4. Electronic Production
Group assignment
This week we made an electronic board. I learned the whole process to make it. From making the design, etching the design and soldering the components. The group assignment is at the following link.
Electronic board design:
For the design of the electronic board, we used a ready-made design. On the group assignment page are some links. The one I used is the MODS link to prepare the designs.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen1.jpg)
When we open "MODS" it shows us a menu where we select programns.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen3.jpg)
Then we select the option open program.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen4.jpg)
Then we select the option of the image.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen5.jpg)
It will send us to another page where we will see the following:
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen6.jpg)
Select the first file we downloaded called traces.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen8.jpg)
Then select the mill traces (1/64) option.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen9.jpg)
Next, we change the offset number to 2.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen10.jpg)
Change the x, y and z values to 0.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen11.jpg)
Finally, we get the following file in .rml format.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen13.jpg)
To configurate the second file I follow the next steps:
First, I open the file and I invert it.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/corr1.jpg)
Then, I chose the tool to make the cut, in this case I used the tool (1/32).
![](../assets/images/images_week4/corr2.jpg)
The difference between the first file and this is the offset number, when we change the tool we can see a new configuration.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/corr3.jpg)
To finish the file I used the same configuration.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/corr4.jpg)
Finally, we obtain the next result:
![](../assets/images/images_week4/Imagen16.jpg)
PCB Milling
The machine I used to make my board is the ROLAND SRM-20 model.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/SRM20.png)
This machine has the following features:
- Cutable Material: Modeling Wax, Chemical Wood, Foam, Acrylic, Polyacetal, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Printed Circuit Boards
- Operational Travels in X, Y, and Z: 203.2 mm (X) × 152.4 mm (Y) × 60.5 mm (Z)
- Loadable Workpiece Weight: 2 kg
- Operation Speed: From 6 mm/min to 1,800 mm/min
- Software Resolution: 0.01 mm/step (RML-1), 0.001 mm/step (NC Code)
- Mechanical Resolution: 0.000998594 mm/step
- Spindle Rotation Speed: Adjustable from 3,000 RPM to 7,000 RPM
- Interface: USB
- Operational Noise: During operation: 65 dB(A)
- External Dimensions: 451 mm (width) × 426.6 mm (depth) × 426.2 mm (height) (17.76 in [width] × 16.80 in [depth] × 16.78 in [height])
- Weight: 19.6 kg
PCB development on PCB Milling:
To start with the etching of the board, we open the PCB Milling software called VPanel for SRM-20.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/imagen17.jpg)
To start we turn on the machine and connect the machine to my computer.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen1.jpg)
We put the cutting tool that is not flattened at the tip.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen1_1.jpg)
Then, we adjust the "sacrificial board" with the copper board already glued.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen2.jpg)
Then we adjust the tip on one of the corners of the copper board. We use the arrows to move on the x and y axis. And to move down we use the arrows on the z-axis.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/software1.jpg)
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen3.jpg)
Then, using a piece of paper to adjust the z-axis, we carefully go down using the cursor step x100 and x10.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/software2.jpg)
We lower until the paper can't come out.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen4.jpg)
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen4_4.jpg)
Select the first file in the Cut option and the engraving starts.
At the end, we remove the residues with a vacuum cleaner.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen5.jpg)
The result of the engraving is as follows:
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen6.jpg)
Then, we change the drill bit. We adjust the origin again using the arrows. And we start the engraving of the second file.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen7.jpg)
The final engraving on the board is as follows:
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/imagen9.jpg)
Soldering the components on the PCB.
Components
- Microcontroller: Xiao-Rp2040
- Micro leds: three leds
- R820E-1206 SMD Surface Resistor: six resistors
- Resistor SMD RR0816P-242-B-T5: one resistor
- Buttons: one button
- Pins: sixteen pins
- Resistance Value: 0.82 ohms.
- Package Size: 1206, which measures approximately 3.2 mm x 1.6 mm.
- Maximum Power: Generally between 0.25 watts to 0.5 watts.
- Resistance Value: 2.4 kiloohm.
- Package Size: 0816, approximately 2 mm x 1.6 mm.
- Tolerance: ±0.1%, indicating high accuracy.
SMD Resistor “R820E-1206”:
SMD Resistor “RR0816P-242-B-T5”:
The soldering process was complicated for me. I had never done it before. So I decided to practice before soldering the main board.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/aprender_soldar2.jpg)
After some practice I started soldering. I started with resistors and leds, which are the smallest components.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/soldando.jpg)
The result of my first time welding is as follows:
![](../assets/images/images_week4/grabado/resultado.jpg)
Check that the board works
To check that the PCB is well done, I used the following code. Basically what it does is to turn on two LEDs in a loop, and the third LED turns on when I press the button.
![](../assets/images/images_week4/codigo.jpg)