Win 1 of 12 prizes in partnership with Farnell for each of the 12 Days of Christmas
For this year’s Christmas giveaway oemsecrets.com has partnered with Farnell to give away 12 tools for an “engineer’s toolkit” from Multicomp Pro including bench power supplies, soldering stations, and multimeters. Simply use the link below to enter
We’re pleased to announce the 12 winners of the #MulticompPro Products with @Farnell_Avnet are:
1.Dean N.
2.Dwayne F.
3.Dieter E.
4.Zeljko B.
5.Alessandro T.
6.Terry M.
7.Damjan S.
8.John H.
9.Julian Z.
10.Harald A.
11.Pedro C.
12.Jens K.
Congrats! We’ll be in touch via email pic.twitter.com/pH1KdaBAen
Designing a new hardware product is a road filled with potentially expensive twists and turns which if not properly managed could result in heavy losses both in time and money. While designing and manufacturing the electronics unit, in my book, remains the most challenging part, the enclosure and mechanical parts are equally key. Additive manufacturing, via 3D printing, in recent times has provided makers and prototype engineers with an easy way to quickly develop enclosures for their projects, however, often times the quality of the prints are usually low (not so durable and neat) and the production takes way more time than is encouraging, all of this, usually as a result of the limitations of the cheap 3d printers deployed. To solve this, makers, startups, product developers, etc., typically send their designs to Industrial 3D printing service providers like PCBway.
The choices when it comes to selecting the right manufacturer can be quite tricky, thus, for today’s article, we will be evaluating the capabilities of one of the most popular names in the business, China-based PCBway. As a tag-along, we will also review their recently launched CNC machining service.
PCBWay is definitely a name familiar to most folks, I dare say everyone, in the maker/hardware community for the excellent PCB-related services they provide, from the manufacturing of different types of PCBs (flex, rigid, multilayer PCBs, etc) to their PCBA, prototyping services. and multiple ecosystem support programs. In March 2021, as a response to requests by customers for them to launch a CNC / 3D printing service to make the development of enclosures easy, PCBWay announced the launch of their 3D printing service with the goal of becoming a one-stop-shop with everything customers need for the manufacturing of new hardware products.
Launched as a rapid prototyping section which features 4 major services category including; CNC Machining, Sheet Metal Fabrication. Injection Molding, 3D Printing. Our focus for this article, however, will be the 3D printing and CNC Machining service.
Our enclosure printed on PCBway.com
Capabilities
With a distributed network of over 50, state-of-the-art, industrial 3D printers with build volumes of up to 600mm x 600mm x 420mm, PCBWay, from the get-go was focused on establishing itself as a leader in the 3D printing ecosystem. Offering services ranging from the manufacturing of prototypes to product grade parts using diverse 3D printing technologies including; Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Vaccum Casting, Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Stereolithography (SLA), and selective laser sintering (SLS).
In the same vein, the CNC machining service features state-of-the-art machines capable of diverse operations ranging from 3-axis milling, 5-axis machining, and all shades of turning.
Three things that have come to characterize PCBWay for most makers who have used them for PCB manufacturing include; Intellectual property protection, great turnaround time (especially), and quality outputs. These same standards and characteristics are the hallmark of the 3D printing and CNC machining services. To ensure IP Protection, customers go through an onboarding process where contractual obligations and non-disclosure agreements are signed. As with the PCB service, customers get dedicated support personnel who monitor updates from the factory to ensure both project timelines and quality levels are met.
One of the coolest features of the newly launched services for me is the real-time online quotation system. Similar to the process of ordering PCBs, quotes are provided immediately after your CAD file is uploaded and different parameters like color and material, etc., are selected. In most situations, the price varies based on the type of material and color, but you wouldn’t have to wait or engage in back and forth emails to see what the material you have decided to use will cost you. This helps with decision-making and speeding up project timelines in hierarchical organizations as you can quickly inform the decision-makers about changes in price.
Test Print
To test their service we uploaded our SafeBee – A GPS Tracker for Beehives enclosure to the quotation system. The system provided a quote of 56.33 USD without shipping to our lab. This cost may sound ok for a prototype but not good for a production cycle. The material we choose was Standard Resin Printing in white material with grey paint finishing. You can see the end product in the photos above.
In addition to providing an instant guaranteed quotation, the online ordering system also provides instant DFM feedback which spotlights errors in your design that may prevent you from getting the desired outcome. This reduces the need for multiple iterations on your part, thereby reducing cost, and ensuring you stay on track with timelines.
Once an order is placed, production status, updated in real-time, is available on the order page to help you know the current stage of your production and the next stage. In time-constrained projects, this could be a useful tool for planning the development and delivery of other parts of the project. The average lead time irrespective of volume is usually around 2 days, so you won’t have to follow up for long. The delivery time was about 6-7 days from China to Greece with DHL.
The internal of the 3D Printed enclosure
Materials Available
Support for the material you want to work with is one of the many things to consider when selecting a 3D Printing manufacturer. Across the multiple 3D Printing technologies it supports, PCBWay’s 3D printing service supports different grades of a wide range of materials including;
Resin
Nylon
ABS
PLA
TPU
PC
PETG
ASA
For its Selective Laser Melting based 3D printing service, PCBWay supports metallic materials including:
Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Titanium
Tool Steel
The support for material lines holds true, not just for 3D printing. For the CNC Machining service, PCBWay supports many metals, and elastomers suitable for both prototyping and production including:
Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Brass
Copper
Mild Steel
Alloy Steel
Tool Steel
Spring Steel
For the plastic CNC Machining services, some of the materials supported include multiple types of:
ABS (3 types)
Polycarbonate (PC)
Nylon (2 types)
Polypropylene (PP)
POM (Delrin/Acetal)
PTFE (Teflon)
PMMA (Acrylic)
Polyethylene (PE)
PEEK
Bakelite
Rubber
In situations where your desired material is not on the list, or you can’t seem to decide on the best material to use, the service allows you to select a custom option under the material drop-down on the quotation page. This will provide you with the opportunity to specify the features, tolerances, inspection, and quantity needs.
Conclusion
The delivered enclosure was high quality with a smooth surface finish and our overall experience was positive. The only point we could mention is the high cost of this service that goes up to ~100 USD including shipping with DHL.
Personal experience with the PCBWay 3D printing service makes me want to recommend it, but the experience of others from Youtubers and bloggers who have used the system and have received the same consistent quality delivery, makes me want to go a step higher and endorse the service.
The digital logic circuits use a Boolean logical data type that can have only two states that are “TRUE” and “FALSE”. These states are also represented by “HIGH” and “LOW” or “1” and “0”, respectively. The digital logic gate’s input and the output state are represented using these values and a combination of logic gates forms a digital logic circuit. As discussed in previous articles, each logical gate performs a logical function that is equivalent to a mathematical function such as a AND gate performs multiplication and an OR gate performs additions, etc. The combined effect of these logic gates in a digital logic circuit is also in logical Boolean data type. Each logic gate logical function and, as such, of the digital logic circuit, can be expressed in a Boolean expression. The Boolean expression can be reduced by a set of algebraic laws and rules. These algebraic laws and rules dealing in logical Boolean data type are referred to as “Laws of Boolean Algebra”.
These Boolean Algebraic laws help in reducing the Boolean expression in order to construct a digital logic circuit based on minimal expression or gates. The laws and theorems employed on a digital logic circuit are based on Boolean data type and similar to the one applied in general mathematics. Therefore, the rules, theorems, or laws employed on Boolean data type are called Laws of Boolean Algebra. In other words, Boolean Algebra is a mathematical technique to analyze digital logic circuits. The technique is generally applied to a complex Boolean expression in order to obtain a minimalist solution. The approach to the minimalist solution can have multiple paths and multiple minimalist solutions. The reduced expression inherits the same logic function of the original/ complex logic circuit but has fewer logic gates involved.
The Boolean expression consists of variables e.g. A, B, and/ or C, etc., and each variable can have two values i.e. “0” or “1”. However, a Boolean expression can have unlimited variables. The Boolean Algebra rules, laws, and theorems are briefly explained hereunder using AND logic.
Annulment Law
The input AND’ed by ‘0’ or OR’ed by ‘1’ is stated as Annulment Law. It nullifies or diminishes the effect of the other input
Figure 1: The Annulment Law
Identity Law
The input AND’ed by ‘1’ or OR’ed by ‘0’ is stated by Identity Law. It keeps the identity of the input.
Figure 2: The Identity Law
Idempotent Law
The same inputs AND’ed or OR’ed together are stated under Idempotent Law. The logical operation can be applied multiple times without changing the result.
