CPL (Pick and Place) File Request for PCB Assembly - HamMessenger Shield

[miguel835]

Hello Dale Thomas,

I'm trying to fabricate the HamMessenger Shield using the Gerber files you provided in the repository. I want to use an assembly service (PCBA) like JLCPCB to solder the components.

I have the Gerber files and the BOM (Bill of Materials), but I need the Component Placement (CPL) file, also known as a Pick and Place or Centroid file.

I downloaded the native Fusion 360 design (Shield-Electronic-Design.zip), but when I open the .fbrd (Board) file, the components appear stacked outside the board outline.

Would you be so kind as to provide me with the generated CPL (in CSV or TXT format)? This would allow me to complete my assembly order.

Thank you for your great work on this project!

Best regards, miguel835

[dalethomas81]

Hey @miguel835 - I have never used this feature. I am manually placing the parts and soldering. Can you provide a screenshot of the issue? Or can you teach me how to give you what you need? I will be more than happy to.

[miguel835]

I prefer to show you how to obtain the CPL file.

1. Open Fusion 360 and open your HamMessenger project.

2. Open the .fbrd file (which is the PCB design). You'll see the PCB components already in place on the PCB, and you may even have the traces routed.

3. Go to the "Fabrication" page.

4. Select "CAM Processor."

5. Switch to the "Assembly" tab.

6. Select "Pick and Place."

7. Export the .csv file.

This CPL file is what I need because it contains the X/Y coordinates and the correct rotation of the components on the PCB to fulfill my JLCPCB order. It's the final piece of the puzzle.

[dalethomas81]

Got it - thank you for the clear instructions! Give me till this afternoon to do that for you. I will add it to the report so that others have it as well.

[dalethomas81]

Hey @miguel835 - I followed your instructions and exported the CSV files. There is one for the front and one for the back. I committed them in the develop branch here 622913d

Please let me know if this works for you and I will merge the commit into the master branch.

[miguel835]

It worked for me, thank you very much, the soldered plates have arrived.
One question: What is the name of the cable that connects the keyboard to the PCB so I can buy it?

[dalethomas81]

@miguel835 - the cable comes with the keyboard.

If you bought a keyboard and it did not have a cable you may need to research which cable. I am not sure.

[miguel835]

Ready, because I'm just going to buy that keyboard at Mouser

[dalethomas81]

Great, then it will come with the cable.

[miguel835]

Hi Thomas, sorry, I read all the project documentation but I couldn't find the part where you say what type of filament you used to print the HarmMessenger casings.
On another note, I'm having a bit of trouble finding the Kenwood "2-pin" cable with a flying connector online. I think this is an audio interface and PTT control cable; correct me if I'm wrong. In my case, I've found Baofeng UV-5R radios, and they come with a cable called a "programming cable," although they look the same, I don't think they're the same. Can you help me with this?.
Thanks in advance.

[dalethomas81]

Hey @miguel835 - for the material, I am just using PLA but feel free to experiment with other materials.

For the cables, below is a link for an example of some that you can use. They are simple and have no electronics in them.

You may be able to source some higher quality ones if you look around.

https://a.co/d/5dISzM1

[miguel835]

Hi Thomas, excuse my limited experience in electronics. What type of FTDI cable and other cables did you use to flash the firmware onto the Arduino Pro Mini 5V (the one soldered to the PCB)? Flashing the firmware on the Arduino Mega R3 is easy since you use the same cable that comes with the Arduino plus another program like AVRDUDE or XLOADER.

[dalethomas81]

Hey @miguel835 - no worries. I should probably add my own instructions for this or at least link a good video.

For the cable, search for ftdi ttl-232r-3v3 in Amazon or other company. Get one that has the 5 pin header on the end as it will make it easier to like this one: https://a.co/d/24LPAQ4

Here is a YouTube video showing how to program them. I haven't watched the video all the way but it seems appropriate: https://youtu.be/tKCiNepc6_4?si=Dzv7u3Y5pKxuv1kE

There are several ways to flash it. I am using AvrDude and added a handy batch file to help with this. You may need to search for tutorials on how to use AvrDude (and I should really add a tutorial for this as well - let me see if I can make time this weekend for that)