The ESP8266 is an extremely robust and versatile microcontroller, which has proven to be a powerful tool in building Internet of Things solutions. What makes the ESP8266 such a popular tool is the perfect integration between a robust 32-bit processor and a fully functional WIFI module that already includes Internet Protocols.
A simple target, but the goal here is to prepare and test the development environment and introduce the programming mode.
1– What do I do first?
Answer: What does the “setup()” function say to do.
2– What do I do after “setup()”?
Answer: Repeatedly execute whatever the “loop()” function tells you to do.
Once this step is completed, the main modules using the ESP8266 will be available. For our application, we will use nodeMCU 1.0.
And to be part of this revolution, the developer goes out of its way to include wired ethernet modules or WIFI modules in its circuits. Which increases complexity, circuit size and development cost.
What if I told you that already has a built-in WIFI microcontroller? And that it fits in the palm of your hand? For just 1 US dollar?
Today I’m going to introduce you to the ESP8266 microcontroller, from Espressif. And for those of you who already program in 8Bit microcontrollers like the Atmega328 (one of the most common on Arduino) and struggle to build your code in the modic SRAM’s 2KB and Flash memory’s 32KB… The ESP8266 offers 32KB to RAM and 512KB to Flash Memory … expandable up to 4MB.
Did I get your attention? So, let’s go to a summary of the specs, provided by the manufacturer itself:
At this point you may have noticed that I stated that the ESP8266 has a 512KB Flash memory, extendable up to 4MB, but then I said that the module only provides this memory per SPI. Before explaining this, I want to draw your attention to another important point: The ESP8266 has a WIFI module inside a QFN package. WIFI is radio frequency! And how does it work without an antenna? The answer is: It doesn’t work!
The ESP8266Ex chip (this is its full name) needs an antenna to be connected to your antenna’s specific pins as well as a FLASH memory IC.
Started to get complicated? Don’t worry. With the idea of making the chip more accessible, several modules were developed that already include an antenna and a memory chip.
Understanding the need to include an antenna for the WIFI, a memory IC in the SPI and making pins more accessible, several manufacturers started working on ore “friendly” ESP8266’s versions. Among the best known are the ESP-01, ESP-03, ESP-05, ESP-07, ESP-12E, ESP-12F and NodeMCU. All of them have the esp8266 microcontroller in common, but they vary in size, antenna availability, memory size and pin availability. There are others, but today we’ll talk a little about them.
| Where To Buy? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Components | Distributor | Link To Buy | |
| 1 | ESP8266 | Amazon | Buy Now | |
It is the most common module in the ESP8266 range. It is compact (24.8 x 14.3 mm), the WIFI antenna is built in the board itself and has two GPIO pins that can be controlled according to programming. There are two significant drawbacks to this card:
This version comes with a ceramic antenna, 7 GPIOs (two are those of the ESP-01 that require attention), a pair for UART, in size 17.4 x 12.2 mm. Smaller than 01? Yes! But that comes at a price: The encapsulation is another.
Built-in antenna, 11 GPIOs, UART available, SPI available (not exactly, it’s still being used by the flash memory CI, but now you get the option to disable the memory and associate a larger one), an ADC pin (pause here to explain because it’s not that useful, The board operates with 3.3V, but the ADC is 0 – 1V. Low resolution, plus the big risk of damaging everything.).
The ESP-12E would be icing on the cake for the ESP8266’s boards, but the ESP-12F version handled an improvement in the antenna design and a little more pin protection.
The NodeMCU module is to the ESP-12s as the Arduino UNO is to ATMEGA328s. A board with a protoboard compatible pinbus, all ESP-12 pins available, a 3.3V regulator to power the module (the VIN pin can receive 5V) and a UART – USB interface that turn the nodeMCU into a plug an play module.
There are versions with the ESP-12E (increasingly rare) and with the ESP-12F.
Now that we know a little more about the hardware, let’s take a look at how to program it.
There are different ways to programming the ESP8266. Different methods, different languages, among the most common, we have the ESP-IDF (manufacturer’s official. C programming) and others recommended, also, by the manufacturer: NodeMCU (Lua Script), Arduino (C++), MicroPython (you get one candy if you guess the language). It is possible to work with it in PlatformIO as well.
The ESP-IDF is the official Espressif solution. The SDK has a number of precompiled libraries and works with the Xtensa GCC compiler.
For a long time, the company has released RTOS and NON-OS versions in parallel. But since 2020 no NON-OS versions have been released (except minor bug fixes). Other modules from Espressif were born exclusive to RTOS versions, probably this was already part of the decision to bury the NON-OS. IN 2019, the company released a note stating that it would keep the main version, but that it would only operate in the correction of critical bugs. It even released some new features after that, but it doesn’t compare in quantity to the RTOS version.
This is without any doubt the most specialized tool that allows for the greatest customization at a low level. Drivers and libraries are customized for company modules. And specialization directly reflects on performance.
But the ESP-IDF lacks in complexity and size of the active community. Which ends up making the solution’s development a little slower. How does this happen? The programming is done in C- ANSI, in some cases with the directly treatment of registers, creating a more verbose code. More verbose? More chances for bugs. Also, active community is something that needs to be looked at when using any technology. Whether for creating new libraries or for sharing issues and solutions. The ESP-IDF user community exists, but it is much smaller than the others that will be presented here.
The NodeMCU is an ambiguous term, it can either be used to indicate the NodeMCU module (hardware) or the NodeMCU development environment (software), both can be used together. But not necessarily. Let’s go to the software one.
The NodeMCU is a Lua-based firmware specific to the ESP8266 and uses a SPIFF (SPI Flash File System) based file system. This firmware is installed directly in FLASH memory, which allows the code’s execution in real time, without the need for compilation.
