This year my goal is to clear my large list of ideas and 1/2 done projects off my bench or into the trash.
To that end, I decided to make an “Arduino template PCB” to help accelerate my Arduino-based projects. I typically use a solderless breadboard, then convert that to a vector board with discrete wiring. Then I usually flail with the packaging of switches, displays, and sensor modules. My projects often stall at the solderless breadboard phase.
Most of my electronics-based projects have an Arduino, display, and various sensor modules, most of which come from Amazon.
The idea is that the “Arduino Template PCB” has the common interconnects prepopulated for an Arduino and my most used sensor modules. Which are commonly I2C. Common PIA interconnects like I2C, power ground, switches, displays, and LEDs are prewired.
It also has locations for buttons, LEDs, and random connectors that can be wired into the design as needed.
Power supply, fuse, and power jumpering are included. The board can be jumpered to be run from USB power or external 9-12V which has an onboard 5V regulator [uggh I should add 3.3V also].
This concept also gives me a universal mechanical package that includes a display and keys. The mechanical mounting becomes universal. The sensor modules which typically have no mounting method are soldered into the board and therefore do not need individual hacking.
This board is used for the proto and if it meets the final needs of the project I am done. If not I can just modify the schematic and PCB and have a final version made.
This also gave me a chance to check out “Easy EDA” as I have not done any PCB design in a LONG time and have done very little SMD at all.
This is the first version of the board but V2 is already done.
I was impressed with how easy it is to design and order using EasyEDA.
The boards were inexpensive and of good quality.
My immediate question is how do you store your SMD parts?
I am going to give this notebook a try but wondered how others do it.:
Now, what will I do with this obsolete wall of non-SMD/SMT parts ???