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…
This just a mock-up of an actual module assembled from 7 IO modules using the later design. Size is just illustrative as I play around with ideas. I am waiting on project boxes and will adjust everuthing to that. So far I have only draftet connectors as 5P headers. I am thinking about doing CAN…
Sadly the headers occupy ca 10mm of 25mm, so to get Ethernet RJ45 fixed I needed 35mm width on the modules. The MCU module will be fine, but having two IO modules will require more space. 10mm extra is not the end of the world, but the design draft is also 4 PCB’s per module,…
I was recently asked to create a PLC in the form of a cable and the resulted draft is quite awesome. The design size I decided on was 90 mm x 25mm x 25mm. The reason for the 90 mm is tto have a fit for standard PLC boxes. 25 x 25 is a reasonable…