Join the challenge - design a pcb

temol

temol

Well-known member
How about quick pcb design challenge?

We pick one, reasonably simple schematic and design a pcb. One participant = one design.
It's all about fun but each board must be functional and possible to make at home. So no double sided, via stitched, super fancy boards.
Only single sided pcb's, but of course jumpers are allowed. Everyone picks his favorite design software, it can even be Paint or a paper and a pencil, but in the end there should be an image of the board that allows us to fabricate it using one of the available methods of diy production (toner transfer, uv film, cnc engraving, etc.). And no cheating with autorouting!
I'm not sure about veroboards, stripboards, tagboards, ptp... we can discuss this later :)

Anyone?
 
Im soooooooo down for this but i need to get started on one of the programs! You said the circuit can be hand drawn? Then Toner transferred? Ive never even attempted this but im in! Ive been wanting to head into circuit design i think you just pushed me to do it! Very excited to see what everyone else is doing and coming up with!
 
No worries. Anyone can join, even total noob. It's good opportunity to try.
There is free design software available, simple and not so simple...
I suggest checking simple first - DIY Layout Creator.

But if you are familiar with Inkscape, Illustrator, etc - you can use it. In the end - it's all about joining dots ;)
 
temol said:
Anyone?
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I don't think I've ever done a single sided board layout and I've definitely never etched or machined a PCB. Sounds like a fun diversion, depending on what circuit gets chosen.

vigilante398 said:
I love this idea, but I probably shouldn't be taking on more projects. Maybe I could throw something together for a prize?
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Yeah, that might work better for me too actually. ;)
 
This is how I used to make boards. Can’t remember the exact process, but it involved a marker and drawing a one-sided circuit, transferring it, and etching the board with a chemical solution. Then drilling the holes for all the components. Fun fun
 
This might be my chance to finally learn to make PCBs. I have Diy layout creator and use it a lot. I also have Kicad but it's baffling and complicated.

I'll breadboard something and if it works I'll draw it up. What's the worst that can happen?

Thanks Temol for the idea!
 
andare said:
This might be my chance to finally learn to make PCBs. I have Diy layout creator and use it a lot. I also have Kicad but it's baffling and complicated.
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If you haven't tried v6 of KiCAD it might be worth a try, at least. I've been on the bus since v3 and the last two versions have brought a whole lot of improvements, but I still wouldn't exactly call it simple or intuitive to use.
 
I do double sided boards at home, they are no harder than single sided boards really. It's only in the exposure and alignment of the art work that it's perhaps slightly harder. But if you take two bits of glass and hinge them in a fame with some piano hinge it can be done cheaply and effectively. For an exposure unit, I’ve used one of those acrylic nail UV exposure units that cost less than $20.

I think it is the chemicals and etch tanks that initially pose an issue, but recently I’ve built a rocking table and the chemicals go into Tupperware which sits on top and sloshes away.

I’d never have contemplated doing it if it were not something my dad has been doing for years.

It's not complete as I'm lacking parts. It is an OverDriveRevison1 with bass control ;)
 

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I'm glad there's interest in the design challenge.

But first things first..
There are prizes: fame and glory.. :) but seriously - there are prizes. More about them soon.
First, we need some rules, we need someone to choose a schematic (@Robert ?).

So...
- type of circiut? overdrive? fuzz? modulation?
- complexity? two op-amps max? 5 transistors max? 5 potentiometers max? 1 switch (except 3pdt)?
- technology? through hole.
- does the author have to build a layout? Would be nice.. This is proof that there are no errors and that it works correctly.
- evaluation criteria?
-....?

I see it like this:
We don't know the schematic until the challenge starts.
We have one/two/three/four weeks to work on the design.
We post our designs .. when? When ready? On a given date?

And of course - no cheating, no using existing layouts, no autorouters.
 
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