I decided to add place for bothy CAN-FD and RS485 as IPC on the module. The design seen from left is CAN at top, RS485 on bottom – switching the module to right we get the oposite. I have the extra space to do it and it allows me to build modules using UART’s only.…
This ends up as a prototype anyway because I lack components to optimize for production. I am using 4 layers this time because I want better isolation between signals. I can mosly route on a single layer, but I had some bad experience with signal integrity on 2 layers. This is the first time I…
KiCAD 6.0.8 is great. Many new improvements. But, also some issues as links to footprints and 3D images are broken. I opened XPortHub2 because I neeeded reference to a coil and found that the RJ45 is missing on the 3D View – easy to fix, but I have seen a few of these. You also…
As I can’t get hold of the components I want and this becomes a prototype that will change I can as well start using both sides of the board. The SOP8 CAN tranceiver get a bit squeezed on the top layer so I can put it at bottom – in which case I can add…
TI have made an excellent series of CAN-FD Tranceivers in SO23-8 format. All the rest is SOP8 and you can compare the two footprints below. The bugger is that I can get SOP8 versions, but I can not get any of the SO23-8 versions. So for now I have to accept added space here as…
The nice thing about KiCAD is that you find free 3D models for almost every package. Imported a Step file from GrabCAD, made my own footprint and voila. It is a bit space between the PCB’s as the header is not showing, but it gives a good impression of the result. If I want to…
The two first modules I will create is Ethernet and Serial (RS485 & RS232). I have several paths forward to create this, but the most obvious is to create two modules that can go back to back. To connect these two I use a small PCB connecting CAN on J2 – the four pins are…
My KiCAD skills are coming back – just a quick check on the Ethernet module. I reduced MCU to LQFP48 and used a W5500 module through headers. I moved drill holes to the corner. The J45 in the middle is just for show. This is a 25mm x 45mm module and I will have plenty…
Illustrating a possible PCB bus board 90mm x 150mm. I have also played around with alternative sizes, but I like the small 25mm x 45mm and the scalability I got here. The drawback is cost as each module will need a 12.- USD MCU at core.
BSA will see the PLC modules as a named tree and the diagrams send/receive messages using those names as addresses. You will have the option to design and/or detect a tree. easyIPC contains a config system allowing new, unknow modules to be reported and the user can then assign that module to a named position…