Week
5: Electronics Design
Using
Eagle was my first experience with PCB design, and
it was a great learning experience.
Tutorials that I found helpful:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-schematic/
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-board-layout
Step
1: Schematic Design
It's
helpful to do most of your "design" in schematic-
checking capacitors, resistors, and power supplies.
Since elements are "isolated"
graphically, it's easier to understand them and
troubleshoot parts at a time.
Step 2: Board Design
Minimizing Board Layout and running Design checks for
clearance is done in the "Board" view
Step 3: Export to PNG
Isolating the traces/footprints, and border for 1/64"
and 1/32" Modela-ing
I exported with 2000 dpi, which did not result in a
super large file, and avoided any issues of the design coming
out "rough"
Step 4: Modela
My first perimeter cut was shifted off the XY zero by
some small, but significant amount, and resulted in the board
below, which has several traces cut through,
so I did an air pass on the next round prior to perimeter cut,
and once assured it was correct, successfully cut it.
Step 5: Stuffing
Stuffing was very straightforward- i followed Neil's
advice of working from the center out, and bottom up.
This made things much easier. I still need more practice at
soldering, but this will improve with time.
Step 6: Programming
I did not have a chance to program it, but I will do that in
the coming days.