jzaun wrote:
So this is the PCB, its 82mm x 218mm in size. Any issues? I'm thinking of ordering a few this weekend.
I probably didn't read everything, but I have some questions:
First, is this a 2-layer or a 4-layer board? I see lines running to and from those bypass capacitors, which makes me think it's a 2-layer board. BUT the traces for those (which would be VCC and GND) are really tiny, just as big as a signal trace. I personally don't know if that really changes anything, but I was told and implement myself larger traces for VCC and GND coming from capacitors.
Also, if it's a 2-layer board, I have been told to run VCC and GND lines all over the board. Spiderweb, "net", or star configurations are good. Also having them run along the edge of the board. I have heard that you can consider your 2-layer board smaller than what's actually edge cut, so that in the end just run VCC and GND lines around the edges. If this is a 4-layer board (though my first guess is not), then you don't have to do any of that.
I don't know where you intend on getting this printed. I personally use JLCPCB. They are super cheap and have many options. BUT having the board size any bigger than 10cm x 10cm increases the cost a LOT. If you are ok with a costly board, all good. Right now 5x 2-layer 10x10 boards are $2, and 5x 4-layer 10x10 boards are $8 and shipping isn't too bad. If you would be up for it, you could break this up into two smaller boards, but then you'd have to buy connectors and whatnot.
Did you do the routing yourself? It does look good! I very recently learned about auto-routers, in particular FreeRoute (or FreeRouting). It works pretty well with KiCad, and probably other programs, not sure what you are using. This REALLY opened up a whole new world for me, since I was able to really *squeeze* those chips in close together. What I am able to put on a little 10x10 board now was unthinkable to me just weeks ago.
Last thing, though I know it's very late in the game if you are looking at printing a board soon: When I was making my first board, I was wanting ALL of the options, gizmos, gadgets. LCD's, keyboards, buttons, SD cards, you name it I wanted it. And those 3x VIA's will get you there for sure! But, one thing I personally didn't realize was that as soon as I printed my board, it was obsolete. Meaning, I already had plans for the next one before the first board ever came in! I thought I would get it all done in one nice pretty board, and I'd be done and off to do software for the next 5 years. Nope. Instead, I was happy to get some blinky lights on the first computer, and then I got LCD and buttons to work. After that, I was ready to move on to bigger things.
This hobby is more expensive than I thought. Not that it's super expensive, but one board did not solve it all for me. I'm now *expecting* that, where my future designs are more plug-and-play, or at least cheap enough to toss and try something new. And that's ok early on because we are all learning. If you want to see growth, mistakes, and failures here are some topics to browse:
My first computer:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6818My first printed board (a copy of the first computer without a mess o' wires):
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6868Attached is a picture of what my third computer will look like, I'm currently waiting on the boards to come in. You can see how the auto-router has let me really pack in the IC's and max out that tiny little board, while also leaving room for expansion.
I'm not a pro at this, by any means! I'm definitely still a newbie. But from one newbie to the next, that's my little bit of gathered wisdom.
Thanks!
Chad