[CANCELLED] Project Caterpillar - Open Source 3RU DIY ASIC Miner

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Thanks for the kind words everyone, gives me some hope that the Bitcoin community isn't all scammers

And yes, I have learnt a lot from this. I've now aquired some BitFury sample chips, so I will likely be proceeding with a design based around that chip instead. At this point I'm thinking of a PCIe card with 4 or 8 chips. Still fleshing the idea out though.

Bitcoinorama

hero member

Activity: 532

Merit: 500

Sad, and angered for you. Cry

Onwards, and upwards dude.

kingcoin

sr. member

Activity: 262

Merit: 250

Sad. Your work and effort is not wasted as you have gained useful knowledge which you can apply elsewhere. Thank you for keeping us updated.

Foofighter

hero member

Activity: 882

Merit: 547

BTC Mining Hardware, Trading and more

Thanks anyway dude, for the great efforts!

Bicknellski

hero member

Activity: 924

Merit: 1000

Sorry for the loss of this project. Avalon killed another one.

Trillium

hero member

Activity: 546

Merit: 500

Sorry to hear it didn't work out, and good on ya for releasing the design info on github.

freedomno1

legendary

Activity: 1806

Merit: 1090

Learning the troll avoidance button :)

I hope so as well, the Avalon delays are making the DIY climate a challenge to say the least.
That said your efforts were and are appreciated even given the outcome if you ever start another project I will be watching.

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Thanks. It really was a hard decision to make for me, I've invested quite a lot of time into this - that's the reason I want to get one board working.

Hopefully Bkk and burnin have better luck...

freedomno1

legendary

Activity: 1806

Merit: 1090

Learning the troll avoidance button :)

Well thanks for your efforts

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Update 16th August 2013: The Caterpillar team have had a meeting and in light of the currently exponential increase in network difficulty and the continual delays regarding the Avalon chips come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to ROI with the Avalon chips, and have hence decided to cancel our project based around these chips.

This decision was not taken lightly and it was with a deep regret that this decision was reached. I currently have the components to build a single board with 7 chips and will be looking for 1 more sample chip, if anyone has one, so that I can build one board with 8 chips to prove that the design works. Once this has been completed I'll upload my design files to github under an open hardware license and will not be touching anything Avalon in the future.

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Quote from: Blisk on August 11, 2013, 05:40:12 AM

how far are you now with this project?

Sorry for the delay in replying here Blisk, I thought I had!

Like everyone else at the moment, we're waiting for the Avalon chips to arrive.

Blisk

sr. member

Activity: 412

Merit: 250

how far are you now with this project?

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

I have updated the design schematic at http://cryptominer.org/static-media/caterpillar/caterpillar-asic-miner-schematic.pdf to use the Texas Instruments TPS53353 buck regulator instead of the IR3895.

The TPS53353 is a higher current device (at 20A instead of 16A) and is easier to lay out. It is also available, which is rather important! The extra current means that at stock we should have a headroom of around 30% of the max rated current, which will allow a bit of overclocking if the thermal side of things turns out ok.

Blisk

sr. member

Activity: 412

Merit: 250

Ok if that is possible, than please if you can do one for me?

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Quote from: Blisk on July 18, 2013, 02:46:46 AM

I didn't mean assembled board, but empty board.

Ahh, yeah, that should be possible.

Blisk

sr. member

Activity: 412

Merit: 250

I didn't mean assembled board, but empty board.
Ok I will check your progress.

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Quote from: Blisk on July 17, 2013, 05:40:49 AM

Is there possible to get a board if you will do it for you to get one more for me I will pay for it?

At the moment, we have no plans on selling assembled boards, although that could be an option if there is enough interest. Check back with us once we get closer to being ready.

Blisk

sr. member

Activity: 412

Merit: 250

Yes I know the system. I think I can manage to put a board into factory where they have industrial soldering if I needed. because chips can be quickly dead if there is too hot.

Is there possible to get a board if you will do it for you to get one more for me I will pay for it?
I think there is for start better more testing to find out bugs, what you think?
If we can talk about it will be better on privat!

daemondazz

sr. member

Activity: 448

Merit: 250

Quote from: Blisk on July 17, 2013, 04:25:01 AM

I use to work alot with electronics and assembling boards when I maded a board by myself, but not with smd chips.
And ironing asic chips is not possible to a board at home because they have pins at the bottom.
So that's why I asked. But still If I get a board I can put all parts on it, it takes time but still.
Here is just a question of time. If you assemble this board at the end of the year it is question how much of bitcoin you can make it?
Or you can do it now?

I plan on having the board design completed in the next week or so and then the boards should take another week or so to be manufactured. While the boards are being manufactured we will be sourcing components and the server equipment. The goal is to have the system online and hashing before the end of August.

It is very possible to do reflow smd soldering at home. I'll be using the method outlined here: http://www.ahars.com.au/htm/hb_reflowsoldering.html

Blisk

sr. member

Activity: 412

Merit: 250

I use to work alot with electronics and assembling boards when I maded a board by myself, but not with smd chips.
And ironing asic chips is not possible to a board at home because they have pins at the bottom.
So that's why I asked. But still If I get a board I can put all parts on it, it takes time but still.
Here is just a question of time. If you assemble this board at the end of the year it is question how much of bitcoin you can make it?
Or you can do it now?

Topic: [CANCELLED] Project Caterpillar - Open Source 3RU DIY ASIC Miner (Read 17420 times)