An update... we just finished doing the last logic check of all the changes we
made to the design by building one last proto...
The design is off to the fab!!!
It's supposed to take two weeks, since I was a cheapskate and opting for
their 10-day manufacturing lead time would save me roughly $100... It was
interesting to note that they offer same day turnaround for short runs like
mine, at some cost of course...
Final testing of new design:
Zoomed: http://photonlexicon.com/gallery/alb...MG_1355?full=1
As you see the board got pretty messy toward the end there...
We also printed templates to make sure the chip pads we selected for
the SMD devices were sane...
They fit!
We're using expresspcb for our 4 layer board. I like using them because
they have great operators who ensure your boards come out perfect...
Check out the actual traces on the proto run I did of our older 8-bit board.
And this is on their "ghetto" two layer hobbiest class boards!
The bottom of the old 8-bit board: (We called this one "lode runner")
After such great results on a board fab process which had low
guaranteed tolerances, I'm excited to see what our board is going to
look like on it's new high tolerance, conformal coated 4 layer PCB!