Serial To Jaguar PCB

[linuxboy]

Hi All,
Attached is a screenshot of a project I'm working on in Altium (by the way, does anyone else use that, particularly because of the FRC license?).

This PCB is meant to convert the DB9 plug on the cRIO to a 6P6C RJ11/12 port, with termination across so that the CAN bus works.

I personally do not enjoy making those plastic converters, and would rather a PCB, I have an old revision made in EAGLE on the robot (and it worked), and I can post a picture of that later.

Let me know what you think,
Oliver

[RyanN]

Originally Posted by linuxboy

Hi All,
Attached is a screenshot of a project I'm working on in Altium (by the way, does anyone else use that, particularly because of the FRC license?).

This PCB is meant to convert the DB9 plug on the cRIO to a 6P6C RJ11/12 port, with termination across so that the CAN bus works.

I personally do not enjoy making those plastic converters, and would rather a PCB, I have an old revision made in EAGLE on the robot (and it worked), and I can post a picture of that later.

Let me know what you think,
Oliver

Good idea, but not a good design in my opinion.

You would have a heck of a time getting the screw that holds the serial port to the cRIO screwed in.

Rotate the RJ-12 port to be in straight in line with the RS-232 port.

My $0.02.

[Alan Anderson]

I'm confused. What need is this supposed to fill? If it's just something to plug into the cRIO's serial port and provide a way to connect a Jaguar, a perfectly useful connector was included in the Kit of Parts.

[EricVanWyk]

This looks like a great introduction to PCB design!

I agree with Ryan, re-arranging the connectors might make life easier. You should be able to export the 3D model of the circuit board to something Solidworks or Inventor understands - try modeling the screws and the tool paths in one of those and re-work the design from a ergonomics/usability angle.

[linuxboy]

Hi,
Sorry for the long response time.

Eric & Ryan, I will rearrange that! the reason I minimized it was for price. The one we used on the robot this year did have room for screws, I just didn't have any screws and it worked fine, didn't pop out at any point, although, when designing a product I would want it to work with screws.

Alan:
I have had issues with those plastic things (although that may have just been due to the supplier), either way, I trust using a PCB a bit more than wires, while, when made correctly, I think the plastic connectors work fine, soldering a resistor to wires inside a plastic case, just seems like bad practice to me, and I think this may be more reliable.

[linuxboy]

Attached is a modified board, same footprint, what do you guys think?

[duane]

I'll order a half dozen.

[linuxboy]

Originally Posted by duane

I'll order a half dozen.

Awesome .

If anyone is interested in a prototype, PM me so we can discuss details, since I haven't settled on a final design, and I'll want to talk to each person getting a prototype. I will (hopefully) have a couple boards of some revision with me at champs.

- Oliver

[dyanoshak]

This looks really great!

You'll be in full production by the end of the week right?

[EricVanWyk]

I'd be interested in one. You might also want to talk to our Altium sponsors, give them the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing their donation was helpful.

For whatever reason, DB connectors are always a purchasing nightmare, especially with high pincounts (25,37). For something that purports to be a standard, there sure are a lot of variations. If you intend to support this design long term, assume that the specific part number you order today won't be available tomorrow. With that in mind, leave a little extra room to fit the replacement part. It looks like your design has plenty, but keep it in mind if you make a housing.

[linuxboy]

Originally Posted by dyanoshak

This looks really great!

You'll be in full production by the end of the week right?

Wellll, the Altium license is non-commercial so I don't know if I can produce and sell the devices, does anyone know?

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

I'd be interested in one. You might also want to talk to our Altium sponsors, give them the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing their donation was helpful.

For whatever reason, DB connectors are always a purchasing nightmare, especially with high pincounts (25,37). For something that purports to be a standard, there sure are a lot of variations. If you intend to support this design long term, assume that the specific part number you order today won't be available tomorrow. With that in mind, leave a little extra room to fit the replacement part. It looks like your design has plenty, but keep it in mind if you make a housing.

Eric, will you be at champs? If not, I can probably mail you one, or I can just send you the gerbers or the altium project if that is easier for you. I do intend to eventually have this be something many teams can use year to year, once I figure out licensing and a supplier. (Anybody interested?) In terms of letting Altium know I'm making use of the donation, would I do that at champs, or should I email someone?

- Oliver