Introduction: ATtiny Programming Shield for Arduino
These instructions are also published on our website titled HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.
For instructions on how to use Arduino to program ATtinies, please look at the following links. This Instructable will only explain how to build the programming shield.
Arduino as ISP >> http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=3742
Arduino board as ATtiny programmer (by Dave Mellis) >> http://hlt.media.mit.edu/?p=1706
Programming an ATtiny w/ Arduino 1.0.1 (by Dave Mellis) >> http://hlt.media.mit.edu/?p=1695
There is also a really nice Tiny AVR Programmer now available from Sparkfun (designed by Dave Mellis) that does the same thing even more compactly >> https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11460
Video of "ATtiny Arduino Shield Programmer" in action
Step 1: Materials and Tools
Materials
- Perforated circuit board
- Male and female headers
- Wire
- 10uF capacitor
- Arduino Uno or Duemilanove (with an ATmega328, not an older board with an ATmega168!)
- ATtiny45 or 85
Tools
- Cutter knife
- Cutting mat
- File
- Wire cutters and stripper
- Soldering iron
- Helping hand
Step 2: Cut Circuit Board to Shape
Cut a piece of perforated circuit board to size (see illustration) and file the edges.
Step 3: Solder Male Headers
Video: Soldering headers to perforated circuit board:
Before continuing, make sure the board with headers fit into your Arduino.
Step 4: Disconnect Circuit Traces
Video: Cutting connection on a perforated circuit board:
Step 5: Solder Female Headers
Insert the female header pins and use an ATtiny chip as reference to make sure you get the spacing right. Then solder.
Step 6: Solder Circuit
Use jumper wire or cut wire to length and strip either end and start to populate the circuit board with wires to make the connections between the pins of the Arduino and the pins of the ATtiny. Use illustration and the following information for reference. Bend wires on bottom side to stop them falling out before you solder them.
Wiring your ISP connection
ATtiny ----- Arduino
Pin PB2 (SCK) ----- Pin 13
Pin PB1 (MISO) ----- Pin 12
Pin PB0 (MOSI) ----- Pin 11
Pin PB5 (Reset) ----- Pin 10
Plus (VCC) ----- +5V
Minus (GND) ----- GND
10uF Capcitor:
Arduino pins: RESET ----||---- GND
<a href="http://hlt.media.mit.edu/?p=1706"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8191599432_3e2508f44d.jpg"></a>
When you've finished making all the connections illustrated in the diagram (including the capacitor) then you are DONE!
Step 7: Upload Your Program!
Video: Using ATtiny shield to program an ATtiny to play a song

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31 Comments
6 years ago
Hello,
This project is awesome! Can it be used to program all Attiny 85 sketches?
7 years ago
I made it. Thanks
7 years ago on Introduction
Where do you get your round breakaway female headers?
7 years ago on Introduction
To help you if you are lost with the pins :
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/tiny-avr-programmer-hookup-guide/attiny85-use-hints
7 years ago on Introduction
Does the capacitor really need to be 10uF? Or will 1uF also work, because I only have 1uF capacitors.
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
I heard in Hackable.fr that you can use biger capacitor but not smaler uF
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Ive never used a capacitor when programming the ATtiny85, I just wired it wire 4 wire to the Arduino Uno and programmed via ArduinoISP. What's the capacitor for?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
I guess it's to disable the auto reset of the Arduino, it's connected betwin pin RST(reset) and GND(ground),
Hackable.fr says "so that the arduino is ready to transmit the data that the computer is sending and does not reset before the transmission... "
I never use this one too, I don't understand ...
7 years ago on Step 7
Thanks for the excellent Instructible!
I did add a NC switch in Vcc in order to reboot the ATTiny85 on the fly. Works great! Thanks again!
7 years ago on Introduction
Does this ATiny85 chip need a bootloader? Or can you program one bought straight from the Atmel store?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Taken from the author's website:
Burn BootloaderTo set the clock speed of your ATtiny to be faster (8Mhz) than the default 1 MHz.
- Select “ATtiny45 (8 MHz)” from the “Tools > Board” menu
- Select “Arduino as ISP“ from the “Tools > Programmer” menu
- Select “Burn Bootloader” from the “Tools” menu
So yes you can buy some ATtiny85 anywhere, you will be able to burn the bootloader with this programming shied here :)
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
This does not burn Bootloader (source: hackable.fr ) but does set some ""fuse"" to the desired value
7 years ago on Step 6
Have we somehow skipped the part where the second set of four parallel female jumpers on each side of the Tiny are added? It's trivial to do, but...
8 years ago
Thanks for the info.
8 years ago on Introduction
interesting work thank you
how did you programmed music on the ATtiny ?
8 years ago on Introduction
Why is there a second row of headers on eighter side of the ATtiny chip?
8 years ago on Step 7
Are there any schematics? Can you upload them?
8 years ago on Introduction
Can anyone explain to me what an ATtiny actually is. I'm just in my first year computerscience and haven't seen these.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
It is a 8-pin microcontroller chip
http://www.atmel.com/devices/attiny85.aspx
8 years ago
Very cool! Also, if you need me, I'll be in the corner having a panic attack over how close the tip of that soldering iron is to your finger.