Artistic PCB Design
2020-Aug-10, Monday 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeI attended a workshop at HOPE called 'Artistic PCB Design for Terrified Beginners'. I enjoyed it immensely. There is a lot of information at the wiki page, and the instructional part is on youtube.
You are informed about the different layers that make up a printed circuit board, and how to leave gaps to get certain effects, like exposed copper, and holes in the copper to let light through.
The basic circuit, a four-pin SAO, two LEDs and two resistors intended to be an add-on board, template was provided.
It's a steep learning curve, having to learn to use KiCad, Inkscape, and Krita. Krita is a my new favourite graphics program. It won me over by being able to create vector layers on top of your raster layers.
I wasn't prepared and had to hurriedly find some artwork to play with to make my first board. So I found some artwork of someone I don't think would mind becoming a circuit board. Here's my first attempt using too much halftone.
Now I just have to wait for the surface mount components to arrive to complete the boards.
You are informed about the different layers that make up a printed circuit board, and how to leave gaps to get certain effects, like exposed copper, and holes in the copper to let light through.
The basic circuit, a four-pin SAO, two LEDs and two resistors intended to be an add-on board, template was provided.
It's a steep learning curve, having to learn to use KiCad, Inkscape, and Krita. Krita is a my new favourite graphics program. It won me over by being able to create vector layers on top of your raster layers.
I wasn't prepared and had to hurriedly find some artwork to play with to make my first board. So I found some artwork of someone I don't think would mind becoming a circuit board. Here's my first attempt using too much halftone.
Now I just have to wait for the surface mount components to arrive to complete the boards.
Laying out board in KiCad
Photo by chebe
3D Render in KiCad
Photo by chebe
Made up boards
Photo by chebe
Board back-lit to demonstrate transparency
Photo by chebe
