Gateway device

[tbowmo]

The first pcb's have arrived today.

They came a bit faster from dirtypcbs.com, than I had expected. So haven't even sourced the components yet.

So need to look into that the next couple of days.

with W5100 / NRF module "mounted" :

[RJ_Make]

@tbowmo No mounting holes?

[tbowmo]

@ServiceXp

As we need to bring things to life on a new MCU core (Cortex M0), I decided to just make a "simple" dev board, without holes. They will probably be added on the next iteration of the board. (Besides that, 3 of the corners are a bit crammed with components, so no place for the holes anyway.)

[scalz]

@tbowmo: very beautiful board. I can't wait to see how it will work. And your feedback about dirtypcb. I often use seeed for their price. But dirty seems good too regarding their shipping rates. I like osh sometimes for their beautiful boards.

[tbowmo]

@scalz

Haven't tried any of the other "cheap" board houses. But I'm glad for the quality that dirtypcbs are delivering, and the price can't be argued about..

[scalz]

thx good to know.

[tbowmo]

things are beginning to take form..

First arduino sketch are running on the GW

Proof is here :)

[scalz]

great :clap:

[tbowmo]

Just learned a lesson the hard way, the last couple of days.. Discovered that I hadn't read the datasheet for the atsamd21 good enough, so I had connected all the PINS for the SPI / UARTs completely wrong. Which means 10-12 connections that was wrong (the board uses 3 SPI ports and 2 UARTs, one SPI doubles as UART, depending on the network interface connected)

So new boards are in the pipeline from dirtypcbs.com

This is btw improved on a couple of other points, compared to the previous board. Biggest is, that it now has 4 x 3mm mounting holes, (happy now @ServiceXp ? :)). It also got a couple of extra solder jumpers on the backside, that could be used for software configurations, or test points.

[scalz]

@tbowmo: what a bad luck! but it is so easy to miss something when you look at the datasheet size :wink:
I hope you will get it working like you want, I am sure :smiley:
I like your enlarged pads for 0402. Is it easier to solder like this? Do you handsolder it? Do you think using 0603/0805 with no enlarged pads would take same place???I am asking this for my future designs, in case. But 0402 is so small...

[tbowmo]

@scalz

I'm using 0603 components this time, as I'm not under that big a space constraint, as on the sensebender micro.

The biggest issue is the finepitched SAMD21, have to be extra careful not to make solder bridges between the pins..

[scalz]

@tbowmo: 0603, cool. I have some samd21 sample but have not tried to solder them. it looks tiny but I think I will be able but not without some :cold_sweat:
thank you for your precision :smile:

[tbowmo]

@scalz

atsamd21 comes in 3 variants, with 32, 48 og 64 pins (If I remember right). I'm using the 64 pin variant

If things go well with this one, then I might make a sensebender micro 2, with an 32 pin atsamd20 (almost the same as d21, but without USB host/slave capabilities)

[scalz]

@tbowmo: oh, i have the 48p variant. so I will try to use it in another project in the future. and will order other sample.
sensebender micro2 atsam, wow, crazy thing! could be fun to see this :smile:

[RJ_Make]

@tbowmo Now that's what I'm talking about.. Those holes look so sexy.... wait, that doesn't sound right.... :bowtie:

[RJ_Make]

@tbowmo How is the testing going?

[tbowmo]

@ServiceXp

I just received the PCBs for the second prototype spin yesterday, the first spin had too many errors in the routing around SPI / UARTS so I decided to ditch it, and do a second spin. Dirtypcbs got some hickups processing my gerbers but finaly made the boards.

I hope that I can get around to assemble one this weekend, but I can't promise anything, as I have been loaded more than 150% with work (both from my employer, and from the wife).

[RJ_Make]

@tbowmo Sounds Good, Thanks for the update.

[tbowmo]

Images of the latest pcb's (Before SMD assembly)

Unfortunately I "injured" my back today (aah, maybe not injured, but feels like it :() so I'm on strong medics to keep the pain away. That means that didn't get around to do the SMD assembly today as I planned, as I can't sit at the desk for a longer time.. hope that it gets better during the weekend.

[RJ_Make]

@tbowmo Oh now that is sexy.. From someone with back problems, you take it easy for the next 3 days Sir!! :point_left: