Intro to modern hardware prototyping

Eh, Eagle in this day in age? If you're going cheap, I'd stick with KiCAD. It's unintuitive, like GIMP vs Photoshop, but gets the job done with no restrictions on functionality. I've also heard decent things about CircuitMaker, but never used it.

If you have any academic links at all though, or don't mind piracy, I'd grab a student edition of Altium Designer. Solidworks too if you can get it for mechanical modeling. If you ever make it big, these are the tools you want to learn and know how to use. You don't mention anything about a good debugger - this is crucial! If you work with ARM the Segger JLink is the gold standard.

Also you should probably mention where to get cheap stencils, like Osh Stencils etc. With all the cheap parts going to extra small packages, stencils are a godsend. Or, just have your prototype made in China at any of the small board-houses - quite cheap as well compared to the time you might spend doing board assembly.

Just my quick 2c.

Re: Intro to modern hardware prototyping

#5

Post by 6stringmerc » Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 5:48 PM UTC

Useful read and touches on several concepts I'm working through (or around) currently on a prototype. 2nd, maybe 3rd iteration thus far. Frustrating but the good kind of challenge.

Re: Intro to modern hardware prototyping

#6

Post by nearengine » Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 6:09 PM UTC

krapht wrote: post #4

Eh, Eagle in this day in age? If you're going cheap, I'd stick with KiCAD. It's unintuitive, like GIMP vs Photoshop, but gets the job done with no restrictions on functionality. I've also heard decent things about CircuitMaker, but never used it. If you have any academic links at all though, or don't mind piracy, I'd grab a student edition of Altium Designer. Solidworks too if you can get it for mechanical modeling.…

Curious if you've heard about the sale of CadSoft to AutoDesk, I was about to write Eagle off myself but I'm hoping they give it a little love.

http://www.premierfarnell.com/content/sale-cadsoft-0

Re: Intro to modern hardware prototyping

#7

Post by kqr2 » Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 6:24 PM UTC

krapht wrote: post #4

Eh, Eagle in this day in age? If you're going cheap, I'd stick with KiCAD. It's unintuitive, like GIMP vs Photoshop, but gets the job done with no restrictions on functionality. I've also heard decent things about CircuitMaker, but never used it. If you have any academic links at all though, or don't mind piracy, I'd grab a student edition of Altium Designer. Solidworks too if you can get it for mechanical modeling.…

Interview with Autodesk about the CadSoft EAGLE purchase :

https://blog.adafruit.com/2016/07/05/exclusive-interview-wit...

Matt Berggren (Director of Autodesk Circuits) is a big supporter of the DIY / maker community.

Re: Intro to modern hardware prototyping

#8

Post by impostervt » Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 6:26 PM UTC

I've been getting into playing with Arduino's and Photons, and have some ideas that I'd like to THINK about taking to market, but all of these sort of intros seem to stop at the PCB stage. They leave off the part about how to get an enclosure made - designing one, prototyping it, injection molding, etc.

I think it's because that's where things get really expensive...

Re: Intro to modern hardware prototyping

#9

Post by krapht » Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 6:28 PM UTC

nearengine wrote: post #6

krapht wrote: post #4

Eh, Eagle in this day in age? If you're going cheap, I'd stick with KiCAD. It's unintuitive, like GIMP vs Photoshop, but gets the job done with no restrictions on functionality. I've also heard decent things about CircuitMaker, but never used it. If you have any academic links at all though, or don't mind piracy, I'd grab a student edition of Altium Designer. Solidworks too if you can get it for mechanical modeling.…

Curious if you've heard about the sale of CadSoft to AutoDesk, I was about to write Eagle off myself but I'm hoping they give it a little love. http://www.premierfarnell.com/content/sale-cadsoft-0

Yeah, I heard about it. I think Eagle is a sinking ship. The low-end PCB design software market is going to be swallowed up by KiCAD, which has been getting much better ever since CERN decided to sponsor it.

Can't beat free and unencumbered. Thank the European taxpayer and move on, IMO. The market is going to be KiCAD at the bottom, Altium Designer / Pads / Orcad in the middle, then Zuken / Allegro / Expedition at the top.

Re: Intro to modern hardware prototyping

#10

Post by krapht » Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 6:32 PM UTC

impostervt wrote: post #8

I've been getting into playing with Arduino's and Photons, and have some ideas that I'd like to THINK about taking to market, but all of these sort of intros seem to stop at the PCB stage. They leave off the part about how to get an enclosure made - designing one, prototyping it, injection molding, etc. I think it's because that's where things get really expensive...

Yeah, so don't make an enclosure. For one-offs and small runs, there are companies that will sell you a box - you design your PCB to fit. Way cheaper.