<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/Lqc1jmbSxnE" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Why is the thickness of PCB layers important? Explained.
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

How to choose PCB?

<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/OG2Ci_xr0pM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
If you would like to watch a full step-by-step tutorial about how to design your own custom keyboard, let me know in comments. Thx for watching.
    </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">Overview</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:20</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard parts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:54</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard PCB design</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">02:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Small version</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:53</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard case</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">05:11</span><span class="chapters-text">Switches and encoders</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:10</span><span class="chapters-text">Keycaps</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:56</span><span class="chapters-text">Firmware QMK</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">07:52</span><span class="chapters-text">VIA app to set shortcuts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:28</span><span class="chapters-text">Finished keyboard</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

I Built This Custom Keyboard from Scratch

<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/m3Ny3j5nH0U" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Close look at BGA soldering, chip soldering, hand soldering and more
    </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">00:09</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering BGA</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">01:18</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering TSSOP</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:05</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering QFN</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:02</span><span class="chapters-text">Hand soldering</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Multilayer PCB under a microscope</span></li>
    </div>

    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.keyence.eu/yt-kib-vhx-0924">Microscope Keyence VHX-7000N</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Have you ever seen soldering THIS close?

<div class="entry-content">

    <div class="blog-content">
        Hi all Hardware Design Engineers,<br><br>

        what tools do you use every day to do your job? What tools are essential for you and which you found very useful?. Feel free to share and leave your comments.<br><br>

        – Robert
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/f00be-hw_tools_and_accessories.jpg" alt="HW tools and accessories" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        Here is my list of the things what I found useful or what I use when I work on a hardware design.<br><br>
               
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Tools & Accessories</h2>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Soldering station Weller WES51. Minimum one, two are very useful when de-soldering (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Microscope IND-2Z. Enables me to work directly on the table and soldering under microscope (Very useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://www.mastechpowersupply.com/dc-power-supply/linear-power-supply/mastech-linear-dc-power-supply-30v-5a-hy3005f-3-triple-outputs/prod_9.html" >Power Supply HY3005-3</a> (Very useful, but if I could, I would choose power supply where power rails can be individually switched off)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/coil/5408/magnifier-eye-glass-x7/dp/201881" >Magnifier</a>, Eye glass x7 (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Digital Calipper, measure in inch and mm (Very useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/duratool/1pk-105t-f/tweezer-fine-straight-tip-140mm/dp/3127590" >Tweezer</a> (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">0.5mm Tin (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/servisol/200004360/no-clean-braid-1-5mmx10m/dp/4754347" >Braid</a> (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/chip-quik/smd291/flux-rework-no-clean-10cc/dp/1850216" >FLUX</a> (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/electrolube/flu400db/fluxclene-aero-brush-400ml/dp/725663" >FLUX remover</a> (Very useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Scalpel handle and Blades (Very useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/amphenol-spectra-strip/135-2801-040/ribbon-cable-40way-per-m/dp/1207459" >Colour ribbon cable</a> (Useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">A white tape. White because it’s easy to write on it (Useful)</span></li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Hardware</h2>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PC or Laptop. I use Dell Latitude E6400 (Screen resolution 1440×900) and I am extremely satisfied (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Second monitor (Must have), Currently I use ASUS VE247H</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Printer (Must have), currently I use HP LaserJet 1022, but an A3 printer would be much better</span></li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Software</h2>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://products.live.altium.com/" >Altium Designer</a>, my favorite tool (<b>Essential</b>)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><a href="http://www.cadence.com/products/pcb/capture_cis/pages/default.aspx" >Orcad</a> used together with Cadence Allegro</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Cadence Allegro for advanced PCB layout</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Blueprint-PCB for assembly drawings</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">MS Excel for calculations (e.g memory length matching, …)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Free <a href="http://www.pentalogix.com/viewmate.php" >ViewMate</a> gerber viewer (Very useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Free <a href="http://www.pdfforge.org/pdfcreator" >PDF Creator</a> to print into pdf (Very useful)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Free <a href="http://www.vmware.com/products/player/" >VMware Player</a>. I run most of my work under virtual machines. It’s then very easy to backup complete work/system. In case of something happened to my laptop, I can always start image of my virtual machine on a different computer and continue at work. (Very useful)</span></li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.mastechpowersupply.com/dc-power-supply/linear-power-supply/mastech-linear-dc-power-supply-30v-5a-hy3005f-3-triple-outputs/prod_9.html" >Power Supply HY3005-3</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/coil/5408/magnifier-eye-glass-x7/dp/201881" >Magnifier</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/duratool/1pk-105t-f/tweezer-fine-straight-tip-140mm/dp/3127590" >Tweezer</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/servisol/200004360/no-clean-braid-1-5mmx10m/dp/4754347" >Braid</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/chip-quik/smd291/flux-rework-no-clean-10cc/dp/1850216" >FLUX</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/electrolube/flu400db/fluxclene-aero-brush-400ml/dp/725663" >FLUX remover</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://sk.farnell.com/amphenol-spectra-strip/135-2801-040/ribbon-cable-40way-per-m/dp/1207459" >Colour ribbon cable</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://products.live.altium.com/" >Altium Designer</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.cadence.com/products/pcb/capture_cis/pages/default.aspx" >Orcad</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.cadence.com/products/pcb/pcb_design/pages/default.aspx" >Cadence Allegro</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.pentalogix.com/viewmate.php" >ViewMate</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.pdfforge.org/pdfcreator" >PDF Creator</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.vmware.com/products/player/" >VMware Player</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div> 
</div>

