We continue working on the Bus Pirate Edu Kit documentation. The image above is used in an exercise where you build your own Bus Pirate LCD adapter on the bread board using only a 74HCT595 and a potentiometer. It’s the schematic representation of the 3D model image released yesterday.
Packed components for (re)working projects in Shenzhen next week. Pre-paid Q1 estimated taxes
Fusion PCB Service – 4 layers is now available at Seeed Studio:
Now, let’s talk about today’s focal point— 4-layer Fusion PCB Service. Since providing 2-layer Fusion PCB service, we’ve received inquiries about 4-layer PCB constantly. Today, we are psyched to bring this service to you all! Our 4-layer Fusion PCB Service has the following features:
- Economical price: It only costs you $39.90 to start prototyping your own design. For some most common-seen PCB sizes, we could also provide generous discounts.
- Multiple quantity choices: About quantity, we provide 6 choices: 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100, to better meet your real demands.
- Multiple choices in thickness and colors.
- Totally free 100% E-test
rng has been working on a new PCB CAD tool called Razen:
Razen is a collaborative, scriptable schematic and PCB layout tool. Currently in development, a first alpha release will be available by April.
Via the forum.
This video by Kerimil demonstrates his method for sending data to the internet with an Arduino and Android phone.
Via Hacked Gadgets.
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday.
Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:
Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”
EmbeddedLab has a series of chipKIT tutorials online. This series is excellent for MCU newbies and anyone unfamiliar with working with the chipKIT platform. Check them out!
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon.
Coming up:
On Tuesday I leave to spend a month working on new projects in Shenzhen. Here are the parts I’m taking with me. Everything could be bought there, but that would waste a ton of time. This a good assortment if small smd stuff. Resistor kit, key capacitor values, regulators, LEDs, a few chips, crystals, and connectors. Most of it is on our standard part list or on reels in the pick and place machine. What parts would you take?
Bill Farrow fixed the Seagate 7200.11 hard drive firmware BSY bug with the Bus Pirate:
I quickly diagnosed the problem down to a dead HDD. A quick google search later and I discover that I have been hit by the well known Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 BSY bug. Too many power cycles on the drive and it stops working.
Using the following DIY guide, I was able to recover the disk drive by connecting to the diagnostic serial port on the drive using my Bus Pirate.
Via Twitter.
Get an assembled Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.
Today we concentrated on filming, editing and posting the reflow hot plate video. We continue working on the Bus Pirate Edu Kit documentation. The image above is used in an exercise where you build your own Bus Pirate LCD adapter on the bread board using only a 74HCT595 and a potentiometer.
You can get an assembled version of the Bus Pirate v4 LCD adapter for $9 at Seeed.
Bus Pirate v4 is back in stock at Seeed Studio. The Bus Pirate is an open source hacker multi-tool that talks to electronic stuff. It’s got a bunch of features an intrepid hacker might need to prototype their next project.
You can get a Bus Pirate v4 for $40, including worldwide shipping.
John Boxall over at Tronixstuff has a series of Arduino tutorials. This chapter forty-nine of a series will show you how to use KTM-S1201 LCD modules with an Arduino:
After looking for some displays to use with another (!) clock, I came across some 12-digit numeric LCD displays. They aren’t anything flash, and don’t have a back light – however they were one dollar each. How could you say no to that? So I ordered a dozen to try out. The purpose of this tutorial is to show you how they are used with an Arduino in the simplest manner possible.
This week we take a look at the 946A+ solder reflow hot plate from our last Shenzhen equipment haul. There’s a ton of no-name 946A+ out there, ours happens to be D-GOLD. They’re all pretty similar, and run about $50 in Shenzhen.
Using a kitchen hot plate is a common hack for DIY reflow soldering, even SparkFun has used them. This is the industrial version, actually intended for reflow soldering and board preheating. The difference is the big block of metal surrounding the heating element, it has more thermal mass and and spreads the heat more evenly than a lightweight kitchen hot plate can.
Many people prefer these to a reflow soldering oven because the PCB is exposed and you can tweak the component positioning on the fly. The downside is that the solder paste heat profiles can’t really be adhered to, at least without constant attention. Our strategy is to preheat the board to a lower temperature, then ramp it up to let the solder melt.
