Re: How do I add firmware to a card?

[Roger Johnstone <roger@roger.geek.nz.removethisbit>]

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.
> 
> 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.

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.

'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.

-- 
* Roger Johnstone, Invercargill, New Zealand -> http://roger.geek.nz
* PS/2 Mouse Adapter for vintage Apple II or Mac
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