Introduction: THE DIY ARDUINO BOARD FOR 5$
The arduino board is an open-source electronic prototyping platform used by hobbyist,artist,designers,makers etc...
The arduino is simple to use rather than any other prototyping board!.
I spoiled so much money on buying the arduino boards :(
But now i make my own custom Arduino board for my projects . It is saving my pocket money ,as well as save my dads pocket .
However buying an Arduino board is little bit expensive(i know clone have about 8-10$).But make all things by you in your own project. A Arduino clone or original is not made by you,you dont know how the Arduino board circuit works.so make one yourself,you must need to know make one .An Arduino uno have 25$ to 30$ US dollars.But it is a open source platform , all the information and source file will be accessible for public through internet ,then why we need to buy a 25$ Arduino board .Also Arduino uses inexpensive cheap components that we can get a near by radio shack,making a Diy Arduino is a peace of cake , it might not be risky. In early days i bought Arduino uno boards for my every projects .But after a couple of project i realized that we can make a Arduino for about 5 dollar(less than cost of coffee and burger) so i started working on it, i made a custom PCB design .You can download the project file from here and customize yourself if needed(don't be shy i'am happy with that :D) .
If you Want to save money by making Arduino boards yourself? Or you want to make a custom board specifically for your needs, then this instrucatable is for you. Make a custom Arduino board from cheap electronic components available at your local store for less than 8 dollar(it cost me 5 dollars,even less than that ). Just follow these simple step by step instructions to make one your own.
Step 1: STUFFS NEEDED TO MAKE ARDUINO
So,first we need to collect some stuff that we needed to make a DIY Arduino board,
Here the list of the stuff that you need to collect.
It costed me to buy all these about 5$ (not included general tools,softwares and optional components)
"i'am bought these parts from nearby radio shack(local store )in minimum quantity of 1 or 2 piece . But i given links to all components that you can buy from Amazon , but components have huge quantity so the price may vary "
try to buy everything from a local store.
HARDWARE:
- Atmel atmega 328p (with arduino bootloader or blank one)
- 28 pin dip IC socket
- 16mhz crystal
- 22pf ceramic capacitor
- 10mfelectrolytic capacitor (2nos)
- LM7805 regulator IC(with heat sink recommended)
- 1k resistors 2nos
- 220r resistor
- IN4001 diode
- 2 LED(red and green will be perfect)
- Micro push button
- Male headers(any type even you can use female headers)
- 12 volt power jack(like one in real arduino baord)
- General purpose pcb(optional if using custom pcb)
- Breadboard
- Jumper wire
- AVR pocket programmer(optional if have a ATmega 328p with bootloader)
- USB-UART TTL converter(optional)
copper clad(optional)
SOFTWARES:
- Arduino ide
- Frizing
GENERAL TOOLS:
- Soldering iorn
- soldering wire
- soldering paste(optional used for good solder)
- Connection wire(hookup wire)
Step 2: MAKE POWER SUPPLY FOR DIY ARDUINO
Now we have all the stuffs to make the Diy Arduino board . Make a 5 volt power supply is the next step.The Aduino only work with +5 volt power supply so we need to make one .
PARTS NEEDED :
- LM7805 voltage regulator IC
- 10mf and 1mf electrolytic capaciitor
- IN4001 diode
- 1k resistor
- LED(red or green )
- 12 volt power jack
The schematic diagram of power supply is given above ,also breadboard connection layout .
First test the circuit on a bread board as shown in the figure . Then grab a 12 volt wall adapter and plug in to the power jack of the circuit. Before proceeding power in to the power supply circuit , double check the connection , if any wrong connection in the circuit then solve it. after the successfull connection give power to the circuit.
"check the LED is turned ON,if not then suddenly turn the power OFF and check the LM7805 is overheated(the LM7805 will heat normally check is it overheated).If it is overheated there is wrong connection in circuit,troubleshoot that and re power the circuit"
GIVING A HEAT SINK FOR LM7805 IS RECOMMENDED FOR HEATING PROBLEM.
Step 3: MAKE DIY ARDUINO ON BREADBOARD
Don't skip this step(some guys always will skip testing on bread board).
Before making the Arduino on the PCB we need to check if it is works . so first we need to make the Diy Arduino on a bread board.
BE PATIENT AND CARFULL IN THIS STEP
the Atmel ATmega328-p is the heart of the Arduino ,any wrong connection that you make will destroy the chip, so carefull with that.
The pin diagram of the microcontroller is given below Refer that and connect all jumpers and components as shown the circuit diagram.
Uploading Bootloader and Sketches to your Arduino is explained in last two steps!!!.
