I have come to a cross of roads.
Here is the background info; I have developed this system that uses a Pic micro controller, and communicates to several peripherals. The dsPIC33 microchip that I'm using has two UART ports, two SPI ports and two I2C ports. I've developed my system on the explorer 16 development test board. The peripherals are a hand held GPS device with a serial interface. A 3D magnetometer with either a serial interface or a SPI interface. A touch LCD screen with a Serial or Spi interface and two more Serial devices. I have established communication with all of the peripherals using the dev board. I will only need to communicate some of the devices at the same time, for example take the data from the magnetrometer and display it on the LCD screen.
Here is my problem. I would like to make a PCB board with two serial ports and wire the LCD screen to the SPI port on the microchip. This will be a low quantity production. What are the pros and cons of going with surface mount or through hole? How do I go about modifying the Gerber files? Is there any standardized design guidelines when it comes to the layout of the IC's? How do I verify that I've done the layout properly?
So lets say I've found this magical software to design a PCB board with all the IC's I need already in the application. I design the PCB board. I get it printed. I find all the resistors, capacitors, diodes... and get them soldered on. If it is surface mount, what is the easiest way to get this done? do you just send the board and the componets to a company that does this or do you have get special equipment to do it yourself?
This is the first time I've ever done anything like this so please have patience with me.
Thank you for any replies.
Dominique
Here is the background info; I have developed this system that uses a Pic micro controller, and communicates to several peripherals. The dsPIC33 microchip that I'm using has two UART ports, two SPI ports and two I2C ports. I've developed my system on the explorer 16 development test board. The peripherals are a hand held GPS device with a serial interface. A 3D magnetometer with either a serial interface or a SPI interface. A touch LCD screen with a Serial or Spi interface and two more Serial devices. I have established communication with all of the peripherals using the dev board. I will only need to communicate some of the devices at the same time, for example take the data from the magnetrometer and display it on the LCD screen.
Here is my problem. I would like to make a PCB board with two serial ports and wire the LCD screen to the SPI port on the microchip. This will be a low quantity production. What are the pros and cons of going with surface mount or through hole? How do I go about modifying the Gerber files? Is there any standardized design guidelines when it comes to the layout of the IC's? How do I verify that I've done the layout properly?
So lets say I've found this magical software to design a PCB board with all the IC's I need already in the application. I design the PCB board. I get it printed. I find all the resistors, capacitors, diodes... and get them soldered on. If it is surface mount, what is the easiest way to get this done? do you just send the board and the componets to a company that does this or do you have get special equipment to do it yourself?
This is the first time I've ever done anything like this so please have patience with me.
Thank you for any replies.
Dominique