Improving PCBs
I’ve made a handful of PCBs, using Osmond on Mac OS X. This is the latest (click on the images for larger versions):
One of my concerns is that my solder mask is so far away from all the pads and holes. On this board, you can see how each side of the TQFP44 part (U1) has no solder mask in between pads. Many of the pads easily lift off the substrate when touched with the soldering iron.
Here’s an example of a board where the mask seems to go all the way onto the pads (and between them):
Obviously, I have some spacing set a certain way in Osmond, but I don’t know if that’s required, or if I should be doing things differently.
6 km Flight Video, New UAV Parts Ordered
We had several successes this weekend, with longer-range flights. We flew the small wing out 2 km, and it successfully returned and landed. A couple days later, we flew out to 3 km. We started to lose telemetry at that range with the rubber ducky antenna, but the plane flew without trouble. Here’s a video of a successful flight with autoland:
The wing above is the red one in this photo. The new wing is the black one:
The new wing will use an E-flight Power 32 motor, shown here on the test stand:
New UAV Parts
I had a flurry of buying activity this weekend, after seeing the new wing. The thing is huge: 2.1 m. I decided to build one, too. The wing it self will take the longest to arrive, some time next week, but I ordered everything else in the mean time, which should arrive before the weekend.
Here’s the list of stuff:
| Item | Source | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | Flying Foam Mothership 2.1 m | $145 |
| Motor | Power 32 Brushless Outrunner Motor, 770 Kv | $74.99 |
| ESC | Castle Creations Phoenix ICE Lite 75 | $110.95 |
| Autopilot | ArduPilot | $250.00 |
| Airspeed | Airspeed Kit | $24.95 |
| Communications | XtreamBee Board | $24.95 |
| XtreamBee USB Adapter | $24.95 | |
| Digi XBP09-DPSIT-156 SMA Connector | $42 | |
| Digi XBP09-DPWIT-156 Wire Antenna | $42 | |
| Lighting | Numerous bright LEDs from SparkFun | $72.50 |
Best WFH Email, Ever
This just hit my inbox:
From: Anton S. [mailto:xxx@yyy.com]
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 9:42 AM
To: dept@yyyy.com
Subject: Anton WFH TodayThere was a shooting Saturday night in SF where my car was parked. When I was walking to my car I got hit by a ricochet bullet. Luckily it hit the side of my neck and didn’t enter the body (just a flesh wound). I am fully functional, but my neck is a little sore. Working from home today.
Related local news links
http://www.ktvu.com/news/29005645/detail.html
http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/law-and-disorder/2011/08/two-wounded-san-francisco-soma-shooting-early-sunday-morning-Anton