Week 5 - Electronics Production

To begin this weeks assignment I first downloaded the fabISP PNG files from our tutorial page. www.as220.org/fabacademy/tutorials/05.html Using our Ubuntu machine attached to the Modela I opened the FabModules program and opened the HelloISP.44.png file. Using the 1/64" bit "Traces" settings I then clicked the "make path" button on the interface, which essentially creates a toolpath for the modela. The next step is to determine my zero of the circuit board to be milled. I do this with the offset command with the Modules interface. After offsetting the tip of the end mill I am ready to send the .rml file to the modela. Clicking the large "Send" button accomplishes this.

After the board traces are milled I change the bit on the modela to the 1/32" bit. I then loaded the hello.ISP.44.interior.png into the FabModules and then sent the outline of the board to the modela. Once the board was cutout I was then able to populate the board using the hello.ISP.44.png image as reference. After gathering all the parts I then began to hand solder the components to the board. The only real issue that arose was since the connections on the ATTiny44 are very close together I had to use solder wick to remove some bridging that occured.

The next step is to send the firmware to the board to make it a programmer. Within Terminal I navigate to the folder with the firmware in it. Then I send the following commands:

make clean 
make hex
make fuse
make program

After the firmware was downloaded successfully I could then remove the zero ohm resistor and the solder bridge on the board. To check that the board is working properly I plugged in the USB cable to the board and then into my computer.

Verifying here: Apple>>About This Mac>>More Info>>Contents>>USB>>USB Device Tree>>Hub

If working "FabISP" should be listed here, you may need to refresh.