Well technically this project isn't really my first PCB. That was made back in high school, a 555 circuit that made an incandescent bulb flash. Excitement! When I first sat down last year thinking about making PCBs again, my first thought brought me right back to that etching process. I'd heard of a technique called "toner transfer" that can be used to create boards at home. However, I have 2 cats and a wife in an apartment to think about here. I don't want to leave lots of toxic stuff laying around the house for the cats to eat and for everyone to breathe. So, I decided to use an online printed circuit board fabrication house where I can submit my design and get back a nice board without messing with toxic chemicals.
I was fiddling around with an AT90USBKEY demo board ($29.99US from digikey), and Laura walks in with a Myntz! case that someone gave her. I'm looking at this thing in my hand and the case she's handing me and, WOW this is really close! So I get out the old awl and punch a hole in the side. I use the smallest key on my keychain to widen it some. Voila! Instant case!  Myntz! USB
Aww! Just think of all the awesome things I could have done with 15 LCDs!
Everyone's happy today! Came home from work and my new FPGA board has arrived.  Wow I wish I were so easily amused
I'm so happy! So I wake up this morning to sunshine, feeling really rested. This is completely abnormal. The rested part, not the sunshine. I do live in California. Laura left early this morning I didn't even see her before I stepped out into the sunshine for my own commute. Ominous clouds hang overhead as the Bart train enters the SF Bay tunnel. I pay no mind. Afterall, the mid morning sun will be up shortly (ahhhh California) so I'm expecting these wisps of clouds to be pulverized shortly by a lot of sunshine. |
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