Yann Even Fab Academy 2016

Electronics Production

Making a PCB was our assignment this week.

Here's the list of softwares I used :
Here's the files :

I was very busy with my work this week so I decided to use directly Fabmodules. I opened the FabISP image with illustrator to customize a bit with my student number. Then I exported to png and opened it on the fab modules site :

www.fabmodules.org


I had some issues with the "input format" link, I had to try many times to open successfully my image,
I thought that "Chrome" could be the reason, so I tried "Safari"... Worst ! Then "Firefox" and it works perfectly with this browser.





We made several tests, we decide to engrave at 0,2mm depht and it seems to be OK.

Now, soldering...
Components are very small, a LED magnifying lamp with third hand is necessary.


Done ! All components soldered ...

Monday, plug and pray ...
The board doesn't work... After, some researchs, Frithjof (another student in the Lab ... a brilliant one) found the mistake.
When i added my student number and modified the SVG, i made a shortcut between the ground and the VCC. (!)
In the SVG file the lead seems to be ok but the design is too thin.
I cut the lead with a cutter, and tested again the board. Sadly there is an other issue...



Oups, I found an other problem : a shortcut again on the board...



It seems that the Mdx doesn't like very thin space between leads.

Green LED : It's sounds good.



So, let's try to install the firmware, first I downloaded Xcode for mac and finally the firmware. The first steps are going ok:
- make clean : ok
- make hex : ok
The last operation is to fuse: setting the clock frequency and ...


Too bad...

I double checked solders and finally, a lead burned down. I have to build a new board ...

Wednesday 3 PM, I just finished a new board and IT WORKS !!!!!!!!



This one looks better, and works perfectly...



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