Resources (PCB tips, Parts, Equip.)

This page is meant to be a resource for useful information and design tips to help your team throughout the Senior Design project work. As engineers, you should abide by and conduct yourselves in a professional manner as outlined by the IEEE Code of Ethics.

Ordering parts

See part orders.

Lab Equipment

The lab is equipped with various test equipment such as scopes, power supplies, multimeters and a surface mount rework station. Some of the equipment is meant to be shared between workbench spaces; you can move the equipment around but ask permission from the team that you are moving the equipment from first! After working at the solder reflow station, please clean up the area.

• The Agilent DSO320A scopes have USB connectivity in the back; if you download the scope software from Agilent then you can control the scope and capture screenshots via your PC.

• Install the National Instruments VirtualBench software to use the device.

Cables

A great way to connected between your PCB and some sensors is using locking fan cables and the matching locking connector on your PCB. These come with 3 wires -- order several for larger cables.

Other Resources

Please see the following subpages to help in different aspects of your projects.

• Circuit and PCB Design/Assembly

• Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit

• Versa Laser Cutter

• The Factory - MSU's MakerSpace.

• Part Selection Resource -- look for answers to questions like "How do I control a Stepper Motor?" or "How do I switch AC power on/of using a microcontroller?". This information is collected from previous projects that have faced these and other problems.

• Software for Agilent 3000 scopes in the lab for PC - Scope connection via USB; useful for taking high-quality scope pictures for design document.

• Every Circuit, an alternative to OrCAD and is similar to Pspice. Thanks to Omar McClendon.

• Microsoft Project Professional via Dreamspark - track budgets, meetings, resource managements and planning. Thanks to Omar McClendon.

3D printing and CAD packages

• The ECE department owns several 3D printers available for student use. E-mail your STL file to design AT ece.msstate.edu to submit a job. (The address requires fixing; this is an anti-spam measure.) Be sure to ask questions -- the 3D printer operator can provide some helpful advice on what will work and what won't. Just because you can draw in in CAD doesn't mean it will print correctly...

• The library's Digital Media Center offers 3D printing services. Contact the senior design TA if you'd like to use your team's money on a print.

• 3D Hubs provides local 3D printing. Be sure to check the hub owner's body of work. Most of the hubs have a profile where you can view prints they have done in the past. Reviewing the printers prior work and paying attention to the ratings are the main ways to get quality prints. Some of have received shabby, low-quality prints. (Thanks to Chase A.)

• Fusion 360 -- fairly powerful. Download the free trail, then sign up using student license to get free use.

• 123D -- less power, but easy to use.

• TinkerCAD -- online, web-based. Limited by web capabilities.

• Sketchup Make -- easy to use.