I'd like to upgrade my buttonhack to the 4-LED system. Right at the moment, hulkster.net isn't responding (dunno why) so I can't go check the web site to see if Brian offers the 4-LED version of the board as a separate sale or not. Even so, I get the impression he's behind in shipments, so I'd be curious to know if I have any alternatives to getting a 4-LED board made. For instance, aren't there online sites that will produce a PCB from uploaded plans?

Also: I've got his original 3-LED system, does the 4-LED system require different electronic parts, or can I just use the parts from the 3-LED system and merely add another LED?

Or maybe there's someone who already has a 4-LED board and the necessary parts in stock, and I can just buy it from them?

Brian offers the 4-LED version of the board as a separate sale or not. Even so, I get the impression he's behind in shipments, so I'd be curious to know if I have any alternatives to getting a 4-LED board made. For instance, aren't there online sites that will produce a PCB from uploaded plans?

There's a few places that will make PCB from plans and such - usually there's a minimum size of 4x4 (meaning that if you go under, you still pay the 4x4 price.)
I'm using one of those (don't have the URL handy, at work.) for my RS232->TTL+5V converter board for the remote display ..

Me.

There are tons of places online to upload 'plans' to produce PCBs from. Typically you need to provide Gerber files or equivalent from a PCB CAD program to board houses like 4PCB or use proprietary software from other board houses such as PCB123 or ExpressPCB. It usually ends up costing a minimum of $70 or so, although there may be some a little cheaper. It is probably cheaper just to etch your own. I need to make one for my player too, I guess I could get a few produced somewhere if there is enough interest, otherwise I'll just etch one here. Setup fees for the film, etc. are prohibitively expensive unless you make quite a few.


Stu

otherwise I'll just etch one here

That would be totally cool if you could. How much?

I've got a couple of boards at home and I'm coming home tomorrow night, so if Stu doesn't make one for you, I can send one over to you.

Stig

Let Stig send you one of his. No telling when I will get around to doing it.

Stu

I may have at least a couple PCBs on hand pretty soon. I just finished enhancing the picture of Brian's 4 LED knob PCB to 1200 PPI for printing and etching.

Does anyone own the copyrights to these layouts?

Stu

I've got a couple of boards at home and I'm coming home tomorrow night, so if Stu doesn't make one for you, I can send one over to you.

Cool! How much?

And if you happen to have an extra LED on hand, or any of the other necessary parts (if any) to upgrade my 3-LED unit to 4-LED, then I'd love to buy those from you, too. (One-stop shopping is easier. )

Well, obviously Brian owns the copyright. You will need his permission to reproduce those for anyone other than yourself.

Cheers

That's what I thought. I was really only planning on making them for myself anyway.

Stu

I don't have any white leds, sorry... Only red, blue and yellow ones... I've got the rest of the components, though. And the cost of the board is next to nothing, so don't worry about it. Just PM me your address, and I will send it wednesday or thursday.

Stig

PM sent. THANK YOU!

From the looks of it (Brian's page is up again), I need one more "101" resistor, and one more LED. I'm guessing those are on the parts list (which I really need to get transferred to the FAQ one of these days)...

The parts list indicates the resistors are 0805 size, but they look to me to be more like 0603 size. I don't have any 0603 packages here, but 0805 resistors don't fit the board very well. I ordered the 0603s.

Stu

Lopan, what do you think?

For what it's worth, StigOE says he used 0805-sized parts, and it's OK to even go as big as 1206-sized parts. But you're saying they should be 0603-size?

I don't know anything about the parts sizing, I don't know what the numbers mean. I'm assuming that the smaller versions have the smaller numbers?

FWIW, I went ahead and ordered the parts as they were shown on Lopan's parts list. It was only a few bucks, we'll see when they get here.

I used 1206 leds and I *think* I used 0805 resistors on the boards I made. Although I used Brian's design as a template, I didn't just "clean" up his pictures, but drew my own board in a CAD-program. Therefore it might be 0603 resistors on Brian's boards and 0805 on mine....

[TV-Shop voice]
I'll just throw in the resistors with your board as a bonus, Tony. And not only that, I can also include the transistor for the same price...
[/TV-Shop voice]



Stig

Cool! Thanks!

You da man.

I just wanted to make sure everything fit which is why I used Brian's picture rather than doing it properly with a CAD program. Tony, 0603 is smaller than 0805. A little hard to work with, but not nearly as tiny as 0201 (.6mm x .3mm)!

Stu

I came across this site a while ago, haven't used them yet but they seem reasonable for one off's and the like.

http://www.olimex.com/

Ever try out one of those pen-like things for drawing conductive traces onto a bare circuitboard? Not the etch-resist pins, but rather, ones which lay down actual conductive traces.. Just curious how well they work.

-ml

Never tried them as I am too much of a perfectionist. I would imagine they work best for short traces, but admittedly have no empirical data to back that up.

Stu

I have used those conductive pens before, they are not that bad... you can even solder to the traces after they dry if you use very low heat. It is actually the same stuff they use on rear windows defogers in cars.

In reply to:

---

It is actually the same stuff they use on rear windows defogers in cars.

---

Really? All the defroster elements I have come across appeared to be made of solid metal of some kind. If the conductive pen fluid is commonly used for window defrosters then it doesn't exactly suggest that it is all that great for PCB use given that the defrosters are there to heat the glass (resistance).

I have mailed the board now, so you should get it in a not too distant future..

Stig

Really? All the defroster elements I have come across appeared to be made of solid metal of some kind.

Most likely he meant the stuff that is used to patch a defroster line that has been cut, for instance while removing tint. Ie stuff to bridge a small gap, not build a complete defroster line.

/Michael

I have mailed the board now, so you should get it in a not too distant future..

THANK YOU! You da man!

Im after a 4 LED knob board too, as I haven't had much luck from Brian, is anyone making these?
I have no clue or expertise to make one my self.

thanks,

Jaidev

Hi.

Add me to that list. Well, to be totally honest: I have no idea of the circuit needed to get the 4 leds to work properly. If I had a circuit diagram, I could probably turn that into a prototype (hand-wired) board. But I would really prefer a clean, etched, PCB to this.

So if anyone is producing them or made a few extras, I would need two of these PCBs. Will of course cover your expenses.

cu,
Sven

I "enhanced" the picture on Brian's site a few days ago and etched a board from it. I don't know if it works yet, but will find out soon. I have been using that laser printer resist paper for etching boards for many years, and never really got great results. The board I etched from it kind of got blurred a bit from the toner flowing out too much under the heat of the iron.

I'm not sure how Brian would feel about giving away his design on the BBS, or else I would post the file here.

Stu

Hi Stu.

I "enhanced" the picture on Brian's site a few days ago and etched a board from it. I don't know if it works yet, but will find out soon.

If it works, I would be _very_ interested in two of those boards.

I'm not sure how Brian would feel about giving away his design on the BBS, or else I would post the file here.

Did you ask him yet?

cu,
Sven