It offers a library structure for native functionality and for sensor’s integration, such DS18B20 or BME280, which make programming more dynamic.
The NodeMCU has been popular for quite some time. But it has three serious problems that have started to reduce its use.
The Arduino platform, undoubtedly the best known in the world when it comes to microcontrollers, is also on the manufacturer’s list of nominees.
The Arduino was built as software-hardware relationship that makes microcontroller’s development more accessible to non-specialists. The hardware complexity was minimal (in some cases none) and the software started to be treated in a high-level language (C++), allowing even object orientation.
Because it is so accessible, some members of the software’s community have started to be collaborators in building libraries (Only to control LCD displays, I know four), some sensor’s manufacturers offer official versions as well. Constantly updated material. Etc. Etc.
The Arduino architecture started with the Arduino Uno board (which uses an ATMEGA328), expanded support to other boards and… for some time now, it has support for ESP8266 in different modalities. There is good compatibility with standard Arduino libraries and it has its own.
I Don’t know the MicroPython in practice (yet), but as the name advertises, it allows programming in Python. Like NodeMcu, it deploys a firmware to FLASH memory and has well- defined libraries for hardware usage.
The space occupied in Flash is well optimized (not even compared to NodeMCU chaos). It seams to have a very active community. As for programming complexity I don’t have much information. But if you program in Python, I think it’s worth the experience.
The PlatformIO is not really a development platform, but it allows an integration with other platforms to simulate the board. If you don’t have an ESP8266 on dang yet, it might be a good choice for your first steps.
However, there is a natural limitation when simulating a module whose flagship is WIFI.
Personally, I think that the Arduino environment is perfect for prototyping. It’s easy to get results pretty quickly to validate a proof of concept. But in some cases you can go beyond that. If your project doesn’t demand maximum performance from the ESP8266, even the production version can be built here.
For a project that requires a lot of hardware precision, I don’t recommend intermediaries. Nothing will perform better than IDF.
For educational purposes, our next articles will use the NodeMCU board programmed on the Arduino platform.
Parts Pre-order Service provides customers order components and saves them for their JLCPCB SMT service. Consumers prepay for the parts and buy the required components in advance to ensure sufficient components are ready anytime. Meanwhile, they can immediately arrange the supply of parts through the advance sale for their electronic products. The parts save in their own library, safe and easy.
Pre-order service accumulates different demands from people all around the world, is making parts need more clear and easier, therefore JLCPCB cooperates with customers to help complete orders, the order in large quantities, help win more discounts, and create maximum value and benefits for customers.
The shortage of components caused panic purchases,and the result of panic buying is the continuous soar in component prices. Since 2020, the production capacity of components has been insufficient due to the epidemic for all the world. Hardware companies in various countries around the world have joined in races for component resources. Meanwhile, the epidemic has caused more companies to arrange for employees to work from home, which indirectly promotes the demand for electronic consumer products has increased sharply. Consumer electronic products are the most suitable products for work and personal entertainment at home.
Strategy Analytics reported global consumer electronics market revenues to increase by 7% in 2020 News on February 4th, Strategy Analytics' latest research report "2014-2024 Global Consumer Electronics Market Forecast" pointed out that in 2020, strong consumer demand for home computers, tablets, and game consoles will promote consumer electronics Trade gains reached 358.5 billion dollars, an increase of 7% over 2019.
Therefore from this point of view, the production capacity of components is insufficient, and the demand for terminal electronic products has increased day by day, which has increased component consumption. Due to insufficient production capacity but increasing consumer demand is continuing, leading many technology companies or the consumer electronics industry to start a global search for components to ensure stable production and operation. Coupled with the rise of the online education industry in 2020, many schools arrange students to study at home, and the demand for educational electronic products has also grown sharply. Components are downstream products. The insufficient supply of terminal products has caused many consumer electronics companies to directly join the ranks of competing for components. The lack of supply has caused global electronic businesses to panic, and components have also risen due to the situation, and prices have continued to rise. Many merchants are facing the same difficulties that they are pouring more money, but cannot buy it, so the emergence of component pre-order services can reduce the insecurity, help to solve the global shortage.
A good PCB Supplier is expected to have a stable supply foundation: replenishing goods in time when demand increases; inventory prepared even demand decreases.
We are facing a global component supply shortage, although every PCB manufacturer makes every effort to ensure that its SMT service is not affected in any way, things are always out of control. Global production capacity cannot keep up when the world is unstable, the reasons many from the global economy, the global political situation, the epidemic, etc. The shortage of components will continue. What should we do?
Therefore, pre-determining components and ensuring a stable supply is one of the ways to solve the problem. As a PCB manufacturer, it is impossible to estimate or correctly understand the component needs of each customer. It is difficult to guarantee that there will be no shortage of materials. When there are many parts in stock, and a customer may order a lot at a time. It seems parts pre-order service make everything go easily. Customers request parts in their account, it is a private library. requesting and saving parts in the personal account, just take them out when you have SMT order needs.
For JLCPCB, when they receive the requests, they can understand which kinds of parts people demand. Meanwhile, when JLCPCB accumulates many orders from parts, they can have more negotiable advantages when they help to buy the parts from other parts suppliers, which has a large discount for the entire purchase. This is equivalent to a joint collaboration to complete a task. The component reservation can inform JLCPCB customers' component requirements, accurate to the model and quantity. JLCPCB conducts global collection and purchase, and the entire purchase is highly discounted and easy.
Price discount is one of the advantages of component pre-order service. Since it is purchased online, all prices are open and fair.