To demonstrate how it works, and compare to the reflow oven demo, we’ll use Sjaak’s RGB controller PCB as a test. We applied the solder paste with the solder paste dispenser, and manually placed the hand-full of parts on the board.
For more than one board you might speed things up with a solderpaste stencil. Generally the board and stencil require some kind of frame and unwieldy rig, but the Stencil8 board is a great alternative. Thanks to Arachnid Labs for arranging it.
We’re using ancient Mechanic Paste solder paste, a standard lead/tin mix. We’ll borrow from the reflow oven profile and start off at 180C. After the plate warms up the PCB goes on. After a few seconds it warms and the flux starts to activate. Now we crank the temperature to 240C and watch for the grey solder paste to melt into shiny solder.
When the plate reaches 240C we turn it off and let the board cool naturally for 10 minutes, like the natural cool phase of the reflow oven. After 10 minutes the board comes off, slightly charred. We probably cooked it a little too hot and long, but the result is perfectly usable.
This is way more involved than the reflow oven, and there’s always the looming hazard of an exposed hot metal plate to fall into. Overall we still prefer the reflow oven for one-offs, but definitely see the appeal of the hot plate in a small workshop.
This video by Diego Spinola demonstrates his project VIMPHIN an early prototype:
I’ve been developing the VIMPHIN as part of my masters degree project , this is the first prototype of it and the next one will include Haptic Feedback. hopefully once everything is done we’ll have an OSHW Haptic Device … maybe even kits! who knows the virtual skybox is the limit =]
Would you like a pcb of your HackEDA generated design made for you (for free)? …
I’m testing something out, and I need sample designs. If you’re willing to assemble the board yourself and give me feedback on how it went, I’ll lay your design out, route it, have it made and send it to you in the mail. All you need to do is give me feedback as you assemble and use it. (You’ll need to buy your own components). That’s it. Free until my test panel fills up. Generate as many designs as you want, but limit 1 free pcb per person.
FourthDr tweeted this article on EEWeb PULSE about Programming with Low-Cost JTAG tools that references the Bus Pirate:
I would recommend the Bus Pirate as a very low cost programming tool (and it’s useable for so many other things too!). I have even written a guide on how you use it, which is available here(PDF!).
Thanks FourthDr & EEWeb!
Get your own Bus Pirate for $30, including worldwide shipping.
London’s First Maker Faire Celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology, Art and Craft Comes to the London College of Communication in July. The first ever Maker Faire in London is being held in Elephant & Castle on Saturday, 6th July 2013 at the London College of Communication (LCC). The Elephant & Castle Mini Maker Faire will be open from 10:00–18:00, entry is free and open to all. The Maker Faire is a day of family friendly making, learning, crafting, inventing and tinkering in the heart of London. Be inspired by arts, crafts, engineering, science and technology from the Makers of the capital. Best of all entry is free and there will be many of opportunities to get hands on!
CALL FOR MAKERS! We are looking for talented Makers and Crafters to exhibit their projects at the Maker Faire, visit our website to find out what we are looking for and get Making. The deadline is Sunday, 14th April 2013.
Mark you calendar!
We applied for Bay Area Maker Faire table and presentation. Only two days left! Check out the video from our last years visit.
Updated the “Buy Stuff” menu in the left column to clear old projects and added a link to distributors at Epic Tinker’s suggestion.
We reviewed some new banners that will be circulating above soon, and started packing supplies for a sourcing trip to China next week.
Kerry Wong built this DIY dummy load in a hard drive cooler aluminum case:
Basic constant current dummy load using an Op Amp and a by-passing MOSFET is very easy to build and had been made quite popular following Dave’s video on EEVBlog. I happened to have an old aluminum hard disk cooler case collecting dust. The die-cast aluminum case is relatively thick, making it an excellent heat sink. So I thought why not use it to build a dummy load myself?
BeanerSA tweeted: “I suggested the ATX breakout to a friend who was having problems powering his model rail”
You can get one for $14 at Seeed Studio.
You can also get a Sick of Beige case for your ATX breakout board for $4 at Seeed.
