In my March 24th blog post I talked about  ordering an updated version of my PICkit 2 clone board from ITEAD studios back on March 13th. On March 18th I was emailed that they were shipped. By my blog post the boards were still in transit. They arrived today on the 28th so I can compare them to the originals from ExpressPCB. 10 days for shipping via air mail wasn't too bad.

I haven't built one up yet but I am impressed with the quality of the board. In the picture above you can see the ITEAD board on the left and the original ExpressPCB board on the right. First thing to notice is the shape. To get the low cost $85 for three prototype board service from ExpressPCB I had to order in a 2.5 x 3.8 panel. I ended up squeezing in another board design to use up the extra space but it all required me to cut out the board. The ITEAD board was routed out for me for $20 and I have 10 of them instead of three.

Next I looked at the silkscreen and the ITEAD is brighter and easier for my old eyes to read. The solder mask is a little brighter green as well but that really doesn't matter. The board is hot air solder leveled (HASL) on all the pads and they look real good and should be easy to solder. 

I tested the mini B connector in the board and it fit fine. This was the major change to the board in addition to removing the power plane on top and replacing it with a 0.020" trace. So it looks like it will work but the real test will be when I solder it together and see if it can program a PIC. That will be the ultimate test. I'll update you on that in a future post.

I uploaded the ExpressPCB files for the PK2 programmer I created. I had the board layout and schematic on my PK2 webpage but didn't have the files. So now you can download them and make your own.

I posted them as non commercial, for personal use only. For those that just want to make a couple of their own PK2 programmers (it's always good to have a couple around), then the files are there to use. If a Boy Scout troop wanted to make them as a project, that's ok too. If a high school wants to use the design as a class project then fine. See where I'm going with this? I want to help ...

I'll be teaching a class at Microchip Master's this year about how to create a prototype circuit board with ExpressPCB. This should be fun and hopefully it goes well. I used a lot of the material I created for a future book on the subject and this class will give me feedback from new users what they are looking for on this topic.

If you aren't familiar with it. ExpressPCB is a free PCB and schematic software that makes it easy to create low cost prototype boards. You can get three for $85 with solder mask and silkscreen. You can get them for less if you go for a bare board. I like to use them to prove out a design.

From there I can check their pricing for higher volume or order the gerber files for $60 and have it quoted elsewhere.

If you are attending Master's stop by the class and say hello and let me know you follow the blog.

I use ExpressPCB for a lot of projects. In fact I'll be teaching a class on ExpressPCB at Microchip's 2013 Master's Conference in August. One thing I've wanted for a while is a way to import an image into ExpressPCB so I can put a logo on my boards. Well one of the members (ljbdeshler) of the ExpressPCB Yahoo group has released a free application that does this in a clever way. 

It converts a 48 x 48 pixel bitmap image into line segments and then when you click inside your ExpressPCB board it runs a macro that draws the image like you were drawing it yourself with a mouse. The application is new and can be a little tricky to use at first but I was able to add a Great Cow Basic Cow Symbol to a Board. 

You can size the image before drawing also and below are three sizes I made of the same bitmap file. After it's drawn you highlight the whole thing and then change the width of the line segments to fill in the image. I like the 1/2 size the best.

Below is the 1/2 size logo added to a CHIPINO board layout for a possible Great Cow Basic CHIPINO custom board. You can clearly see the logo in the center of the board and it's pretty clear its the Great Cow Basic Symbol.

I'm working on a better set of logos but I thought I would share this with my readers since this has many potential applications.

It will even draw components and traces based on a .dxf file. I haven't had any luck getting that to work yet but he has a clear example and Youtube video showing the features. The download is on a CNET site that wants install a bunch of crap on your PC so I've included a clean link here to the latest copy I downloaded.

In my last post I mentioned I like to use ExpressPCB software for creating circuit boards. One complaint many people have with ExpressPCB is you have to pay $60 to get the gerber files for your project. Nothing is ever really free is it? But the ExpressPCB software works so well and the few click ordering without having to deal with gerber files is actually something I really like about ExpressPCB. But occasionally you need the Gerbers.

Well David Cook has created a software package that works with ExpressPCB files and then produces a set of gerber files. He also has added features that ExpressPCB doesn't offer but the main advantage to me is the Gerber file outputs. You can output the files for toner transfer, or files for direct to manufacture. The software is free but you have to buy the studio version to get the Gerber output. Studio version costs $49. So for a one time fee of $49 instead of a project fee of $60 you can now get Gerbers from your ExpressPCB files.

Check it out at this link CopperConnection.

My favorite circuit board layout software is ExpressPCB. You can download it for free and it includes a free schematic drawing software as well called ExpressSCH. And you can easily link the schematic to the PCB for highlighted netlist connections.

It's really an easy software to learn but doesn't have many of the advanced features some people are looking for (like autorouting). It works great for me and with a few clicks I can get three 2.5"x3.8" boards with silk screen and solder mask delivered for under $85.

I'm working on a beginner's book for this software to help someone get started plus I'll include many tips and tricks.

Check out ExpressPCB at ExpressPCB.com.