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The BenchBudEE

posted on January 4, 2021

Course Content

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Lessons Status
1

Introduction
  • Session 1A Welcome
  • Intro To Week 1
  • There WILL Be Cuts And Jumps
  • What’s All This Chris Gammell Stuff, Anyhow?
  • The role of off the shelf development boards
  • Navigating ContextualElectronics.com
  • Revision Control and GitHub
  • Check In On Your Background – Capacitors
  • Check In On Your Background – Diodes
  • Check In On Your Background – Inductors
  • Check In On Your Background – Op Amps
  • Check In On Your Background – Resistors
  • Check In On Your Background – Transistors
  • Check In On Your Background – Voltage/Current/Power
  • Check In On Your Background – Summary
  • The Importance and Role of Failure *
  • Viewing Others’ Work *
  • KiCad Proficiency

2

Early Conceptualization
  • Intro To Week 2
  • Early Conceptualization
  • What We’ll Be Designing
  • Design Constraints *
  • Mechanical Constraints *
  • Low Cost Design Considerations *
  • Choosing Solderable Components *
  • Swapability Of Components
  • Temperature Considerations
  • More About GitHub
  • Block Diagramming
  • Project Creation *
  • Creating A Schematic Skeleton *
  • Defining Your Inputs and Outputs
  • An Early Design Change

3

Understanding The Modules
  • Intro to Week 3
  • Modular Design
  • Understanding The Thermocouple Module *
  • Understanding The Current/Fan Driver Module *
  • Understanding The Relay Module *
  • Understanding The Power Protection And Filtering Module *
  • Understanding The Power Control, Conditioning And Monitoring Module *
  • Understanding The LED Driver Module *
  • Understanding The Arduino Module *
  • Revisiting The Current/Fan Module *
  • The Reality Of Design

4

Part Selection
  • Intro To Week 4
  • Part Selection
  • Paper Prototyping
  • Choosing Components For The Thermocouple Module *
  • Reading Op Amp Datasheets
  • Reading ADC Datasheets
  • Choosing Components For The Current/Fan Driver Module *
  • Reading DAC Datasheets
  • Reading MOSFET Datasheets
  • Choosing Components For The Relay Module *
  • Reading Relay Datasheets
  • Reading Diode Datasheets
  • Choosing Connectors *
  • Choosing Components For The Power Protection And Filtering Module *
  • Choosing Components For The Power Control, Conditioning, Monitoring Module *
  • Choosing Components For The LED Driver Module *
  • Thermocouple Circuit Simulation
  • Intro To The Layout

5

Association and Placement
  • Introduction to Week 5
  • The Importance of Checking Footprints
  • Associating and Placing the Relay Module *
  • Line Power Design Considerations
  • Associating and Placing the Thermocouple Module *
  • Associating and Placing the Terminal/ATX Blocks *
  • Associating and Placing the Arduino Module
  • Associating and Placing the Current/Fan Driver Module *
  • Associating and Placing the Power Protection and Filtering Module *
  • Associating and Placing the Power Modification Module *
  • Associating and Placing the LED Driver Module *
  • Benefits of a Ground Plane
  • Finalizing The System Part Placement

6

Beginning Layout
  • Intro to Week 6
  • Ground and Power Planes
  • Reality Check
  • Layout Work Session 1
  • Checking Out The Components
  • Layout Work Session 2
  • Layout Work Session 3
  • Layout Work Session 4
  • Layout Work Session 5
  • Layout Work Session 6
  • Layout Work Session 7

7

Continuing Layout
  • Intro To Week 7
  • Layout Work Session 8
  • Connecting Ground Planes
  • Layout Work Session 9
  • Layout Work Session 10
  • Layout Work Session 11
  • Layout Work Session 12
  • Layout Work Session 13
  • Layout Work Session 14

8

Finishing Layout
  • Layout Work Session 15
  • Layout Work Session 16
  • Layout Work Session 17
  • Layout Work Session 18
  • Analog IO Cleanup/Additions
  • Changes after external DFM
  • BenchBudEE Version Sent To Fab

