I have lynx 6 robotic arm using ssc-32 servo controller with Atmega8 microchip. I recently tried to create my own PIC codes using basic atom to make the robot move to a specific trajectory. For this reason, I calculated the arm angles for the points I need the robot to move to, and then used this angles to create my PIC codes in Basic Atom. But I haven’t been able to send these codes to ssc-32 with basic atom, because basic atom can only recogine basic atom microchips. Can anybody help me about how to send these codes to ssc-32 and make the robot move regarding to these codes? Thanks you very much for your help.
You won’t be able to plug a standard PIC into an ABB. If I understand you correctly, you’ve programmed a PIC with ASM, BASIC or C; an want to run this PIC code in a PIC.
If so, you need to find a board that takes regular PIC chips. A PICDEM from Microchip will work, or try Sparkfun or Dontronics for a PIC board.
I like the board (and book) at PICBOOK.COM
Tell us more and maybe we can help. Search this forum for “PIC” and you should find some good threads on what’s been done already.
Alan KM6VV
Check out the BOT40 and BOT40-II boards from Oricom Technologies. The will accept any PIC that is pin compatible with the 16F877A, such as the 18F4620 and 18F4680.
8-Dale
Thank you KM6VV for the explanation but I was told by the lynx 6’s builders that I could write my own pic codes for the pic chip and it can tell the SSC-32 what to do without replacing the original pic codes in ssc-32. how do I create this chain to make the ssc-32 servo controller perform my motions? I’m not well informed in electronics, so, deep details are appreciated on how to make ssc-32 read my pic codes. thank you very much…
PIC codes? Do you mean Atom BASIC code? C code? PIC ASM code??
There are no “PIC” codes in the SSC32. Some of the ABB boards use a PIC module, which loads BASIC code. You can add step sequences to the Atom BASIC source code, re-compile and download to the Atom chip.
The SSC32 does not read “PIC” codes. you send ASCII strings of characters to it. “#1P1500T1000/r”.
Other then that, I don’t know what you’re asking.
Alan KM6VV
If by “told” you mean you called here, then I would have answered the call. The SSC-32 uses an Atmel chip, not a PIC chip. I really have no idea what you are trying to do. Sorry…
The thing is, I wrote some codes in basic atom and tried to load those on ssc-32. is it possible to load Basic Atom codes on ssc-32. if possible, how do I do that? because I recently tried to load my basic atom codes on ssc-32. but Basic Atom didn’t recognize Atmega8 (I think this is because Basic Atom can only program basic atom chips, is that right?)
You can’t “load” anything onto the SSC32. It’s an ATmega8 chip, which you CAN re-program with a C compiler or ASM. What are the “codes” you’re trying to load? Again, You “SEND” commands to the SSC32 via the RS-232 interface.
And now you’re describing it the other way around? Atom BASIC is one language/module, ATmega8 is another chip w/ it’s C or ASM code.
Atom BASIC code is for the Atom modules. Correct.
Please read the tutorials on the LM website.
Alan KM6VV
dear KM6VV, I understand that the only way to reprogram the circuit is using AVR or C programmer. but there is something that confuses me. there is a tutorial in LM.
lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj53a.htm
in this link, a basic atom/ssc-32 tutorial is given. what does this stand for, then?
That tutorial is showing you how a Basic Atom can send TTL serial commands to the SSC-32. The SSC-32 can get it’s commands from a PC, or from a microcontroller. You’re not programming the SSC-32 with Atom code, you’re simply programming the Basic Atom to send the positioning commands to the SSC-32.
can you please define the difference between Atom code and basic atom? Aren’t they the same thing?
Basic Atom is the device. Basic code or Atom code is the program.
Allright, all these explanations that are done so far exress that I suck! because I was expecting for a circuit that I could program with basic stamp or basic atom. but now I face Atmel. There all starts over! somethign makes me feel that I2m dead 
You don’t suck. 
You don’t need to program the SSC-32. You just need to program something else, like an Atom, to send the proper commands to the SSC-32. Don’t be so hard on yourself!
You connect an SSC-32 board to the Bot Board II via a serial port (TTL, two or three wire) which has either a Basic Atom or Atom PRO chip on it. You program the Basic Atom/Atom PRO chip on the Bot Board to control the SSC-32, read sensors, and respond to sensor imputs. The Basic Atom or Atom PRO is the 28 pin chip on the Bot Board II. You use the Basic Atom or Atom PRO IDE on your PC to write your program, compile it, and send the code to the Basic Atom or Atom PRO on the Bot Board II. You have to use the right IDE for each processor.
Think of the Basic Atom or Atom PRO as the computer and the SSC-32 as just a peripheral board like something you would (and could) connect to a PC. The Basic Atom/Atom PRO on the Bot Board II takes the place of the PC.
You do NOT have to deal with Atmel in order to use the SSC-32. The SSC-32 is programmed to accept standard text commands coming to it from a serial port like “#0 P1500” which would send the servo connected to channel #0 to position 1500 (center). You don’t need to program the SSC-32 board to use it - it’s already progammed to be the best servo controller there is. 
8-Dale
In this tutorial, an Atom BASIC board is being connected up to an SSC32 board via a serial link. The sample BASIC code instructs the SSC32 board to move the servos.
The title of the tutorial is
“Controlling an Arm with the Bot Board (Basic Atom) and the SSC-32”
Which means these TWO boards are used in conjunction to control an Arm. “basic atom/ssc-32” does not mean that these are the SAME board, or do the same; rather, they work TOGETHER to accomplish a task. i.e., control the arm.
The SSC32 is “just a board” that accepts strings of ASCII characters to control R/C servos. The ABB (Atom Bot Board) is just a little controller board (computer) that creates and SENDS ASCII text string commands to the SSC32 board.
There you go!
HTH
well, that does explain everything, thanks for the explanation. what was missing in my work was a bot board II… I don’t have that board at that moment and I have no time to reorder and try to use it, unfortunatelly. thank you all anyway…
Is is possible to control lynx 6 with only bot board II and without using ssc-32 or anything else like that?
Possible yes, but it’s definetely a lot more difficult to program for smooth motion.
Is it possible to:
a) use a laptop to give a sequence of strings of ASCII to the SSC32
b) the SSC32 stores the strings in its little memory chip
c) take the laptop away
d) turn the SSC32 on
e) the SSC32 performs the ASCII moves stored in its memory autonomously