Download
With the demise of the parallel port, a simple way for a Python script to control external hardware has disappeared. The goal of this project is to use relatively simple hardware like an Arduino Nano and the Microchip MCP23S17 port expander as an extensible bit banger.
Ideally, all hardware should be leaded and breadboard friendly for easy project prototyping.
The ELEGOO Nano is used as an USB RS232 to SPI controller to control the port expander. This fits nicely on a breadboard and has sufficient resources to control a very large number of bits.
The Nybble protocol, https://sourceforge.net/projects/nybbler, is used to communicate between Python and and port expander chips.
Tkinter is used for both the GUI and as a thread manager for the serial port interface. This makes it possible to have a simple plug and play application.
Nattya, https://sourceforge.net/projects/nattya/, a hex friendly TTY interface is used for debug because the Arduino IDE doesn't support hex RS232 data.
Features
- Python controlled hardware using an Arduino Nano as an SPI interface.
- 100% open source.
- Event driven programming model using both Python and Arduino callback functions with parameter passing.
Project Samples
