From circuit board design to finished product: the hobbyist’s guide to hardware manufacturing
summary
Build of a handheld programmable gamepad with Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, touch screen, microphone, speaker, joypad, buttons and sensors uses an ESP32 MCU, BME280 env sensor and MPU9250 IMU, coded in MicroPython. Workflow uses KiCad/Fritzing/ECAD, JLCPCB for boards and LCSC/Arrow for parts, with stencils, reflow ovens or hot air and optional pick‑and‑place. Iteration count is multiple prototypes; common failures include flipped microSD footprint and cut traces from through‑holes. Cost per unit ~ $40–50 parts/PCBs, selling price €79, assembly and lead time are major blockers.
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chapters (52)
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:25Who is Sebastian
- 0:59Agenda
- 1:51EuroPython
- 2:50Our process
- 5:00We tried
- 6:50Workshop
- 9:43Components
- 13:24Sensors
- 14:10Communication protocols
- 14:39PCB design tools
- 15:16Fritzing
- 15:52ECEDA
- 16:38ChiCAD
- 17:19The workflow
- 17:48The schematic
- 18:16Footprints
- 18:50Schematic footprints
- 19:19Schematic connections
- 19:51CAD viewer
- 20:20PCB manufacturers
- 21:19Assembly
- 21:52Assembling buttons
- 22:04Stencils
- 23:01Pick and place
- 23:48Physical layout
- 24:21Input devices
- 25:30Schematic
- 25:43Connections
- 26:06DME 280
- 26:25Layout
- 27:19Demos
- 27:39Tetrax
- 28:12Weather Report
- 28:30Dungeon Game
- 29:09Vertical Scroller
- 30:12Cost
- 31:37Design fails
- 32:10Throughhole circles
- 32:21Design rules check
- 33:14Assembly fails
- 33:42The next day
- 33:58Lure issues
- 34:41Display issues
- 34:52Hanss experience
- 35:11Injuries
- 36:01Coffee breaks
- 36:51Component sourcing
- 38:06PCB layout
- 39:55Assembly tips
- 40:38Service providers
- 41:30Conclusion
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