Customers have a choice for whether to buy after confirming the price of the components. JLCPCB also implements a policy of more refunds and less replenishment for the pre-ordered components, so it's worry less about payment is gone because pre-order service failed cause. As we know, the global PCB company has good service for both price and quality. They are able to gain more low-cost but high-quality parts from global components suppliers. And also we know the components from component agents or original manufacturers, there will be a corresponding purchase price. In order to protect their own interests, MOQ is a common method to components suppliers. Generally speaking, different purchase quantities have a corresponding purchase price. Only when the purchased quantity reaches the corresponding standard line will the price change. Component vendors will naturally give larger customers more favorable prices, while SMEs or individual customers bear greater cost prices. Therefore, JLCPCB is equivalent to providing a platform for the collection of component requirements. When it reaches the larger MOQ of component vendors, the preferential strength will be even greater. Therefore, it is not difficult for us to see that the pre-order service prices of JLCPCB components are more favorable.
It also requires consistency and tireless work. What makes math studies even more difficult is that students often have to master many disciplines at the same time – algebra, geometry, mathematical analysis, statistics, etc. Not counting other vital college subjects.
With such great pressure, it seems impossible to succeed in every single subject. In fact, it would be impossible but for the technologies, we have nowadays. Thanks to the wide popularity of academic help services and their availability, students can receive immensely useful advice for most of their academic subjects, including mathematics. One of such online help platforms for struggling students is AssignMaths.com which provides math help of all difficulty levels. Read this article further to find out how its features can help you get math tasks solved and reach greater excellence in mathematics.
What is crucial for you to understand right now is that math skills are in quite high demand and are likely to remain in demand for decades to come. Even if math is not your major and you are more passionate about languages, coding, biology, or chemistry, being able to solve mathematical problems is a basic skill that most employers search for.
It doesn’t mean you should work your fingers down to the bone to become the best student in a math class or do your homework flawlessly every time. It’s more a reminder that along with your main skills you will need to think analytically so you can’t stop developing in this area.
It is also perfectly okay to need math homework help sometimes. With mountains of college assignments, you can’t cope with everything equally well. So why not get high-quality assistance from a team providing legal help in academic disciplines? This won’t break any law, won’t cost a fortune but will give you a chance to see how experts get the tasks done.
So, if you’re looking for someone who can make math homework easier, AssignMaths is a nice service to consider.
You will love this math homework helper platform for a number of features, including:
The help with math homework from AssignMaths.com isn’t limited to algebra equations. Here you will find authors who work out smart math assignment help solutions to the specific assignment you have a problem with. These solutions are never replicated or ‘sold again’ after you pay the team at this helper website. Besides, there is no formula to complete even the most similar assignments so these authors apply a different approach every time. Authenticity is highly prized at this service and is an unbreakable rule of its work.
The logic behind price formation at any help with math homework platform is the same: the more urgent the task – the higher the cost for it. Besides, the prices depend on the volume of content in the output and the academic level of tasks. In comparison to many other online math homework help websites, AssignMaths is still an affordable place to consult. You can do much to lower the price of your paper. For example, try to place each of your next orders in advance, when there is still time to complete and review the assignment a few times.
In providing help with math homework, there still remains a human factor. AssignMaths is the team that knows it and is ready to become better by responding to your feedback and improving the answers at request. The moments of acknowledging a mistake aren’t too pleasant but the team values them as additional opportunities to grow.
Every student considering this place as a potential math helper can count on the safety of their private data and its reckless protection. All of your info including logins, emails, passwords, credit card details, or addresses is kept under encryption to guarantee smooth work of the service and a risk-free user experience. High-security standards are among the vital things that actually build up the team’s reputation and make students want to stay with them.
For the brave and fearless who turn to expert math helpers only in a dead-end situation, there is a great way to learn how to solve math tasks. If you’re among the students who think ‘Can’t I use my own head to do this hw task?’, having sample tasks is perfect.
The first reason is that you learn by using them in practice. Sure thing, this method requires some brain work and effort and, that is why turns out highly effective. Secondly, using samples will let you get acquainted with the specific author at AssignMaths and make your conclusions about their mastery. Ordering sample tasks from a few authors is a nice way for a beginner to choose a writer to trust with their college task.
Finally, math task samples will serve as examples in different situations. So, you will gradually shift your focus from one-off solutions and try to use every answer as a formula in solving similar assignments.
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Get in touch with them by texting anything like ‘Help me with my math task, please’, choose the author, specify the task details and deadlines. We promise that you will not be disappointed.
Hey Guys! Hope you’re well. I welcome you on board. In this post today, I’ll walk you through PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) in detail. It's our 4th tutorial in the PCB learning series.
In the 1st tutorial, we studied printed circuit board(PCB) in detail and learned that PCB provides physical support and electrical connection through conductive copper layers for the electronic components placed on the board. We have seen in our previous tutorials that when we place our PCB order on some PCB fabrication house, they provide us with a PCB board without electronic components. We have to solder the electronic components on the board. But now these PCB companies also offer a service to provide finished PCB boards with electronic components attached. Such a finished PCB board with electronic components is called PCB Assembly(PCBA).
You can place these components by yourself, if you know how to solder them on the board or you can outsource it to the PCB company for the smooth insertion of these components on the boards without compromising the quality of the PCB. Curious to know more about PCBA? Keep reading.
Let's have a look at the Manufacturing process of PCBA in detail:
The PCB undergoes DFM(design for manufacturability) check before the actual PCBA process even starts. The DFM check cross-checks the final PCB structure with the initial blueprint of the design. This check identifies any missing links or potentially redundant and problematic features in the final PCB design.
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If PCB doesn’t undergo this check, the PCBA process can create trouble in properly mounting the components on the board and maintaining a flawless electrical connection between them. DFM checks not only reduce the cost of the manufacturing process but also ensure the overall functionality of the PCB.
PCBA production process comes with the following steps.
Before adding components on the board, a solder paste is added to the areas, where components rest on the finished PCB. The solder paste comes with greyish tiny balls of metals and is mixed with the flux that turns to a chemical composition and should be added in the right amount & in the right areas of the board.
