I'm trying out Fritzing because I want to learn more about creating PCB's and everything that comes with it. I have a question about how to add an Arduino to a PCB.
When I add an Arduino Pro Mini to my PCB layout in Fritzing, then all I get to see are the connection holes. So there's no chip or anything present on that PCB layout (which makes sense). But how would I then add the Arduino Mini parts on that PCB in real life?
Is it then common to solder the Arduino Pro Mini on that board? Or should I buy the Atmel micro controller (and probably other parts) and solder those parts together on my custom PCB?
Can anyone tell me how this works and what a common approach is for this?
Look at the Promini schematic, created in Eagle software from www.cadsoft.de, and put those components into your board.
Better still, use the Eagle design as your starting point and add from there. I have yet to see a good schematic come out of eagle fritzing {edited my typo}.
So then you're basically saying that it's best to get all the parts that are on the Pro Mini as loose parts and solder that to my PCB, right?
And the schematic you're taling about is this one? Wi;; be a bit of a challenge to understand the entire schematic, since I'm really new to all of this. But if that's the way to go then I'll simply digg into schemas more.
If you want to populate your own board with all the individual components, you have to put them on your board.
if you want to buy a pro-mini and plug that into your board, you only need the pins shown.
I make a small board and have pins for the pro-mini, the RTC and the SD.
then buy those boards and my work is much less and I can plug them in as I want.
Unless you like SMD soldering, I would suggest just buying the Arduino module and soldering it to the holes provided by the Fritzing (or Eagle) footprint. If you have a lot of space in your project enclosure, use headers so the module is removable for programming.
Yeah, slip of the fingers there with eagle/fritzing mixup, edited that to be correct.
Regarding Promini on a board, or custom design, I have gone multiple ways: Promini on perfboard in wirewrap projects, '328P in DIP sockets, '328P DIP soldered to boards, and SMD boards.
Here's some SMD boards we just made. Mostly SMD: '328P, 74HC595, 74HC4050, 74HC125, SD socket, 5V & 3.3V regulators, Rs, Cs, LEDs, and diodes. Then thru hole display, tactile buttons, headers, barrel jack.
Using a promini would have saved on a few parts, while getting in the way somewhat, and still requiring a 5V regulator as the onboard regulator is only good for 150mA, not adequate for all the parts on the board, or to feed the 3.3V regulator for the SD power.
So, experience building, project needs, quantity to me made, other tradeoffs all come into play.
So I guess the conclusion is (at least for me) that I could go both ways for a prototype/production board? So either solder the pro mini to my PCB, or simply solder all the circuit parts myself.
I guess I'll stick with soldering the pro mini to a PCB for now. Its easier to program the pro mini and connect 3rd party modules to it (like an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module and a PIR sensor).
I'll pick up programming the ATmega and all the components you need with that along the way. That is still new to me.
I make a small board and have pins for the pro-mini, the RTC and the SD.
then buy those boards and my work is much less and I can plug them in as I want.
Please post a picture. I'd like to see that. - Scotty
I do similar but just for the FTDI module on my Bobuino2 card. The FTDI chip pins are too close for us to place manually and get a working result every time. The module and all its components are about the same cost as all the components individually, and gives me the option to leave it off and use an off-board FTDI module when the board will be embedded and only needs PC connection for code downloading: http://www.crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17/
