A practical example of making a controller board

[Webbot]

I've created a tutorial here http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/190

Although it does talk about creating my own PCB for the $50 Robot - my main intention is to try and breakdown the assembly process of building a board and so is hopefully of use to all those of you who are about to embark on your first project or for those who have tried once and are giving it another go.

[airman00]

very nice job!

I like it a lot !


EDIT: Where is the EagleCAD file that should be attached?

[MarkBrown]

That is very nice.  I really liked the video too.  I have been thinking of designing my own PCB for the $50 robot controller and now I know how to build the board.  Are you willing to share your Eagle file?

[dunk]

nice job man.
i particularly liked the "3 - Construction" section. a lot of what you have there is relevant to building anything, not just the $50 bot.

in the "2 - Making the PCB" section it might be worth including a link to the toner transfer method of PCB creation.
this one seems to cover everything in the method i use:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Two-sided-PCB-using-toner-method/

thinking about PCBs, i wonder if it's worth someone having a small run professionally made and selling them on Ebay (with Admin's permission)?
alternatively i *think* some PCB manufacturers will keep a PCB template on file so people can order one as they need by quoting the file reference number.


dunk.

[Webbot]

That is very nice.  I really liked the video too.  I have been thinking of designing my own PCB for the $50 robot controller and now I know how to build the board.  Are you willing to share your Eagle file?

Ok I've attached a ZIP file in the section '1 - My PCB design for the $50 Robot'  here http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/191

[Admin]

I guess its too late now . . . but I'm betting you noticed its a pain to solder on all those 3-pin male headers

For anyone else, I recommend getting long strips and just doing them all at once.

Also, for those with more money than time, you can get professional PCB's custom made as low as ~$70 including shipping.

[Webbot]

For anyone else, I recommend getting long strips and just doing them all at once.

The reason why I couldn't do this is that there is a wire link on top of the board that links the signal pin from one (TTL) row to the signal pin on the other (Motor) row. If you've got a double sided copper board then this would be ok - but i used a single sided board which meant soldering wires onto the top side. So that meant I had to have a small gap between each 3 pin header to allow the wire to run in between.

I'm betting you noticed its a pain to solder on all those 3-pin male headers

. Yeah - but I need all the practice I can get!