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• CAD Model aka Waiting for the Parts

  Ray Olsen • 01/08/2018 at 22:34 • 0 comments

  While I wait for the parts form Mouser & OSHPark and the Resin from Amazon, I decided to model the board for fun (and to make this page a bit better for the contest)

  Since I am mostly use the Autodesk family of products, I found they make this incredibly easy to model PCBs and Components, even though I still use EAGLE 7.7

  This setup requires, of course, Eagle and Fusion 360

  1. Create board in EAGLE
  2. Log on to ecad.io with Autodesk credentials
  3. Import you eagle .brd file
     1. You end up with a 3D render of the board and some low poly shapes representing your components
     2. If accuracy matters, take some time correcting these shapes and chosing your components, lucky for me, they were all there in the database.
        1. I'm told it is easy enough to add your own but I have yet to need to
     3. You may have to edit some things here or in the .brd add the HEIGHT attribute to you components to get things working
  4. Go to File > Create an MCAD file. Choose STEP AP214 Assembly File
     1. I prefer this one as it will give you the board and components as individual parts in Fusion 360 that are linked together as one component.  This allows you to edit the individual components if you need to e.g. trimming the leads
  5. Grab a coffee, this process takes some time.  You'll get an email when completed
  6. Go to the project, and expand it.  You will see the file is ready.  You can send it directly to an open Fusion 360 on you computer or send it A360 which is Autodesk's version of Github.

  Normally I create a new project in Fusion 360 for everything to keep stuff separated and organized.  So i'll save this board in its own file, then import it into a new design for the coaster design. If I ever change anything in the board model it will be updated where ever it is used in Fusion 360

  Next is just simply making a shape around the board to my liking and setting the material to clear plastic

• Formulation of an Idea

  Ray Olsen • 01/08/2018 at 22:04 • 0 comments

  I just want to jot down the design process for this build.

  Nobody likes cold coffee or tea, or a warm soda either.  I've been mulling over this idea for a long time now and the coin cell challenge gave me the final push to make a go at it.  

  ---

  I basically knew that a coin cell was a must. I remembered that the ATTiny85 also works on just 3v! So i began thinking up what else i needed
  

  I began searching for some low power RGB LEDs.  Of the ones i was able to dig up, they seemed a bit more complicated to utilize and I really wanted more color options and functionality that I am used to with the Neopixel / WS2812.  I found that they make a smaller version of that the SK6812 and hope that the current draw isnt too big on the CR2023

  I wanted to coat the whole thing in a clear resin to protect the board whilst giving a medium for the LEDs to shine through.  

  I whipped up a board in Eagle and sent it off to the lads at OSHPark

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