Arduino Game Controller

this iteration we learned new software which is

Autodesk EAGLE , this software makes PCB "Printed circuit board",

here eagle software makes the tracks you see on a pcb that connect components to each other instead of using the jumper wire like we used to do and thus eliminating connectivity issues, and it shrink down the overall size too ................................ so let's dig in.

• Schematic diagram

what makes the circuit is to the components and how they are connected to each other it is represented by a schematic diagram that is easily to read and copy with other electronic engineers or hobbyists.

we started with Google of course :D

we searched for the "minimum setup attiny85 circuit schematic"

this gave us what is the component used to connect our ATtiny85 Chip

• Step 1

replicating the schema in Eagle software, we start by setup eagle and importing some library "Adafruit " which will help us search and insert the used components to get the exact footprint.

• Step 2

inserting components from the Adafruit library and connecting GND and 5v to their places as the schematic

• Step 3

give a check on the design rules or the DRC that is the distances and measurements of the pads and track width and the spacing between each of them to the other ,

• we starts with the line tool to outline a rough dimension of the board, then laying components close to each other to minimize unused distances, we used a common ground GND, lastly generating routes/traces and make sure we don't have any airwires "unconnected item " it was fun like a puzzle game :D

it took me, longer time more than what you may think.

after finishing we exported the files for manufacturing on the "Rollandmill mdx20 machine" using (CAM Processor ) generating button

the milling process here

• simply using the machine to etch out un wanted copper from the surface of the PCB thus making the routes only

• and after that we will make holes or drills for components and screws

• lastly cut the outline of the baord.

the designed we generated by Eagle (CAM Processor )was exported as GRBl files, eagle exports the file as layers we will need "Routs/Pads - Drills - outline " there is some other useful layers like the shapes and names of the components and symbols called silkscreen but we wont use in milling

We used a secondary app "Grbl Viewr" To convert grbl files to Pdf files that can be edited on gimp or photoshop to convert it to indexed Black & White and save png format

• inverted:- black is what we want to remove white is the copper tracks

• we start the process attaching the pcb to the machine surface using double layered tape and masking tape

and then send the layers one by one to the machine in this order you can start with tracks or drills but make sure to cut the outline last setting in the attached figure

1. Tracks

2. Drills

3. Outline

in the machine settings we choose machine type Rolland mill and choose mdx20 we choose the process type (outline or traces )

after that we clean the surface from unwanted pointy copper smoothed it out with lite Sandpaper

• in LaserWork app > the laser machine software used at fablab

• i rearranged the two acrylic parts.

• made sure there is no overlapped duplicated lines.

• assigned power and speed for Cut (10 speed , 60 power)

• and for Scan (50 speed, 15 power)

uploaded the file to the machine .......

i gathered all components

it was the first time i cut acrylic so some of the parts got black burns on them,

• i add the m3 screws for the buttons first to the top 3dprinted part

then i put the board in its place and sandwiched the acrylic between the 3dparts and closed it all and add the long m3 screws

i assembled the 3dprinted case and made sure it all fits.