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glitchsoc - Link to source

I read a report recently that confirmed that straight PCB traces, right angle, and orthogonally placed components can actually make electrons sad and slow them down. They much prefer the excitement of whizzing along curvy traces, particularly if they end up going in to a chip at a random angle. And bright colours really make them want to work harder.

So I will be updating all #RC2014 kits with design philosophy. The first to be done is the RC2014 Mini II Picasso. You can pick one up now at #z80kits
z80kits.com/shop/rc2014-mini-iā€¦

Close up of a corner of a yellow PCB. Amongst the squirly tracks is the RC2014 logo. A comically large red LED and green resistor are visible, along with a spiral resistor staircase . The chips are arranged at an angle that it looks like they are thrown there at random rather than being arranged. One has even fallen through the PCB.
A different view of the same PCB, but this time in red but with a yellow barrel jack socket, green LED and white header. The spiral resistor staircase can be seen rising up from the board.
Looking down at an RC2014 Mini II Picasso in green this time. The jumble of chips and resistors looks almost chaotic
A view of the PCB from below, but this time in white. The RC2014 sits between the pins of the RAM and UART, but because the chips are at different angles, the logo has to be bent in the middle. The underside of a chip with its legs splayed out can be seen hanging on to the board.

RC2014 Mini II Picasso - Z80 Kits

The Limited Edition RC2014 Mini II Picasso is an artistic twist on the RC2014 Mini II Z80 based retro computer. The computer that asks you questions.
RFC2795 Ltd
#rc2014 #z80kits
in reply to RC2014

Extreme Electronics
mastodon - Link to source
Extreme Electronics
• •

Having seen one of these in the flesh, they are superb. The pictures don't do them justice, they are just SO WRONG ...

But it's April 1th, so ...

in reply to RC2014

Jonas
mastodon - Link to source
Jonas
• •
I know the date but I'll find them attractive nonetheless ; I would love for such a trend to gain traction in electronics
in reply to RC2014

Justin Skists
glitchsoc - Link to source
Justin Skists
• •
* checks bank account... checks date... checks bank account... checks date... checks memory of vendor's sense of humour that would very likely [definitely] release something like this on a date like this.... *

reshared this

in reply to RC2014

Dr Footleg (he/him)
mastodon - Link to source
Dr Footleg (he/him)
• •
I am concerned that happier electrons will move at faster than retro computing speeds and invalidate the functioning of these vintage circuits.

RC2014 reshared this.

in reply to RC2014

dan šŸ’¾
mastodon - Link to source
dan šŸ’¾
• •
The world needs more resistor spiral staircases šŸ˜
in reply to RC2014

Jonas
mastodon - Link to source
Jonas
• •

Thanks I just ordered one. This is my entry into the Z80 world (after a Philips Videowriter that I entend to fully reverse engineer) so I'm kinda stocked. Also this piece of kits has a furious Memphis Group vide to it, I love it!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphiā€¦


Design group

Contributors to Wikimedia projects (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.)

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in reply to Jonas

RC2014
glitchsoc - Link to source
RC2014
• •
@magnetic_tape Thank you!
I love the vibe of the Memphis Group. Will need to dive deeper in to that at some point.
@Jonas
in reply to RC2014

Jeffrey
mastodon - Link to source
Jeffrey
• •
These PCB's look like the layout I choose for my factories in Factorio
in reply to RC2014

tyx
mastodon - Link to source
tyx
• •
Good, good, many perfectionists will come to comment. :blobcatowoevil:
in reply to RC2014

hotatenobatayaki
mastodon - Link to source
hotatenobatayaki
• •
I'm just thinking what those wonderful pcb manufacturers are thinking seeing these design coming to their fab. I hope they're happy seeing this
in reply to hotatenobatayaki

RC2014
glitchsoc - Link to source
RC2014
• •
@hotatenobatayaki The design got rejected twice, although they couldn't tell me why. Eventually on the third try they said ok, we fixed it - without telling me what they fixed. And it came out exactly as I wanted. I think they were just scared of curly bits!
@hotatenobatayaki
in reply to RC2014

hotatenobatayaki
mastodon - Link to source
hotatenobatayaki
• •

Glad that they finally accepted it!

Did you freehand the traces? I think they might have some custom verification tool that failed the initial design, my guess is the curves are bent too weirdly (like the turning radius changed too rapidly or so), I might be wrong but maybe they're worried it may cause the traces to lift from the board.

Did you get the pcb assembled? I'd like to try ordering pcb for the first time and I'm curious about your experience so far

in reply to RC2014

John
glitchsoc - Link to source
John
• •
could you please talk to my wife and tell her that I need to order more than one color? šŸ˜…
in reply to RC2014

Vertigo #$FF
mastodon - Link to source
Vertigo #$FF
• •
Ironically, angling the chips as you did, it looks like it significantly simplified the task of routing traces on the board!
in reply to Vertigo #$FF

RC2014
glitchsoc - Link to source
RC2014
• •
@vertigo Oh, I can assure you that it does the opposite of simplifying the routing! At one stage I was seriously contemplating putting headers on each end of the board that would have to be connected up with jumper cables!
@Vertigo #$FF
in reply to RC2014

Josh
mastodon - Link to source
Josh
• •
With the care and attention clearly already put into this, consider making them for real! As I'm not gonna lie, I think these are cool as hell šŸ˜„
in reply to Josh

RC2014
glitchsoc - Link to source
RC2014
• •
@krnlg Oh, ok, I will make them for real. But only because you asked šŸ˜‰
z80kits.com/shop/rc2014-mini-iā€¦

RC2014 Mini II Picasso - Z80 Kits

The Limited Edition RC2014 Mini II Picasso is an artistic twist on the RC2014 Mini II Z80 based retro computer. The computer that asks you questions.
RFC2795 Ltd
@Josh
in reply to RC2014

Linker3000
mastodon - Link to source
Linker3000
• •

* Spencer spends ages on new board spin in KiCad.
* Computer crashes and corrupts PCB file.
* Spencer takes deep breath.
* Fuck it. Ship it anyway.

/Well done.

Unknown parent

RC2014
glitchsoc - Link to source
RC2014
• •
@RenewedRebecca @vertigo I consider myself somebody that is open to all kinds of ideas and practices. But an autorouter might just be stepping over the mark!
@Vertigo #$FF @Becky
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