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Internet of Things - Knowledgebase

PCB Design

version:2.2020-04-01
history: 1.2020-03-18 initial version
2.2020-04-01 Specific links for creating a WeMos Shield
author: Joey van der Bie (j.h.f.van.der.bie@hva.nl)

Hardware

Multimeter

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week07.html#multimeter

Regulated power supply

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week07.html#regulated-digital-controlled-direct-current-power-supply

Oscilloscope

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week07.html#regulated-digital-controlled-direct-current-power-supply

Software

KiCad
Inkscape

Files

WeMos D1 Mini information and schematic
WeMos D1 Mini KiCad schema and module library
Default KiCad schema and module libraries

Electronics 101

For creating a working PCB it is good to know your electronics basics. Here are some helpful links:

MIT/Fabacademy lecture about electronics design by Niel Gershenfield
links to different software and important keywords
MIT/Fabacademy lecture about electronics production by Niel Gershenfield

Learn about Power, Current, Voltage, Resistance and how to calculate with them
Learn about electronic components

Steps for creating a working PCB

  1. Idea: decide on the functionality of your board and where possible what hardware and components you are going to use
  2. Sketch a basic circuit. Also try finding circuit examples in stead of designing everything yourself
  3. Transfer your basic circuit design to KiCad
  4. Adapt your circuit design to available parts that you can order or have in your shelf
    For example at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, we order our parts from farnell.com and conrad.nl.
  5. Further improve your circuit design in KiCad by checking your design for faults
  6. Use your circuit design to designing a board (PCB).
  7. Export your board design to a format to mill
  8. Mill your board design
  9. Clean your board
  10. Check your board for faults
  11. Solder components to your board
  12. Test your connections
  13. Upload software and test if everything works as expected

Design Schematic with KiCad

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week07.html

Design PCB wit KiCad

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week07.html#from-schematic-to-pcb-design

Milling KiCad PCB design with LPKF Protomat

Export design to Gerber

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/mick-vanzeijl/posts/2019/06/05/week20.html#milling-and-soldering-my-board

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/beginners-guide-to-kicad/exporting-gerbers

Convert export with Cam processor

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/mick-vanzeijl/posts/2019/06/05/week20.html#using-circuit-cam-and-protomat

https://www.loesbogers.com/digitalfabrication/lpkfprotomat_eagle_to_board.html

Other manuals for LPKF Protomat

https://www.loesbogers.com/digitalfabrication/index.html

Cleaning the PCB

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week05.html#cleaning-the-pcb

Checking your circuit for faults

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week05.html#checking-your-circuit-for-faults

Soldering components

Before you start

  1. No long hair, sleeves etc. When soldering you can turn this on fire and when milling it can get stuck in the mill.
  2. Do not be static, you are working with sensitive electronics, static electricity can break it. Remove your static by touching a grounded metal, like a radiator or wear anti-static arm band.
  3. Provide good ventilation and work clean. You are working with potentially toxic material.
  4. Wash your hands after you finished your work.

Hand soldering

Working with a clean solder iron

Steps for creating a clean solder iron

Hand soldering steps

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week05.html#hand-soldering
http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week07.html#soldering-the-pcb

Using solder as glue

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week05.html#using-solder-as-glue

Correcting solder mistakes

http://fab.academany.org/2019/labs/waag/students/josephus-vanderbie//week05.html#correcting-solder-mistakes

Reflow oven

https://www.loesbogers.com/digitalfabrication/lpkfprotoflow.html