estimated).



Those who have sent their $3.00 Currency/Exchange rate adjustment:

Redhouse
David Schwab
JasonG
spy
firewire
Bruce Johnson
Arndawg56
LtKojak
mkat
automan
Dave Kerr
JohnH
defaced
David King
StarryNight
mickmutante
Jeff Callahan
52Bill
Joe Gwinn

[RedHouse]

Okay, the first thing is that the screws we need are M2.5, not M4. The holes in the LCD PCB are sized for M2.5, which is around 0.098". You had to ream them to fit a 4-40, which is 0.110".

I'll work it all out today, but yes, my hardware kit will probably be:
(4) standoffs threaded M2.5 all the way through, to go between the boards,
(4) spacers with through holes to go between the LCD board and front panel,
(4) short M2.5 screws to go in the back
(4) long M2.5 screws to go in from the front, through the spacer and into the standoff.

I'll get these parts together and mail them out by the end of the week.

Thanks for checking the sheet, I saw those figures and wasn't sure if it read 4 or 2.5 ...good catch.

This sounds like a lot of material 152 standoffs & spacers, 152 screws, are you sure we shouldn't be sending you some compensation? IMHO it's nice to volunteer labor, but parts cost money out-of-pocket and I usually insist people pay for their parts when I'm doing labor-exchanges or volunteer work.

I'm sure there are a few who will be saying "shut up he's doing it for free" but that's not how I roll. Let us know, we could always Paypal you directly.