assembleur x86 is a book that teaches you how to design and create your own PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards).
You will learn a variety of skills including:
- Printing circuits using an SMT (Surface Mount Technology) machine
- Designing custom circuit breakers
- Working with a laser cutter
- Programming using a PIC (Microchip Technology)
With Assembleur X86, you will learn how to utilize the many functions of your computer to the fullest. You will learn how to use tools such as Eagle CAD, a PCB design software, a laser cutter, a 3D printer, an SMT machine, an electronic ruler, and a soldering iron. You will learn the basics of electronics such as:
- How to connect various parts of a circuit (e.g., ICs (Integrated Circuits), resistors, capacitors, inductors)
- How to use the basic building blocks of electronics (e.g., diodes, transistors, etc.)
- How to use a potentiometer (variable resistor)
- What are the basics of digital electronics (e.g., computers, microcontrollers, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), etc.)
- What are the differences between analog & digital electronics (e.g., AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio, TV (Television), video cassette recorder (VCR), etc.)
- How to design a basic amplifier circuit
What is an SMT machine?
An SMT machine is a device that prints the circuit boards for you. With an SMT machine, you will load the PCB design software (e.g., Eagle CAD) on your computer. Once loaded, you will push the button on the SMT machine to have them construct a circuit board based on the design you have loaded. You can get SMT machines for a variety of applications such as:
- Printing ICs and other components
- Assembling prototypes of electronic instruments
- Etching PCBs
- Assembling RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags
- Diodes, transistors, capacitors and other components
To get started, you will need to buy some components such as:
- ICs (Integrated Circuits)
- Resistors
- Capacitors
- Inductors
- Piezo electric components
- SMD (Semiconductor Microdevice) components
What is Eagle CAD?
Eagle CAD is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software available for both Windows & Mac OS. Eagle CAD allows you to create your own PCBs or manage the design of other people's PCBs. You can upload your own design or use the library of pre-designed circuits.
With Eagle CAD, you can draw electrical connectors, polygons, traces and components (e.g., diodes, resistors, etc.) directly on the PCB. You can place components on boards for easier connection. You can cut and bend the copper traces to fit the exact specifications of your circuit board. You can generate assembly drawings that include the components and their positions on the circuit board. This can be very helpful when it comes time to actually put the components on the board.
What is a printed circuit board?
A printed circuit board (PCB) is a type of plastic board that has conducting metal traces (usually copper) etched on its surface. When an electric current is passed through a PCB, the copper traces act as electric wires and transfer the current from one part of the circuit to another. This is how you can have multiple connections between two points on the PCB and create a circuit.
Depending on the thickness and the material of the PCB, they can vary in their electrical properties such as:
- Inductance (the ability to resist sudden changes in current flow)
- Capacitance (the ability to store charge)
- Resistance (the ability to hinder the flow of an electric current)
The most common type of PCBs are FR-4 and double-sided FR-4. The former is a type of glass-filled epoxy and has the following properties:
- Thickness – 0.76 mm
- Dielectric Constant – 4.7
- Heat tolerance (thermal stability)
- Optical clarity (transparency)
- Permanence (ability to withstand repeated exposure to sunlight)
- Tolerance for adhesive removal (tear down)
- Tolerance for soldering (temperature)
The advantage of using PCBs is that you can put various components on them as shown in the previous lists. You can also stack one PCB on top of another which saves you a great deal of space. PCBs are relatively inexpensive to purchase when compared to other types of components such as:
- Diodes
- Transistors
- ICs (Integrated Circuits)
You can buy a readymade PCB, or you can design and create your own. Assembling PCBs is an easy process and you can do it yourself if you know how.
How do I design a PCB?
You can design a PCB yourself but you will most likely want to get help from an expert. If you don't have the time or patience to learn how to design a PCB, it's best to hire someone who can do it for you. There are various aspects of PCB design including:
- Electrical Engineering
- Printing Technology
- Digital Electronics
- Analog Electronics
Depending on how expert you want your PCBs to be, you will need to choose between paying a little more or a lot more. If you have a specific project in mind, you can use existing schematics to get an idea of what to expect. You will also need to determine if you want your PCBs to be able to perform certain functions or if you just want to make a decorative piece.
Where do I begin?
If you are new to the world of electronics, it would be a good idea to begin by documenting your experience and learning resources in a journal. This way, you can refer back to it in the future if you need help again. Make sure to buy the proper equipment for the job including:
- A computer
- A printer
- A soldering iron
- A set of pliers
- A ruler
- A multimeter
- An electronic pocket calculator
- An electronic protractor
- A 3D printer
The above items should be sufficient for the beginner. If not, there are a variety of other items you could get that are specifically designed for working with electronics.
The importance of correct capacitance
Capacitance is very important when creating a PCB because it affects the properties of the circuit. In general, larger capacitance values will lead to faster circuit operation and smaller values will lead to slower operations. When a capacitor is connected to a circuit, there is some initial charging necessary which involves charging up the capacitor. Once it reaches a certain voltage, it can begin to store charge which can then be used to power the circuit. Once the charge is gone, the capacitor will continue to maintain itself at that voltage level forever until it is refreshed.
For instance, if you are using a 3.3V voltage source and you have a 1uF capacitor connected in parallel, the capacitor will gradually lose its charge as 3.3V is dropped across it. Once the capacitor is almost empty, it will only hold about 30% of its original charge. If you double the capacitance to 2uF, the charge will stay roughly the same meaning you are running into problems with low power availability in your circuit.