We are no longer requiring training for the ProtoMat or ProtoLaser. A detailed guidebook for how to fabricate PCBs using the two tools is located at the ProtoMat. Stencil fabrication information can be found in the guidebook at the ProtoLaser.
Training is still required for the electroplater! Training details can be found below.
The information below is kept to inform users about Electroplater training (which follows the same process as before: video → quiz → checkoff) and, for posterity, has not been edited.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming…
—–
The Hive is home to a suite of equipment that enable our users to fabricated PCBs without much manual work. Once trained, users have access to these tools and all the materials we have as long as the space is available. Training is handled through SUMS, and is done in three steps:
Training is completed for the electroplater separately from the ProtoMat and the ProtoLaser, which are done together. Both training sequences follow the same basic steps.
Read on for more details about this process, or head directly to SUMS to get started.
Have no idea what SUMS is? See “What is SUMS?” under the “Basics” section.
Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?
No, even better: we’ll train you! That’s right, watch a few videos and demonstrate that you watched them to gain the ability to make as many PCBs as you want for free! What a great deal, what a time to be alive. Only making one board? It can take several tries to get it right. In other words, if you think you only need one board done, you might actually need two (or more - how often is a design perfect the first time?)!
What’s the process for getting trained?
Training is a three step process that is handled through SUMS.
What about the electroplater?
We used to do the electroplater training during the combined training, but we discovered that most users never used the plater, and most users didn't care. So we've separated the electroplating training off into a separate training sequence that comprises a single video, quiz, and checkoff, and allowed us to significantly reduce the training time for the ProtoMat and ProtoLaser. If you're interested in getting training on the electroplater, you can head on over to SUMS and locate the training requirements for the tool (LPKF Contact S4 electroplater) to get started.
What is SUMS?
If “SUMS” makes you think of arithmetic, have no fear. SUMS (Shared User Management System) is a user access control system made here at Tech that The Hive uses to control access to some of the more sensitive or complicated tools. For PCB fabrication, it is also used to manage training and checkoff sessions, and users can schedule time on the tools through it, as well. You can get many more details in our SUMS Guide.
Ugh, this sounds like way more work and time than I'm willing to dedicate to this. Do you have any recommendations for professional fabrication houses?
We don’t officially recommend a specific fabrication houses. All of them have positives and negatives. The following is a very incomplete list of fab houses that we've used with varying levels of success.
Videos? What happened training sessions?
The live in-person training sessions were a major drag on both Trainer and User time, and they were a significant deterrent to many people getting trained on the tools. The video format allows users to train at their own pace when they have time, not when we have time.
What do the videos cover?
The standard process training videos are broken into three parts: part 1 covers process setup and drilling; part 2 covers etching with the laser; and part 3 covers routing and cleanup. These three total about an hour of time, which you can do at your leisure. The electroplater video is roughly a half hour, and comprises just a single video that covers the process setup and the electroplating. Training sessions do not address board design or layout. For questions regarding design, find one of our PCB MPIs.
Do I have to have any prior knowledge before starting the videos?
Nope! However, if you are unfamiliar with PCBs, we recommend reading up on some basics on the internet before watching. This way, the videos will (might?) make more sense.
Where can I find the videos?
All PCB training and scheduling is all handled on SUMS. If you want to know more about SUMS, you can find in-depth information and a lot more FAQs in our SUMS Guide.
If you have never been to The Hive before, you’ll need to join our “Billing Group” and our “Equipment Group” first:
(If you are a member of multiple equipment and/or billing groups, make sure that the IDC and The Hive are active by clicking “Active BG/EG” in the top-right of the Dashboard.)
The videos are located on the Training Requirements page for both the plotter and laser:
Help! The videos won’t play.
They’re embedded YouTube videos, so make sure things like cookies and sound are enabled on the page. If you still can’t get it to work, contact hive-pcb@ece.gatech.edu.
What’s next after watching the videos?
Go back to the Training Requirements page. Scroll down to take the “exam”. Then request a checkoff.
What should I expect for the quiz?
It's a 10 question quiz, all multiple choice. It's designed to just make sure you were paying attention during the videos. You have to get 9/10 to pass and be able to request a checkoff. If you don't get at least 9/10, you have an hour to study up, and the you can retake it. There's no limit to the number of retakes, but we do get emails when people fail.
What should I expect at a checkoff?
The purpose of a checkoff is to demonstrate your ability to safely fabricate a board without assistance. You will be making the same board created at the training session, followed by a quick run-through of the electroplater. You can use any and all of your own notes for your checkoff. (Meaning no printing the guides or Wiki.)
For the electroplater, the checkoff will be us running through the process with a dummy board, and without actually running the timers, though we will be dunking the boards and rinsing, so no open toed shoes.
I don’t see the quiz! Where is it?
How do I schedule a checkoff?
The quiz and checkoff request link are both found on the Training Requirements page for the PCB Plotter (or the PCB Electroplater, if that's your training targer) on SUMS, right below where you watched the videos. To access this page:
However, even though you have requested one, it is possible that none of these times will work for our trainers (we’re students, too!). If this is the case, we will try to email you to find another time.
I didn’t get a checkoff scheduled and all of my requested dates have passed. What now?
Due to the large volume of checkoff requests, and the fact that we're also students with lots of time commitments, we are not able to schedule every checkoff on the first request. If this happens, request another one with new dates and times. Remember, more times offered by you means more opportunity for our schedules to align. Please note that there are no checkoffs during the last week of Hive open hours.
What if I don’t successfully complete the checkoff?
Schedule another checkoff following the same procedure. It is strongly recommended that you rewatch the training videos or read up on the fabrication process on the Wiki on our PCB Fabrication page.
Can I bring my own design to fabricate instead of the training board for my checkoff?
Probably not. It is, however, at the discretion of your trainer. If the board is small, simple, and on FR4/FR5, (i.e. very similar to the training board), then it might be fine. However, large boards can take an hour or more to etch just one side. Since most boards are larger than the training one, you will likely have to stick with the training board. It will be easier for everyone (especially if it fails), and afterwards you can simply schedule time on the tools to fabricate whatever you’d like.