Re: How do I add firmware to a card?

[Anthony Lawther <alawtherNOSPAM@westnet.SPAMMENOT.com.au>]

In article <45a580ea$0$7307$c30e37c6@lon-reader.news.telstra.net>,
 Tristan Mumford <xtristan.xmumford@xgmail.xcom> wrote:

> 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.

Also nice to know that you can fall back on the "hard way" when you just 
have to knock something up quickly, or the auto-router decides to insert 
15 vias where a single wire jumper would do the job.
> 
> > 
> > '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.

I have an Eagle library that I created for myself with both edge 
connector and slot for the apple bus. I can email it to you if you like. 

I won't be offended if you check the dimensions before committing your 
design(s) to manufacturing, as I haven't actually built anything from it 
yet ;-)

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

Regards,

Anthony.