Re: How do I add firmware to a card?

[Tristan Mumford <xtristan.xmumford@xgmail.xcom>]

Roger Johnstone wrote:

> In <bruce#fanboy.net-0D3BA5.14295809012007@news.newsreader.com> Bruce
> Tomlin  wrote:
>> In article
>> <bruce#fanboy.net-19B832.14280109012007@news.newsreader.com>,
>>  Bruce Tomlin <bruce#fanboy.net@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>> 
>>> In article <dINmh.791$A8.59@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
>>>  "RedskullDC" <RDC@oz.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> > Places like:
>>> > http://www.expresspcb.com/
>>> > Will make boards to your design, relatively cheaply, no fuss, no
>>> > mess, software is free to download, yada yada.
>>> 
>>> I use pcbpool.com because they take Cadsoft Eagle files directly,
>>> which  is actually has an OS X version.  They have a limited free-use
>>> license  which can make boards up to about 3 x 4 inches.  For two
>>> weeks and $50 (a couple days faster if I'm willing to pay more  for
>>> faster shipping from Ireland), I can get 16 sq in of board, which so
>>> far for me has been four 2x2 boards or two 3.5x2.5-ish boards.
>>> 
>>> Unless you just have to have your board made in a day or two, it's
>>> not  really worth making them yourself any more.

It works out less expensive, if the person's time is worthless. Like mine.
I've used pcbtool before. It wasn't bad either.

>> 
>> Since the original poster was in Australia, his best bet is probably
>> to  find some place in China to make prototype boards.
> 
> There are plenty of places in Australia that will do PCBs in prototype
> quantities.

Thats true. Although HK works out very cost effective for things. Cheap mfg.
and postage is cheaper than local post.

> 
> We still make our own PCBs at my work, but it's all low-quantity single-
> sided boards. Since I'm generally the one who designs the circuit, lays
> it out, assembles the board, and writes the software for it I know
> exactly how Woz felt doing the early Apple designs.

Nothing wrong with doing it that way. Anyway it's always important that a
person knows how to do things the hard way even if they can do something
the easy way.

> 
> 'If I move that IC over there I can reroute those tracks around the
> connector and save two links...(an hour later)...now I've got room to
> space these components out more neatly...(an hour later)...hmm, I could
> get rid of that pull-up resistor and save two cents if I moved that
> switch to one of the microcontroller pins which has an internal pull-up,
> but I'd need to move the micro to the other side of the board...(4 hours
> later)...done!'
> 
> Still, there's nothing like finishing a board design in the morning and
> having a completed board in your hand in the afternoon.

 So true. If you are like me waiting is one of the most horrible things.

Sorry about not replying to anything in the last few days. I've been really
busy. When I did have some free time it went into trying to migrate things
to my new (to me) Tungsten T3 from my M500. A PITA of a job at best.

Don't suppose anyone has an Eagle compatible library with an edge connector
for the apple bus? I'm still learning how to make libraries in it. I've
made a couple of devices, but doing double sided edge connectors somewhat
defeats me I'm afraid.

Oh yeah. There's a chance I didn't see a lot of replies too. My ISPs Usenet
cache is really pathetic.

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