Figure 3: The Idempotent Law
Complement Law
In Boolean Algebra, the complement is the opposite of a logical input such as ‘0’ is the complement of ‘1’ and vice versa. The input and its complement AND’ed or OR’ed together is described by Complement Law.
Figure 4: The Complement Law
Commutative Law
The commutative law states that changing the order of operands (variables or inputs) does not change the result. In Boolean Algebra, the inputs can be interchanged without changing the results under commutative law.
Figure 5: The Commutative Law
Associative Law
The associative law of multiplication states that the operands grouped differently in multiplication produce the same result. The inputs AND’ed together can be placed interchangeably to form different groups under the Associative Law.
Figure 6: The Associative Law
Absorption Law
Using this law, common terms are absorbed to reduce complex expressions to simpler ones.
Figure 7: The Absorption Law
De Morgan’s Theorem
There are two De-Morgan’s theorems which are:
The NOR of two separate terms together equals AND of individual complements of these two terms. In expression, it is stated as:
The NAND of two separate terms together equals OR of individual complements of these two terms. In expression, it is stated as:
Boolean Postulates
There are some mathematical laws that are helpful in the reduction of Boolean expressions. These Boolean postulates are listed below.
AND of 0 with itself, always equals “0”
0.0 = 0
AND of 1 with itself, always equals “1”
1.1 = 1
AND of 1 with a 0, always equals “0”
1.0 = 0
OR of 0 with itself, always equals “0”
0+0 = 0
OR of 1 with a 0, always equals “1”
1+0 = 1
OR of 1 with itself, always equals “1”
1+1 = 1
The inverse of a 0, always equal to “1”
The inverse of a 1, always equal to “0”
Boolean Algebra Functions
The basic logic gates i.e. AND, OR, and NOT can render the following sixteen (16) Boolean functions using above stated laws, rules, theorems, etc.
Boolean Algebra Example No. 1
The following expression is simplified using above stated Boolean Algebra laws:
(A+B)(BC)
Steps:
(A+B)BC
Apply: Distribution
BCA+ BCB
Apply the Idempotent Law: A.A = A
BCA+BC
Apply the Absorption Law: A+AB=A
BC
The expression (A+B)(BC) can be simplified into BC only.
Boolean Algebra Example No. 2
The following expression is simplified using above stated Boolean Algebra laws:
(A+B)(A+B+1)
Steps:
(A+B)(A+B+1)
Apply: Identity Law: A+1=1
(A+B)(1)
Apply: Identity Law: A1 = A
The expression (A+B)(A+B+1) can be simplified into (A+B) only.
Conclusion
The Boolean Algebra deals with Boolean logic data type in which each variable can have only two possible states i.e. TRUE (1) or FALSE (0).
The set of rules, laws, and theorems based on Boolean logic data type is applied to reduce complex Boolean expressions to simpler ones.
The Laws of Boolean Algebra are briefly stated in below table:
Vishay VCNL36826S VCSEL Integrated Proximity Sensor combines a high-power vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), a photodiode for proximity measurement, and a signal processing IC in a single package with a 12-bit ADC. The device provides proximity sensing to minimize accidental touch inputs. With a range up to 20cm (7.9″), this stand-alone component simplifies the use and design-in of a proximity sensor as no mechanical barriers are required to optically isolate the emitter from the detector. The VCNL36826S is offered in a miniature, surface mount, 2.5mm x 2.05mm leadless package (LLP) with a low 1mm profile. The device is designed to meet the low-height requirements of smartphones, mobile phones, digital cameras, and tablet PC applications.
With the standard I2C bus serial digital interface, access to the “proximity signal” is easy to attain. The programmable interrupt function offers wake-up functionality for the microcontroller when a proximity change occurs. This reduces processing overhead by eliminating the need for continuous polling
Features
Surface-mount package type
2.55mm x 2.05mm x 1.0mm (L x W x H) dimensions
Integrated modules
VCSEL
Proximity sensor (PS)
Signal conditioning IC
Interrupt function
Small light hole opening design
Low power consumption I2C (SMBus-compatible interface)
I2C bus output type
-40°C to +85°C temperature compensation
168-hour floor life, MSL 3, according to J-STD-020
Cree LED XLamp® XHP50.3 LEDs are third-generation Extreme High Power LEDs that deliver lumen density, reliability, and optical control. The devices leverage the XHP family advantages to significantly reduce system cost by using fewer optics, PCBs, and heat sinks than with standard LEDs. The XHP50.3 High Intensityprovides double the intensity for existing XHP50 designs.
