Week 05

Electronic Production

The assignement for this week is to characterize the specifications of my PCB producgion process, make an in -circuit programmer (ISP) by milling the PCB, soldering the components and programming it so that it can be used to program other circuits for the class.

Setting the Machine and Fab Modules for Milling

In other to characterize the machine and mill my cuirciut boards, I had to make sure the machine was set-up and ready for milling and that the software (Fab Modules), was configured to communicate with the machine (Roland SRM-20). I had to install and set-up the Fab Module to make communication possible with the Roland SRM-20. I followed the instruction on the Fab Modules set-up link HERE to setup the Fab Modules to communicate with the Roland SRM-20 via the usb.

Milling board for characterization

(1) our Milling Machine (SRM-20) already had a sacrificial layer which we made from a leveled wax block. I placed a new board on the leveled bed using the two way tape as shown below.

Board Taped to wax bed

I then Then downloaded the test files (Linetest trace and linetest interior) from the class site. download files below.

Linetest trace

Linetest Interior

After downloading the test files, I imported it into the Fab Modules, specified all the necessary parameters, set the x, y, z zero positions by first inserting the 1/64 and 1/32 bit respectively and then milling and cutting the board. Below is the final test board after milling and cutting.

Final test board

Building and Programming the FabISP

Part of the assignment for this week is to build a personalized ISP board for programming future electronic boards during the Fab academy class period.

Getting Necessary Files:

In other to complete the building and programming of my FabISP, I had to get all the necessary file for the fab academy website. I downloaded the board Trace file, the Outline file and the Component files from the website. Below are the files download from the site.

ISP44trace

ISP44interior

ISP44board

The Components file shows the list of all the components used in on the FabISP, the value of the components and their orientation.

Milling the Board

I then Milled the my board using the HTML5 version of the Fab Modules and the Roland SRM-20. Before milling the board, I had to install and set-up the Fab Module to make communication possible with the Roland SRM-20. I followed the instruction on the Fab Modules set-up link HERE to setup the Fab Modules to communicate with the Roland SRM-20. After making sure the communication to the machine was possible. I loaded the trace and outlind files respectively with the corrisponding settings and then milled and cut the board using the 1/64 and 1/32 bit respectively. Below are photos showing the process.

Loaded ISP file

Set the Parameters

Milling and cutting board

Milled board

Soldering the board

After milling and cutting the FabISP board, I picked all my components based on the component list on the component file. I the soldered all my components to the board as show on the component file. Below are photos showing the soldering stage and the finished board.

ISP44 Components

Soldering the ISP44 Components

Completed FabISP44 Soldering

Smoke testing

After soldering the board, I performed smoke testing of the board to make sure it has no problem and I realized my soldering was a success because there was know smoke during the test nor was there any signs of overheating. Photo below shows the smoke test.

Smoke testing of the FabISP Board

Programming the FabISP

In other t program the FabISP I had to first install all the necessary Software for AVR programming. I did this by folloing the instruction on the Fab academy website Installing software for AVR programming. Using a previously built and working FabISP from lab instructor, I connected my FabISP to his FabISP and powered both on via micro usb cables, downloaded the firmware, edited the Makefile and then programmed my board. Photos below shows the programming steps.