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--- how-to-pcb [2020/03/12 16:15] – 143.215.93.31
+++ how-to-pcb [2020/03/13 11:14] – 143.215.93.31
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 === Table of Contents ===
-  - Basics
+  - Introduction
+    * Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?
+    * What’s the process for getting trained?
+    * What is SUMS?
+    * How do I join a training session OR request a new one?
   - Training Sessions
+    * What should I expect out of a training session?
+    * Do I have to have any prior knowledge before coming to a training session?
+    * How do I register for a training session?
+    * I don’t see any training sessions available. Can I request one?
+    * Are training sessions really 2-3 hours? Can I come late or leave early?
   - Quiz and Checkoffs
+    * What should I expect for the quiz?
+    * What should I expect at a checkoff?
+    * I don’t see the quiz! Where is it?
+    * How do I schedule a checkoff?
+    * I didn’t get a checkoff scheduled and all of my requested dates have passed. What now?
+    * What if I don’t successfully complete the checkoff?
+    * Can I bring my own design to fabricate instead of the training board for my checkoff?
   - Fabrication
+    * Process specifications
+    * Can I add soldermask or silkscreen?
+    * Do I have to be with my board during the entire fabrication process?
+    * Can I somehow reserve time on the equipment?
+    * How long does it take to make a board?
+    * How long does electroplating take?
+    * Do the tools have additional capabilities?
 -----
-=== Basics ===
+=== Introduction ===
 **Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?**\\
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 -----
 === Training Sessions ===
 **What should I expect out of a training session?**\\
 Training sessions cover the fabrication process of a basic 2-layer copper circuit board using the PCB plotter and PCB laser, as well as a discussion of the electroplating process for vias. Training sessions do not address board design or layout. For questions regarding design, find one of our PCB MPIs.
@@ Line 89: / Line 113: @@
 **How do I schedule a checkoff?**\\
 The quiz and checkoff request link are both found on the Training Requirements page for the PCB Plotter on SUMS. To access this page:
-Go to sums.gatech.edu and login (button is on the top right of the screen).
+  - Go to sums.gatech.edu and login (button is on the top right of the screen).
-In the main toolbar on top, on the right, click "Set Active BG/EG". Make sure your Billing Group is "Interdisciplinary Design Commons" and your Equipment Group is "The Hive".
+  - In the main toolbar on top, on the right, click "Set Active BG/EG". Make sure your Billing Group is "Interdisciplinary Design Commons" and your Equipment Group is "The Hive".
-Somewhere in the main area of your main screen, you will find a section called, "Find training requirements". Click it and search for "pcb plotter" (no quotes). Select S116.PCBPlotter-01 to get to the PCB Plotter's “Training Requirements” screen.
+  - Somewhere in the main area of your main screen, you will find a section called, "Find training requirements". Click it and search for "pcb plotter" (no quotes). Select S116.PCBPlotter-01 to get to the PCB Plotter's “Training Requirements” screen.
-Scroll down to find the “Take Exam” button to take the 10 question quiz. Note that you must get 9/10 to pass. If not, you have an hour until you can re-take it.
+  - Scroll down to find the “Take Exam” button to take the 10 question quiz. Note that you must get 9/10 to pass. If not, you have an hour until you can re-take it.
-Once you have passed the quiz, return to the Training Requirements screen (step 3, above). Scroll to the bottom and press, “Request new checkoff”. Please make a selection for all five slots. If you are available more times, add those in the notes section. More availability is better than less!
+  - Once you have passed the quiz, return to the Training Requirements screen (step 3, above). Scroll to the bottom and press, “Request new checkoff”. //Please make a selection for all five slots.// If you are available more times, add those in the notes section. More availability is better than less! After-hours is good, too.
-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. Please note that there are no checkoffs during the last week of Hive open hours.
-I didn’t get a checkoff scheduled and all of my requested dates have passed. What now?
+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.
-Due to the large volume of checkoff requests, 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?
+//Please note that there are no checkoffs during the last week of Hive open hours.//
-Schedule another checkoff following the same procedure. If you wish, you may also attend another training session. Read up on the fabrication process with our PCB Fabrication Guide.
-Can I bring my own design to fabricate instead of the training board for my checkoff?
+**I didn’t get a checkoff scheduled and all of my requested dates have passed. What now?**\\
-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 over an hour and a half to laser 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.
+Due to the large volume of checkoff requests, 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. If you wish, you may also attend another training session. Read up on the fabrication process with our [[https://drive.google.com/open?id=176ZKdEShIhRyrmAtxOkkLg0mS56d2DdM-HPr8YBaL6s|PCB Fabrication Guide]].
+**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.
 ----
 ===Fabrication===
-Do I have to be with my board during the entire fabrication process?
+** Process specifications **\\
-Yes! With the exception of the electroplater, you must be present for the entire process. This is for safety reasons. PIs have the authority to cancel any unattended boards.
+The Hive's PCB fabrication tool suite has the following capabilites:
+  * //Substrates:// FR4, Rogers materials, polyamide, among many others.
+  * //Copper thickness/weight:// No limit, other than processing time.
