PCB Design - The-Hybrid-Atelier/RheoBoard GitHub Wiki
This is the custom PCB for the RheoBoard_v1 build: a prototype, 1.6 mm thick, with two copper layers. The board carries the power supply, two pumps, two valves, an MPRLS pressure sensor, and Qwiic connectors. The ESP32 Thing Plus is the master controller, and it connects over Qwiic.
Which project to open
Open these in KiCad 10.
| Version | File | Use |
|---|---|---|
| v0.05 | RheoBoard_Altium_Reimport.kicad_pro | KiCad import of Altium. Old version. |
| v1 | RheoBoard_v1.kicad_pro | Stable version. |
| v1.05 | RheoBoard_v1.05.kicad_pro | Newest version. |
IMPORT_REPORT.txt records the v0.05 Altium import.
Overview
Block diagram. This is the system drawing, separate from the schematic.
- 12 V comes in at the top.
- The ESP32 Thing Plus sits in the center.
- The pressure sensor and Qwiic devices are on the left.
- The valve rail is marked 6 V.
- The pump rail is marked 4.5 V.
- The drawing shows the TCA9534 with the valves and the PCA9685 with the pumps.
- On the v1.05 board, the PCA9685 drives those valves.
Schematic
The v1 project has no child sheets. These five files are the standalone block drawings.
Power
1_Power.kicad_sch. The three bucks are labeled BUCK 12V - 4V5, BUCK 12V - 6V, and BUCK 12V - 3V3.
I2C controllers
2_MCU.kicad_sch. U4, the TCA9534, and U7, the PCA9685, are the I2C controllers on that sheet.
Qwiic devices share the I2C connection with the sensor.
The v1 board fits both U4 and U7. The v1.05 board leaves U4 off. On that board, U7, the PCA9685, drives the pumps and the valves.
| Board | U4 | U7 |
|---|---|---|
| v1 | TCA9534APWR | PCA9685 |
| v1.05 | Left off | PCA9685 |
Peripheral
3_PERIPHERAL.kicad_sch. The two pumps and the two valves.
Pressure sensor
4_MPRLS0025PA00001A.kicad_sch. U5 is the MPRLS pressure sensor.
Valve switch
5_Switch TCA9534.kicad_sch. The valve and pump inputs.
Power
| Rail | Use |
|---|---|
| +12V | 12 V wall plug. Enters at J2, a PJ-082BH jack, on the v1 board and the v1.05 board. |
| +4V5 | Pump rail. |
| +6V | Valve rail. |
| +3V3 | Logic rail on the schematic. |
On the v1 sheet, +4V5, +6V, and +3V3 are the blocks labeled BUCK 12V - 4V5, BUCK 12V - 6V, and BUCK 12V - 3V3.
Connectors
| Ref | Boards | Connector | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| J2 | v1 and v1.05 | PJ-082BH jack | 12 V jack |
| J1 | v1 and v1.05 | four-pin JST SH | On v1.05, powered Qwiic sensor port |
| J9 | v1 and v1.05 | four-pin JST SH | On v1.05, Qwiic master port to the ESP32 Thing Plus |
| J12 | v1 and v1.05 | four-pin JST SH | On v1.05, powered Qwiic sensor port |
| J17 | v1 and v1.05 | four-pin JST SH | On v1.05, powered Qwiic sensor port |
| J3 | v1 and v1.05 | four-pin JST EH header | On the v1.05 sheet, local debug bus: GND, onboard 3.3 V, SDA, and SCL |
| J19 | v1.05 only | five-pin button header | Pin 1 is GND. Pins 2 through 5 are SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4. |
The saved v1 and v1.05 boards do not include a J18 service header.
Which project to open
| Version | Project | Root schematic | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | RheoBoard_v1.kicad_pro | RheoBoard_v1.kicad_sch | RheoBoard_v1.kicad_pcb |
| v1.05 | RheoBoard_v1.05.kicad_pro | RheoBoard_v1.05.kicad_sch | RheoBoard_v1.05.kicad_pcb |
The other .kicad_sch files in each RheoboardV1 folder are not hierarchical sheets of the project.
| File | What it is |
|---|---|
1_Power |
Standalone block drawing |
2_MCU |
I2C-controller drawing (TCA9534 and PCA9685) |
3_PERIPHERAL |
Standalone block drawing |
4_MPRLS0025PA00001A |
Standalone block drawing |
5_Switch TCA9534 |
Standalone block drawing |
3_MICROPROCESSOR.kicad_sch |
Empty stub |
Switch TCA9534.kicad_sch |
Empty stub |
- Symbol, footprint, and 3D libraries sit beside the v1 project in Symbol, Footprint, and 3D.
- RheoBoard_v1.05 has those same three folders.
- Both footprint libraries name the gate-driver footprint
DBV0006A_N.kicad_mod(v1, v1.05).
Outline and fabrication
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Outline on the saved v1 board and the saved v1.05 board | 109 × 126.4 mm |
| Each board file | 1.6 mm thick, copper on F.Cu and B.Cu |
| v1 Gerbers | Gerber |
| v1 drills | Drill |
| v1 pick-and-place | CPL.csv |
| v1 assembly workbook | The archived file named on the BOM page |
| v1.05 fabrication files | Manufacturing |
Re-export the v1 Gerbers, drills, and pick-and-place from RheoBoard_v1.kicad_pcb after a layout change.
Not on this page
- Part lists and the submitted v1 placement picture are on BOM.
- Firmware is the next page.
Next: Firmware.