To add the solder paste, a mechanical fixture is used to hold both the PCB and solder stencil in place. An applicator then takes the solder paste in precise amounts and places it on the desired PCB areas. The machine rolls the solder paste evenly on the intended PCB areas. As the stencil is removed, the solder paste sits on the desired areas.
After properly adding the solder paste on the board, the board is then passed through the pick and place process, where the robotic machine is used to pick the surface mount components from the reels and place them on the intended areas of the board.
The components added remain in the desired areas due to the sticky feature of the solder paste. The solder paste comes with enough bond strength that keeps the components in place.
Earlier this procedure was practiced manually by humans. However, the inception of advanced technology removed the need for this erratic manual process, since the automated process by machines is more accurate and efficient than the traditional manual process.
Once the electronic components have been placed in the desired locations, they remain there due to the presence of solder paste. The board then undergoes a Reflow Soldering process that solidifies the solder paste to keep the components at the required positions.
In this process, the finished board is transferred to a conveyor belt that passes through a big reflow oven having a series of heaters; the temperature of these heaters stays around 250oC which generates gradual heat to bake the board. At this stage, the temperature is high enough to make the solder melt, keeping the components tightly in place.
Once the solder has been melted down, the finished product is then passed through a series of cooler heaters that cools down the melted solder paste, giving it strength and creating a permanent solder joint to firmly connect the surface mount components with the board.
This is the reflow soldering for the one-sided PCB. Know that for two-sided PCB the stenciling and reflowing will be done separately for each side.
Once the reflow soldering has been done, the assembled board undergoes a proper inspection where the functionality of the board is tested. As the PCB passes through a reflow soldering process, it may result in poor connection quality or in worst cases, the elimination of the entire connection. To check these problematic features and common errors, the assembled board undergoes a careful inspection.
Based on the type of PCB board and the components used, the PCB assembly may go beyond the scope of SMT components insertion. In that case, Plated Through Hole(PTH) components insertion is used, where holes are drilled on the board and go completely through the board establishing a conductive path from one side of the board to another. Solder paste is not used in this case because it won’t stick and creeps into the drilled holes. In this PTH process, two types of soldering processes may be used:
In this process, the finished product undergoes the final inspection called the ‘functional test’ where simulated power signals run through the PCB to analyze the electrical characteristics of the board. If voltage, current or signal output in these characteristics show sudden fluctuation beyond the permitted range, it means the board has failed the test.
It is important to investigate any failures to guarantee the functionality of the manufacturing process. The recommended place to monitor the output and the potential errors is the optical inspection stage because errors are detected and rectified at this stage. This saves time ^ & money and avoids PCB production with similar defects.
PCBs are the backbone of electronic devices used for commercial and domestic purposes. More often big electronic companies don’t spend time in designing the PCB and then separately mounting the electrical components on the circuit boards. They purchase PCBA services, where circuit boards come ready-made installed with the components.
The common PCBA applications include:
That’s all for today. So far, we have discussed the basics of both PCB and PCBA, now we will have a look at the Top PCB Manufacturers to place your order. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article. If you have any questions, you can pop your comments in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading the article.
Hi Guys! I welcome you on board. Happy to see you around. In this post today, I’ll walk you through Top Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Online. It's our 5th tutorial in the PCB learning series.
Whether you’re a hobbyist working on your electronic project or someone who wants to develop an electronic product, PCB is an integral part of creating electronic units. With scores of PCB manufacturers available online, it’s very challenging to pick one that absolutely resonates with your needs and requirements. So how do you keep up when almost every company claims to be the best on board?
We’ve picked the top printed circuit board manufacturers online that you can select for developing your electronic projects.
Let’s get started.
The top printed circuit board manufacturers include:
JLCPCB tops the list for several good reasons. Introduced in 2006, JLCPCB comes with advanced PCB technology that ensures both academic and compact products with fully automated production lines. They offer an easy-to-use online system to order PCB; you just need to fill up your requirements on the online form and upload the Gerber file, and you’ll get a quick quote based on your needs.
Whether you need a single PCB for your project or you want orders in volumes, JLCPCB is a one-stop shop for providing PCB prototype and SMT assembly services. More often, you’ll get PCB delivered to your doorstep within 3-5 business days, however, it also depends on the nature of the PCB and the carrier you choose for delivery.
You can pick different features to be included in the final product i.e. number of copper layers, substrate material, maximum dimensions of the PCB, dimension tolerance, and board thickness, making sure you get exactly what you ordered online.
The commitment of JLCPCB is second to none and we’re not even bragging since the hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers are solid proof of their durable and long-lasting products stuffed with innovation and precision.
Plus, they also offer a PCB Panelization service which suits you best if you want smaller PCBs with unusual shapes in bulk orders. This will not only save money but also ensures an efficient manufacturing process with a durable product.
PCBWay is another top-notch PCB prototype and fabrication company. They are committed to satisfying customers around the world with reliable circuit boards where the final product goes through advanced testing and inspecting equipment including an X-ray inspection machine, automated optical inspection machine, and flying probe tester.
They are equipped with online pricing software where you can get a rough estimation of the PCB you want to be manufactured. In addition, they also offer a PCB assembly service for successfully mounting the electrical components on the board.
Know that with PCBway, you’re in direct contact with the company as they are not a broker and you’ll get standard PCBs at an economical price with no extra charges. Moreover, you can monitor order fabrication and processing status online to make sure you’re not left behind in the process.
Different types of circuit boards they produce, include: standard PCB, multi-layer PCB, flexible PCB, rigid-flex PCB, rigid PCB, high-frequency PCB, thick copper PCB, HDI PCB, LED PCB and aluminum PCB.
