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Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 3:44 pm
by Sushi
I've been doing some design lately for my DS Lite AIO. I realized that if I wanted to change the form factor of my board, I'd need to rewire everything manually on the new PCB despite it having common components. That's why I'm designing everything on small modules that can be rearranged and put onto any project.

All the modules are castellated, meaning the edges are vias that have been cut in half. The goal is that each module is less than a square inch, and so far, that goal has been met.

Modules so far:
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/32U4Castel - Arduino Leonardo - 0.91" x 0.81"
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/USBCastel - 4-Port USB hub - 0.54" x 0.51"
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/SoundCastel - USB stereo sound card and amplifier - 0.66" x 0.59"
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/PowerCastel - Adaptation of PowerBoost 1000C - 0.96" x 0.49"
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/BacklightCastel - High-voltage backlight driver - 0.49" x 0.47"

Module library:
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/CastelLib

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:24 pm
by Helder
I love castellated holes when attaching things to existing projects or better yet existing PCBs (retro consoles in my case) to make soldering basically wireless but not solderless. Why are you using these board if you're designing a board from scratch? Just redesign everything to have all you need.

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:01 pm
by Sushi
I want to do more boards in the future with the same chips. I don't want to re-implement my designs every time I do a new board. It's very easy to just slap these on any future boards I do. Plus, I effectively get 4 layers to work with.

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:04 pm
by Sushi
Another module is complete, and this one is an FE1.1s module (4 port USB hub). It measures 0.54" x 0.51".
ImagesShow
front2.png
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back2.png
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test5.PNG
test5.PNG (26.08 KiB) Viewed 7930 times
test6.PNG
test6.PNG (74.27 KiB) Viewed 7930 times
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/USBCastel

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 6:35 pm
by Sushi
Aaaand another. This one's a USB sound card and stereo amp. It measures 0.66" x 0.59".

I'm changing the links to the CAD files to github links.
ImagesShow
front3.png
front3.png (4.68 KiB) Viewed 7898 times
back3.png
back3.png (3.77 KiB) Viewed 7898 times
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/SoundCastel

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 10:28 pm
by Sushi
Probably the final module (I think I've got everything needed for any Pi build). This is the PowerCastel (adaptation of PowerBoost 1000C).

https://github.com/Dopp-IO/PowerCastel

I'd appreciate if somebody could do a quick review of the board. I've made it very small, so I may have messed something up.

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:10 pm
by Helder
The board dimension is too large and not castellated in it's current board size. Once it is the right size there are 2 GND air wires so you need to put some GND vias somewhere.

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 2:13 pm
by Sushi
I've done that because eagle will not properly pour the ground plane when the board dimensions castellate the vias. When properly poured, there are no airwires. However, I'm worried that the ground path for components on the left of the board is convoluted. I modified the gerber files such that they are properly castellated.

Edit: I revised the board by making the ground plane more connected and adding power planes as specified by the datasheets.

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:51 am
by VeteranGamer
Sushi wrote:
Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:04 pm
Another module is complete, and this one is an FE1.1s module (4 port USB hub). It measures 0.54" x 0.51".
ImagesShow
front2.png
back2.png
test5.PNG
test6.PNG
https://github.com/Dopp-IO/USBCastel

really nice work.....
and appreciate the share.....


i was looking to make a couple of the 4 port hubs, i as need something like this for a future project...
(and it seem like a really compact and cost effective solution to what i need)

now i'm a complete NOOB. so apologies if these questions are a little on basic side....


the FE1.1S chip, can i just get any.....

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50PCS-F ... autifyAB=0


also have you tested these, and know that they work......


thanks.....




.

Re: Tiny castellated modules

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 1:11 pm
by Helder
Yea that will work just fine.