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| − | == Circuit board techniques == | + | == Printed circuit board fabrication == |
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| − | [http://www.veys.com/index.php/Making_Home-Made_Printed_Circuit_Boards Toner transfer], Press-and-Peel(tm), photoresist, Sharpie, nail polish. | + | === Homebrew === |
| | + | * [[Toner Transfer]] -- This method involves laser printing your PCB design onto paper, then transferring toner onto copper-clad board. |
| | + | * [[Photoetching]] -- Exposure of PCB designs onto photosensitized copper-clad board. |
| | + | * [[Chemical Etchants]] |
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| − | [http://www.k9spud.com/wiki/PCB:Etchants Ferric Chloride vs. Ammonium Persulfate] and other etching chemicals. | + | === Commercial PCB fabrication === |
| | + | * [[Submitting PCB's for fabrication]] -- Common processes for submitting PCB's for fabrication. |
| | + | * [[PCB Manufacturers]] |
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| − | How to dispose of etchant.
| + | == Circuit construction (non PCB) == |
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| − | Commercial PCB fabrication.
| + | * [[Solderless protoboard]] |
| − | | + | * [[Point-to-point]] |
| − | * [http://www.batchpcb.com/ BatchPCB, by SparkFun] -- Our hosts! $2.50 / square inch, must use your own software to generate Gerber files. Easy-to-use web ordering interface, but slow turnaround time -- 10-20 days. Boards come out very nice -- precut, double-sided with silk screen and solder mask on both sides | + | * [[Wirewrap]] |
| − | * [http://www.olimex.com/pcb/ Olimex] Bulgarian PCB manufacturer - $33 for a 6.3" by 3.9" board. I.E. cheaper than BatchPCB, but with a minimum board size requirement, silkscreen on one side only, and a more complicated ordering process. | + | * [[Dead bug style]] |
| − | * [http://www.pcb123.com/ PCB123] Offers their own free (proprietary) schematic and PCB layout software -- easy to use, but you are locked into using their service. Integration with ordering system simplifies the process of ordering boards. Cost (?) | + | * [[Manhattan style]] |
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| − | == Construction techniques ==
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| − | Dead bug style. Manhattan style. Veroboard. Perfboard and point-to-point. Solderless protoboard. | |
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| − | "solderless breadboard" is the fastest construction technique ... but it is very fragile. Also, the parasitic capacitance and sometimes intermittent connections can drive you crazy.
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| − | traditional perfboards with holes on a 0.1" grid (2.54 mm grid) come in many styles:
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| − | * just holes in insulator | |
| − | * little donuts of copper around each hole; may or may not be plated-through (See [http://barello.net/Robots/minisumo/index.htm this robot controller] for an example)
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| − | * Specific patterns of copper like [http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/stripbd.htm stripboard] / Veroboard™, or the common rails-and-short-strips pattern that's handy for DIP components
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| − | * solid sheets of copper, usually with a little donut gap around each hole.
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| − | The best one to use depends on what kind of circuit you're putting together.
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| − | With these perfboards, there's 2 ways to connect wires so they don't fall off:
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| − | * wire wrap, or
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| − | * solder.
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| − | == Front Panels ==
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| − | Its easy to make groovy front panels so your black boxes look the goods.
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| − | * Use any graphics program to produce and print your art work.
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| − | ** Measure the box up, draw in the switches, label the LEDs etc.
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| − | ** Even print on user instructions.
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| − | * If the front panel contains LEDs I pre punch the printout so that when it gets laminated it creates a window. No need for bezels :)
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| − | * Laminate the printout.
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| − | * Punch out the switch, screw, bnc, pot etc holes.
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| − | * If there isnt many front panel "things" to hold the laminate to the box lid I use double sided sticky tape.
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| − | The beauty of this approach is that it also doubles as a drill template for the lid. Everything fits, everything looks square.
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| | == Soldering techniques == | | == Soldering techniques == |
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| − | How to use a soldering iron. What is flux for? | + | * [[Basic soldering]] -- How to use a soldering iron. |
| − | | + | * Surface Mount |
| − | Hot air soldering. Huh?
| + | ** [[Skillet reflow]] |
| − | | + | ** [[Toaster oven reflow]] |
| − | Hobby replacements for commercial reflow: skillet soldering, toaster-oven soldering, soldering using an oil lamp or candle.
| + | ** [[Hot air soldering]] |
| − | * [http://sparkfun.com/tutorial/ReflowToaster/reflow-hotplate.htm the "Reflow Skillet" tutorial] | + | * [[Rework]] -- Techniques for fixing mistakes. |
| − | * [http://www.circuitcellar.com/library/print/0704/Lacoste_168/index.htm "Easy Reflow: Build an SMT Reflow Oven Controller"] by Robert Lacoste 2004-July | |
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| − | How to fix mistakes: solder braid, solder sucker.
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| − | How to deal with fine pitch SMT devices.
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| − | How to deal with big, heatsucking components.
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| − | | |
| − | * [http://www.epanorama.net/links/basics.html#soldering ePanorama:soldering] has some detailed information on how to solder through-hole and SMT components. | |
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| − | == Other techniques ==
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| − | How to get started with a multimeter
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| − | How to use an oscilloscope: [http://www.tektronix.com/Measurement/App_Notes/XYZs/ Tektronix's guide]
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