Features
Available in white, configurable to 3V, 6V, or 12V by PCB layout
Available in 5-step EasyWhite® bins at 3000K to 5000K CCT, 3-step EasyWhite bins at 2700K to 5000K and 2-step EasyWhite bins at 2700K to 4000K CCT
Available in ANSI white bins at 3000K to 7000K CCT
Available in standard, 70-, 80-, and 90-minimum CRI options
Maximum drive current 600mA (3V), 3000mA (6V), 1500mA (12V)
SONY STARVIS™ IMX462 Sensor | IR Sensitivity | Full HD | High Frame Rate-100fps | USB 3.1 Gen 1
e-con Systems has launched See3CAM_CU27, a Full HD ultra-low light USB 3.1 Gen 1 camera with superior near-infrared performance.
See3CAM_CU27 is a low-light camera based on the SONY STARVIS IMX462 image sensor. It stands out in its superior near-infrared performance. The high sensitivity of this Full HD camera helps to capture images in as extremely low lighting conditions as 0 lux, which makes it suitable for night vision applications and medical microscopes. Also, this camera comes with a high-performance onboard Image Signal Processor (ISP). This facilitates accurate color reproduction with auto exposure and auto white balance functions that provide the best possible image output. See3CAM_CU27 is a fixed focus camera that has an M12 lens holder which offers customers an opportunity to use the lens of their choice.
Key features of See3CAM_CU27
High Sensitivity – Capture images even in extremely low lighting conditions (0 lux)
IR sensitivity – Capture high-quality images in near-infrared regions
USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface – Plug and play support for Windows and Linux systems.
Inbuilt Image Signal Processor – Facilitates accurate color reproduction with auto exposure and auto white balance functions
Streams MJPEG video data in Full HD @100 fps and UYVY video data in Full HD @60 fps
Video
This UVC compliant camera supports the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface and is also backward compatible with USB 2.0 host ports.
With the ultra-low light and near-IR sensitivity features, See3CAM_CU27 is suitable for various low light applications such as smart surveillance, smart traffic systems, food quality inspection systems, in-vehicle surveillance, medical microscopes for fluorescence, dark field and bright field imaging, ophthalmology devices, and agricultural applications such as crop monitoring and vegetation index measurement.
Availability
Customers interested in evaluating See3CAM_CU27 – a Full HD ultra-low light USB 3.1 Gen 1 camera – can purchase the product from e-con Systems’ online store.
Swissbit’s embedded storage is a robust, reliable, and cost-efficient memory solution for embedded applications
Swissbit extends its range of embedded storage solutions with its EM-30 e.MMC-5.1 solution. The BGA package is optimized for most demanding industrial and automotive applications and available in capacities from 16 GB to 256 GB. Its 3D TLC NAND price point combined with a smart set of features supports long lasting data integrity and reduces the total cost of ownership. If the maximum possible endurance of the NAND is to be used, Swissbit offers the EM-36, a variant preconfigured in pSLC mode, which is available with capacities between 5 GB and 80 GB.
Applications
Embedded systems
Automotive: infotainment, ADAS, instrument clusters, video recording
Texas Instruments’ synchronous converter features bypass mode and supercapacitor management
Texas Instruments’TPS61094 is a synchronous bidirectional buck/boost converter with a bypass switch that provides a power supply solution for smart meters and super capacitor backup power applications. The TPS61094 has a wide input voltage range and output voltage up to 5.5 V. The device works in buck mode and charges the supercapacitor; the charging current and the termination voltage are programmable with two external resistors. When the TPS61094 works in boost mode, the output voltage is programmable with an external resistor. During automatic buck or boost mode (EN = 1, MODE = 1), when the input power supply is applied, the device bypasses the input voltage to the output while it can charge a backup supercapacitor.
When the input power supply is disconnected or lower than the output target voltage, the TPS61094 enters boost mode and regulates output voltage from a backup supercapacitor. The TPS61094 consumes 60 nA quiescent current in this mode. The TPS61094 supports true shutdown mode (EN = 0, MODE = 1) and the forced bypass mode (EN = 0, MODE = 0). In true shutdown mode, the TPS61094 completely disconnects the load from the input supply. When supporting forced bypass mode, the TPS61094 connects the load to the input voltage directly through a bypass switch and consumes 4 nA current to achieve long battery life.
