pcb-training

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pcb-training [2021/01/13 23:16] benhpcb-training [2022/06/22 10:52] benh
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 === Table of Contents === === Table of Contents ===
 +  - TL;DR
   - Basics   - Basics
     * Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?     * Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?
     * What’s the process for getting trained?     * What’s the process for getting trained?
     * What is SUMS?     * What is SUMS?
 +    * 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?
   - Training Videos   - Training Videos
     * What do the videos cover?     * What do the videos cover?
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     * Can I bring my own design to fabricate instead of the training board for my checkoff?     * Can I bring my own design to fabricate instead of the training board for my checkoff?
 ----- -----
 +=== TL;DR ===
 +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:
  
-=== Introduction === +  - Training videos - watch them all on your own time and at your own pace. 
 +  - Quiz - ten questions, get nine to proceed. 
 +  - Checkoff - show off what you've learned by fabricating the board from the training videos in a one-on-one session with a trainer. Complete it in two hours, and the tools are your for the using. 
 + 
 +Read on for more details about this process, or [[https://www.sums.gatech.edu/SUMS_React/View_Equipment_React?DepartmentId=87&ToolId=1998|head directly to SUMS]] to get started. 
 + 
 +Have no idea what SUMS is? See "What is SUMS?" under the "Basics" section. 
 + 
 +----- 
 +=== Basics === 
  
 **Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?**\\ **Will the PIs at the Hive make a board for me?**\\
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 ** What is SUMS? **\\ ** 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 [[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XLLOS43sQd6rzWll8cAxkvRiArmIGGvpcC-y9uXCOek|SUMS Guide]].+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 [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/HiveMakerspace/ETGfA3m7Q3tCmtG0XVgAHG0Bz3-84vabxqlTRuF5spUmQw?e=w1pkT0|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.
 +  * You can use [[https://pcbshopper.com|PCB Shopper]] to compare prices across a number of different fab houses.
 +  * [[https://jlcpcb.com/|JLC]] and [[https://allpcb.com/|AllPCB]] are two Chinese companies that offer super fast turnaround and super low prices with a wide range of capabilities and good results. But since they're made in China, there may be shipping and IP issues.
 +  * [[https://oshpark.com|OshPark]] is the cheapest USA-based fabrication house because they aren't actually a fab house - they're a middleman to another fab house. Basically, they collect a bunch of designs, and when they have enough, they all get sent off. They're well-known for their purple PBCs, and their capabilities are growing all the time. They also can make solderpaste stencils through their affiliates at [[https://oshstencils.com|OshStencils]].
 +  * [[https://4pcb.com|Advanced Circuits]] is another American-made fab facility that has a much more extensive list of capabilities than OshPark. It's more expensive, but the quality is higher, and the turn-around times can be same- or next-day, if you're willing to pay for it. They also have deals on rectangular 2- or 4-layer boards, and deals for students.
 +  * [[https://www.epectec.com/|Epec Engineered Technologies]] is the most expensive of this list, but also the highest reliability and widest range of fabrication options. If you need a 16 layer board with super-fine pitches and tolerances and varying copper weights for the internal stack with specialized prepreg, and you need 1000 pieces assembled tomorrow, these are your people. (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but seriously, for non-standard work, or precision standard work, Epec is great.)
  
 ----- -----
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 **Videos? What happened training sessions?**\\ **Videos? What happened training sessions?**\\
-The 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. +The 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?**\\ **What do the videos cover?**\\
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 **Do I have to have any prior knowledge before starting the videos?**\\ **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.+Nope! However, if you are unfamiliar with PCBs, we recommend [[pcb-basics|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?**\\ **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 [[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XLLOS43sQd6rzWll8cAxkvRiArmIGGvpcC-y9uXCOek|SUMS Guide]]. \\+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 [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/HiveMakerspace/ETGfA3m7Q3tCmtG0XVgAHG0Bz3-84vabxqlTRuF5spUmQw?e=w1pkT0|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 have never been to The Hive before, you’ll need to join our "Billing Group" and our “Equipment Group” first:
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   - 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).
   - On the main screen, locate "Find training requirements". Click it, click "View Training Requirements", and search for "pcb plotter" (no quotes). Select S116.PCBPlotter-01 to get to the PCB plotter's training requirements screen.   - On the main screen, locate "Find training requirements". Click it, click "View Training Requirements", and search for "pcb plotter" (no quotes). Select S116.PCBPlotter-01 to get to the PCB plotter's training requirements screen.
-  - Click “Watch video” to begin playing. +  - Click “Watch video” to begin playing. //Don’t go to YouTube to watch them!!// You will not get credit. 
- +    - **Take notes!** You can use any and all of your own notes for your checkoff. (Meaning no printing the guides or Wiki.)
-*** Don’t go to YouTube to watch them!! You will not get credit. ***+
  
 **I need subtitles, but you said don’t go to YouTube.**\\ **I need subtitles, but you said don’t go to YouTube.**\\
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 **What should I expect at a checkoff?**\\ **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.+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.)
  
 **I don’t see the quiz! Where is it?**\\ **I don’t see the quiz! Where is it?**\\
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 **What if I don’t successfully complete the checkoff?**\\ **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]]. +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-fab|PCB Fabrication]] page
  
 **Can I bring my own design to fabricate instead of the training board for my checkoff?**\\ **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. 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.
  • pcb-training.txt
  • Last modified: 2024/02/09 11:04
  • by benh