Anyone tried to make a 3D Printer controller?

Crystal pads are really big. bit too big. resistor pads seem to be really good in terms of size for hand soldering. But the MCU has get bit bigger pads. those are really way too small. same for the sot23 on the heater modules.

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Only thing missing would be a small heatsink area for the 5V regulator.

~Straw

Very well work!
I stopped my KiCAD projects for the moment, too much trouble with cvpcb, I do not get the trick.
But i’ve learned, I’m not alone
Next I was struggling with an USB scope, at least I returned it and orderered a new one some minutes ago.

I DL’ded rep last night and had only a quick view just even.
All schematics can be opened but they are still full of errors, i.e. missing the known libs Ok-, dp- …
PCB can be opened and viewed in 3D, Gerbers can be plöotted.

When opening the main project only mainboard is visible, I cannot branch to the modules. (I have probs with hierarchical projects , too)
I’m wondering about ULN.., in 2016 I would use Mosfets only, IRLML2502 or IRF7413 /IRF7311-Dual for ex.

The stepper module PCB shows 2 lines outside.

@bianchifan
Thanks I personally find using “F” while hovering over a component to assign the footprint much faster than with cvpcb. And it seems like its the “better” way according to the image from the doc.

I finally managed to delete all of these libs which i installed locally and it should be clean now.

Yesterday I tried using the hirarchical project tool, but it seems to just allow one pcb design. Also tried to just make a new empty project and moved every module folder into it, but then some schematics would “vanish” and kicad wouldnt recognize them. So yeah, seems like an easier attempt to just open a new project every time, for now.

Stepper Module, these Lines should be the ground planes, forgot to move them to the board edge, but that shouldnt make any difference.

About the ULN, you are right. I just used the ULN because it was the only multi npn array i knew (and had my hands on) and which is easy to solder (nice dip package). But since the PWM Channels moved from 8 to 4, a different package would work much better. Thanks for the suggestion of the 2502, will work on a second design now

Im currently having problems with my Git Software (Gitkraken), it wont push into the repo since the latest update yesterday.

~Straw

strawberrymaker wrote: I personally find using “F” while hovering over a component to assign the footprint much faster than with cvpcb.

So, went back to github desktop and pushed the new changes. I hope that the library problem is now solved.
And also added the Additional Board based on the IRLML2502. Also have to work on a lil adapter for a simple 204/12864 lcd, nothing that fancy. (Still looking to drive a ili9341 with 8bit parallel). I will take a last look at the schematic and then finish up the BOMs and put some things into my shopping cart .

The Main PCB is going to be 2 ounce copper instead of 1, simply because of the power traces (would have to be like 14mm wide). going to cost a bit more, but that doesnt seem to be that bad. Rest ist going to be 1ounce. Have to look onto how to combine multiple gerber boards into one, so i could use a 10x10cm pcb for the modules.

~Straw

Got ’em all ‘n tested:

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@bianchifan okok, i think i finally got it. added the components with a relative path and pushed every footprint into a github repo, so it downloads all footprints used. hope i fixed it now . Should be in the repo.

~Straw

Hi Straw

I have seen the progress on the project. These are remarkable.
How much work is there? From what I see it seems that the work is almost finished.
After the design how you want to proceed?
I want a board to begin developing on Marlin.

Drk

@Drakelive

Yeah, its almost finished. I will take a last look at the pcbs this week, then order everything this weekend (PCBs and parts) in a low quantity (currently looking at 10 pcbs max.) and test it first out, then send out kits (or even prebuilt) to everyone interested here. Think that everything should be here around eastern time. then starting to port marlin, and well, who knows what will come next .

Straw

well, seems like dangerousprototypes doesnt like panelized designs, so i have to settle down with a single order per pcb (meh.)

~Straw

EDIT: I will look that i finish the combined pcb panel and then look for alternatives with pcb shopper.

Ok, finished the panel, looks good for the first try in kicad Though the holes arent visible, but they are there, trust me I will check if the holes have removed a important part of the ground plane.

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For PCB service, elecrow seems to be pretty good in quality and they dont seem to have problems with panelized layouts

~Straw

I have not used them, but dirtypcbs.com says they have no problem panelising.

They have some examples on their PCB store page

I intend to try them, but I have no specific project at the moment.

Please feedback if you do find a PCB maker who will make a panel like your picture.

@gbulmer dirtypcb is going to be taken down, its already replaced by dangerousprototypes, but from their site i didnt completely understood if they are fine with it. I already placed my order on elecrow.com and they accepted it, its already in production ^^. Image

Also ordered the parts yesterday, pretty hyped to see everything come together.

~Straw

I have been using dritypcb for about a year, but not with panellised boards

I am not sure what you mean about them being taken down.
I presume you mean they are closing their business.

Can you post a link, to this information, as I will need to find another manufacturer

Edit.

Found it

http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/vi … b9fd798fed

@RogerClark found that post a few days ago, but that seemed obvious to me, as they had the DP Store online for a long time. I found ecrow via pcb-shopper.com . It seems like they actually manufacture the pcbs, and not like dirtypcb where they outsource other manufacturer, so i would say that the quality would be always the same, also offer manufacture of a higher quantity of pcbs.
and i wanst sure about dangerousprototypes because they have an option “panelized boards” which doesnt give me any real option.

I need to get a prototype board made this week, so I think I will give ecrow a try.

One problem with dirtypcb is that they dont do V groove, so you have to use panelised.
But I never tried to see if panelised works for them, as my designs are in eagle and I only have the normal commercial version that only allows up to 10cmx10cm
So i would not be able to create a large panelised or V groove board.

I now have KiCad installed, but its still quicker for me to use Eagle, as I know how to use it, and I have a good set of libraries for the components I use all the time.

However in the longer term, when I have time, I will try to move my boards to KiCad and do big panelised / V groove multi board layouts.

RogerClark wrote:
I now have KiCad installed, but its still quicker for me to use Eagle, as I know how to use it, and I have a good set of libraries for the components I use all the time.
However in the longer term, when I have time, I will try to move my boards to KiCad and do big panelised / V groove multi board layouts.

Hi Matthias

I did manage to get a simple board design done quite quickly in KiCad.

The confusing this is the way packages are not linked to symbols like they are in Eagle

But as I have some designs in Eagle which I’m just modifying a bit to make variants, its much quicker for me to stay with Eagle for those boards.

If I have time and I’m doing a totally new board, I will hopefully do it in KiCad

RogerClark wrote:
The confusing this is the way packages are not linked to symbols like they are in Eagle

After such nice words about KiCad I’ll post the most disadvantage (IMHO):
It’s not possible to make subcircuits or repeated circuits in the layout editor AND(!) PCB editor together. This could be really annoying.
Ok, for sure, you can repeat the circuit on the PCB but you’ll lost the control (and power) in the layout view.