MMMMM... Juicy! Nice work med!
Also... just a reminder...
DANGER!!! 500.000.000 VOLTS!!! I want to build one of those too, but my current lab space really doesn't support all the PCB making operations, nor do I have room for SMD soldering equipment. Perhaps when I move and am able to grab more lab space.
I wouldn't be to put off by the SMD components to much 0805's are not to bad with a visor and a small tip. 0603's can be a bit of an issue on a tightly packed board but this one is fairly spread out and single sided from memory?
Curve Tracer I think I am building http://www.paulvdiyblogs.net/2017/12/building-curve-tracer.html Lots of other good stuff on his blog too.
It wasn't the SMDs that was concerning me that much, I have a reasonable microscope to assist there. Its the making of the PCB, I have zero knowledge of doing so or the materials, chemicals or space available to me.
@mnementh I hear what your saying, but would refer you to the answer above, plus the fact that it would be my first attempt at doing something using SMDs so rearranging everything to fit a board so small would a step to far to soon for me and would not get to the starting blocks I doubt. Computer speaker was what I had in mind with battery power.
Understood... I remember designing and assembling the LED backlight module for my Turnigy 9X RC radio... a PCB 3mm wide x 120mm long. All 0603 & 0402 components, hand-soldered.
If I ever find it or any of the pics I'll show ya. But I did this thumbwheel rotary encoder all on perfboard; and the main body of it is only 7-10mm wide.
I don’t make PCBs any more for the same reasons. China do a good job for a fiver at average if you can wait
Yup... and if you don't want to send your work over there to be stolen by every punk kid with a smartphone, or you just want it in days not weeks...
OshPark still does good and quick for $10-15. Plus I love the purple PCBs.
I did a quick search just now on
OshPark's shared projects page... I couldn't find anything anybody had shared that looks like the probe. Afraid you'll have to use the files from that fellow's blog.
I decided to chip in the $2 a month so I could watch Mr. Carlson's patreon videos and his toner transfer method looks very doable once I have some more space for things (a laser printer being among them). He uses ferric chloride to etch and lacquer thinner to clean up afterwards. Of course ferric chloride is not the only etchant you can use.
I've done it... it's a complete PITA, and it's still the easiest way to DIY. That's why I just use OshPark. I can be 1-week-or-so patient to let someone else eat all that assache.
There is Gerber files for the PCB's for the SuperProbe so you could always get them made for you?
Not sure if these are Paul's originals and I didn't go looking but down the bottom https://www.instructables.com/id/Carlsons-Super-Probe/
I have down loaded the Gerber files, what program do I need to download in order to view / edit them if required?
KiCad and Eagle will both import Gerber files for viewing; modifying them is a complete PITA though. It's like trying to reverse engineer a gcode. Both programs have a free version. Hmmm...
according to this discussion, it is possible now to convert Gerbers into a file you can work with in KiCad.
mnem
I can haz juice?