EEVblog #87 - Let's hop on the Electronics Design Merry-Go-Round

Dave demonstrates how much fussing around can be involved in selecting just a couple of cost optimised parts for a new design, using Digikey, Mouser, FindChips, Octopart and Atmel websites.

[Afrotechmods]

Brilliant! Glad you covered this so I don't have to. Think you'll ever do a tutorial on layout?

[cdydg]

I appreciate the peek into the practical aspects of EE design

[EEVblog]

@Vlakpage
Thanks for the heads-up, I'll have to recheck!
Yeah, sometimes the manufactures sell themselves short! Why are the diff and programmable amps not mentioned as a parametric feature?

[EEVblog]

@skonkfactory
I wouldn't recommend using propriety PCB software like that. Best to use something that can generate standard gerber files.

[EEVblog]

@Afrotechmods
Probably, one day. Countless things to cover though, but I might basically convert my PDF PCB tutorial into a video for starters.

[DJGacke]

Hey Dave,

There's a news article on the Sparkfun website that talks about how to make Digikey to sort by price. The post date was May 10. Sorry I couldn't post the URL, the comment system doesn't like that...

[skonkfactory]

@EEVblog Yeah, but if you're just trying to get a couple boards made ASAP and it's something simple like an adapter for a ROM package or something...

[rwdplz]

True story - half way through watching this video, I received an email from an HR person at Digikey about a software engineering job, Really wish I could program, but I'm an utterly hopeless hardware guy.

[jan.tichavsky]

You have aymega8a in the octopart tab instead of atmega8a so it can't find anything :)

I checked the attiny48 and it seems it does actually have two PWM outputs (from one timer) but it's strange they present it with only 1. Well, that's their fault.

[gnagyusa]

Haha! So true! I've gone through half a dozen part iterations on some designs. Tried DC/DC converter IC #1, it got too hot. Tried a different one, the pins are too close for proper input voltage isolation (75V max input voltage with ~1mm pin separation? Really? On what magical super-insulator PCB?)

[martinda]

With the design parameters chosen I am guessing the automatic cat polisher is near completion??

[fknrdcls]

Yeah this shite sends me crazy... hope u took it easy on ur interweb quota back then looks like u were a bit over ;)

[Ramius]

Haha... "Hi.... just want to show you what it ta....what goes into designing..." lol

[SimoWill]

In many ways, things were easier when we had LESS choice!

[blueduck]

At just a glance I thought the filename of datasheet for the attiny48 was BOOBS.pdf

[BulletMagnet]

The only bad thing about these videos is I keep trying to use YOUR scroll-bar with MY mouse to look at other things on the screen.. :-(( WAAAH, Fail!

[srscricket]

"blow it out my ass" made me laugh

[skonkfactory]

Hey Dave,

just wondering in an unrelated sort of way- how do you feel about places like Pad2Pad?

[Bluelight]

I was wondering.. Is ExpressPCB software and service any good? Also do you have a small design I can do? I need to order PCB's and make something. Maybe a transistor audio amplifier or something! I want the lead free produscts I have soldering station and lead free tin! Thank you for your videos, they are great!

[Gameboygenius]

Now I'm curious... What are you designing?