At 11:56 AM 5/8/97 -0700, you wrote:
>All the recent talk about AP circuits inspires me to ask: what is
>a good tool for a hobbyist to use for doing PCB layout?  APC offers
>Easytrax, is that a good product?

Never used Easytrax.  I use SuperPCB from Mental Automation, generally
pleased with results.  http://www.mentala.com

>I've finished my first project, a servo controller.  It mostly
>works, but there is some unreliability, which I suspect is from
>motor noise and power dips when motors start up.  _Mobile Robots_
>suggests that these problems can be solved by putting a capacitor
>from power to ground, but they don't specify the size.

I've done quite a bit with servos.

Make sure you have VERY heavy traces to provide power to the servo.
Include a series resistor on the signal out of the PIC.  270 ohm minimum,
max varies with servo brand, 10K is reasonable for most, would go as high
as possible if I were you.  If in an RF environment, I suggest using
standard strategies to reduce noise - chokes, caps, shielding, etc.

Andy

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Andy Kunz - Montana Design - 409 S 6th St - Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
          Hardware & Software for Industry & R/C Hobbies
        "Go fast, turn right, and keep the wet side down!"
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