5 ms·

I'm sure it will get better over time (assuming the blocks are algorithmically placed), but this example board does not inspire much confidence: https://cdn.sp

I'm sure it will get better over time (assuming the blocks are algorithmically placed), but this example board does not inspire much confidence: https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/custom_pages/9/2/5/alc-blocks.png https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/custom_pages/9/2/5/alc-block... I assumed there would be some "person behind the curtain" to this, as well (design checking, touching up connections, making the board look a bit nicer).

wyldfire 6y ago
Are you referring to how it was laid out? Can you cite specifics for those of us who don't know what to look for?
- tesseract 6y ago
  The ESP32 module being away from the edge of the board, with the ground plane completely surrounding its antenna, is the first thing that jumped out at me. Typically RF modules like that are intended to be placed overhanging the edge of the board, or abutting the edge with a large copper-free area to the left and right of the antenna. I don't think that's indicative of an unfixable issue per se, but it's not a great look in the promo photo.
  - ChrisGammell 6y ago
    Yep, similar sentiments from me. And the ESP being away from the edge/enclosed in copper? Very easily fixable if this is done by an algorithm. I would think the micro block is the first thing being place anyway.
blackguardx 6y ago
I think this product/service is targeting the "if it works, it works" mentality. The aesthetics just have to be a bit better than a mess of wires. It brings up an issue, though. What if it doesn't work? How is their customer going to troubleshoot the board?
- ChrisGammell 6y ago
  I agree, these are all small, low speed designs without many constraints.
conductr 6y ago
I have prototyped a device that consists of 1 uno WiFi, 4 megas, 16 8 channel relays, and 104 actuators. How do I go about finding a “person behind the curtain?” I have no idea if what I built even makes sense. It works and it’s the way I was able to solve each problem I faced. I could use a service like this (I think? Not clear to me) because I’d love to have this thing be on a board instead of a massive ball of yarn. Is this a service to accomplish this? If I have to hire someone, what profile am I looking for? EE seems too generic
- brk 6y ago
  "PCB Design Service". After that, you will likely be looking for "certification services" in the form of UL, FCC, CE, etc.
  - conductr 6y ago
    Thanks! search results look like what I’m in need of.
- bigiain 6y ago
  To me at least, it seems priced out of reach if you want just one or two of your "massive balls of yarn", but if you've tested/validated your electrical design with your yarnballs and want another 20 or 50 of them, it becomes much more attractive. I suspect there's a sweet spot somewhere in there 20-1000 unit range, where this'd be "the right choice". Fewer than that, the time spent assembling them myself is not worth a grand US (to me, for hobby stuff at least). More than 1000 I'd be leaning much more towards a bespoke design/layout and getting them manufactured in China (which the proviso that "Hardware is Hard!" and that it's a risk getting the right place over there to work with. Been there, done that, keep telling myself "Never again!!!" - until next time a really great sounding idea appears...) In between, and where the constraints around exact layout/packaging are not a showstopper, I'd jump on this.
  - conductr 6y ago
    Thanks for the feedback. My application is low volume, probably would order in runs of ~100 depending on pricing. But it is revenue generating so I’m not swayed with these dollar amounts. I’m already at ~$300 before the actuators and my impression is that I could get that down a bit by improving the design. I’m also concerned with serviceability and I’m not great at soldering. I’ve come this far on breadboards. Seems like I might hire a design service then utilize JLCPCB for production. I can’t tell if this sparkfun service is essentially combining those two actions. Although I think the DIY requirement is still a bit high based on my interpretation of the service description. I’m in a spot where I want to show someone what I’ve built and let them be a professional/specialist to turn it into a real device/controller
brk 6y ago
IMO this is not a service to be used to make shippable product. It is basically an advanced reference design tool. They do the work of making all the right component connections and getting everything on a board so that you can focus on software and basic functionality testing. If your alpha design works as intended, and you realize you didn't leave anything out or make other simple common mistakes you can get the $150 files that you can import into your design system and then nudge components around as desired. Or, you can send it off to a more boutique board house to layout, knowing that you are not going to have to come back later and make major disruptive changes.

wyldfire 6y ago

Are you referring to how it was laid out? Can you cite specifics for those of us who don't know what to look for?

tesseract 6y ago
The ESP32 module being away from the edge of the board, with the ground plane completely surrounding its antenna, is the first thing that jumped out at me. Typically RF modules like that are intended to be placed overhanging the edge of the board, or abutting the edge with a large copper-free area to the left and right of the antenna. I don't think that's indicative of an unfixable issue per se, but it's not a great look in the promo photo.
- ChrisGammell 6y ago
  Yep, similar sentiments from me. And the ESP being away from the edge/enclosed in copper? Very easily fixable if this is done by an algorithm. I would think the micro block is the first thing being place anyway.

blackguardx 6y ago

I think this product/service is targeting the "if it works, it works" mentality. The aesthetics just have to be a bit better than a mess of wires. It brings up an issue, though. What if it doesn't work? How is their customer going to troubleshoot the board?

ChrisGammell 6y ago
I agree, these are all small, low speed designs without many constraints.

conductr 6y ago

I have prototyped a device that consists of 1 uno WiFi, 4 megas, 16 8 channel relays, and 104 actuators. How do I go about finding a “person behind the curtain?” I have no idea if what I built even makes sense. It works and it’s the way I was able to solve each problem I faced. I could use a service like this (I think? Not clear to me) because I’d love to have this thing be on a board instead of a massive ball of yarn. Is this a service to accomplish this? If I have to hire someone, what profile am I looking for? EE seems too generic

brk 6y ago
"PCB Design Service". After that, you will likely be looking for "certification services" in the form of UL, FCC, CE, etc.
- conductr 6y ago
  Thanks! search results look like what I’m in need of.
bigiain 6y ago
To me at least, it seems priced out of reach if you want just one or two of your "massive balls of yarn", but if you've tested/validated your electrical design with your yarnballs and want another 20 or 50 of them, it becomes much more attractive. I suspect there's a sweet spot somewhere in there 20-1000 unit range, where this'd be "the right choice". Fewer than that, the time spent assembling them myself is not worth a grand US (to me, for hobby stuff at least). More than 1000 I'd be leaning much more towards a bespoke design/layout and getting them manufactured in China (which the proviso that "Hardware is Hard!" and that it's a risk getting the right place over there to work with. Been there, done that, keep telling myself "Never again!!!" - until next time a really great sounding idea appears...) In between, and where the constraints around exact layout/packaging are not a showstopper, I'd jump on this.
- conductr 6y ago
  Thanks for the feedback. My application is low volume, probably would order in runs of ~100 depending on pricing. But it is revenue generating so I’m not swayed with these dollar amounts. I’m already at ~$300 before the actuators and my impression is that I could get that down a bit by improving the design. I’m also concerned with serviceability and I’m not great at soldering. I’ve come this far on breadboards. Seems like I might hire a design service then utilize JLCPCB for production. I can’t tell if this sparkfun service is essentially combining those two actions. Although I think the DIY requirement is still a bit high based on my interpretation of the service description. I’m in a spot where I want to show someone what I’ve built and let them be a professional/specialist to turn it into a real device/controller

brk 6y ago

IMO this is not a service to be used to make shippable product. It is basically an advanced reference design tool. They do the work of making all the right component connections and getting everything on a board so that you can focus on software and basic functionality testing. If your alpha design works as intended, and you realize you didn't leave anything out or make other simple common mistakes you can get the $150 files that you can import into your design system and then nudge components around as desired. Or, you can send it off to a more boutique board house to layout, knowing that you are not going to have to come back later and make major disruptive changes.