Standalone Atmega2560 ?

I have been looking for a Standalone board for the Atmega2560 which I have come up with nothing so far.

I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with locating such a board?

M

Define Standalone board.

Just the basics to program and run board with all pins accessible.

Im working on a larger project that I would like to be able to plug this module into to run it.

I would design the PCB myself but unfortunately I do not have the PCB software Skills yet to accomplish this.

M

Someone here might be able to help you with what you are needing. However, if you get a chance you need to download Eagle Layout editor to make PCBs. Then, you download Sparkfun's Eagle library and go to Youtube and watch a few tutorials. You will be surprised how quickly you can learn the program.

Mark

You could also look for a 100 pin TQFP breakout board, and just add the few additional components needed for a minimal board.

http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=products_qfp&id=70

Confirm the pin spacing before ordering, they have multiple pitches available.
Section 35 of the 1280/2560 data sheet.

Ciao,

You have many places where You can find an ATmega2560 breakout/header board

http://www.siphec.com/ -> DEvelopment - AVR RISC

http://jkdevices.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=49
http://jkdevices.com/arduino-megamini

http://www.kurocircuits.com/products.php?sub=header_boards,atmel_header&pid=atmega2560-hd1&lang=en

There are many others.

Ciao,
Marco.

Thanks for the replies.

I have downloaded Eagle and Library to start playing. In the long run I will need to design the board for my main board anyways so this will help.

CR- This might be the way to go for my prototype for now.

Marco- Looked at these sites before and the cost of these options was not in the Project Budget, eventually I will need to build multiple units and feel the cost of a custom board would be worth the investment in the long run.

Is there a pricelist for Siphec that anyone knows about? I had sent an email awhile ago inquiring but have not received a response.

M

"You will be surprised how quickly you can learn the program."
Big difference between learning the program and developing a successfull electrical design and implementing that on a PCB.

I haven't looked - is the 2560 in eagle?

I haven't looked - is the 2560 in eagle?

Or the mega1280, same pinout?

Lefty

Big difference between learning the program and developing a successfull electrical design and implementing that on a PCB.

I was thinking shields look easily enough but, for sure I am not ready to go much farther. I have yet to producing anything yet, I think I can, I think I can, chuga chuga, whoo, whoo .

The sparkfun library has the 2560. Here is the description given under it's picture.

MICROCONTROLLER

Package: TQFP100
100-lead Thin Quad Flat Pack Package Outline

CrossRoads:
I haven't looked - is the 2560 in eagle?

Definitely there, with a 100 pins looks very intimidating.

Now to find some tutorial videos for Eagle On-line.

M

Sparkfun has tutorials.
I never checked them out, just jumped in & started hacking my way around. Helps being an EE 8)

FXguy:

CrossRoads:
I haven't looked - is the 2560 in eagle?

Definitely there, with a 100 pins looks very intimidating.

Now to find some tutorial videos for Eagle On-line.

M

This link takes you to step three of a 13 or so step Tutorial. I thought is was helpful. Just add www. before the rest of it.

The problem with these is those double header connectors to break out. You'll need the breakout board, a bunch of IDC connectors, flat cable and those flat cable to pin sockets that are always hard to find.
A board where say port A to C or D were evenly spaced on the edges allowing to connect the board to two breadboards and the rest of the pins available to break out with a flat cable would be a better idea. For development purposes at least. Once you design your board, you can make it so that the entire module fits right in.

I am thinking this part looks pretty nice:
http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=products_qfp&id=70
part drops into place, you get double row of pads at what looks like .1" x .1" spacing for connectors.
Use the inner most row for crystal, caps, reset resistor.