Our New Open Hardware Project, BreadBro, is live on Kickstarter

[PioteLLC]

Hi EEVBlog Forum!

We've created a product called BreadBro. Basically it's a solderless breadboard mounted to a PCB with an Arduino-compatible dev board on the underside (Mega328). By removing one power bus from the breadboard, it can fit perfectly between two rows of header pins in an Uno R3 layout. We also included a bunch of handy features like a battery, step-up regulator and charge controller, 2 USB ports, and instructional Breadboard Guide Cards. We also included some features to help BreadBro be a little bit sexier than other Arduino-compatible development boards.

If you like you can check out our Kickstarter at www.kickstarter.com/projects/breadbro/breadbro, or you can check our Website www.breadbro.com. We've got some awesome follow-up projects planned, so if anyone has some input, let us know and it'll probably make it into our next designs!

Thanks for reading,

Steven & Mark
BreadBro Technology / Piote LLC

PS: Dave thank you for an amazing resource. We've learned a ton from you over the years!

[edy]

Nice project. 

So it's an Arduino with a breadboard attached, plus a battery for portable power, and it has full compatibility with the Arduino IDE and will allow Arduino shields to be mated to it as well due to the standard header/pin-out spacing?

[PioteLLC]

Thanks!

Yep, that is a great description of what we've done. We're working on a whole line of products that embrace the idea that an Arduino and a Breadboard are really powerful together.

Mark

[matseng]

What is "Open Hardware"?  It for sure seems to be something else than OSHW since I can't find any design files or anything about it mentioned in your site, blog or at the KS campaign...

[PioteLLC]

We're working on packaging the files for such a repository. Check the website in the next few days under the "Resources" tab.Probably sometime around Friday.

Eventually, it'll all be up there - gerber files, eagle files, BOM, Schematic, the whole bit.

Mark

[edavid]

I don't know, for $50 I think I'd rather buy 10 Arduino clones and 10 generic breadboards.  Obviously there are enough people who disagree.

[charlespax]

We're working on packaging the files for such a repository. Check the website in the next few days under the "Resources" tab.Probably sometime around Friday.

Eventually, it'll all be up there - gerber files, eagle files, BOM, Schematic, the whole bit.

I'm looking to you releasing the source, Mark. It ain't open 'till it's open.

[PioteLLC]

Hi everybody!

Honestly I didn't anticipate how much demand there would be for the Open Source files so soon! I really like that there is, though - I've been on the other side of comments just like these.

So, the files are up, as they exist now. I've been using Fritzing almost exclusively for a long time, and I'm in the process of learning Eagle. My original goal was to learn Eagle while the campaign was funding, then transfer my designs to Eagle and post it. That's still the plan, but the files you find now are exported from Fritzing in PDF form. There's the Copper Top layer, Copper Bottom layer, and the board's schematic. I guess I also have BOM, pricing model, labor costs and all that jazz if y'all want it. Let me know what you'd like to see in a final package, and it's there.

One other note: The design that's up now is the version that is in the Kickstarter video and that our beta testers received. We've ordered the PCBs for a slightly revised version that fixes some issues with the battery system, reduces the size of the board by about 5-10%, and turns the power switch by 90 degrees. Once these units are tested, I'll put those files up, as well.

www.breadbro.com/open-source

Regards,

Mark

[charlespax]

Wow you're funded! You must be excited  :-)

It looks like you are using a fully SMD MicroUSB connector like this one attached (microusb-smd.jpg). I've had those snap off on me pretty easily if the PCB is not in an enclosure. Since this is for education I would expect it to get roughed a bit.

I suggest you consider a MicroUSB connector with SMD contacts and through hole mounting (microusb-th.jpg). The legs go into the board, but do not extend beyond the other side. I've been using them in my temperature datalogger and have not had any problem with them snapping off.

[PioteLLC]

Yeah, it's been kind of a whirlwind week. We're lucky in that we're basically ready to start production right now, so the risk is maybe a bit lower than your standard OSHW Kickstarter. At this point it's almost an experiment, helping

Those are awesome! I encountered exactly the same issue you describe, I'm going to have to look into those. Do you think that they're as sturdy as a Mini B with the four mounting pads?

[stmdude]

Those are awesome! I encountered exactly the same issue you describe, I'm going to have to look into those. Do you think that they're as sturdy as a Mini B with the four mounting pads?

Through-hole micro will be more sturdy than SMD Mini, no doubt. I've had these issues as well. In fact, its very common for things that have multiple insertions and/or when the device gets moved around while connected.

There is a down-side to these connectors though, and it's that they can't be soldered in the same way as SMD components can be. So, if this is the only through-hole component on the board, it'll require your assembler to add one additional step to the line, which will cost you money.
If you already have through-hole components on your board, the cost-difference is negligible.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Those are awesome! I encountered exactly the same issue you describe, I'm going to have to look into those. Do you think that they're as sturdy as a Mini B with the four mounting pads?

Through-hole micro will be more sturdy than SMD Mini, no doubt. I've had these issues as well. In fact, its very common for things that have multiple insertions and/or when the device gets moved around while connected.

There is a down-side to these connectors though, and it's that they can't be soldered in the same way as SMD components can be. So, if this is the only through-hole component on the board, it'll require your assembler to add one additional step to the line, which will cost you money.
If you already have through-hole components on your board, the cost-difference is negligible.

In some cases you can paste around the hole and get enough flowing down into the hole to give decent mechanical strength without needing to do proper TH soldering.
 

[charlespax]

There is a down-side to these connectors though, and it's that they can't be soldered in the same way as SMD components can be. So, if this is the only through-hole component on the board, it'll require your assembler to add one additional step to the line, which will cost you money.
If you already have through-hole components on your board, the cost-difference is negligible.

At the PCBA factory I use the MicroUSB connector gets placed just like any other part. No secondary process. It does not get wave soldered.

You can check out the exact MicroUSB footprint I use in the T400 from the T400 Github repo.