DorkbotPDX people doing strange things with electricity

I created a file for labeling the pins on my Dorkboard.

We enjoyed the class.

Updating my earlier Extreme Surface Mount Soldering Instructable, and based on some great work by Scott Dixon, I've posted a new Instructable. Check it out here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Closing-the-Loop-on-Surface-Mount-Soldering/

Included are complete instructions for modifying the sensor and all the software for control. This is a significant improvement to the old method. Enjoy!

=== Announcing the third PCB Order! ===

Now's your chance to get that design you've been working on professionally fabricated in the USA.

This is open to DorkbotPDX dorks, Make:PDX makers, OpenTechSpace hackers, and anyone else that wants in on it. Orders must be received by February 2nd, and will be distributed by mail by February 10th or at the DorkbotPDX meeting on February 15th.

=== What you get ===
- Three 2 layer boards (see design rules below)
- Soldermask on both sides
- Silkscreen on the top side only.
- Optional Mylar solder paste stencil ($5 extra)

=== The Costs ===
$5 square inch for three copies of your board. So, a 2 square inch design would cost $10, and you'll get three copies of your board. Shipping by US Mail is included.

Scott Dixon has agreed to make Mylar solder paste stencils (for easy application of surface mount componants) for $5 a board stencil. If you'd like to take advantage of that, just include the "tcream" file the CAM file below produces, and tell me you want a stencil.

With the inclusion of a functional AVRISP MKII (and PDI!) programmer in LUFA, I thought it would be fun to make a programmer board to take advantage of it.

This is an programmer "shield" for the Teensy2. Solder on some headers, plug in your Teensy, flash it with the LUFA AVRISPMKII code, and you have a functional ISP programmer.

Lots of folks have asked about where to get solder paste for surface mount work (after the workshop). Here's that info for reference.

Digikey Solder paste part numbers: > SMD291SNL-ND 5cc Tube $14.25 > SMD291SNL10-ND 10cc Tube $20.93

Local Vendor: General Tool on NW Nicolai This was reported in Blabber by Richard Harding back on 10/16/09. I haven't tried them myself, but here's what Richard had to say: quote:

For the Eagle workshop/2nd PCB group order, I put together a pair of minimal breakout boards for the Parallax Propeller and would like to make the Eagle/Gerber files available for anyone who might find them useful.

So have you ever wanted to use one of the ubiquitous 16 pin LCDs in a project but found it a pain to wire up all the signals (not to mention the pot for contrast control and maybe a backlight control as well)? Me too. Sure there are serial backpacks and other ways to cut down on the number of pins and connections that it takes to run the LCD but sometimes that seems like overkill for a simple one-off project.

Thanks to all who attend the Workshop! Watching the group go from shocked amazement at seeing the tiny parts placed with tweezers to the point where everyone built a board themselves in just a few hours was both fun and exciting for me. Hopefully, those experiencing the process had as much fun. The hot plate process worked great and the solder paste silkscreens Scott made on the Tech Shop laser were outstanding.

Ten more Dorkbots are off and running with Surface Mount Technology!