canibalizing parts from rpi pico boards for fun and profit

[exe]

I was curious if I can use components from rpi boards for my own projects (it's cheaper to buy a board than components separately). I wasn't sure if it's gonna work, but it worked. I resoldered crystal oscillator, flash chip and the rp2040 itself:

[MarkS]

Sure, but unless the board you're making is smaller than the Pico, wouldn't just make more sense to solder the castellated vias to your project?

[Brumby]

Fun?  Yes. 

Profit???  I'm not seeing it, especially if you consider the time and risk of harvesting.  But if you don't factor in your time, then I can see cost reduction.

Go back 30 years or more and the practice of acquisition (usually scavenging) and harvesting made sense, especially to those with more time than money.  I know.  Now things are so incredibly cheap - and you can handle delivery via the slow boat from China - this supply channel becomes less practical.  I have to un-learn a lifetime of it myself and clear out some stuff that just doesn't make sense to hold on to.

For example: Anyone want some 10m VGA cables?

[exe]

Sure, but unless the board you're making is smaller than the Pico, wouldn't just make more sense to solder the castellated vias to your project?

Yeah, my board is very dense, no place for rpi board. Although, technically, I could solder it on the other side (I have all the smd components on one side). But then I wonder how much more noise I'd get because of longer wiring. On my board all digital connections are as short as possible.

But if you don't factor in your time, then I can see cost reduction.

Well, there is truth to that. But also I need to make just one board. I couldn't source the exact flash used on the board (it was half year ago or so, don't know now). I could buy something else, but there is a risk it won't be compatible with rpi. So, I just bought an rpi board for its components. The video I filmed was a practice session to see if I can do it.

[thm_w]

You can also use low profile headers with the raspi as well, don't have to use the castellations. Then SMD components can fit underneath it.

If the size envelope allows it, I would do what is possible to use the board as-is, I don't think noise would be an issue for most designs.

[SiliconWizard]

Apart from what Brumby said, cheaper? I don't even see it (even excluding time spent.)
A Pico is around $4. The RP2040 is about $1, a small flash chip can be had for less than $0.5 and the rest is not that useful, maybe add the crystal, another $0.5? SMD connectors, that's not something I would usually canibalize. So that may be $2 worth of parts on a $4 board, but to each their own.

[exe]

You can also use low profile headers with the raspi as well, don't have to use the castellations. Then SMD components can fit underneath it.

If the size envelope allows it, I would do what is possible to use the board as-is, I don't think noise would be an issue for most designs.

Yeah, I think this will save me a lot of trouble.

Apart from what Brumby said, cheaper? I don't even see it (even excluding time spent.)
A Pico is around $4. The RP2040 is about $1, a small flash chip can be had for less than $0.5 and the rest is not that useful, maybe add the crystal, another $0.5? SMD connectors, that's not something I would usually canibalize. So that may be $2 worth of parts on a $4 board, but to each their own.

Damn, you're right. When I was shopping about a year ago or so I couldn't get the exact flash, and wasn't sure what would be a working replacement. Now it's on stock everywhere... Well, lesson learned.

[SiliconWizard]

Well, to be fair, the shortage has significantly eased as of late, but a few months ago, it was still pretty bad.

[Infraviolet]

To my understanding there never was a shortage of the RP2040 chip in the Pi Pico, massive serious shortage of Pi single board computers, but not much effect on the Rasp Pi microcontroller availability. I think the Pi Foundation put buying limits on the Pico and RP2040 to avoid shortages, and brought out the standalone chip for sale a few months after the Pico.

[wraper]

What profit when bare RP2040 costs $1 @ qty of 1 from major distributors and even less from some other places? It's waste of money and effort unless you get those boards for free.

[exe]

What profit when bare RP2040 costs $1 @ qty of 1 from major distributors and even less from some other places? It's waste of money and effort unless you get those boards for free.

Yeah, I figured. Well, at least some soldering experience