Features
Input voltage range: 0.7 V to 5.5 V
Input voltage for startup: 1.8 V (min.)
Programmable boost output voltage range: 2.7 V to 5.4 V
Programmable buck charging:
Termination voltage range: 1.7 V to 5.4 V
Output current range: 2.5 mA to 600 mA
Ultra-low quiescent current:
Boost/buck charging mode: 60 nA
Forced bypass mode: 4 nA
Four operation modes controlled by the MODE and EN pins
Inductor valley current limit: 1.4 A (min.)
Two MOSFETs: 60 mΩ (LS) and 140 mΩ (HS)
Bypass switch resistance: 100 mΩ
Switching frequency: 1 MHz
Auto-snooze mode operation at light load
Efficiency:
Up to 92.3% at VIN = 3 V, VOUT = 3.6 V, and IOUT = 10 μA
Up to 96.3% at VIN = 3 V, VOUT = 3.6 V, and IOUT = 100 mA
Silicon Motion’s PCIe NVMe FerriSSD consists of the SM689 that supports PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 and the SM681 that supports PCIe Gen3 x2 NVMe 1.3. It is optimally designed for high-performance mission-critical applications. The PCIe NVMe FerriSSD combines industry-proven controller technology, NAND flash, and passive components into a single small BGA package to notably simplify design efforts and reduce time-to-market, while protecting from NAND technology migration concerns.
The SM689 supports embedded dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) with data redundancy and the PCIe Gen3 x4 interface which exhibits a sequential read speed of up to 1.45 Gbps and sequential write speed of up to 650 Mbps. The SM681 products feature the best balance of low cost and high performance by eliminating DRAM while maintaining DRAM-like performance via a host memory buffer (HMB). They are both available in 3D triple-level cell (TLC), multi-level cell (MLC), single-level cell (SLC) modes. The unique flexible design can support multiple capacity configurations ranging from 4 GB to 256 GB and includes enterprise-grade, advanced data integrity, and reliability capabilities using Silicon Motion’s proprietary end-to-end data protection, error correcting code (ECC), and data-caching technologies.
Features
Plug-and-play only requires format/fdisk prior to use
Small footprint for space-limited designs
Eliminates the requalification cost from NAND generation change
Remote firmware updates available via a secured digital signature
Cost-saving with flexible TLC, MLC, and SLC modes, configurable capacities
Rugged and reliable (no moving parts)
Supports S.M.A.R.T. and advanced SSD telemetry logging features
IntelligentScan and DataRefresh enhances data integrity
Full end-to-end data path protection with recovery algorithms
4th generation low-density parity-check (LDPC) ECC engine with group page RAID
Ricoh Electronic Devices Company R5617 Series Battery Protection ICs provide overcharge, over-discharge, and charge/discharge overcurrent protection for one-cell Li-ion and polymer batteries. The R5617 Battery Protection ICs feature an ultra-high overcharge detection of ±10mV, enabling the R5617 Series to ensure safety against overcharge and fully use the battery capacity. Also, the low 2µA power consumption of the R5617 ICs minimizes their own battery drain.
The Ricoh Electronic Devices Company R5617 Series Battery Protection ICs are offered in a compact DFN1814-6B package and an ultra-small WLCSP-6-P13 package ideal for space-constrained applications.
Features
1.5V to 5.0V operating input voltage
Supply Current
Normal mode: 2.0µA typical, 4.0µA maximum
Standby mode:0.2µA typical (VDET2: Auto Release type), 0.04µA maximum (VDET2: Latch type)
Detector Selectable Range and Accuracy
4.2V to 4.7V, ±10mV overcharge detection voltage (VDET1)
2.0V to 3.2V, ±35mV over-discharge detection voltage (VDET2)
0.0030V to 0.0300V, ±0.75m discharge overcurrent detection voltage1 (VDET31)
0.010V to 0.100V, ±2mV discharge overcurrent detection voltage2 (VDET32)
-0.0030V to -0.0300V, ±0.75mV charge overcurrent detection voltage (VDET4)
0.020V to 0.150V, ±4mV short-circuit detection voltage (VSHORT1)
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