It’s always a good idea to review your PCB gerber files before committing them to the PCB fabrication house. We use ViewPlot to check our PCBs, what software to you use and what are the common errors you look for? Leave your comments here, or join the discussion in the forum. We review the gebers […]
Tag Archives: pcb
Box of new PCBs
A box of PCBs just arrived from Seeed Studio’s Fusion PCB service. This batch includes: Xtide v1b LPC development board v1 Bus Pirate demo board v1 SMD practice board v1 Xtide v1b, LPC development board v1, Bus Pirate demo board v1 and SMD practice board v1 are available now in the free PCB drawer.
Improving open source hardware: Visual diffs
Sebastian send us a link to an article that explains how visual diffs can improve open source hardware. Doing change logs and version control with source code is easy to implement, since it comes down to comparing two text files. While trying to find differences between two revisions of the same hardware is a bit […]
Carving PCBs by hand
Carving PCBs by hand: Sometimes I need to make a quick prototype with a part that doesn’t match any of my proto PCBs, and I end up carving blank copper-clad with an Xacto knife (see attached photo of Cree XLamp XP-E LED with a center heatsink pad that would short out one or both power […]
Itead Studio OpenPCB service: In search of OS PCB part 2
Yesterday we tracked down the designers of two random open source PCBs we received from Itead’s OpenPCB service. Today we look at two more PCBs: a reprap board, and one of our own. Itead has a PCB exchange option when you order boards. For 10 cents extra you get 2 different open source PCBs from […]
ITead Studio OpenPCB service: In search of OS PCBs part 1
Some time ago we reported on Itead’s OpenPCB Service. They offer basic PCB prototyping of 10pcs 5x5cm PCB for $9.90 and 10pcs of 10x10cm for $24.90. For 10 cents extra you can participate in a PCB exchange. 2 extra boards of your design are produced and put into a pool, and you get 2 different open source PCBs in return. […]
A marriage proposal via a PCB design
Bill Porter proposed to his girlfriend, Mara Tuchman, in a very unique way via a modified PCB design. This was carried out with the help of James “Laen” Neal from DorkpotPDX. Mara had designed a PCB for a project and Bill had the brilliant idea to use it to propose. This is her first time getting a circuit […]
PCB Fab process links
Two sites about different PCB manufacturing processes: Base2’s tour of Advanced Circuits (We think this is who Adafruit uses) Printed circuit prototyping at thinktink.com (DIY and industrial manufacturing) Via the contact form.
Embeded Linux board update
sqkybeaver took over the embedded Linux board routing and released an updated PCB. Here’s the wiki for this project. Via the forum.
How a PCB is made
Here’s how a PCB is made: Last year around mid-November Eric and I (Base2’s owners) were in the Denver area and were fortunate enough to be able to visit the circuit board manufacturer that we frequently use – Advanced Circuits. They were kind enough to give us a tour of their facility and explain the […]
Single-sided, through-hole IR Toy v2
LisandroP completed his single-sided, through-hole USB IR Toy v2 and installed it in a home theater PC. You can get IR Toy v2 for $22.05, including world wide shipping.
Cheeky, personalized PCBs
Creative PCB graffiti. How do you personalize your boards? In ancient times, digital mariners would steer their charges by the light of heavenly vias. Sometimes, they would see figures in the vias, and give them names. Via Adafruit.
How to: Mail PCBs the cheap way
Over the past two years we’ve mailed close to 1000 free PCBs all over the world. We find that a sturdy envelope and a stamp is the cheapest, and somewhat successful, way to mail PCBs. A new wiki page shows the tricks we use to mail PCBs. The how-to is reproduced here for you blog […]
Superprobe free PCB build
Rubi built a free Superprobe PCB. RN1, RN2, and RN3 are 0603 resistor array 4-packs, but Rubi didn’t have any. Instead, individual 0402 resistors are hand-soldered in their place. Nice work! If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a […]
Soldermask ink for homemade PCB’s
erdabyz has been experimenting with soldermask on homemade PCB’s: I found it like a year ago, and I thought I had to give it a try. Bought a syringe and… my life has changed since then. Once you know how to use this stuff properly, your homemade PCB’s will never look the same. Via the […]
Single-sided, through-hole USB IR Toy v2
LisandroP made a single-sided PCB version of the USB IR Toy v2: I’ve recently built a single-sided, through-hole version of the USB IR Toy v2, using the schematic posted on the wiki for it without the pin breakout area… Mine is 40x50mm using an USB-A connector and includes a USB pin header, VCC/GND/RX/TX header for […]
Bus Pirate breakout board
schazamp is hosting a group buy of his Bus Pirate breakout board in the forum. I’ve got a few people who are interested in this board, and I’ve been thinking of making another (small) production run. Is anyone else interested in a PCB? They would be $3 or $4, (depending on how many I do) […]
Another LCD backpack free PCB build
Greg built the LCD backpack free PCB. By popular demand we initiated a small batch of this project, it should be available in a few weeks. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the […]
Epson PCB printer hack
rucalgary modified an Epson printer to print PCBs. The results look good, but the printing process isn’t simple. It requires multiple passes and a heat gun, check out the video after the break. Thanks McZ!
Free USB Infrared Toy v2 PCB via blog, Facebook, Twitter RT
To celebrate the launch of USB IR Toy v2 we’re giving away 3 PCBs. Get a PCB on Twitter, one on Facebook, and one on the blog. Just be the first to comment or retweet this post. Use a remote control with your computer, view infrared signals on a logic analyzer, or capture and replay […]