Electronic Design
Since I am using Fusion360 as a CAD, I decided to design this week board on Eagle. I already tried KiCad in a previous week and I thought it would be good to try another design tool.
I redrew the schematics based on a previous year schematics.
I watched a video tutorial on Eagle, although the video was done four year ago, it is still – as far as I can see – one of the better introduction to Eagle.
There is also a Autodesk Eagle Youtube Channel and some of the videos address specific questions.
Then I did the layout.
Then I exported the PNG and went through Fabmodules to obtain a SVG.
Because the of the particular workflow we have for the CNC (PocketNC), I then have to import the SVG in Fusion360 and create the toolpath from this CAD software.
Then I tried to implement an idea I had two weeks ago: would it be possible to indentify the board design directly within the board itself. There are several ways to do this, each varying in complexity and reliability. I decided to proceed with the simplest one for now: put a QR Code on the board (mill it), and this QR Code would be a URL where the design can be found.
This way, you can produce the URL beforehand (solving some recursive problem that can arise: a board with a QR code directing to the design file that was used to make the board…).
The URL: http://archive.fabacademy.org/2017/at3flo/students/160/ed/media/ehw-v1.png
I then produce the QR Code from a website as a PNG, added the QR Code to the layout of the board (with GIMP) and exported this PNG.
I then did again my workflow from PNG, to SVG.
Then import it into Fusion360 in order to design my tooltpath in Fusion.
I think the QR code might be a good idea, but the workflow is too complicated as such: it should be simplified and automated in order to produce part that are “labeled” with QR Codes in a straightforward manner.
Then, I would like to oxidize the QR Code on the board (once it is done) with baking soda solution or vinegar, in order to highten the contrast between the copper and the resin.
