Thin traces on the circuit board seemed responsible for a lot of the current problems. Many of the traces were broken or "open." If one or two broken traces ended up on a circuit board, they would simply be patched with some solder and wire, as they have ben fixed before. The regularity in these breaks led me to believe the problem was not worth patching.
The existing layout was saved but a new one was started with the intention of making thicker traces. Thicker traces should etch at home better. Professional fabrication shops shouldn't have any problems with the thin traces but anyone making their own boards based on this design may appreciate the ability to make boards at home.
Making the traces thicker meant having to rearrange components to keep the board roughly the same size. The accelerometer was moved underneath the microcontroller with the intention of mounting it on the underside of the board. Footprints for the transistors were replaced with a version that featured larger pads but the outline was backward.
***** If you copy this design, flip the transistors 180° *****
Most of the experimental techniques for making good transfers were tried but soaking the transfer paper had not been attempted. My hope was that it would disintegrate the paper and remove the need to peel it away. This was not the case.
Saturating the paper had an effect that was equally beneficial, even though the paper was not disintegrated. Peeling the limp paper away did provide very good conditions for a successful transfer. The results were worth repeating.
Everything for a successful build was done in a day and two boards were redesigned, printed, transferred, etched, and drilled.
Separating the boards last time was done with industrial table shears which were not available when these boards were ready to be split. This time, a razor and straight-edge were used to make score lines on both sides of the board and snap them in half. Each edge of the board sanded afterward
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.
2017-05-26 (F)
The existing layout was saved but a new one was started with the intention of making thicker traces. Thicker traces should etch at home better. Professional fabrication shops shouldn't have any problems with the thin traces but anyone making their own boards based on this design may appreciate the ability to make boards at home.
Making the traces thicker meant having to rearrange components to keep the board roughly the same size. The accelerometer was moved underneath the microcontroller with the intention of mounting it on the underside of the board. Footprints for the transistors were replaced with a version that featured larger pads but the outline was backward.
***** If you copy this design, flip the transistors 180° *****
Rearrangement of components and thicker traces
The thicker traces are move evident in this close-up
Most of the experimental techniques for making good transfers were tried but soaking the transfer paper had not been attempted. My hope was that it would disintegrate the paper and remove the need to peel it away. This was not the case.
Water-logging the transfer paper
Saturating the paper had an effect that was equally beneficial, even though the paper was not disintegrated. Peeling the limp paper away did provide very good conditions for a successful transfer. The results were worth repeating.
Peeling away wet, limp paper
Everything for a successful build was done in a day and two boards were redesigned, printed, transferred, etched, and drilled.
Two complete boards
Separating the boards last time was done with industrial table shears which were not available when these boards were ready to be split. This time, a razor and straight-edge were used to make score lines on both sides of the board and snap them in half. Each edge of the board sanded afterward
Boards ready to be broken apart
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.
2017-05-26 (F)
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