[hackpgh-discuss] PCB class
- From: Matthew Beckler <matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: hackpgh-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 22 May 2012 17:31:08 -0400
Hello everyone,
I'm sorry that I've missed the past two meetings. The weeks before
makerfaire are always a little overbooked...also trying to get my PhD
proposal ready to go so I can someday escape^H^H^H^H graduate.
As many of you know I'm going to be teaching a PCB class with Kicad
coming up in a few weeks. While it's a good software EDA package, and I
know it well, what I'm struggling most with is to determine the proper
scope.
I know that some of the shop members are very interested in making their
own PCBs, so I'd like to get some feedback on this potential outline for
teaching the class. Feel free to email me privately if you prefer, but I
think a good group discussion should work just fine. I'm also planning
to be at the shop this Friday to work on the class plan (and ideally
FiniSH IT!!!)
Take a look at the outline below, and let me know what you think. Is
there something missing? Something that isn't very important that we
could leave out?
Thanks a bunch for your feedback!
-Matthew
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After some initial discussion with folks in the shop, I think this is a
good starting point:
Morning session: How to go from a breadboard circuit to a schematic
How schematics work, how we represent real work parts with symbols
Start with a real circuit that I can make on a breadboard
Perhaps a little uC-based RGB led toy?
Learn how to enter schematics into Kicad
Learn about how to make your own new schematic symbols
Might only be two hours?
I'll have to practice this part to see how long it will take
Afternoon session: How to go from a schematic to a PCB
How to select the proper footprint for each schematic symbol
How to re-arrange the pile of footprints given when you start
Considerations WRT trace width and clearance, hole size, etc
How to manually route traces between your footprint pads
How to use the auto-router
How to figure the bounds of your PCB
How to create a custom footprint
How to do fills like for ground planes
How to use the design-rule checker
How to generate gerber files for submission to the board house
Then we would submit them (via me) for fabrication, so the students
can have their actual design in their hands
We would probably want to make a group order of the parts
Maybe talk about component selection?
Maybe have a "come back and solder up your pcb" 2-3 weeks later?
This session would probably be at least three hours, perhaps four
Needs testing with a real live victim
Other related posts:
