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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : SkinnyMite 1A...
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Hi folks. 
This is what we have for the SkinnyMite, based totally on matherp's 470 PIC32 idea. Name changed to something else as per matherp's request, so I started a new thread to reflect that, plus show the changes since the old name for the board. TOP COPPER: 
INNER LAYER #1: 
INNER LAYER #2: 
BOTTOM COPPER: 
The 16-bit port is labelled B0 - BG, using hex-type labeling. This board has been ordered, and I will let the thread know when they arrive. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| hitsware Guru  Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
You be the LayOut 
Amazing to me how fast you develope new layouts |
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disco4now Guru Joined: 18/12/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1025 |
Hi Grogster, Would you put me down for a couple of these. Would is be possible to list the surface mount bits so I can source them in preparation. Regards Gerry F4 H7FotSF4xGT |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
@ hitsware: thanks for the kind words. I like doing PCB's - in case you have not worked that out by now... 
@ disco-4now: I will be uploading a link here on this thread soon, which will give you a BOM(bill of materials), overlays and a schematic - stay tuned. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4071 |
Hex for 16-bit port? LOL That would've been A-F. Looks like it's got A and C-G with B missing. John |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
%@!&&@!@**!@***#@***!@@)(*$#%#%@^! 
HOW did I miss that? (rhetorical) I have sent an email to the factory - I might be able to send them a new ZIP file. We'll see.  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2948 |
G, If using iTead then they do accept last minute changes (or at least they used to!) By the way, which PCB design software do you use now? Nice new PCB name 
WW |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Shenzhen PCB house this time - we'll see if I get a reply to my email. Still the same PCB software - Sprint Layout 6. EDIT: Just got an email from them, and I have sent them an updated ZIP file. Phew - well spotted, John!
The port is now correctly labelled as B0 - BF. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
I am not sure if those GND planes will work like intended. Maybe i not look right but i not see to many places where these GND planes are connected. I see two vias under the PIC and 4 vias on the right. Normal practice is to have lots of vias connecting the ground planes otherwise you are having ground loops. The size is not too big so hopefully that will not have an effect. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Good point.  This is the first-alpha(1A!) of this board, so for 2A I will add a whole heap more vias connecting the GP's on all layers.
I would not have thought that ground-loops would be much of an issue with the tiny currents we are talking about with this thing, but then, you don't need much current in an old analog microphone circuit forming a ground-loop, to get audible hum - sometimes quite astoundingly large amounts of hum for the tiny ground-loop current flowing, so.......... We'll see. If I get any more done, I will add a whole lot more vias as grounds all over the place where I can fit them, for the 2A version. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Frank N. Furter Guru Joined: 28/05/2012 Location: GermanyPosts: 950 |
Hi Grogster, the tiny currents are not the problem - but you have extremly fast switching operations today and thereby horrible current changings for all that!!! That's the problem! Frank |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4071 |
Grogster - glad I caught it! programmer's eye for detail is all it was, Looks a cool board :) di/dt can be problematic I gather but I'm no board designer. John |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Hi folks. Here is a GIF image of the BOM, so those of you who want to pre-order parts, can get on that phone or email.
I will be uploading a link to a downloadable ZIP file sometime in the not too distant future, which will also contain this BOM as a ODS spreadsheet file, but this will be useful for those who want to order bits, or check their own stock. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
UPDATE: I just got an email from the factory, saying that the order has been sent.
This was un-expected, as they are in their Chinese Spring Festival till the 26th, so I really did not expect any mention of dispatch till then. A nice surprise.
Here is a link to their photos. In this order, I also got some RelayMite boards, so for the purposes of this thread, you can ignore the last image...... I will let this thread know when they arrive. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Good news, folks. The PCB's have arrived. I found an error on the freakin' layout around the regulator, so this will have to be fixed by anyone building a board. As with most things, the 1B version will have this error fixed, and also the new pin legend on the silkscreen, as a couple of pins have changed from the original idea. It is the 1A version of the board though, so being the very first one, you get right as much as you can, and HOPE there are no obvious errors. I did, however, miss the freaking link for the input to the regulator: 
Note that the input to the regulator(upper most pin on this image), is not connected to the actual input voltage. %!^@!
This WILL be fixed pronto for the next version of the board, but it is something needing attention. The easiest solution to this error at this stage, is to just run a short insulated jumper between the cathode of the schotkky diode and the regulator input, once the PCB is assembled. An annoyance, but an easy fix for this "Mistake". I say "Mistake", but my own language is somewhat more colourful, as I suppose you can imagine. 
I can offer the following rates for members of this forum: US$5 for a blank PCB, including airmail postage to anywhere on the planet. US$2.50 for any extra blank PCB on the same order. US$15 for a blank panel of five PCB's, including airmail postage to anywhere on the planet. At this stage, I have 5 panels on offer, as Matherp has already requested a panel of 5(so he has taken one of the available 6 panels of five boards). The other 4 panels will be split up for sending as singles, doubles or triples etc. The panels are V-grooved, so you just snap the individual PCB's out - no cutting or separating required. Anyone who wants one, please PM me - including those members(with the exception of matherp) who had sent me a PM before, as I have had to empty my PM inbox for other messages, and rather then trying to remember who wanted what, it is better that I just ask that those who DO want one, let me know again, and THIS time, I will make a list outside of the inbox, to keep track of who wants what. As this is just a prototyping run, I only got a small number of boards, but I will be fixing the error(s), and getting more as 1B versions of the same board. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2447 |
a serious question: who are you using for delivery? cheers, rob :-) |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Standard international airmail. This means the standard postie most of the time, I imagine, although airmail means faster delivery. Boards I have sent to Australia, America, England and Scotland have all arrived safe in about 7 days or so. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Count me in for a few (2-3). But if others want some and you not have enough then 1 piece is ok to get me going. Edit: Yes!! I just got my shipping notification for the 470F512H and 47F512L. :) If you are not in a incredible hurry i can sell the 470F512H for 8US$ a piece, 2US$ for shipping in padded envelope. Takes about 10-14 days with normal mail. Grog, you want to trade some boards for some chips or other parts? Then we don't have to make paypal any richer.:) Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
TZA - sounds like a good idea, I will PM you shortly. I have finished soldering the 470: 
This was technically my first 0.5mm chip(I just lost my 0.5mm pin-spacing virginity!). I have soldered tons of SOIC(1.27mm spacing), and QFP @ 0.8mm, but nothing smaller then that. It was really quite easy - just like the videos on YouTube show you. The longest part of the process, is making sure the chip is in correct registration with the PCB footprint, as 0.5mm pin spacing means you have to be VERY accurate, to make sure that all four sides of the QFP line up correctly with the PCB footprint, or you will get pad-to-pad shorts. However, that's one down, and therefore the SSOP(on another PCB design) with it's 0.6mm spacing should be just as easy, if not fractionally better. 
EDIT: TZA - Please clear your inbox, so I can PM you about your offer of a swap. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Oops. That inbox fills quickly. I have cleaned it again. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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