AllPCB is a PCB fabrication company that provides customized integrated solutions to meet your electronic needs. They carry high-precision processing equipment that guarantees flawless operation where every PCB goes through strict 100% AOI testing and ruthless inspection.
If you’re looking for reliable and top-notch PCB fabrication and PCB assembly service, your search is over since AllPCB is there to help you deliver durable PCB exactly meeting your needs and requirements.
Normally, they ship the finished product within 3-5 business days, however, it also depends on the complexity of the order and the shipping cost may vary based on the size, weight and destination of your circuit boards. Furthermore, they also offer PCB Panelization which helps you place an order in bulk for the small-sized PCBs that saves both cost and time for the manufacturing process.
PCBgogo is a highly specialized PCB Prototype Company, providing state-of-the-art medium and small-volume PCB fabrication. They adhere to the strictest standards in manufacture and assembly and also come with ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.
Introduced in 2017, PCBgogo is UL certified which guarantees the product’s reliability with a careful inspection where all circuit boards are thoroughly tested before being delivered. They carry the latest professional production equipment to ensure a seamless PCB and PCBA manufacturing process.
Moreover, you cannot only track your PCB and assembly order status online but also get notified of the manufacturing process and the shipping status of your order. An instant online quote option is available that comes with a transparent price structure making sure you get the final product with the exact features that you ordered online.
PCBgogo believes in 100% customer satisfaction instead of merely meeting financial goals. The fastest fabrication time is 2-3 business days, however, you can expedite the process and make it 12-24 hours on demand.
Founded in 2003, A-tech Circuit specializes in fast PCB prototypes, PCB manufacturing, and assembly services. A large inventory of stock PCB helps them cover a wide range of industries including telecommunication, aerospace, medical, automotive, and more. The staff contains highly trained experts that go the extra mile to comply with your PCB requirements. Customer satisfaction is their priority and they make sure you come back again and again for what they have to offer.
Their products and services are 100% in compliance with IPC-6012 & IPC-A600F standards and they are ISO9001:2008, ISO14001, TS16949 and UL certified. The types of PCBs that A-tech Circuit manufactures are rigid-flex PCB, flex PCB, FR-4 multilayer PCB, microwave PCB, metal core PCB and HDI PCB, so you don’t have to search for a new manufacturer for your electronic projects.
To meet the increasing demands of circuit boards in consumers’ electronics, Unimicron is another leading PCB fabrication company in the club. They are committed to designing customized PCB designs with an additional focus on maintaining the efficiency of the product with an efficient manufacturing process.
Started in 1980 as a small sheet metal and stamping company, Unimicron has not only continually evolved but also welcomed innovative ideas to manufacture and prototype circuit boards and make them align with the customer’s demands.
Moreover, high-end materials and sophisticated advanced technology are always considered in the manufacturing process. Unimicron has recently participated in new product and technology development projects with research institutes including IZM in Germany and Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA.
In November 2020, they received the “National Occupational Safety and Healthy Award” which is a helpful clue on how safe and secure is their production equipment.
Established in 2005, PCBCart is a professional PCB production service provider that takes pride in providing outstanding service in more than 80 countries around the world. Apart from high-quality PCB fabrication, they also offer PCB assembly and components sourcing services.
It is a one-stop production solution to your electronic needs serving companies of all sizes. Plus, they also offer an option to order a sample before you order in bulk, making sure you get the exact product meeting your needs and requirements. The manufacturing process is transparent and clear and you’ll never be left in the dark, as you can monitor and track your order in action and the processes it goes through before the final product is ready to deliver at your doorstep.
In PCBCart, the PCB fabrication complies with IPC 2 as quality grade, while PCB assembly is with IPC 3 and they follow strict manufacturing guidelines to ensure the reliability and functionality of products, including ISO9001:2007, TS16949, UL, RoHS, etc.
Zhen Ding Tech strives to provide multiple customized solutions to customers around the world. The company serves a range of industries and electronic companies including IoT, Artificial Intelligence, 5-G technology, aerospace and military.
Every step in the manufacturing process follows strict guidelines, ensuring the precision and accuracy of the finished product. Use of automated production lines to ensure seamless production and on-time delivery put this company ahead of the curve.
Another aspect you may want to consider before hiring the PCB fabrication company is the qualified and trained staff. Zhen Ding Tech comes with highly skilled professionals that not only help you in the design process but also provide valuable suggestions in picking the right circuit board for your application.
Founded in Shenzhen in 1995, Suntak PCB is another top-notch PCB manufacturing factory on board. The company adheres to bringing in new trends in PCB design capabilities to stand out from the crowd.
As a full-category PCB manufacturing group, Suntak PCB makes PCBs that are used in communication equipment, smartphones, and automotive electronics. In the last two decades, they have established long-lasting relationships with world-renowned communication equipment manufacturers by providing customer-centric and impeccable service.
We love their mission, value and vision statements that put customers first by providing rugged and firm products using advanced and cutting-edge technology.
Kinwong is a PCB fabrication company that works ahead with clients to provide customized circuit boards for the development of the electronic project. Founded in 1993, Kinwong is the world’s leading PCB manufacturer that owns 5 production bases and 11 factories in China. The company is committed to serving its customers with more than 13000 employees worldwide.
With the main focus on incorporating innovation with the latest technology, Kinwong is specialized in producing automated circuit boards to make the electronic device thin, robust and lighter. They are one of the few domestic manufacturers that handle metal base PCB, flexible PCB, rigid PCB and rigid-flex PCB.
They have a dedicated department that is responsible for the systematic management of suppliers, ensuring a quick and automated supply chain for the prompt production of circuit boards.
Not all PCB manufacturers are equal. Some are better than others. We’ve shortlisted the top 10 manufacturers online that you can pick from. Again, it is advised to do your due diligence and gather enough information about the company you want to work with, this will not only save time but keep you from a lot of trouble later.
