BusPirate/ATXPSAdapter/SMDStar Workshop Thurs. Mar. 12th 7:00-10:00PM

For anyone that wants to do the SMD work on their bus Pirate or ATX Power Adapter kits we will run a drop in workshop of sorts on Thursday evening. We will have the solder dispenser and reflow oven setup. I will have completed working examples of both devices so you have something to compare your board to.

We also have 5 SMD Star kits available for others that may want to try their hand at it. These are $5.00 each (paid in cash on the night). Reply to this thread if you want a kit reserved for you. If we have more demand than the 5 kits allow then we will schedule a future workshop.

Sorry about the late notice… This workshop is for members only…

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I’m in. I’ll grab one of the star kits too. I want to get in on this reflow/solder dispenser action!

I’d like to participate as well. I have one of the FET driver boards from @TomKeddie and would love to get it built!

The link above should be SMD August - Cooking SMD Stars - Vancouver Hack Space if there is enough interest in the next two days I’ll order some more battery clips, I have the rest of the parts.

The original $8 charge was to cover the cost of the stainless stencil, this is now covered so people can choose between stencil or paste dispenser.

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I’ll be there building my bus pirate! I also have an SMD star which I think I’ll build by hand to warm up. :slight_smile: I’ll also open the space early…at 6 pm so if people want to show up after work feel free.

We’ll set up the scope like we did last time. Really helped.

If you have a visor definitely bring it. I think there are a couple at the space but a few more would really help.

I’m interested in doing this too, I’ll be grabbing a kit as well.

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Aww, not a member :frowning:

Thanks @packetbob for hosting the workshop! I got a lot out of it and hope I can do more boards in the near future. Do you mind posting a link to the reflow oven control kit?

@TomKeddie any idea why one of my stars has a different frequency (8.9 Hz)?

I took a very close look under microscope and the one on the right has no visible faults. There could be a short under one of the caps or resistors, but when I shorted R2 on the working star (which seems to be the only element that can increase frequency), it wasn’t going as fast as the one on the right. (normal mode is 1.2Hz, shorting R2 got me 2.5Hz)

My best guess is perhaps one of the components is faulty.

I believe you got one of the coveted high speed kits…

I think I changed the component values and didn’t update the doco. Can I leave some other caps to try in the dropbox? Are you ok desoldering the wrong ones and resoldering them? @Janet you miht have the wrong parts too.

Thanks Tom! I have 3 kits with green boards and 2 blue. What caps should I have?

Yeah that wouldn’t be a problem. Thanks Tom!

@Gonazar I left some caps for you in the dropbox at vhs. Let me know if they work and I’ll give some to @Janet too.

Thanks Tom

Thanks! Where exactly is the dropbox?

Cheers,
Doug

Is a locker labelled as such.

@Janet I’ve verified the replacement caps, will leave a strip for you in the dropbox over the next few days.

Thanks Tom!

Got mine and replaced the caps. Works great! Thanks Tom!