[Guide] Microcontroller Boards

Various user-contributed guides for hardware-related things
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Fleder
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[Guide] Microcontroller Boards

Post by Fleder » Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:03 am

Well, hello there,

here i wanted to list the known microcontroller boards that are available and usable for several projects.
All of these can be used as a USB HID.

Teensy LC
the original one
Image
Cost: ~12€
I/O: 27
Size: ~36x18mm
Buy: 1 2

Arduino Leonardo / Arduino Pro Micro clone (ATmega32u4)
the cheap alternative
Image
Cost: ~3€
I/O: 18 (16)
Size: ~33x18mm
Buy: 1 2

Arduino Micro R3 clone (ATmega32u4)
like the one above but with more I/O
Image
Cost: ~7€
I/O: 20
Size: ~48x18mm
Buy: 1 2

tinyAVR ATTiny167/Digispark Pro
the smaller alternative - No USB Pads on the back side (thanks [mention]Camble[/mention])!
Image
Cost: ~3€
I/O: 14
Size: ~28x18mm
Buy: 1 2 3

tinyAVR ATTiny85
the microcontroller for ants - 2 Versions available (female/male) - aka Digispark Digistump
ImageImage
Cost: ~1,50€
I/O: 6 (2 occupied by USB Data)
Size: ~23x18mm / ~26x19mm
Buy: 1 2 3 4 5 6

DFRobot Beetle
based on the Leonardo - originally from dfrobot
Image
Cost: ~7,00€
I/O: 10
Size: ~22x20mm
Buy: 1 2 3 4

BS Micro/CJMCU/Adafruit Beetle
like a ATTiny85 with more I/O
Image
Cost: ~5,00€
I/O: 10
Size: ~28x20mm
Buy: 1 2 3

IOIO-OTG
more GPIO? - Chip: PIC24FJ256GB210 - official website
Image
Cost: ~17,00-40,00€
I/O: 46
Size: ~69x31mm
Buy: 1 2 3 4

LilyTiny
a small microcontroller with a round shape - originally from the Arduino Series (ATTiny85)
Image
Cost: ~2,50€
I/O: 9
Size: ~25mm
Buy: 1 2

LilyPad
a small microcontroller with a round shape - originally from the Arduino Series (ATMega32u4)
Image
Cost: ~6,00€
I/O: 11
Size: ~50mm
Buy: 1 2

The prices are either from the official shops or gearbest, banggood, dx or aliexpress.

.
BE AWARE: Those cheap ATmega328 Boards will not work as a Keyboard/Gamepad!
So stick with Boards that use MKL26Z64VFT4, ATmega32u4, ATTiny167, ATTiny85 and PIC24FJ256GB210.
.
Last edited by Fleder on Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:28 am, edited 19 times in total.

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Tamasco
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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by Tamasco » Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:59 am

What is the main difference between Teensy LC and Arduino Leonardo? Apart from the price. They both work for the same purpose, right? The others are also the same?

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Fleder
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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by Fleder » Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:59 am

Tamasco wrote:What is the main difference between Teensy LC and Arduino Leonardo? Apart from the price. They both work for the same purpose, right? The others are also the same?
Yes, they do.
I used a 32u4 Clone with another Button Board and so far it works great.
But you need to alter the sketches for the non-Teensy Boards.

I am still waiting on the three different Tiny boards, so i could not test them myself yet.
But reading those datasheets, they should work great as a USB HID.

Just be aware of the useable pin differences.
For the GBZ that wermy built you need 12.

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Fleder
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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by Fleder » Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:16 am

Whew! There are certainly a lot of microcrontrollers around that can be used as a USB HID.

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chiz
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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by chiz » Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:52 pm

@Fleder
Do you a specific recommend board among the boards you listed that's closest to the teensy LC in terms of compatibility and no. of pins avaliable for the buttons?

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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by gargoyle67 » Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:08 pm

Being clones do they programe the same as the Teensy ? I may try the "tinyAVR ATTiny167" out.

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Fleder
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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by Fleder » Thu Jun 30, 2016 2:12 am

chiz wrote:@Fleder
Do you a specific recommend board among the boards you listed that's closest to the teensy LC in terms of compatibility and no. of pins avaliable for the buttons?
The Leonardo or Pro Micro as they are named are pretty much the same. Every 32u4 with enough I/Os as such.
For the GBZ you only need 12 I/Os for instance. I am using one with the button PCB and it works great. I just had to alter the sketch.

This is the one i am using:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shi ... .96.zkIviv
gargoyle67 wrote:Being clones do they programe the same as the Teensy ? I may try the "tinyAVR ATTiny167" out.
I was not able to use the sketch that wermy provided for the Teensy. And i am still waiting on the ATTiny Modules to arrive, so i can't tell you much about those and the programming. But the 32u4 really work great.

Here is the Sketch i wrote for the second one in the list: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B17ug ... HJOVkQ3Nk0
It has 4 Shoulder buttons predefined if you want to use them for a PSX controller or something like that. If not, just ignore them or delete those parts in the sketch, if you need the I/Os for something else.

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Camble
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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by Camble » Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:00 pm

A word for anyone considering the tinyAVR ATTiny167/Digispark Pro...

This board lacks the USB pads on the reverse that the Teensy LC has. Just something to be aware of.

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Re: Microcontroller Boards

Post by ChunkeeMunkee » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:20 pm

Camble wrote:This board lacks the USB pads on the reverse that the Teensy LC has
Ah, nuts... Hadn't really thought about the impact of this until I clapped eyes on the board!

@Fleder - any joy with the ATTiny167? Just looking myself at how to get one up and running?

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Camble
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Re: [Guide] Microcontroller Boards

Post by Camble » Wed Aug 03, 2016 2:03 am

@ChunkeeMunkee I don't see it as a problem, it will just be a little bit more fiddly to attach wires to. I'll be removing the micro USB port from mine and soldering directly to the board.

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