Hey #GPN22 crowd 🦈
I did bring a lot of #ReworkCTF boards to the event. If you want to improve your PCB repair and soldering skills, this might be the project for you.
There are 18 soldering challenges that are all documented should you get stuck and need help.
The board is also a RasbperryPi-Pico once you are done. So only minimal e-waste.
Recommended donation for one board is 10€. Find me at the @cccac table, next to the ZKM exhibition.
Expecting some circuit boards today maybe. Exciting - my first use of #KiCad right through to actually producing PCBs, though I've worked up a few schematics in the past, and one other PCB layout.
Haven't bought any new boards for a project in a couple of years either, so it's nice for that reason too.
@ottaross if you plan to create new models, the step file format also works. It is more common with (mech) engineers. FreeCad can create/export step. So can almost any other 3D CAD tool.
They models also be scripted with cadquery. The kicad libraries have a repo full of scripted parts over on gitlab.
We would love to have more upstream contributions.
Mein Wasserkocher geht nicht mehr aus, hat ja jemand eine Idee?
Ich dachte, der Sensor sei vielleicht verkalkt, entkalken hat aber nicht geholfen🤷🏻♀️
Er hat Beleuchtung und das Licht geht auch aus, wenn die gewünschte Temperatur erreicht ist.
Ugh, an intensive day with too much sitting, fully immersed in circuit work.
The ramp up with #KiCad tools was very smooth. I didn't find any roadblocks in #schematic capture, part coding, #PCB layout, nor cleaning up DRCs. The tools have come a long way since my last use in 2021! Pleased!
A scan through manufacturability tomorrow and the full cycle is complete. Yay #FOSS.
Ordering the #ReworkCTF is always a hassle since the engineers at JLC want to fix all the challenges.
This time they found two issues on the board in total. When the DFM check for assembly happens, I expect more questions and corrections that I will ask them to undo again :)
> 1As shown below, the indicated trace and copper is connected, is that normal? Do you need to separate them?
There is just to many emails to update this thread.
So far there are 18 mails from #JLCPCB in my inbox.
I send 9 answers.
Also, I used their chat to clarify some things. While it is tedious to make sure all the 'errors' are actually produced the way they are designed, the communication works quite well. The support is responsive, friendly and competent.
@jaseg@julialuna All of those "issues" are documented. JLC has this data.
And I put a lot of work into communicating the intent of the board. They did confirm that they understand, there is one mail that explicitly confirms the R20 soldermask design.
I assume the problem is internal communication at JLC.
Pet peeve of the day: MCU families that obviously share common IPs (e.g. GPIO blocks, SPI blocks, etc with the same SFR definitions across multiple parts) but don't go out and say it.
So I take code I wrote for one chip and it might port seamlessly to another, but I don't know until I line-by-line compare the datasheets to see if all the registers are the same.
Also, it bloats docs by having a bazillion copies of the definitions of each IP's register in each chip reference manual.
What I'd much prefer is a top level datasheet for each chip that contains the memory map, pinout, and any chip-specific config like peripheral clock enable registers.
Then just have the memory map say "0x4000_1800 is GPIOC, this a GPIOv3 IP" and link to the GPIOv3 datasheet.
Today I found a nice object for #NameThatWare
What do you think is this device? If you think you have the solution, try to describe your thoughts as well.
As a maintainer I don't want money. I already have a job. Maintaining is not my job. Its a hobby.
What we need is more help. A good community. Friendly people. A hobby is supposed to be fun.
Money instead will build pressure to perform. At least for me it would not help at all, but make things worse.
@jaseg@azonenberg
A regular Knipex or Weidmüller stripper set to 3mm is reasonably good for me. I have done a few hundred Molex Mini/MicroFit crimp contacts in the past - without bothering about the insanely tight tolerance.
At work we have some swiss-made rotary tool with find adjust. But I don't remember the name right now. It might be up to your specs - will look it up next week.
@azonenberg which type of insulation do your cables have.
Some materials are quite "stretchy" and don't cut but rather rip apart.
When possible I prefer to work with LZSH type insulation. Or old PVC that has gotten slightly harder when doing this kind of job.
Also I feel that 4mm copper (extending slightly into the bendy part of the crimp terminals) is not an issue. Worst case is that you trim it with a knife.
(Don't tell that to IPC620 people)