9

Finding Replacements And Ordering Parts
  • Session 1B Welcome
  • Equipment Needs
  • Parts Intro
  • BOM Review
  • Locality Problems
  • Introduction To Drop In Replacements
  • Second Sourcing Components Session 1
  • Second Sourcing Components Session 2
  • Second Sourcing Components Session 3
  • Choosing Passive Values Session 1
  • Choosing Passive Values Session 2
  • Choosing Passive Values Session 3
  • Ordering Parts – Active Components
  • Ordering Parts – Passive Components
  • Reviewing The Order
  • Switching The Switcher
  • Fixing The Git Repository
  • How Many Parts Should You Buy?
  • Groups And Build Logs

10

Learning About Test Equipment
  • Week 2 Welcome
  • Part Unboxing
  • Introduction to the Aoyue 937
  • Introduction to the Gabotronics Xminilab
  • Introduction to the EX330
  • Continuity Testing The PCB
  • Build Log Uploads
  • Week 2 Hangout

11

Receiving Parts And Early Testing
  • Week 3 Welcome
  • Soldering Practice
  • ATX Connector
  • Switch Install and Troubleshooting
  • Build More Than One
  • Remainder of Power Section
  • Testing PTC Thermistors
  • PTC Datasheet Review
  • Adjustable Power Section
  • Installing Terminal Blocks
  • Week 3 Hangout
  • Makeshift Screwdriver
  • Load Testing The Adjustable Supply
  • Testing AC Characteristics Of The Adjustable Supply
  • Fixed Regulator Assembly
  • PTC Stacking

12

Beginning Assembly
  • Intro To Week 4
  • Installing The Opto
  • Adding An LED
  • Relay Simulation
  • Relay Build and Test
  • More Relay Testing
  • Creating a portable lab
  • Op Amp Install
  • Op Amp Testing
  • Op Amp Range Simulation
  • Current Source Assembly
  • Week 4 Hangout

13

More Assembly
  • Week 5 Welcome
  • Pull Down Resistor Sketchplanation
  • Current Source Testing
  • Installing Arduino Pins
  • Testing Arduino Power On
  • Drag Soldering
  • Package Announcement and Tryout
  • DAC construction
  • Hooking The Arduino To The Relay
  • Odd Power Behavior
  • Replacing A Soldering Iron Tip
  • SPI Pin Swap
  • Power Diode Bodge
  • SPI Library Intro

14

Beginning Testing
  • DAC Test Program
  • DAC SPI Troubleshooting
  • Fixing The DAC Program
  • Changing The SPI Characteristics
  • Re-testing The DAC
  • Part Removal
  • Flush Cut Style (FCS) MCP3901
  • Practice Soldering The FCS MCP3901
  • PWM Test Program
  • PWM Testing
  • Soldering Down The MCP3901
  • Missing MCP3901 Crystal
  • Final Shopping
  • Power Monitoring
  • Week 6 Hangout(s)

15

More Assembly And Early Troubleshooting
  • Week 7 Welcome
  • Q3 Testing
  • Fan PWM
  • Final Unboxing
  • MCP3901 External Assembly
  • LMT84 Assembly and Test
  • An Intro To The MCP3901 Datasheet
  • Register RW Test Code
  • Week 7 Hangout
  • MCP3901 Initial Code Testing
  • Rail Touch-up
  • Hot Air Part Replacement
  • MCP3901 SPI Bus Troubleshooting
  • Uninitiated Variables
  • MCP3901 Initial Capture

16

Final Troubleshooting And Code
  • Week 8 Welcome
  • LED Driver Assembly
  • Reference Ground Connect
  • ADC Jumper Attach
  • LED PWM Test Program
  • LED PWM Troubleshooting
  • Boost Converter Sketchplanation
  • Module Interaction Testing
  • Inductor and PTC Replacement
  • Week 8 Hangout

17

Firmware Continuation
  • Intro to Epilogue
  • Troubleshooting ADC Accuracy Part 1
  • Troubleshooting ADC Accuracy Part 2
  • 24 bits and OSR change

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