That’s all for today. In the next tutorial, we will have a look at the Top Circuit Simulators. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article. If you have any questions, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading this article.
Hello Friends! Hope you’re well. Today, I am going to share the 11th chapter in the PCB learning series. In today’s post, I’ll walk you through PCB Panelization, where we will discuss its definition, types, combinations, manufacturing guidelines etc.
In PCB companies, CNC machines are used for PCB manufacturing and assembly. These CNC machines are capable of designing PCBs of quite large sizes. But normally, small-sized PCBs are used in electronic products. So, in order to fully utilize the power of CNC machines, PCB design is replicated multiple times(let’s say 10) and this final design is then fed to the CNC machine. This process of manufacturing multiple PCBs on a single board is called PCB Panelization and the final board created is called PCB Panel. A PCB Panel containing 6 PCB designs is shown in the below figure:
I hope you have understood the basic concepts, now let’s have a look at the definition of PCB Panelization:
PCB Panelization is the most commonly used manufacturing technique because of its numerous advantages. Let’s have a look at a few scenarios, where PCB Panelization proves helpful:
In PCB Panelization, we have three types of combinations, termed:
Now, let's have a look at the PCB Depaneling Technologies used to separate the individual PCB Boards from a PCB Panel. A few of these PCB Depaneling technologies are as follows:
Pizza Cutter is a rotary blade, with a motor. The Motor rotates the blade and PCB Panel is placed in front of the blade to cut into pieces.
Water Jet Cutters use a high-pressure stream of water to cut the PCB Panel. Abrasive particles are added to the water stream to make the cutting smooth. A water Jet cutter can be used for various PCB materials i.e. metal, aluminum etc.
A high Laser Beam is used to cut the PCB Panel into individual PCBs. Laser Cutting has high precision and accuracy as compared to any other method.
The following things you must consider during the PCB Panelization:
PCB Panelization is not only suitable for producing smaller circuit boards but also leads to an efficient production process. The following are common advantages of PCB Panelization:
That’s all for today. With today's lecture, we have completed the second section of the PCB learning series. In the next section, we will have a look at the Types of PCB boards one by one. Hope you find this article helpful. If you have any questions, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading this article.
Since code is one of the key elements involved with successful applications, it means that it’s frequently under attack through hackers sending malware or attempting to log into authorized accounts.
As a result, companies must always check for security threats regarding their code and have tight measures in place to prevent them from happening. This post covers more details about why secure coding is so important for your company, especially in today’s world.
Attackers are constantly coming up with new ways to try and infiltrate a company’s code and applications. Therefore, you must put security measures in place to make it as hard as possible for them to be successful.
Data security breaches can be fatal if hackers are successful with their attacks. It can lead to sensitive information being exposed and services going down. This can result in poor customer reputation and even a loss in revenue.
That’s why developers need to practice secure coding. It acts as a preventative measure to keep hackers out of your system. Developers should be carrying out regular scans to find vulnerabilities and making efforts to fix them as soon as possible.
Organizations that put secure coding policies in place have an easier time managing how exposed their code is and can keep their applications safer. Developers need to have a good understanding of the company’s secure code policies from the beginning of their projects to ensure that they’re following the correct processes.
Developers must also be aware of the ways that hackers try to exploit vulnerabilities. Once they have a solid grasp of this, they can be sure to approach the way that they develop code more deliberately and securely.
When applications have been deployed, some developers are under the assumption that it’s safe and free from security threats. In reality, applications, whether they’re currently being developed or have been deployed, are always at risk for attacks.
Developers that don’t have enough knowledge about this factor may run applications even if they know that it includes vulnerable areas. This can make the applications a bigger target for cybercriminals to attack.
Many developers will be able to make a code function well within an application. However, ensuring that it functions well whilst being secure is imperative and secure coding is a practice that helps.
Developers that don’t practice secure coding could be leaving large weaknesses open within live applications which can cause major problems if hackers attack them. Secure coding helps developers use security techniques whilst also focusing on releasing an application that functions well.
Some organizations that don’t use secure coding may find that developers struggle with implementing security measures due to a lack of clear protocols and policies. The program itself could also be complicated and adding security measures to the mix can make things even more complex.
Secure coding can help with all of these issues due to how it’s integrated early on during the development stage. Developers can be properly trained from the very start so that they have a deeper understanding of how to use secure coding methodologies.
It’s common for developers to make accidental errors whilst coding. These coding errors can result in vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. They can include using incorrect format strings, SQL injections, buffer overflows, and improper authorization.
Coding errors that aren’t fixed can enable hackers to gain access to authorized accounts and send malicious content into your code.
The most effective way to deal with coding errors is through secure coding practices. It enables developers to scan for coding errors and fix them before they continue developing. This helps them to prevent errors from going under the radar and becoming a big problem later down the line.
Having a set of secure coding standards in place provides developers with guidelines to stick to whilst creating code. It’s an effective way to stop security breaches and vulnerabilities from going unchecked for too long.
Secure coding involves setting coding standards that enable developers to follow processes to ensure code is secure before they continue with the project. This helps to prevent giving hackers a large surface area to attack which makes it more difficult for them to carry out successful attacks.
Secure coding standards should be in place from the beginning stages of development. This ensures that developers are fully aware of what the standards are so that they can compare the security of their code with the guidelines that are set.
The basis of secure coding standards is creating a baseline for developers to compare their code with. When guidelines clearly state what makes code secure and what doesn’t, developers can have an easier time deciding whether code is secure or not before moving on.
Compliance tests can be carried out on software too. This can be a great way for developers to find out how secure their code is as the tests can give them details about whether it adheres to the company’s security standards.
