For programming I created a custom test pad arrangement, for which I created a 6 pin bad of nails programmer thingy, so I can just hold it over the test pads, and hit the button for programming, no soldering required, and I usually use that for all my microcontroller based projects... :) Pinout varies for different type of microcontrollers, but the programming pad arrangement, and the bed of nails adaptor is the same...
Yes I meant that... Bed of nails = board with pogo pins sticking out of it at certain locations, that match with test pads on boards, that needs testing and/or programming... just search for bed of nail testing...
What makes the glass look so uneven in the end? I'm asking coz a while back I also had the idea to make a glass circuit board but if I actually do make one I want it to be absolutely clear.
I have a project that involves about 150 or so 12" x 9" glass blanks that I'd like to print circuitry onto to control LEDs at the center of a radial environment. The project would stand about as tall and wide as an average person in a lattice configuration and include hardware for omnidirectional proximity control input. I could use your help with its design.
Have you considered in making multi layer glass slides like repeating the same process on top of the layer thats attached on the glass. I know its not your main goal when doing these but just food for thought.
I'd have to drill the glass, which cannot be done as far as I know with with tempered glass like these slides. I'd likely have to use annealed glass like B270. But... Nope! I can do everything I've ever wanted to do on one layer.
no no, I mean something like this arrangement: copper loctite glue copper loctite glue Glass so the only drilling you would have to do would be the vias, not drilling glass. This would make everything overall more difficult not to mention how close over lapping traces would be. I was jus thinking that since you were playing with the glass, glue and copper I thought it would be a challenge to tackle, you know trying new things. But if what you have works, then there's no point in changing and trying something different. Anyways, love your work and keep them videos coming.
Loctite glue will not necessarily insulate the layers - but that doesn't matter anyway since there'd be no way to cure the glue if it is behind copper on both sides :(
By any chance would you be willing to do a side project for me that would be similar to what you did here(don't have a lot of money), or could you possibly recommend me to someone who may. I'm essentially looking for a gpcb of a specific size with the circuit printed to a particular region. The circuit board would contain ham radio.
Okay I believe your referring to the copper? A ham radio wouldn't need much electricity I would assume so if that is what your referring to I believe it would...I was thinking about just using a preexisting ham pcb design.
It would need to be a single copper layer PCB design. You would need to provide the design. I strongly recommend you prototyping the design yourself on a copper PCB. You can buy them cheaply from place like oshpark and pcbway.
What are some of the downsides of using bismuth solder paste? It seems too good to be true almost. Is there a catch? Thanks for sharing your process by the way, it looks good!
Lead does wet to traces a little better and "is less brittle" and can withstand higher temperatures. I put "is less brittle" in quotes because I have used bismuth for use in NeonFM button panels that get a pounding and it's been fine.
CNLohr sorry for my english) I just saw you ESP8266 video where you use some web application to connect and I was wondering if you use some web app here
Very nice! I was wondering, is this board now waterproof? Since you coated it with spraylaquer in the end. Really like to get into custom PCBs, never made one myself yet,
+CNLohr sorry for my terrible english. I just want to ask your linux distribution. And your computer setups in your house, if you have man-cave or whatever. Thanks for your answer.
For manual pick and place I use something similar to this: www.kickstarter.com/projects/femtocow/manual-smd-soldering-trays which is imho much faster to use than a tray of components, especially if you want to put resistors in the right orientation to read stuff and things like that.
For me it's more about the part organization. I just have far too many unique parts to keep the reels around. I would imagine for most people this would be a good solution though.
The majority of parts I have around are passives, and for most others either I have the amount I need for the project, or I have them in strips from the reels. A lot of components I leave in the reel strips also to protect them a bit from moisture, if they are packed that way. I hate silicon popcorn
Thanks for sharing! These three videos were great.
For programming I created a custom test pad arrangement, for which I created a 6 pin bad of nails programmer thingy, so I can just hold it over the test pads, and hit the button for programming, no soldering required, and I usually use that for all my microcontroller based projects... :) Pinout varies for different type of microcontrollers, but the programming pad arrangement, and the bed of nails adaptor is the same...
ever hear of pogo pins?
Yes I meant that... Bed of nails = board with pogo pins sticking out of it at certain locations, that match with test pads on boards, that needs testing and/or programming... just search for bed of nail testing...
ah gotcha.
What makes the glass look so uneven in the end?
I'm asking coz a while back I also had the idea to make a glass circuit board but if I actually do make one I want it to be absolutely clear.
good on ya for showing the painful failures along with the successes, most of elec eng is grinding till it works :p
I have a project that involves about 150 or so 12" x 9" glass blanks that I'd like to print circuitry onto to control LEDs at the center of a radial environment. The project would stand about as tall and wide as an average person in a lattice configuration and include hardware for omnidirectional proximity control input. I could use your help with its design.
I regret that it's been far too long ago since I've been working on this. I would not be very helpful.
I wonder if polycarbonate would work as a substrate? Excellent series on this, by the way!
This is really cool! Would you mind sharing the schematics and/or the PCB design file? I want to make some transparent LED color shifting PCBs too :)
cnlohr.net/pubsvn/electrical/esp_onelayer/ esp_onelayer4
Thank you. This public SVN directory is golden!
If I'm not asking too much, do you have the PC application for your DMX controller on the SVN too?
which project are you referring to?
