Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by hpux on March 6, 2008 at 10:09am

I have good results. I use 0603 passives (resistors and caps.) and soic chips. The hardest parts by far are leadless parts, but even those can be done if you are creative. If you still don't believe me, I'll post pictures of some of my work ;)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Antoine Bercovici on March 6, 2008 at 11:10am

check out my board in my profile, lots of QFN and TQFP package, not a problem (well... not easy but it is still more enjoyable to do than all the hassle of through hole components!)

• ▶ Reply

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Sgt Ric on March 6, 2008 at 8:02pm

Kudos to you both...
I guess I am just getting old...or lazy, but this seems like quite an art!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by hpux on March 5, 2009 at 9:25am

I've written a how-to for using SMD devices. This method is much easier than solder, but it requires some initial set-up. Once you get started, though, it's a ton of fun.

http://www.alternet.us.com/?p=118

Permalink Reply by bGatti on August 2, 2010 at 9:38am

Again to disagree,
SMT really simplifies DIY board making. Without those pesky holes to drill, the board comes out ready to solder. As for placing pieces, if you can etch it, you can probably solder it.
I only do single-sided boards (CNC). If the circuit is too complicated for a 1 side, I send it out, but Arduino is single side compatible, so you can do a lot with one side.
Soldering SMT is not difficult - provided you have solder wick, flux, and temp control. SMT doesn't have to mean really tight pins (in the way that through hole does mean - ~.1 pin spacing)
If one could convince Eagle to use backplane for ground only (and place GRN vias) that would be sweet.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Robinson on August 2, 2010 at 9:40am

That wouldn't be a problem in Eagle if you're manually routing right? I can't think of any reason Eagle would disallow this.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bGatti on August 2, 2010 at 1:45pm

Uh Kinda.

I can't get Eagle to recognize a polygon on backside as a signal, airwires in the GRD net are not satisfied by attaching to vias into a RECT on Bottom.
However; yes, eagle can be used to layout the required patterns.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by hpux on August 2, 2010 at 1:51pm

You're definitely using a polygon, not a rectangle?

A rectangle doesn't work like a poly.

You absolutely should be able to make a polygon and assign it a signal name. The airwires should work fine. I do this as a matter of course. I wonder what's different? In fact, I make large polygon pours on top and bottom and assign them to gnd. every signal wire is cut out of those ground planes.

Permalink Reply by asfasf on March 5, 2009 at 2:14am

Here is a excellent and cheep pcb manufacturing service suitable for small DIY projects. Realy good results, and really cheep.

http://sites.google.com/site/procad69/

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Robinson on August 2, 2010 at 8:57am

Those guys seem legit...

• ▶ Reply

DeveloperPermalink Reply by Michael Smith on August 2, 2010 at 3:57pm

It's probably best to point out that you're the operator of the service you're advertising.

Also, you might want to fix your cut-and-paste macro; 'cheap' only has one 'e'.

http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showpost.php?p=60769&po...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alexander Athougies on April 1, 2009 at 2:51pm

I have used Advanced PCB at 4pcb.com before for a robot (The CalPoly/Slobotics entry for the NASA Lunar Regolith Excavation Challenge). They have some good software with an extensive online and offline library with quick turnaround. I liked them especially since their software would quote you an approximate price.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page