US PCB layouts?

Parts Questions
1

Just wondering if I’m best off using SmashTV’s PCB plans even if I make them myself, given that all my parts will come from us suppliers?

And if so, perhaps a section of the site with explanations all in one place about the various board layouts would be a good idea.

Thanks,

Iain

2

i have used the layouts from this site and no problems yet i have done the jdm and core so far, and used smash’s mouser order list, and everything fit right.

3

Thanks Arum. Did you order them or make them yourself. And thanks Smash!

Iain

4

And thanks Smash!

hehe no problem! :wink:

Most (if not all) of the parts on my order lists will fit the original layouts.  The warning about part fit on my site is there to make sure the people know there may be issues when mixing parts lists and layouts.

I made the “US” layouts for several reasons:

To facilitate easier home etching (I noticed there were traces almost touching on the original layouts, leaving no room for errors like under-etching)

To better fit parts that were easily available in the US (some of the ceramic capacitors on the original layouts have lead spacings that were hard to locate around here)

To reduce jumper count (I saw several jumpers that could be eliminated with different trace routing when I built my first set of boards)

Other than the obvious routing/placement differences, the boards are functionally identical, but mine can be etched with less care/precision to a working end.  :)

Please don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not saying the original layouts are bad.  There are way more working Midiboxes out there loaded with the original boards than with my layouts, including some of the boxes I use!

Have fun!

SmashTV

5

Ok, thanx Smash :wink:

Well, I haven’t build midibox(es) yet, but when I do it’s good to know that your board design is “optimised” for home etching.. I hope that our local (finnish) supplier has needed components with right lead spacing.

Bye

Samppa

6

i made mine here at home…and i have had some of the problems with ecthing that smash has mentioned..i will take a look at using his layouts next time. although i am getting better at etching everytime, they still don’t look quite pro yet.