Guru
Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1960
| Posted: 04:28am 21 Jun 2025 |
Ok my board should be across the pond pretty soon so lets start thinking about a motherboard for this device.
As most of us have Sprint Layout lets use that as the base design tool
First we will need a template of the device so it can placed onto a new canvas and be ready to go.
Now what to include
PS2 or/and USB keyboard
VGA and HDMI ports
LCD with Touch Screen ( size and LCD to be decided)
Sound
Main Power Supply ( so lets say 12 volts etc)
Ok that is a start
Regards Bryan
Guru
Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United KingdomPosts: 8826
| Posted: 08:30am 21 Jun 2025 |
Here's a couple of SL6 macros. One for the module, the other for the pin refs so that you can use them or not.
Pico2-64.zip
Guru
Joined: 09/01/2022
Location: United KingdomPosts: 795
| Posted: 08:35am 21 Jun 2025 |
Hi Grogster,
I'd just set it to 1.3V & leave it, then all frequency options will be fine, the extra power consumption is negligible, the RP2350 doesn't even get warm.
In my case I use 1.25v because I tested the highest frequency & found that was plenty, it started crashing around 1.23v so I set it a reasonable value above that & it seems completely stable, but this would involve individually tuning every one, so 1.3v is fine.
Regards Kevin.
Guru
Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1960
| Posted: 08:53am 21 Jun 2025 |
Looks like the grey matter has kicked in here as I used use spring layout V4 back in the day and trying to import these macros you put up just aint working for this ol' black duck
I did copy them over in to the layout folder yet they don't show up at all in the macros panel.
so a few tips are needed please.
Regards Bryan
Guru
Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United KingdomPosts: 8826
| Posted: 09:09am 21 Jun 2025 |
You need to unzip them first, of course.
Now, in SL6, look in Options / General Settings / Macro-Directory to find the actual macro directory that you are using. It's not always where SL6 is installed. Don't change this, it's just to find out where things are.
In that directory you'll find a Users subdirectory. I don't know how you set up your system, but under that I have a "mick" subdirectory and more subdirectories under that to tidy things up.
When you start SL6 again it will check the macros directory and display what it finds in there.
Guru
Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1960
| Posted: 09:14am 21 Jun 2025 |
Thanks Mick I did find the folder for the macros was in public documents and Layout 6 was there with the macros library so made a new folder, unzipped a fresh copy of the files and dragged and dropped them in the folder and a fresh reboot of SL6 worked a treat.
Mate I only been using using win 10 for the last few months and finding my way around has been fun but I am getting there.
So put both macros on a blank board and saved it as a macros so when the time comes to move it on a design it goes as one.
Now what I'm thinking this board can be the brains for my CNC where a VGA screen can show the workings and a 2040 can use say a 9" LCD touch screen for the manual control.
I mean why use a encoder when the pico can just count the steps for position, so may say due to backlash but my CNC uses ball screws so no backlash at all.
I do have another project underway which is all fun where I'm splitting water so I can make a hydrogen/oxy torch as over 3,000C looks like fun to play with. I will make a thread in the other forum so you can see my travels too.
Edited 2025-06-21 19:37 by Bryan1
Guru
Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United KingdomPosts: 8826
| Posted: 10:09am 21 Jun 2025 |
I always save them as separate macros for the Pico. I have Pico macros for both through-hole and SMD and two sets of pin refs, the other is in tiny characters parallel to the sockets. I can then put any pair of macros on and/or leave the pin refs off - or take them off the board when I've finished the layout. Of course, the pad locates the pin refs to pin 1. You can easily delete the pad and leave the refs.
Admin Group
Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9954
| Posted: 03:23am 22 Jun 2025 |
Excellent, thank you.
Guru
Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United KingdomPosts: 8826
| Posted: 12:11pm 04 Jul 2025 |
ARGHHHH!
That zip file for Peter's module has the wrong spacing between pin rows!
This one has been corrected.
Pico2-64.zip
Guru
Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1960
| Posted: 01:31am 02 Sep 2025 |
G'Day Guy's,
Well after reading the logic analyzer thread I am thinking of using one of my old 17" VGA monitors so just opened sprint layout only to find I don't have the 2040 macros
So if any member does have the macros could they share it here please.Regards Bryan
Admin Group
Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9954
| Posted: 05:57am 02 Sep 2025 |
Bryan - did I ever get around to sending you one of my modules?
I forget now, but re-reading the thread has reminded me.
If not, you still want?
Guru
Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1960
| Posted: 06:06am 02 Sep 2025 |
Yes Grog's you sent me the 2350B board, now as I do have a few 2040's here so I will use one of them for the project. Now back in the day I did use Sprint Layout 4 to make a circuit where I used my CNC to mill the pcb board but the XP computer hung and the board was ruined.
Now I have my CNC running again I want to use that to mill the board as I do only need one.
I did buy a few camera's and some pico 2040 zero's and made a board so the zero sits on the back of the camera, now to debug the code this pico logic analyzer would be the go to monitor my progress.
Got on Ali this morning and got 5off micro SDCard breakout boards on the way to use.
So plenty of time to get the pcb designed and made.
Regards Bryan
Guru
Joined: 07/11/2023
Location: United KingdomPosts: 1893
| Posted: 06:39am 02 Sep 2025 |
Watch out for the men-in-black
Whose method are you following?