8 Essential tools for a Hardware Design Engineer

<div class="entry-content">

    <div class="blog-content">
        I have been designing electronic devices for more than 11 years. During this period I have used several systems and:<br><br>

        <i><b>“If I was thinking to buy a software for Electronic Hardware Design I would choose Altium Designer.”</b>

        – Robert Feranec, <a href="http://www.fedevel.com/" >FEDEVEL</a> Motherboard, Processor and Microcontroller Board Design</i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Why ?</h2>
        <ol class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Optimum ratio between Price / Performance</b><br>
                You can design ANY board in Altium Designer. For advanced boards (e.g high speed designs) the PCB layout process may take a little bit longer as it would take when an another advanced tool such Cadence Allegro is used (a few days or weeks more), BUT you will save time on other things – such component management. Also, <a href="http://live.altium.com/#software" >Altium Designer costs $5000</a> what is much less then Cadence Allegro which, as I know, starts somewhere around $25000 plus fees for every year. (Just for information full PADS price is around $15000, a cheaper tool like EAGLE costs around $1500)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Great Component Management</b><br>
                By using Variants in Altium Designer you will save a LOT of time. A board has many times more then just one variant – board with different memory sizes, different range of input voltages, different resistor settings, … Just generating all the manufacturing information for all this variants takes a lot of time (BOMs for purchasing, BOMs for manufacturing, Assembly drawings, Schematics, …) and then … a hardware change needs to be done and re-generate all the information again … and again. In Altium Designer, once everything is set up correctly, it takes only few clicks. Read more about <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/2011/04/altium-designer-tutorial-using-variants-in-schematic/" >how to use variant manager here</a> or <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/2011/06/altium-designer-how-to-creat-assembly-drawing-layers/" >learn how to create useful Assembly drawings here</a>.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Excellent Schematic Browser</b><br>
                You always want to be sure the schematic is correct. No one wants to have swapped receive and transmit signals, two outputs / inputs connected opposite of each other, using wrong power rail, forget pull up / down resistors, …. Altium Designer provides an excellent schematic browser what allows you easily check connection for EVERY pin in your schematic. It’s my favourite feature. See <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/2011/03/best-way-to-check-orcad-schematic-use-altium-designer/" >comparison between Orcad and Altium Designer Schematic browsing here</a>.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>3D visualisation and output</b><br>
                The 3D feature of Altium Designer is SO SIMPLE TO USE. Clients love 3D outputs. They can see the product weeks or months before it’s physically on their table. I use the visualisation to check component placement and it’s especially useful when board is being designed for a bigger system. See <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-and-real-pcb-side-by-side/" >3D model and real PCB side by side here</a> or <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-of-your-pcb-its-reallyeasy/" >learn how to create 3D models here</a>.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Support</b><br>
                It’s a very well known software used by wide community. The Altium Designer Help pages are good written and save a lot of time. Usually it takes no longer then 5 minutes to find and use a new feature.</span></li>
        </ol><br>

        Altium Designer is All in One solution and if you are in process of selecting new software for your Hardware Design team, then consider Altium Designer as one of your options.<br><br>

        What do you think about Altium Designer? What do you like and what not? Leave a comment.<br><br>

        <i>Note: This post is not an advert. At the time of writing this article I even didn’t have my own Altium Designer licence, but I do have now.</i>
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.fedevel.com/" >FEDEVEL</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://live.altium.com/#software" >Altium Designer</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/2011/04/altium-designer-tutorial-using-variants-in-schematic/" >How to use variant manager</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/2011/06/altium-designer-how-to-creat-assembly-drawing-layers/" >Learn how to create useful Assembly drawings</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/2011/03/best-way-to-check-orcad-schematic-use-altium-designer/" >Comparison between Orcad and Altium Designer Schematic browsing</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-and-real-pcb-side-by-side/" >3D model and real PCB side by side</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-of-your-pcb-its-reallyeasy/" >Learn how to create 3D models</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://wiki.altium.com/display/ADOH/Documentation+and+Help" >Altium Designer Help pages</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div> 
</div>

5x Why choose Altium Designer for Electronic Hardware Design

<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/n9T5eJx6y5g" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        This video demonstrates how to create components which are in BOM only (e.g screws, …) or in PCB only (e.g mounting holes, …). Learn something new Today.
    </div> 
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses/">FEDEVEL courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>


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