This is an introduction of the method that we will use and offer in order to construct our self constructed hardware.Hardware projects can have various natures, can be analog or digital.Analogue electronics are the electronic systems that have a continuously variable signal, in contrast to digital electronics where signals (usually) have only two levels.
Let's start with analogue electronics.
Usually you can find interesting prototype schematics from the datasheets of the components that you are going to use, or if you are capable you can obtain a schematic.
- Analize your circuit
You can analyze your schematic and try to see it's behaviour before even constructing it !
LtSpice allows you to analyze for free your analog circuits. We will talk about that in later articles.
If you are absolutely sure that your circuit works you can bypass this step
- Digitize your electronic circuit.
There are a lot of methods to accomplish this step. We will use Kicad to port our schematic on our computer. Unfortunately you have to redesign your electronic design if you have done analysis with LtSpice. LtSpice schematics can not be loaded directly to Kicad.
- Prototyping
From the schematic you can easily get a hardware prototype using your breadboard. Position your components with care and make all your tests. If your project works move on the next step
- PCB Design
Kicad offers PCB design capabilities. From your schematic with a few steps and patience you can obtain a PCB design that respects your original schematic.
- PCB Construction
Once you have a printed PCB schematic in your hands we will describe in later articles how to physically construct your board.
- Case Construction
A touch of elegance using polymorph safe plastic.
In the next page we briefly discuss about digital electronics constructions