USB-to-Serial Module based coders cable

[Ian_micheal]

Maybe Staff here can buy some and offer them for contests in the future. I know with the slow speed of the coders cable larger projects i dont even attempt any more.

[pboese]

Prizes aye! I've already had offers from folx willing to test'em fer me. Slow coders cables sux, but they're good for debug output... if you have BBA or Lan Adaptor that is

I sold my BBA thinking I'd never get bit by the DC bug again... thus the USB-Serial UART based coders cable was born.

BTW: I got word (email) today from ExpressPCB that my boards are complete and have been shipped. Yea! There will be some toaster oven soldering this weekend fer sure That is if my solder paste supplier comes through with my order :P

[pboese]

Pics of the bare board Rev B:


ExpressPCB does nice work, and they turned them around before the promised delivery day of 21-October 8)

There is an error in the layout.. :-[ but I'll tell you more about that after I build and test the new board.

[Alexvrb]

Error, in what you sent them or in what they produced? Something you can fix easily by hand, I hope?

[pboese]

Just posted some pics of the solder reflow operation on the Console Vision forums.

[wraggster]

Heres what Axlen posted over at CSV for those who are too lazy :P

Here are a few images of my first attempt at toaster oven IR reflow soldering this evening:


My work area. / Tiny parts.

My eyes need some help. / Ceramic mounts on a bunsen burner screen: Yes those are brass paper fasteners holding the board onto the screen :wink:

Components in wet solder paste. The little red chip is the temperature marker. When the board reaches 215C it melts. / The IR source.

In the oven. / Cooled and ready for the next step. Note the black blob left by the temperature marker.

I purchased the toaster oven at Target on cleareance for about $20 off regular price. I guess nobody liked the color :wink: The box was opened so it might have been an unwanted sweetest day gift... Damit Carl, I said I wanted to toast our love with champaign, not a toaster oven...

The solder paste was easier to apply than I antisipated, but it's pretty hard to guage how much to put on each pad. There is one IC not yet mounted... because... well... the pads are the wrong size ops: I choose the right shape and number of pins from the library, but I overlooked the pad spacing. Those are 0.5mm and the actual part uses 0.8mm... ouch! Never fear though I have a plan to solve the problem... an ugly plan, but a plan none the less :twisted:

Thanks to axlen for the news

[Cereal]

So when are these gonna go into mass production and replace the old coders cables?

[pboese]

The short answer:
1) Testing, verifying, beating unit up mercilessly...
2) Muntz the design: i.e. get rid of any non-critical parts and reduce costs...
3) Kid test it.

[Alexvrb]

4) Mother approve it?

lame I know... anyway, good luck.

[pboese]

Mothers approval is only important if she catches you in the act :P