Another Proposed Minimig Production run.

[Plaz]

or business get this project off the ground

I would wonder if actually making a "business" out of this might attract the ire of KMOS. Maybe it's better to keep it a "home brew" project.

Plaz

[Johan Samuelsson]

i want a fully populated baby too!!

[Pyromania]

I'll take one too please!

[nBit7]

Surface mount soldering is *ALOT* more difficult than Through Hole Soldering (Which I can do).

SM soldering not nearly as difficult as you think.  In fact it usually takes less time to get reasonable at it. One common misconception is that you need special tools.  BGA aside, all you need is a reasonable temperature controlled soldering iron. Good quality solder with a reasonably aggressive flux or a standalone flux.  You don't need a fine point tip.  In fact chisel tips are the most versatile.


Small components like Rs and Cs you just put a little solder on one pad.  Then place the part on the pad using tweezers while heating the pad.  Then solder the other side, and then come back and add a little more solder to the original pad.
The process is much quicker and easier than the though hole equivalent.  And the results I have seen from beginners is better than that of Trough Hole.

When doing a fine pitch IC a big tip works the best.  Instead of individually soldering each pin you drag a large amount of solder across the pins with the board held at an angle.  Solder likes to stick together and likes to follow the heat.  This approach is a bit messy but gives excellent joints roughly equivalent to a wave soldered board.  I haven't seen this method written up too often.  I can give more precise details if anyone is interested.  I have taught a few people this method and most of them got a reasonable result on the first attempt (with the aid of solder wick for the last couple of pins).

[nBit7]

I don't like your chances of getting some one too hand solder up any real quantity of boards for a cheap price.  I personally won't do it for less than AU$100 per board.
If the quantity was high enough I would consider doing it with production tools: pick and place machine, reflow oven, wave solder.

A company I used to work for has these machines sitting idle most of the time and I am fairly sure they would let me use them for a fee.  Tooling (ie. solderpaste mask) would be around AU$600.

[mihcael]

I would like one too, but it depends on price a bit!

Best wait till you find someone to solder and can post a more accurate price!

[motorollin]

I would be willing to pay up-front to help fund a production run. I think this project needs the support of the community. (Plus I really really want one ;-) )

--
moto

[tonyyeb]

nBit7 wrote:
I don't like your chances of getting some one too hand solder up any real quantity of boards for a cheap price.  I personally won't do it for less than AU$100 per board.
If the quantity was high enough I would consider doing it with production tools: pick and place machine, reflow oven, wave solder.

A company I used to work for has these machines sitting idle most of the time and I am fairly sure they would let me use them for a fee.  Tooling (ie. solderpaste mask) would be around AU$600.

If you are serious then lets get this confirmed or get a price. Lets get this thing off the ground. We need firm prices first.

[yssing]

If the price is right, count me in..

[nBit7]

If you are serious then lets get this confirmed or get a price. Lets get this thing off the ground. We need firm prices first.

I should have pointed out that I am unavailable to invest time till late November.  It may take this long to get all the parts together.  

[CodePoet]

by spotUP on 2007/9/21 13:08:33

i want a fully populated baby too!!

_YOU_ don't get one :-D

[mikealex]

Yep, count me in too for a pre-assembled, pre-soldered, everything complete minimig. And I would gladly pay up front to get the party started! :-D

[rja4096]

Please put me down for 1 maybe 2 fully populated. Thanks, rick.

[whiteb]

Well there is DEFINATELY the Interest for a Fully pop run, but the FPGA is 3x3cm, with 52 pins a side.  An electrical Engineer friend in perth (Other side of Australia, says the chance to Kapput a chip is high.. and i dont want that risk.

[whiteb]

Alright guys.......

You want costs........ (And I expect some of you will pass out).

a PCB, fully populated with *JUST* the surface mounted components, thats FPGA, Ram, CPU, Pic controller, Serial driver, 74HC4060,Capacitors and Resistors. component cost included (SUPPLIED) is US$105.  Included is the AU$25 for someone here *PER BOARD* to professionally solder the components.

What remains (cost will be on top), is all the through hole stuff, all the connectors (PS2 x2, Video, RS232, Joystick ports, MMC, power, Reset button, and Menu button).  But I suspect thats something a blind monkey can solder with a 25,000 volt welding unit. (Joke).

So those who wanted US$30 fully populated, i can only say LOL

Anyone not unconscious, Let me know.

[Chubbyrain]

Guess I was not far off with my $150, which I still think is a good price to pay.

I'm still interested.