I created a shared google document to help us flesh out this class. I set it up so there is a private URL to visit to edit the document, but since this list is publicly archived I don't want to just post it here.
If you'd like to check out / help refine the class plan, email me for the link!
-Matthew On 05/24/2012 11:44 AM, Jeremy Herrman wrote:
I'm also very interested in this class - especially the thought process that goes into routing, traces etc. For conflicts with your available dates, I feel it's worth mentioning that Steel City Ruby Conf is on August 3rd-4th. Thanks! Jeremy On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 10:55 AM, Matthew Beckler <matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: > > > On 05/23/2012 10:13 AM, Doug Philips wrote: >> >> Hey Matt, >> >> Glad you're still alive and kickin'! >> >> >> On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 5:31 PM, Matthew Beckler<matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> >> wrote: >>> >>> 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. >> >> >> Given the lack of advertising, promotion, etc. on this, I'm thinking >> we'll probably only get shop members at the class. That'd be OK, but I >> wanted to raise the possibility of postponing the class date to allow >> for more outreach/PR, etc. as well as getting the scope worked out? > > > That's a good point, I forgot we usually like to have a month of > get-the-word-out before each class. I'm totally amenable to postponing the > class if that would work better. Here are the weekends I am free this > summer: > > June 23/24 > June 30/31 > July 7/8 > July 14/15 > August 4/5 (MF Chicago, anyone going?) > August 11/12 > August 18/19 > August 25/26 > > >> >> >>> 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!!!) >> >> >> Perfect! >> >> >>> 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 >> >> >> That all sounds good. >> >> >>> Learn about how to make your own new schematic symbols >> >> >> That seems kind of ambitious? Do we have some kind of open source >> library that we can contribute back to? >> I'm just concerned that this one item alone could take most of an hour... > > > That's a good point. Usually the existing schematic symbols are good enough > for almost everything you need to do, but once or twice I've had to make new > schematic symbols (the wii nunchuck, for example, and also a brand-new > microcontroller we used in the blinky kits, both required new schematic > symbols). > > All the symbols/footprints built into Kicad are open source, and there are > lots of people online who build and share their symbols/footprints with the > world under open licenses. > > >> >> >>> Afternoon session: How to go from a schematic to a PCB >> >> ... Most of this is over my head, so I have no idea how ambitious (or >> mundane!) it is... >>> >>> Maybe talk about component selection? >> >> Wouldn't that be part of the morning class going from breadboard to >> schematic? (Again, I'm a noob, so perhaps I don't understand...) > > > Yeah, I'm not sure where this would fit properly. Probably more in the > breadboard->schematic part, you're right. Part of it is related to the PCB > though, in that you probably don't want to pick teeny-tiny SMT parts if > you're aiming to make it easy to assemble, you know? Let's chat on friday. > > >> >>> Maybe have a "come back and solder up your pcb" 2-3 weeks later? >> >> >> Or maybe piggy back on to another learn to solder class? (we'd still >> limit the total class size) > > > I like this idea. > > > Also I just talked to my PCB guy (@laen from DorkbotPDX) and worked out a > way for us to get all our PCBs fabricated. He'll then ship them all to me as > a big panel, and I can separate them in time for the come-back soldering > class. > > -Matthew >
