MEP EP#331: The PCB Plague Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast

MEP EP#331: The PCB PlagueNeutrik EtherCON Ruggedized RJ45

Lockable RJ45 cable within an XLR style housing
Also come in a sealed version that offers IP65 rating

Interesting PCB failures

“The Plague”
Black Pad
Very poor to no solderability

Effect of Moon Phase on Tombstoning

Many factors play a role in the overall outcome of PCB assembly, especially when very small components are involved. Broadly speaking, tombstoning is a problem with very small 2-pin components (0201 caps and such) and we've filtered out the following challenges:
- proper paste application
- component placement
- designing for "good" thermal properties of the PCB with regard to tombstoning
- moon phase

Stretching Stainless Stencils? Oddity Today

Interesting manufacturing defect surfacing
Stencil “stretches” ever couple panels or so
Anyone ever seen or experienced this before?
Solutions? Next Steps?

Project: SNACKEY

Hacking a USI/Vendnet/FSI 3159
Theory of how a snack machine works
Interesting Parts


UCN5890A
UCN5842A
SC529136CFN2
M48T18-100PC1


What I am doing to hack it


Motor control


High/Low side transistors
Might change this to mosfets to reduce voltage drop


Arduino all the things
Current sensing


INA219 High side sensing