Step 4: MAKE DIY ARDUINO IN a GENERAL PURPOSE PCB(optional)
Now the time to make the Diy Arduino in to a PCB .You have two choice here , one is to make Diy Arduino on a general purpose PCB or make a custom PCB "in my openion to make a custom PCB" but the choice is yours.
Here i'am explaining you to make the Arduino on a general purpose PCB. .
THINGS YOU NEEDED:
- Soldering iorn
- soldering wire
- Soldering flux(optional)
- General purpose pcb
- The components in the schematics.(explained in first step)
- Connection wire(hookup wire)
- Clean your PCB as well , then rub some soldering flux in PCB .
- Then mount and solder the power supply components on a side of PCB.
- Next is to mount the IC socket and other related components in PCB and solder it(don't hold so much time the soldering iorn to solder components it will destroy components and peal of the traces).
- Now connect all traces using hookup wire (carefull always double check the schematics)
- Now the last step is to check any short circuits in soldering .
WOW...... YOUR DIY ARDUINO ON A GENERAL PURPOSE PCB IS MADE
Not done next step is to make Diy arduino on custom PCB :D
Step 5: MAKING CUSTOM PCB FOR DIY ARDUINO BOARD
Here is the best way to make a perfect Diy Arduino ,making the custom Arduino board is simple and perfect way.
You don't need a bunch of hookup wire, the general purpose PCB is looking ugly with a bunch of hookup wires. but if a custom PCB you don't need much hookup wire and less chance to short circuits .
I recommend to make a PCB yourself.here you can download all file you need to make a PCB yourself.
so first download the software called FRITZING.
Fritzing is the one of the best free software to design electronic schematics,PCB designing and design breadboard connection . you can see all features in there official website click here
. Download the file called 'arduino attempt3.fzz' then open with fritzing in your PC .
If you don't know how to etch a PCB yourself then watch this video . perfect video tutorial to make Diy PCB.
After etching the PCB , use 0.8mm and 1.0mm PCB drill bit to drill the holes in pcb(check all traces with a Continuity tester for any short circuit) .
then solder everything and double check for short circuit and wrong connections.
Attachments
Step 6: UPLOADING BOOTLOADER TO ATMEGA328P(optional)
"This step is optional step if you have a ATmega chip comes with arduino bootlaoder"
I personally recommend uploading the bootloader using this method ,it is the reliable method to upload bootloader to you ATmega chip,works most of the time. first you need to buy a AVR pocket programmer.once you have that, you can burn bootloader to various type ATmega chips.insert your ATmega 328p chip to your arduino uno socket then connect the AVR pocket programmer as shown in the diagram.
Once you connect everything ,Go to your installed folder of arduino > hardware > arduino > boards.txt . Then check the document for your chips name and the bootloader Uno (this step can be ignored if you are using blank ATmega328P chips). Check the values of the following parameters on it : efuse, hfuse and lfuse. Now we will set the fuse bits for the blank chip. Open the command prompt in windows pc or terminal in linux pc and paste the following commands :
avrdude -b 19200 -c usbtiny -p m328p -v -e -U efuse:w:0x05:m -U hfuse:w:0xD6:m -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m
Next, use the command below to upload the bootloader or your hex program file. Go to the path of your program file or bootloader (/hardware/arduino/bootloaders/atmega) from the command prompt or terminal and instead of “hexfilename.hex” substitute the name of your file.
avrdude -b19200 -c usbtiny -p m328p -v -e -U flash:w:hexfilename.hex -U lock:w:0x0F:m
Now you successfully uploaded arduino bootloader to your ATmega328p.
Step 7: UPLOADING SKETCH TO DIY ARDUINO
Now the time to upload the sketches to the Diy arduino board.
If you have ATmega 328-p er chip that without bootloader . i explained how to install arduino bootloader to blank ATmega chip in the last step.
So,now everything is done the final step is to upload the sketches to Diy arduino. so do this carefully. we can upload the sketches to the arduino in two different method . use any of these way that comfortable for you.
METHOD 1:
Take your USB-UART TTL converter and connect the pins to the arduino pins shown in the diagram.
then conect USB-UART TTL to your PC then upload your sketch.
METHOD 2:
The best and inexpensive way is to upload the sketches to your Diy arduino is to use another arduino as programmer. Take arduino uno and remove the ATmega chip and insert a ATmega chip with arduino bootloader (for use in Diy arduino)to the arduino uno and connect to the pc and then just upload the sketches as you noramly do . I'am always use this method because i had a arduino uno laying around in my home.
Step 8: WORKING DEMO!!!
I uploaded the blink led example sketch to my Diy arduino board!!!!!!!!.
watch this video!!!!!