Week 08: Electronics Production

Welcome to Week 8 of Fab Academy!

This week, we embark on an exciting journey into the world of Electronics Production. The primary focus of this module is to equip us with foundational knowledge and practical skills in designing and fabricating electronic circuits—an essential aspect of digital fabrication.

Throughout this assignment, our goals include:

• ✅ Grasping the Fundamentals of Electronics Production:
  Building a strong understanding of the key principles and processes involved in electronic manufacturing, from concept to implementation.
• 🛠️ Designing and Fabricating PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards):
  Gaining hands-on experience using tools like EAGLE or KiCad to design PCB layouts, and then producing them using techniques such as milling or etching.
• 🔩 Mastering Soldering Techniques:
  Learning how to solder surface mount and through-hole components accurately and safely, ensuring strong electrical connections and professional-quality assembly.
• 🔍 Implementing Quality Control & Testing:
  Applying troubleshooting techniques, continuity testing, and visual inspections to verify that the produced circuit is functional, reliable, and ready for integration into larger systems.

By the end of this week, we aim to not only understand the technical workflow of PCB production but also appreciate the attention to detail and precision required to bring electronic designs to life.

There are two types of assignments, one group and one individual.

Group Assignment: Characterize the design rules for your PCB production process.

Group Assignment Overview:

During this week's group assignment, our collective focus was on laser cutting and scanning. To ensure a thorough exploration of the process, we organized ourselves into three dedicated teams, each responsible for conducting a series of trials and experiments using the laser cutting machine. This collaborative approach allowed us to investigate the machine's performance across different parameters and materials.

The primary objectives of the group assignment were as follows:

PCB Milling Machine: Rolland SRM-20

• Comprehensive exploration of the PCB Milling machine and its specifications.
• Gaining insights into the technical details and capabilities of the machine.

Operational Knowledge:

• Acquiring practical knowledge on how to operate the machine effectively.
• Learning the step-by-step process of setting up and running the machine.

Safety Precautions:

• Understanding and implementing safety measures associated with operating the Machine.
• Emphasizing the importance of maintaining a secure working environment.

Optimization Parameters:

• Determining the optimum cut depth and minimum distance between two traces.
• Checking the different end mills and observing their results: feeds, speeds, plunge rate, depth of cut (traces and outline), and tooling.

PCB Milling Machine

A PCB milling machine is a computer-controlled tool used to fabricate Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) by precisely removing material from a copper-clad substrate. Unlike laser cutters that use a focused beam of light, this machine relies on rotating cutting tools (end mills) to carve out circuit traces, pads, and vias with high accuracy.

This subtractive manufacturing process eliminates the need for chemical etching, making it an eco-friendly and efficient alternative for rapid prototyping. It allows for the creation of highly customized and intricate PCB layouts, especially useful in the early stages of electronics development.

PCB milling machines are indispensable in electronics labs, as they enable fast turnaround from design to prototype. At Vigyan Ashram FabLab, we utilize the Roland Mono Fab SRM-20 PCB Milling Machine to conduct various experiments and trials. This compact yet powerful machine supports precise control over milling depth, speed, and tool paths, making it ideal for producing high-quality circuit boards in-house.