All the necessary hardware was installed on the PCB. Small tactile switches from breadboarding were attached to the trigger and reload screw terminals. The LED strip was connected using the header pins that had already been soldered to it. The infrared receiver was connected through a breadboard and wires. All the LEDs were simply given visible light LEDs right into the screw terminals.
The LED strips were tested by connecting the Arduino to a computer and sending commands via a serial terminal. There was no difficulty getting the LED strip to change color. This was a straight connection between the Arduino pins and the screw terminals where the LED strip was connected.
The infrared receiver was also connected straight to the screw terminal pins. These connections were tested by blasting the receiver with a remote and checking for serial output. There were no problems.
An accelerometer was connected to its port and the computer called for a reading. Without any trouble, the Arduino sent back the desired information. One of the readings including a call while the accelerometer was being jostled to confirm that it was reading the accelerometer and not simply receiving static information. The test confirmed the accelerometer's viability.
The switches, trigger and reload, were tested. The reload button worked well but a trace for the trigger signal was broken with another microscopic break on the board.
As items were tested and verified, they were circled on the diagram sketched in a notebook. The trigger input was broken and all the outputs with transistors were broken.
It wasn't possible to confirm if the circuit was viable for a couple reasons. Too many of the traces were broken to know if any of the circuits were usable. The footprint pads for the transistor were so small that it was difficult to know if they were properly mounted.
There are two clear options at this point. The first option is to order professionally made boards and hope their quality is far above the ones made in my kitchen. For a second option, it would be possible to rework the board again with thicker traces and make more boards in my kitchen with the hope that this time the copper will withstand the etching process.
Downloads:
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/ and 24hourengineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, are not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on a post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2017-05-25 (Th)
Board assembled for testing
The LED strips were tested by connecting the Arduino to a computer and sending commands via a serial terminal. There was no difficulty getting the LED strip to change color. This was a straight connection between the Arduino pins and the screw terminals where the LED strip was connected.
Testing the LED strip
The infrared receiver was also connected straight to the screw terminal pins. These connections were tested by blasting the receiver with a remote and checking for serial output. There were no problems.
Testing infrared reception
An accelerometer was connected to its port and the computer called for a reading. Without any trouble, the Arduino sent back the desired information. One of the readings including a call while the accelerometer was being jostled to confirm that it was reading the accelerometer and not simply receiving static information. The test confirmed the accelerometer's viability.
Test data and the accelerometer
The switches, trigger and reload, were tested. The reload button worked well but a trace for the trigger signal was broken with another microscopic break on the board.
As items were tested and verified, they were circled on the diagram sketched in a notebook. The trigger input was broken and all the outputs with transistors were broken.
Good and failed test results
It wasn't possible to confirm if the circuit was viable for a couple reasons. Too many of the traces were broken to know if any of the circuits were usable. The footprint pads for the transistor were so small that it was difficult to know if they were properly mounted.
There are two clear options at this point. The first option is to order professionally made boards and hope their quality is far above the ones made in my kitchen. For a second option, it would be possible to rework the board again with thicker traces and make more boards in my kitchen with the hope that this time the copper will withstand the etching process.
Switching a transistor around
Downloads:
- Arduino firmware
- OpenSCAD code
- STL printable models
- STL printable pipe dividers
- Python Last-Man-Standing program
- Easy EDA
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/ and 24hourengineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, are not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on a post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2017-05-25 (Th)
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