<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fFI33f4TejM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Ken Burns has published 7 hardware projects on Kickstarter. He explains how it works.
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://tinycircuits.com/">Ken's company TinyCircuits</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Can You Make Money on Kickstarter HW Projects?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2oA4X3OTz0M" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Interesting experiments and examples to help you to understand ground layout in PCB. Explained by Hans Rosenberg
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:19</span><span class="chapters-text">Currents flow under track</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:10</span><span class="chapters-text">What happen when you are making a board</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:37</span><span class="chapters-text">Where currents flow</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">14:01</span><span class="chapters-text">Experiment: Cut under track</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">19:51</span><span class="chapters-text">Floating copper fill</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">23:15</span><span class="chapters-text">Grounded copper fill</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">27:04</span><span class="chapters-text">Experiment: Filter</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">35:05</span><span class="chapters-text">2 Layer vs. 4 Layer</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">44:00</span><span class="chapters-text">3 rules to prevent ground problems</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">46:05</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: Ground plane</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">49:52</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: 1 VIA per GND pin</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">54:46</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: Gap in GND plane</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:02:00</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: FPGA board redesign</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:05:16</span><span class="chapters-text">Star grounding</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:07:39</span><span class="chapters-text">Multiple ground planes</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:14:30</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: Digital and Analog on one board</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:16:40</span><span class="chapters-text">About Hans</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HansRosenberg74">Hans´ YouTube</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.hans-rosenberg.com/">Hans´ website</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Examples of BAD Ground in PCB Layout And How to Fix It

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-qubBLJDD8" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
What will happen if you don't have enough GND pins on your connector?
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.colorado.edu/faculty/bogatin/">About Eric</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Do You Design Connector Pinout Correctly? | Eric Bogatin

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        In case you need generate 3D pdf ( <a href="http://www.voipac.com/downloads/imx/53/doc/iMX53_SODIMM_3D.pdf">like this iMX53 SODIMM 3D pdf</a> where you can click and see the board from every angle), use for example <a href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/9.0/3D/WS58a04a822e3e50102bd615109794195ff-7c13.w.html">Adobe 3D Reviewer</a>. How? Export your PCB from Altium Designer into STEP file and open it in the Adobe software. Then File -> Export will save it into 3D PDF file. Disadvantage – Adobe 3d Reviewer is not FREE.
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-text">
        In case you need to print some screenshots/pictures of your 3D board into pdf, follow these steps in your Altium Designer:
        <ol class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Set the 3D view you like in your PCB editor.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Go to Job file -> <i>Add New Documentation -> PCB 3D prints</i>.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Then Right click -> <i>Configure -> Custom -> Take Current Camera Position</i>. Ok.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Print / Publish into PDF.</span></li>
        </ol>
    </div>
   
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/ad4f1-3d-print.jpg" alt="3d print" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        See also my post – <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-of-your-pcb-its-reallyeasy/">Altium Designer – 3D model of your PCB – it’s really easy</a>
    </div>

   
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.voipac.com/downloads/imx/53/doc/iMX53_SODIMM_3D.pdf">like this iMX53 SODIMM 3D pdf</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/9.0/3D/WS58a04a822e3e50102bd615109794195ff-7c13.w.html">Adobe 3D Reviewer</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-of-your-pcb-its-reallyeasy/">Altium Designer – 3D model of your PCB – it’s really easy</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Altium Designer – Print 3D pictures into PDF

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        There are two options:<br><br>

        <b>1) Leave your PCB manufacturer to design PCB stackup for you (Recommended)</b><br>
        <u>Why?</u>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">You don’t need to spend your time by designing stackup. Leave it on PCB manufacturer – they are professionals. They do it every day. Also, by doing it this way, you can work on design in parallel of handling issues with PCB stackup.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Many times PCB manufacturer is not able to build PCB stackup designed by other company or a person outside their company. The main reason is unavailability of material used in some PCB stackups. Selection of material is the best to leave on them – they will choose stocked material.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCB manufacturers use different track geometry calculators and they will not guarantee track impedance if track geometry is calculated by someone else. Many times their calculated numbers and your calculated numbers will be different.</span></li>
        </ul><br>

        An example of email to PCB manufacturer with request for PCB stackup and track geometry.
    </div>
    <div style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;background-color:#eaeaea;">
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>Please suggest PCB stackup and track geometry for PCB with following parameters:</i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i><u><b>PCB Description</b></u></i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– 12 Layers: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i>L1 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i>L2 – GND </i><br> 
                                        <i>L3 – Signal </i><br>
                                        <i>L4 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i>L5 – GND </i><br> 
                                        <i>L6 – Powers </i><br> 
                                        <i>L7 – Powers </i><br>
                                        <i>L8 – GND </i><br> 
                                        <i>L9 – Signal</i><br> 
                                        <i>L10 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i>L11 – GND </i><br>
                                        <i>L12 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i><b>Please suggest stackup.</b></i></p>

