Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans

Egon.Net

@fcwilt said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

Any comments before I launch the order?

Are you going to have someone install the parts? Or at least the SMDs?

Frederick

I'll do it by myself, I have a hot air soldering station and I've build many smd boards already.

BTW, @gaweyo, I've just added the smd diode footprint

fcwilt

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

I'll do it by myself, I have a hot air soldering station and I've build many smd boards already.

That's a skill I have never tried. I have a hot air soldering station but the project I purchased it for got canceled.

So there it sets new and unused.

How much are you going to be selling them for - say 25 units.

Frederick

Egon.Net

@fcwilt said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

I'll do it by myself, I have a hot air soldering station and I've build many smd boards already.

That's a skill I have never tried. I have a hot air soldering station but the project I purchased it for got canceled.

So there it sets new and unused.

How much are you going to be selling them for - say 25 units.

Frederick

I haven't calculated costs yet, but I my plan is just sharing the costs, just not to loose with each board. Once I have the prototype board working, I'll put a price for the DIY kit (board+components), just the bare PCB, and the complete mounted and tested board. And of course, I can send the gerbers for free too.

Would kind of kit would you need? Bare, components kit, mounted...?

fcwilt

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

Would kind of kit would you need? Bare, components kit, mounted...?

As busy as I am I would prefer completely assembled units - ready to install in a printer.

And you should price them to make some profit.

Frederick

zapta

@fcwilt said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

That's a skill I have never tried. I have a hot air soldering station but the project I purchased it for got canceled.

You can try one of those practice kits instead. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32909277203.html

A solder iron, flux paste, and solder are all you need. A cheap Chinese stereoscopic optical microscope makes even easier.

fcwilt

@zapta said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

You can try one of those practice kits instead. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32909277203.html

Great idea.

A solder iron, flux paste, and solder are all you need. A cheap Chinese stereoscopic optical microscope makes even easier.

I actually have all of those.

Frederick

zapta

@Egon-Net, one option you have is ordering assembled from vendors such as JLCPCB.

https://jlcpcb.com/smt-assembly

You may need to make design changes to reduce cost and use their standard parts. https://jlcpcb.com/parts

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jlcpcb+assembly

Just an idea.

Egon.Net

@zapta said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

@Egon-Net, one option you have is ordering assembled from vendors such as JLCPCB.

https://jlcpcb.com/smt-assembly

You may need to make design changes to reduce cost and use their standard parts. https://jlcpcb.com/parts

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jlcpcb+assembly

Just an idea.

I don't think we are going to do so many boards to be an advantage. For the time being I will do the boards by myself, but maybe in the future I'm overwhelmed by all the people wanting the boards and I have to look something like that!

BTW, I'm already a costumer of JLCPCB

dc42

PCB assembly is easier if all the SMD components are on the same side. Then it's easily done using a hotplate, solder paste, and a Mylar solder stencil (available in the UK from Hobbytronics).

Egon.Net

@dc42 said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

PCB assembly is easier if all the SMD components are on the same side. Then it's easily done using a hotplate, solder paste, and a Mylar solder stencil (available in the UK from Hobbytronics).

I know, but for low quantity runs I do it with hot air and without stencil, with very good results. And for this design, size is a constrain. If I were to do a bigger run, I'd rearrange the pcb to be one side only and get it done somewhere lije JLCPCB.

Thanks for the advice anyway

marcelorider

It’s getting really nice
I’m pumped to get my hands on one!

Egon.Net

Please everyone wanting some pcb's PM me with:

Number of PCB's required
Bare PCB/DIY kit/assembled
Where to send in the world

I want to do a small batch first (10 or so), but since I don't know how many boards you all may need, maybe a bit bigger batch could be enough. Once I have this numbers, I'll put a price for every option.

Thanks in advance to everyone!

Egon.Net

Just received one query... No one else wants to enter the first batch?

fcwilt

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

Just received one query... No one else wants to enter the first batch?

You asked for a PM but I don't know what that is.

I do want some as I previously mentioned.

If the price is right I would want 25.

Frederick

ZipZap

@fcwilt said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

You asked for a PM but I don't know what that is.

PM = personal message, so just chat

/Julien

Egon.Net

First batch ordered!

15 PCB are on its way

If there is no problem with the design, I'll order about 50 more, wich would be enough for all the boards everyone asked for.

Anyone wants to betatest a board from this first batch once arrives?

ZipZap

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

Anyone wants to betatest a board from this first batch once arrives?

fcwilt

@Egon-Net said in Designing a PWM to Analog mini board for fans:

Anyone wants to betatest a board from this first batch once arrives?

Be happy to.

Frederick

marcelorider

@Egon-Net I’m in for beta testing if you need. We are also pretty close geographically

Egon.Net

Boards arrived!

They are VERY small and very cute
As soon as I get some spare time I will assemble the first one and perform some testing. If it all works ok, then I will move it to the betatesters phase