clycalvin.com

To all electronic, robotic or PIC micro controller geeks out there, if you are reading this, I need a favor from you.

I realized that there are many community and forum out there that discuss on D.I.Y. electronic and embedded system projects. Yet, some students and hobbyists still find it quite hard to get what they want to be done, or maybe something that can really satisfy their needs.

If you are one of them, here’s a favor I need from you. If there is such a blog or forum out there doing discussion on such topics, I mean topics on any projects involving PIC micro controller, what would you expect from it? I mean how would you like a blog like that to exist in order to help you in whatever PIC micro controller projects you are working on, be it for competition, for final year project, for fun, or for whatever reason you want it to be.

For those who are interested, kindly let me know how you think bout this idea by posting it in my comment box.

Thank you.

After more than a week back in UTM struggling to complete my task, there’re 3 things I’m totally positive:

First, automatic is not always the best option, manual can do better.

Second, after years of learning electronics, I sucks…

Third, I’m lacking of sleep and I miss my bed…

As usual, this holiday I’m staying back in UTM while most of my friends are enjoying their happy holiday.

This time I’m in charge of the electronic department and being requested to design and produce Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for the team. If you’re wondering what PCB is, just go open your CPU and take a look at the mother board. =)

Well, of course the PCB that I’m doing is not that high level yet la… After all, this is my first time designing.

PROTEL is one of the more popular software available in the market for this task. Though I’ve learned to use it a few years back, I’ve totally forgotten how to get it started =P. Spent a few days learning again.

The “raw” layout… web scattering everywhere…

Connecting every single pin MANUALLY…

Finally, complete layout with polygon

PROTEL makes the process of designing the board easier. However the process of connecting all the components together can really kill me. There’s an “auto-routing” function that can perform the task automatically but my board turned into nightmare after using it…sweat…

In the end, no choice… did it manually instead.

This simple little board is already killing me. I wonder how on Earth did those engineers designed the more advanced Intel processor boards…