Have you considered in making multi layer glass slides like repeating the same process on top of the layer thats attached on the glass. I know its not your main goal when doing these but just food for thought.
I'd have to drill the glass, which cannot be done as far as I know with with tempered glass like these slides. I'd likely have to use annealed glass like B270. But... Nope! I can do everything I've ever wanted to do on one layer.
no no, I mean something like this arrangement:
copper
loctite glue
copper
loctite glue
Glass
so the only drilling you would have to do would be the vias, not drilling glass.
This would make everything overall more difficult not to mention how close over lapping traces would be. I was jus thinking that since you were playing with the glass, glue and copper I thought it would be a challenge to tackle, you know trying new things.
But if what you have works, then there's no point in changing and trying something different.
Anyways, love your work and keep them videos coming.
Loctite glue will not necessarily insulate the layers - but that doesn't matter anyway since there'd be no way to cure the glue if it is behind copper on both sides :(
By any chance would you be willing to do a side project for me that would be similar to what you did here(don't have a lot of money), or could you possibly recommend me to someone who may. I'm essentially looking for a gpcb of a specific size with the circuit printed to a particular region. The circuit board would contain ham radio.
Would it fit on one layer? Could you do the design in kicad? I would certainly be willing to consider printing for-hire.
Okay I believe your referring to the copper? A ham radio wouldn't need much electricity I would assume so if that is what your referring to I believe it would...I was thinking about just using a preexisting ham pcb design.
It would need to be a single copper layer PCB design. You would need to provide the design. I strongly recommend you prototyping the design yourself on a copper PCB. You can buy them cheaply from place like oshpark and pcbway.
If you don't mind me asking. Why's that if its a preexisting design thats been proven to work?
As far as preprinting to a normal board
Can you post some link for the paste you are using? Tnx
www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/chip-quik-inc/SMDLTLFP/SMDLTLFP-ND/2682721
"well that's not good, that fell off" xD
where do you get your smd components
Mostly digikey, aliexpress, ebay and sometimes direct to manufacturer.
cool
What are some of the downsides of using bismuth solder paste? It seems too good to be true almost. Is there a catch? Thanks for sharing your process by the way, it looks good!
Lead does wet to traces a little better and "is less brittle" and can withstand higher temperatures. I put "is less brittle" in quotes because I have used bismuth for use in NeonFM button panels that get a pounding and it's been fine.
How did you exactly send the colours to the board?
Once connected to my home network, my PC sent UDP packets to the ESP's IP and, once received displayed the contents to the WS2812B's
what do you use to create computer side software? Javascript, chrome applications?
Computer-side? I just use a text editor, make and GCC. I don't quite understand what you are referring to.
CNLohr sorry for my english) I just saw you ESP8266 video where you use some web application to connect and I was wondering if you use some web app here
Nope. I am just sending it UDP packets.
makes sense. thank you for the fast reply
OH Sorry, I just saw your first comment... I do web development with a text editor.
Very nice! I was wondering, is this board now waterproof? Since you coated it with spraylaquer in the end. Really like to get into custom PCBs, never made one myself yet,
I am really curious, too. Though, if I try it, I am going to spray it again. I'll try to remember to spray tonight.
CNLohr Looking Forward to hearing back from you :)
sprayed last night, gonna try the dunk tonight.
so, what is the result?
Grave Brave Maybe the laquer is still not dry :P :D
Good job clear coating the interlocking.. lol
Pretty cool!
Where I can find esp chips online plus help nice job :)
ebay! I sell esp8285's, too!
hi man, thanks for the video. Is there any possibilities for sharing your computer setups. I mean linux etc...?
I'm not sure what you mean? I typically just use Linux and install what tools I need when I need them. I.e. git, kicad, the ESP-OPEN-SDK or AVR-libc.
+CNLohr sorry for my terrible english. I just want to ask your linux distribution. And your computer setups in your house, if you have man-cave or whatever. Thanks for your answer.
instead of spraying it, I wonder what it would look like coated with a clear epoxy. Embedding all the components under plastic.
I don't know if I'd ever have an application warranting that, but it would probably look pretty good.
For manual pick and place I use something similar to this: www.kickstarter.com/projects/femtocow/manual-smd-soldering-trays which is imho much faster to use than a tray of components, especially if you want to put resistors in the right orientation to read stuff and things like that.
For me it's more about the part organization. I just have far too many unique parts to keep the reels around. I would imagine for most people this would be a good solution though.
The majority of parts I have around are passives, and for most others either I have the amount I need for the project, or I have them in strips from the reels. A lot of components I leave in the reel strips also to protect them a bit from moisture, if they are packed that way. I hate silicon popcorn
Nice :) What crystal and what caps do you use for the ESP? I think my boards have a problem with those, Idk what caps to pick...
Pick a crystal with the right frequency and about 10pF load capacatance, and then, put about 8-10 pf Load caps on.
what software do you use to make your pub designs?
kicad kicad kicad
thank you so much I just couldn't decide witch to use
right now downloading Kicad , thank you for the tip
Very Nice!!
Maybe a can of WD40 to speed up applying oil? One squirt and they are all done.
i am like 90% sure the glasss gets tinted by the feric cloride
Only slightly, and almost all of that washes out with water.
that doesn't look fast or convenient