The process of compliance testing and practicing secure coding standards saves time and money in the long run. Developers don’t have to backtrack and remediate vulnerable code and companies don’t have to spend as much on recovery if hackers exploit their system.
Cybercriminals will always be attempting to exploit weaknesses in applications and companies will always be putting preventative measures in place against them. Secure coding is one of those preventative methods that can be incredibly effective at reducing the attack surface area to make it trickier for attackers to gain unauthorized access to your system.
Hopefully, the details found throughout this post have provided you with some insight into why secure coding is so important and how developers can use it to keep applications safe.
Hi Friends! Hope you’re well today. Happy to see you around. In this post today, I’ll walk you through Latest Proteus Libraries for Engineering Students V2.0.
We have been designing proteus libraries for our blog readers for quite a while now. You might have visited our Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0 and Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0. We keep working on those libraries and make sure the bugs are removed and you always get the updated version of those libraries.
We are going to share the most advanced and upgraded version of Proteus Libraries V2.0 we have designed for our readers. These libraries are more robust, fast, and efficient than previous versions. Moreover, we have converted some digital sensors to analog sensors, helping you pick from a wide range of libraries for your projects. If you think some sensors or modules are missing in the Proteus database that should be included, leave your valuable suggestion in the section below. We’ll try our best to design and simulate those in proteus.
Before further ado, let’s jump right in.
| Where To Buy? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Components | Distributor | Link To Buy | |
| 1 | LEDs | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 2 | Resistor | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 3 | ACS712 | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 4 | DHT11 | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 5 | DHT22 | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 6 | DS18B20 | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 7 | Flame Sensors | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 8 | Arduino Mega 2560 | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 9 | Arduino Nano | Amazon | Buy Now | |
| 10 | Arduino Uno | Amazon | Buy Now | |
We’ll be covering both Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0 and Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0.
Arduino boards are open-source electronic development boards that you can use in your projects. Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0 contain the following Arduino boards.
Arduino UNO is a microcontroller board based on the Atmega328 microcontroller. We have designed Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0 which you can download from the link given below. We’ve previously designed the Proteus Library for the Arduino UNO V1.0 board and the below figure shows the comparison of both V1 and V2 Arduino boards. You can see the V2 board is more compact and small-sized compared to the V1 Arduino UNO board.
In this library, we’ve also interfaced LCD with the Arduino UNO. If you find any difficulty in interfacing the board with the LCD, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can.
Download the Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0 by clicking the link below:
Download Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0
Arduino Mega is an electronic board that features an Atmega1280 microcontroller. You can use this board to develop stand-alone electronic projects or you can also incorporate it into embedded projects. Again, the following figure shows a comparison between Arduino Mega 1280 V1 and V2. The V2 board is compact and small-sized compared to the V1 board.
We have developed the Arduino Mega 1280 library for proteus V2.0 which you can download to simulate Arduino Mega 1280 in proteus.
Download the Arduino Mega 1280 Library for Proteus V2.0 by clicking the link below:
Download Arduino Mega 1280 Library for Proteus V2.0
Arduino Mega 2560 is a sophisticated, application-type microcontroller board that features an Atmega2560 microcontroller. This board comes in handy when you require more input and output pins and more memory space to store the code for your electronic project. We have developed Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0 to help you simulate this board in the proteus. Moreover, we’ve also interfaced LCD with this board so if you have any questions about it, you can ask me in the section below:
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Click the link below and download the Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0.
Download Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0
Arduino Mini is a small-sized, powerful open-source microcontroller board based on the Atmega328 microcontroller. The board is 1/6th of the size of the Arduino UNO board and can easily rest on hard-to-reach places. We have designed Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0 that you can download to simulate Arduino Mini in Proteus.
Click the link below and download the Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0:
Download Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0
Arduino Pro Mini is a small-sized microcontroller board that includes an Atmega328 microcontroller. The Proteus library V2.0 is designed for Arduino Pro Mini, moreover, we have also interfaced the board with the LCD 20x4.
Click the link below and download the Arduino Pro Mini Library for Proteus V2.0.
Download Arduino Pro Mini Library for Proteus V2.0
Arduino Nano is a powerful and bread-board-friendly microcontroller board based on ATmega328p/Atmega168 microcontroller. We have developed the Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0 which you can download to simulate Arduino Nano in the Proteus workspace.
Click the link below and download the Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0:
Download Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0
Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0 contain the following Analog Sensors.
An analog vibration sensor, also known as a piezoelectric, is mainly employed to detect the vibration of industrial machinery. The sensor gets activated if the vibration of the machines goes above the standard value. Vibration sensors are used to monitor the small changes in temperature, acceleration, pressure, and force.
We have done a little work and designed Analog Vibration Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0. Earlier we designed the proteus library for V1 version analog vibration sensors. The V2 version is more robust, compact, and advanced compared to the V1 version. Four vibration sensors are included in the proteus library and they have both digital and analog output pins which you can interface with Arduino boards or microcontrollers.
You can download the analog vibration sensor library for proteus V2.0 by clicking the link below:
Download Vibration Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0
A sound detector sensor is used to detect the sound in the environment. This sensor is only used for sound detection, not for sound recognition.
We have designed the Sound Detector Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0 that you can download to simulate this sensor in proteus. An LC filter is used on the analog output of the sensor since we need to convert the peak to peak voltage into Vrms. Know that you don’t require this LC filter in the real sensor circuit. We have simulated two sound detector sensors in proteus as they have different outputs because of different voltages on the test pin.
Click the link below and download the Sound Detector Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0:
Download Sound Detector Library for Proteus V2.0
An Analog flex sensor, also known as a bend sensor, is a special type of sensor used to detect the value of bend in the application. This sensor is mainly employed indoor sensors, robot whisker sensors, and stuffed animal toys.