+  * //Trace width (minimum):// 2 mil (0.05 mm)
+  * //Trace pitch (minimum):// 1 mil (0.025 mm)
+  * //Drill holes (minimum diameter):// 6 mil (0.15 mm)
+  * //Slot:// yes, use overlapping drill hits
+  * //Plating:// yes, standard processing time of 3 hours will plate approximately 12.6 um of copper
+** Can I add soldermask or silkscreen? **\\
+We have the capability to apply soldermask and silkscreen, though we //do not// recommend attempting this process - it's time-consuming, UV- and temperature-sensitive, and unnecessary to a complete circuit board. If you need soldermask or silkscreen, consider sending your design to a professional fabrication facility.
+For those who would like to attempt this, instructions are available on our [[pcb-mask-silkscreen-SOP| mask and silkscreen]] page, as well as in the "Manuals/Instructions" drawer next to the tools themselves.
+**Do I have to be with my board during the entire fabrication process?**\\
+Yes! You must be present for the entire process. This is for safety reasons. PIs have the authority to cancel any unattended boards. You may, however, leave the space //if and only if// you leave a note with a phone number and accept the possibility that something may happen to your product while you're gone (because PIs are not watching your process).
+**Can I somehow reserve time on the equipment?**\\
+Yes! Although you are not required to, we //highly// recommend that you do as it guarantees equipment priority. You may reserve time up to 96 hours in advance though SUMS. See the SUMS Guide for more details.
+  - Go to sums.gatech.edu and login (button is on the top right of the screen).
+  - In the main toolbar on top, on the right, click "Set Active BG/EG". Make sure your Billing Group is "Interdisciplinary Design Commons" and your Equipment Group is "The Hive".
+  - On the main page, locate the Schedule section. Under the drop-down menu that says, “My Schedule - Select a tool to schedule time”, select the tool in question. Note that you cannot reserve time on a tool until you have completed training for it.
+  - Click and drag on the calendar itself to reserve time. Release the mouse button to bring up the reservation screen. You must enter a description in order to reserve time! Click “Save” to save the reservation.
-Can I somehow reserve time on the equipment?
+We highly advise you to schedule time on all the tools you’ll need, i.e. if you’re fabricating a standard board, you should reserve time on both the Plotter and the Laser. If you do not, and someone schedules time on only the laser, they have priority on the tool.
-Yes! Although you are not required to, we highly recommend that you do as it guarantees equipment availability. You may reserve time up to 96 hours in advance though SUMS. See the SUMS Guide for more details.
-Go to sums.gatech.edu and login (button is on the top right of the screen).
-In the main toolbar on top, on the right, click "Set Active BG/EG". Make sure your Billing Group is "Interdisciplinary Design Commons" and your Equipment Group is "The Hive".
-On the main page, locate the Schedule section. Under the drop-down menu that says, “My Schedule - Select a tool to schedule time”, select the tool in question. Note that you cannot reserve time on a tool until you have completed training for it.
-Click and drag on the calendar itself to reserve time. Release the mouse button to bring up the reservation screen. You must enter a description in order to reserve time! Click “Save” to save the reservation.
-We highly advise you to schedule time on all the tools you’ll need, i.e. if you’re fabricating a standard board, you should reserve time on both the Plotter and the Laser.
-Reservations are limited to the following:
+//Reservations are limited to the following://
-Non-PIs (i.e. those who are not volunteers at The Hive) may schedule a maximum of 4 hour block per tool per day during The Hive’s open hours, and up to 4 days in advance.
+  * Non-PIs (i.e. those who are not volunteers at The Hive) may schedule a maximum of 4 hour block per tool per day during The Hive’s open hours, and up to 4 days in advance.
-PI’s may schedule up to 8 hours per tool per day, up to 7 days in advance.
+  * PI’s may schedule up to 8 hours per tool per day, up to 7 days in advance.
-How long does it take to make a board?
+**How long does it take to make a board?**\\
 It depends on the size and layout of your board. A small board with no electroplating (i.e. no vias) can easily be made in under an hour, while a very large board with lots of copper removed can take over 4 hours not including electroplating.
-How long does electroplating take?
+**How long does electroplating take?**\\
-About 2 hours, regardless of board size. There is no way to shorten this, as this plates the near-minimum amount of copper for consistency. If you would like more copper plated, contact The Hive to discuss.
+Between 2 and 3 hours, regardless of board size. This will plate between 8-15 um of copper onto your surfaces. Less than this processing time can cause unreliable vias with variable thickness of the plating.
+** Do the tools have additional capabilities? **\\
+//NOTE: The following capabilities are allowed in the spec of the tool, but we do not support these functions, meaning that our PIs and MPIs do not have experience with them, so you will be on your own if you attempt any of them!//\\
+The ProtoMat has the capability to do aluminum and plastic 2-dimensional milling. The ProtoLaser can etch a very wide variety of substrates and films. The electroplater has the ability to do tin plating (though we don't carry the necessary solution by default). We also have the LPKF ProConduct system that enables manual electropating of individual vias for RF PCBs (proceed with caution here).