        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– Required impedances: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>Single ended:</u> 50 OHMs (L1 (Ref: L2); L3, L4 (Ref: L2, L5); L9, L10 (Ref: L8, L11); L12 (Ref: L11)) </i><br> 
            <i><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Differential:</span> 70, 90, 100 OHMs (L1 (Ref: L2); L3, L4 (Ref: L2, L5);  L9, L10 (Ref: L8, L11); L12 (Ref: L11)) </i><br> <i><b>Please suggest geometry for impedance controlled tracks: Track width / Gap</b></i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– Used VIAs: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>Through hole VIA</u>: 0.45mm (pad)
                / 0.2mm (drill),</i><br> <i>Start layer: L1, End layer: L12 </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>uVIAs:</u> </i><br> 
            <i>Start layer: L1, End layer: L2; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i><br>
            <i>Start layer: L2, End layer: L3; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i><br>
            <i>Start layer: L10, End layer: L11; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i><br>
            <i>Start layer: L11, End layer: L12; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>Buried VIA:</u> </i><br>
            <i>Start Layer: L3, End layer: L10; 0.45mm (pad) / 0.2mm (drill) </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– Other: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i>Minimum track: 0.1mm / Minimum gap: 0.1mm</i><br>
             <i>Board thickness: approximately 1.6mm</i><br> 
             <i>Board size: 40x80mm</i></p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content">
        <b>2) Design PCB stackup by yourself</b><br>
        Basic information about PCB stackups:
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCB is build from three basic materials: Copper foil, Prepreg, Core</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Standard Copper foil thickness: 5um, 12um, 18um, 35um, 70um</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Standard prepreg thickness: 65um, 100um, 180um</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Standard core thickness: 0.15mm, 0.20mm, 0.36mm, 0.46mm, 0.56mm, 0.71mm, 1mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.4mm, 3.2mm. Core is supplied with copper foil on both sides. For some cores you need to add copper foil thickness (18um or 35um) to the core thickness.</span></li>
        </ul><br>

        <i>PCB stackup examples</i>
    </div>
    <table>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>Standard 4 Layer PCB stackup [mm]</td>
                <td>Standard 6 Layer PCB stackup [mm]</td>
                <td>Standard 8 Layer PCB stackup [mm]</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Copper foil<br> 0.18 prepreg<br> 0.18 prepreg<br> 0.71 core<br> 0.18 prepreg<br> 0.18 prepreg<br>
                    Copper foil</td>
                <td>Copper foil<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.36 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br>
                    0.10 prepreg<br> 0.36 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> Copper foil</td>
                <td>Copper foil<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.20 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br>
                    0.20 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.20 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br>
                    Copper foil</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>


    <div class="blog-content-text">
        There are some rules how to build your stackup. Not every combination is possible. Check it out with your PCB manufacturer.<br><br>

        <i>Note: If you calculate impedances for your own stackup, don’t forget about PLATING. Plating process add an additional copper (e.g. 20um)  to top and bottom layer (or if you use uVIAs and buried VIAs, then also to some of the inner layers).</i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <b>PCB impedance calculation and Track geometry design</b><br>
        <u>Example of Microstrip (the tracks on TOP and BOTTOM layers) impedance calculation</u><br>
        90 Ohms Differential / 55 Ohm Single ended for:<br>
        Track width: 11mil / Copper foil 18um (0.7mil) / Track Gap 8 mil / Dielectric thickness 2x 0.1 prepreg = 0.2mm (7.8mil) / material FR-4 (dielectric constant 4.8)<br><br>

        <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/pcb-impedance-calculator-single-ended-differential-pair/">PCB impedance calculator – Single ended / Differential pair</a>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/4d7a9-diff-impedance-90_55.jpg" alt="diff impedance 90_55" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <i><u><b>Tip:</b></u> It’s easy to convert between mm and mils. Use google and look for: “10mil to mm” or “0.2mm to mil”</i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/pcb-impedance-calculator-single-ended-differential-pair/">PCB impedance calculator – Single ended / Differential pair</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

How to design PCB stackup

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k3Dz0KckiSM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        The video explains how to create / add a 3D model to a component in Altium Designer PCB layout. Also explains how to add other SYSTEM 3D parts into board model.
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.fedevel.com/welldoneblog/2011/09/altium-designer-3d-model-and-real-pcb-side-by-side/">Real picture of the PCB from this video</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>   
</div>


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