Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

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We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service.

This week two random commenters will get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB.

You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another!

Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

Micro adjustable breadboard power supply

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Rohit Gupta built this super small size breadboard power supply designed around the LM317 generic adjustable Voltage Regulator. It measures just 3cm x 2.5cm and fits the breadboard without wasting any holes. You can view the schematic and further details in Rohit’s post at Indian Tinker.

Via the contact form.

App note: Using MCP6491 Op Amps for photodetection applications

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This app note discusses how to detect the intensity, position, color
and presence of light:

Low input bias operational amplifiers (op amps) are often required for a wide range of photodetection applications, in order to reduce current error and improve the accuracy of the output signal.

Loading TM220A pick and place part stacks

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Loading up the pick and place with part reels. We decided to put the most common, cheap stuff in the back of the ‘stack’ of reels. After all, it won’t need to be swapped.

Less used stuff is going towards the front, that way it is easier to swap out. We’re leaving free 8mm reel spots right in the front of the stack, that way it’s easy to temporary load a certain capacitor or resistor value.

Here’s the stack, from front of machine to back:

  1. Free (8mm feeder)
  2. BAS-16J Diode DO-323
  3. 1.5A ferrite bead 0603
  4. 3.3volt regulator SOT-23-5
  5. Yellow LED 0805
  6. 18pF cap 0603
  7. 0.1uF cap 0603
  8. 1uF cap 0603
  9. 10uF cap CASE-A (1206)
  10. 2K resistor 0603
  11. 10K resistor 0603
  12. 10K x 4 resistor array 1206
  13. 5.4mm buttons SMD (12mm feeder)
  14. free (12mm feeder)
  15. free (16mm feeder)

Controlling Arduino via Android mobile device

Kerimil over at Arduino forum posted this simple how to on controlling an Arduino board with an Android mobile device. He describes, “The circuit is just a Bluetooth module, Arduino UNO, LED, resistor and some wires. The LED can be switched on using buttons as well as voice activation (anything that contains the word ‘on’,’off’ or ‘blink’ – so saying ‘turn the LED on’ works as well as just uttering ‘on’). I created the app using MIT app inventor and this project was created pretty much only to show how easy it is to write custom apps using the tool and interface with microcontrollers in this manner. One could use MIT app inventor to add more more features, such as using accelerometer or GPS data to control the LED, switching the state using text messages, web communication, not only send but also receive data, etc. …well the point is – MIT app inventor is pretty cool and you should check it out.”

Via the contact form.

New TI CC3000 modules

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TI has announced the availability of their new CC3000 module.

The TI CC3000 module is a self-contained wireless network processor that simplifies the implementation of Internet connectivity. The module uses TI’s SimpleLink WiFi solution which minimizes the software requirements of the host MCU.

TI has posted information on the BoosterPack, which contains the CC3000 module, power supply, and standard BoosterPack headers to connect to MSP430, Stellaris, and future TI MCU LaunchPads. They also have an evaluation module (EM) board which contains the CC3000 module, and standard RF1 and RF2 headers to connect to many TI platforms including MSP430, Stellaris, and C5000. The 22 page PDF user guide for the EM board can be downloaded here.

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

XT-IDE Adapter_

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”

TM220A pick and place first test

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Managed to get the language to English by setting the language configuration to ‘0’, then loading a pick and place instruction file. After loading a file everything is magically English. Settings won’t save without a special warranty voiding password from the manufacturer though.

Exported placement data from a DP LED matrix badge to test it out. Only a reel of 0603 10K resistors is loaded, and the badge needs 0805 LEDs, but resistors are cheaper to waste. Applied solder droplets to three columns of LEDs and fired up the placement.

Even with the wrong size part it did a pretty good job when running full speed. The ‘step through’ mode is pretty abysmal though, most of the parts flew away, probably because they’re the wrong size and the table is shaking like crazy. Given that they are the wrong parts and size for the footprint, and only the bare minimum part data has been programed, it did pretty well.

Week in (p)review February 15, 2013

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Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon.

Coming up:

  • TM220A pick and place fun, will be this week’s workshop video
  • Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
  • App notes on the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday
  • 3D model on Monday
  • Eagle parts and tips on Tuesday
  • Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
  • A new tutorial on Wednesday
  • Workshop video on Thursday
  • Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

Another project-a-week: 3.3volt and 5volt power solution

TLE4476 v1.0 FRONT

Rwinscot is attempting a project-a-week. This week he shared his RickPAW 3.3volt/5volt power project in the forum:

This breakout could be used in an automotive application where bare wires are soldered into place and the whole package wrapped in shrink tube. Or… you might want to put a barrel jack on it and use it as a breadboard power supply. Or… use PC terminals to wire-up a solar panel.

HackEDA builds Eagle schematics and PCBs from standard circuit blocks

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HackEDA has an online automatic circuit design that builds Eagle schematics and boards from predefined blocks. This is one of the great hacks now possible because Cadsoft switched to an open XML text format for board files:

At it’s core, it’s a system for collecting reusable-sized pieces of electronic designs, along with the knowledge necessary to reuse them in new designs. The library is available to browse online, you can download the individual bits, and there’s also a tool for creating custom circuits by simply selecting the features your project needs.

Via Hacked Gadgets.

Workshop Update for February 14th, 2013

MCPBP

Today we spent most of the day preparing and editing the reflow oven video. We continue to work on our 3D models for the Bus Pirate Education Kit.

Today we standardized the parts. Meaning we standardized the use of textures, which will speed up the rendering process. We also added names to specific part models.

Side note: SketchUp’s text tool is seriously bugged.

Vacuum florescent character displays winners

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Today we announce the winners of the 2×20 character vacuum florescent displays! There were lots of great ideas, thanks for your submissions.

Congratulations to Erik, his idea for bench power supply scored him two 2×20 character vacuum florescent displays:

Basically it uses an attiny85 as the brains and talks to the components over I2C. It has 6 voltage outputs – 5v,3.3v,1.8v,12v and 2 adjustables – each output can also have a current limiting.

Another winner is Zack, and his idea for a “punch card” style time tracker:

I use index cards to store to-do list items. I activate the timer by slotting in one of the cards, then hit the green “GO” button to begin. It chimes in every 15 minutes to see if I’m working or distracted – I hit the green or red button to tell it. After 90 minutes, it will tell me to move on to something else – your work suffers during that time.

And last but not least congratulations to Herp:

If this display supports serial mode, I would put it in my tiny sunrise alarm clock.

Thank you to Systemstech for the free swag.

Thank you for participating, there were a bunch of great ideas. As always feel free to share your projects in the forum.