Tom=E1s =D3 h=C9ilidhe wrote:
> I'm a beginner hobbyist that aspires to make high-volume products :-D
> If I can do it cheaper with PIC16F684 in conjunction with basic logic
> chips like shift registers, then I'll consider it!

If this is truly a high volume product, then you need to look at all factors
that impact cost, like board size, complexity, testing costs, and pick and
place costs.  While external discrete multiplexing hardware may be the right
answer, it's not immediately obvious that this wins over a larger PIC or a
I/O expander without figuring it out carefully.  Have you considered how
you're going to test this in volume manufacturing?  Sometimes a little extra
hardware in the gizmo is needed to make sure all components or data paths
get verified.  This may put you over the edge.  Unfotunately this is
fogotten all too often, especially by beginners.

You also need to make sure that whatever you do is rock solid, taking into
account the full range of possible parameters in the data sheets.  Cutting
some corners is OK when you're making one and can test it carefully.  When
you build a high number, some are statistically going to fall into the range
you didn't design for.  This can get expensive, especially when the failures
only occur in the field due to temperature extremes or whatever.


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