What I want to do
In my last Potentiostat note (found here), I droned on for three paragraphs about how to fabricate a printed circuit board. Here is the easy way.
My attempt and results
This link should take you directly to a page where you can order a board. If it doesnt work, go to OSHPark.com, click on the "Shared Projects" link at the top of the page and look for "WheeStat5.1" (they are arranged chronologically, so look for things submitted on Jan 8, 2014).
Click on the link at the bottom of the page that says "Order". You will need to order a minimum of three, at a total cost of $11. Priority shipping is another $5 (in the US) but free shipping is available.
Since this is my first foray into having boards fab'd, I had no idea what turn-around time to expect. For those in a similar situation; I ordered three boards Jan 8, they went to the fab house on the 10th and they shipped on the 16th. I expect they will get to my office on Monday the 20th. Thus, from first click to delivery took a little less than two weeks. Be aware that you will still need to purchase and solder on the components (they are just shipping you the board).
Questions and next steps
Question--Why have I been doing this the hard way? Next steps-- I have three boards on order (also on order is a stencil from OSHstencils.com). Once these come in and I have convinced myself that this really is the way to go, I will order a larger run and make a set of instruments for use in lab this semester. If you would like a board, let me know. I can have extras made when I place my next order (For a larger order the price drops).
11 Comments
Hi, it is a honor to meet a very interesting project, I want build your proyect for the university for project graduate, but the scheme is not clear. You use two integrated, Please clarify what uses could CI´s in your board? I´m sorry but my bad english.
Thanks and good luck in your development.
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Hi, I am glad to hear that you are interested in the project. The first integrated circuit (IC1) is a quad operational amplifier. The part number is LMV324IDR. IC2 is a digital potentiometer (MCP4231-103E/SL). All the resistors and capacitors are 1206 packages. All resistances and capacitances in the pdf schematic look OK, but we have changed the values of R8 and R9. They were 160 K ohm, but we are now using 10 K ohm. The software on the GitHub site is outdated and I need to update it. Hope to have time to do that soon. We may be making a production run in the next few months. This would be boards populated with components but not headers or leads for the electrodes. If things work out, we will make 120 boards and I will be able to let you have one for my cost plus shipping. Let me know if there is anything further that I can help with. Jack
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