Tag Archives: Design

Neu VAYU

I’m very happy to report that the new VAYU-NTX v1.04 PCBs have arrived along with a solder stencil. The boards and stencil are of the normal high quality from Hackvana (Thanks again Mitch). Although I enjoy the process of hand … Continue reading

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Adding a default stencil layer in Eagle

After all the work setting up a stencil and adding a layer to produce the Stencil Gerber in the last post, I wondered if there was a way to automate the process a little more. What was needed was a … Continue reading

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Designing a Solder Stencil with Eagle

With the completion of VAYU-NTX I wanted to explore the use of a solder stencil rather than use my component by component soldering approach. I haven’t got an oven yet but I believe I can still use the hot air … Continue reading

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Evolution

Tuesday 19th saw delivery of the VAYU-NTX v1.03 prototype PCBs from Hackvana. I am really pleased with the consistency of quality and finish on their PCBs. I chose a blue colour this time and I really like it. It’s not … Continue reading

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SMD Soldering Technique

During the building of VAYU-1 and VAYU v1.01, I developed a technique for soldering the very small SMD parts including the TPS16016 Boost Regulator chip. This device is a mere 2.5mm across and the pins are minute. Try as I … Continue reading

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Vayu-NTX

When field testing my re-design of CHEAPO into VAYU I noticed that the transmit frequency is easily affected by ambient temperature. Although this tends not to be too much of a problem once the payload is several kilometers up and … Continue reading

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CHEAPO Re-Design

Recovering Chris’s balloon and payload was great fun and as a thank you for doing so, he gave me an unpopulated circuit board of his HAB Tracker he called CHEAPO.  I slightly modified this board under Chris’s direction to use … Continue reading

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