Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on June 24, 2012 at 10:30am

So far, the total price for SMD parts is actually higher than the through hole parts!

A SMD version of the board would probably also require some through hole, in particular for the controller.

While using Eagle, the part planform/footprint must be decided upon when drawing a schematic. It could be changed/swapped later but understanding the options available for a particular part is critical to an actual board layout (generated from the schematic if autorouting is selected).

This will be a slow process unless someone knows of an SMD version already in existence.

The other option is old-school hand layout. No schematic capture needed. Just take an existing schematic and draw the board pads and traces as artwork. That method takes time also and most board houses don't do it that way anymore.

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on June 25, 2012 at 4:45am

This is correct. The UHU documentation from EAS is not Eagle. Once it is rendered in a modern format (it takes time to learn the software...) any board house is more likely to quote us a price.

Through hole takes longer to build but is easy for the hobby crowd.

SMD is faster if the shop has pick & place/relflow equipment.

Each version of a board requires specifying each type of part while constructing the schematic. It is time consuming.

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on June 25, 2012 at 4:57pm

I knew it was a good idea.. and others beat us to it. That's the problem with a circuit that is over 4 years old.

Scroll down THIS page to see others that have made pcbs of the UHU.

The Gerber files for one SMD version are located HERE.I don't know if a board house could use Gerber files and the parts list, also located ^there^ is probably very different.

I am still of the opinion that we won't be able to beat a bare board price of $15 from EAS.

We ought to ask them about a bulk order for a better price. Dany and I could do soldering duty for those who don't have the gear or desire to learn it.

Permalink Reply by Ellison Chan on June 26, 2012 at 5:15pm

Thanks RD, I will pass this on to my guy at SOC Robotics.  I'm pretty sure they can read Gerbers.  This is probably what he has to configure the Eagles to before manufacturing anyways.:-)

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on June 27, 2012 at 5:01am

You are welcome. There is also a BOM for that board, *.xls extension, but I have not poured over that. I am not really keen on the layout of that board and the lack of heat sinks for the FETs troubles me. It did not look like a layout that could take long hard use.

I am working on another approach - use the original UHU artwork located their 'servo.zip' file, scanned and cleaned up. The idea is to use a *.bmp to G-code convertor to allow a PCB CNC to carve out the board. This too is s-l-o-w work.

Permalink Reply by Ellison Chan on June 28, 2012 at 11:51am

Hey RD, do you know if there's a way to convert the gerbers back to eagle files?

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on June 28, 2012 at 1:13pm

Gerber back to Eagle eh? Off hand, no.

Sounds like there may be parts availability issues to me. I was afraid of the age of the files and that version.

If his address is still good, I will send a email to the fellow who created that version and ask if he has some source files or an updated version.

Permalink Reply by Ellison Chan on June 28, 2012 at 1:33pm

Ok, let me know, if you get something.  I'm having some interest in from SOC robotics.  They're look at swapping in an xmega chip for the controller, instead, so they need the eagles and also where's the actual web site where the gerbers were? They want to make sure that this is indeed open source, so they don't end up infringing on anyone's copyrights.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Leveck on June 22, 2012 at 6:18pm

I'm new and desperate to fit in, so I'm game..... I'll post any questions AFTER I read the post though. Actually I've been kicking around on the internet "researching" a CNC build for years. Maybe this will get me started. Be nice to buy the wrong bolt for a critical screw that ends in a complete redisign with a bunch of guys instead of by myself. Will there be a monthly support group for anyone who participates? And some sort of documentation to show my wife that this thing is real and should work when we are done would be nice too.

Where do I sign?

Christopher

Permalink Reply by Dustin on June 23, 2012 at 6:02pm

I'm interested, but this thread doesn't really say exactly what you all are trying to make.  Can you please clarify.  Are you talking about building the CNC machine mentioned in these threads? --- http://diydrones.com/group/diydrones-cnc-project/forum/topics/drawi...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ellison Chan on June 23, 2012 at 7:00pm

Yes, that's right.  This group was started to help us get this CNC machine designed and built.

Permalink Reply by joe wagner on June 23, 2012 at 7:01pm

I'm definitely interested.

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