We have developed an analog flex sensor library for proteus that you can download to simulate this sensor in Proteus. Know that Test Pin is included in the pinout of this sensor in proteus only, you won’t find this pin in the real sensor. This pin will determine the value of the bend. The HIGH value at this pin will give the value of bend and the LOW value at this pin will indicate there is no bend. We have also interfaced the Arduino board with the sensor where the analog input pin of the board is connected with the voltage appearing across the voltmeter.
Click the link below and download the Analog Flex Sensor Library for Proteus:
Download Flex Sensor Library for Proteus
PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor is a small, inexpensive, low-power sensor used to detect heat energy in the surrounding. The sensor monitors if the human body has come in or out of the sensor’s range.
We have designed Analog PIR Sensor Library for Proteus that you can download to simulate this sensor in Proteus. Moreover, we’ve also developed a simulation of this PIR sensor with an Arduino board. Know that, besides Arduino boards, you can also interface this sensor with PIC or Atmel microcontrollers. We’ve added four PIR sensors file in the proteus that are the same in terms of working but they come in a different color. Again, a test pin is added in the pinout of this sensor in proteus only, you won’t find this pin in real. This pin is added to sense the motion in the proteus workspace.
Click the link below and download the Analog PIR Sensor Library for Proteus:
Download PIR Sensor Library for Proteus
A water sensor is a sensor used to sense the presence of water. The water’s electrical conductivity is measured using this sensor to sense the presence of water. This sensor is widely used in applications where we need to monitor rainfall, water level, and water leakage.
We have designed the water sensor library for proteus which you can download to simulate this sensor in proteus. The Test pin is added to detect the water in the proteus simulation. We’ve also interfaced this sensor with the Arduino board where we have connected the analog input pin of the Arduino board with the output of the water sensor appearing across the voltmeter.
You can download the water sensor library for Proteus by clicking the link below:
Download Water Sensor Library for Proteus
A soil moisture sensor is employed to analyze the water content in the soil. The sensor uses capacitance to monitor the dielectric permittivity of the soil which defines the function of the water content.
We have designed the Soil Moisture Sensor Library for Proteus where we have connected the test pin with the variable resistor. This resistor is used to define the soil moisture content in the proteus simulation. The maximum resistance on the test pin shows zero volts across the voltmeter, referring to the zero moisture value of the water content. The sensor is also interfaced with the Arduino board as shown below.
Click the link below and download the Soil Moisture Sensor Library for Proteus:
Download Soil Moisture Library for Proteus
The IR proximity sensor is used in robots to detect obstacles. This sensor is widely used for path navigation and obstacle avoidance in electronic projects.
We have designed the IR Proximity Sensor Library for Proteus which you can download to simulate this sensor in Proteus. The Test pin is used for hurdle detection. HIGH value on this pin means there is an obstacle in front and LOW value on this pin means there is no hurdle.
LC filter is included in the simulation which you don’t require in real. This filter is used to convert the Peak to Peak value we get on Proteus into the Vrms value.
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You can download the IR proximity sensor library for proteus by clicking the link below:
Download IR Proximity Sensor Library for Proteus
That’s all for today. Hope you find this article helpful. If you have any questions, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading this article.
You don’t have to be a coder to be a DIY kind of guy. You can even use something as simple as Java or Swift to get your projects up and running. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned no matter how many times you debug. Those are the times when the Swift hits the fan and the project comes to a grinding halt. That is when you hear the voice of Luke Skywalker pushing you to stop running around in circles and just use the force. You roll up your sleeves and that is when the magic begins.
Electronic tinkering is for people of all skill levels. Here are a few projects that reflect different skill levels:
Let’s start with the highest level and work backward from there.
If you are into bio-preservation, you are going to need one of those nitrogen freezers. These are a few of the uses for this kind of equipment:
This method of freezing is referred to as cryopreservation and applies to a range of fields that include cryosurgery, food sciences, ecology, plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cryopreservation of cells and organs. There are also many medical applications such as blood transfusions, bone marrow transplantation, artificial insemination, and in vitro fertilization.
As you can see, this is serious equipment for serious, scientific work. Most people would not own a nitrogen freezer. They would use the one at the lab where they work. It is not the stuff of casual tinkerers. Just know that you can rent or lease this equipment to eliminate the upfront cost.
A very interesting use for nitrogen freezers is gastro-tech experimentation. If you are into food science, you can do a lot of interesting things with a flash freezer. This is one piece of tech that determines the skill level of the project. Any project you do that utilizes a nitrogen freezer is a master-level project.
It is relatively easy to slap some parts together and run Lenox on the cheap. Gaming PC’s are far more demanding. The power curve and thermals are not to be taken lightly. You can seriously blow yourself up if you don’t know what you’re doing. There is a fairly substantial cost and a difficult path to getting the perfect parts. But it is so worth it when it all comes together.
This is a fun project for just about anyone and it actually solves a problem. One of the worst things about Apple’s HomePod is that it is completely dependent on WiFi and services. You cannot connect anything to them via a cable. And you cannot use Bluetooth. Even if you could, they would be too expensive for casual needs. You don’t have to spend a fortune on bluetooth speakers if you are willing to put in a little elbow grease and build a bluetooth speaker yourself. It is easier than you might imagine.
Speakers are not overly complicated. They are mechanical objects for the most part. Sure, big companies are using a lot of software and additional hardware to produce computational audio. But as a music purist, you don’t want your audio computed. You just want it played by a not so smart speaker that reproduces the input as faithfully as possible. At the end of the day, you need a good driver and a good cabinet for pushing sound waves and air. Don’t get overly caught up in the rest. Get a good DAC and you will be most of the way there.
Nitrogen freezers, bluetooth DACs and GPUs are just some of the equipment necessary to build the world of tomorrow. But they are all useless without your ability and willingness to dare the impossible today.