FabTinyStar
Step 1: PCB Fabrication
Traces
Cutout
I followed the (incredibly well-written!) guide from Brian for milling the PCB board (and used the linked PNGs for the traces and cutout).
![](IMG_20170920_155235.jpg)
Almost all of the board milled perfectly on the first try, but one small section had just a tiny layer of copper left on top. We tested it with a multimeter and found out it shorted one of the 1kΩ resistor connections, so I sent the same board through the mill again, this time pressing the bit (lightly) into the board before tightening it. This time it worked perfectly!
![](IMG_20170920_160906.jpg)
![](enhance.jpg)
Step 2: Soldering Components
This was my first (real) time soldering anything, so I was pretty nervous about wielding this strange new tool. I suppose laser cutting and PCB milling were also new tools, but holding the soldering iron in my own hands and thinking I was supposed to do something productive with it was a whole other level of responsibility.
Miraculously, it seems like everything sort of fell into place! I haven't programmed the board yet, but the red LED lights up when I plug it into a USB port and it doesn't seem like anything is shorted.
![](IMG_20170920_174647.jpg)
![](IMG_20170920_174713.jpg)