[Coco] HD floppy controller update: success!

[Phill Harvey-Smith]

Joel Ewy wrote:
> Hey Chuck,  this is good stuff you're working on.

I'll second that :)

> If you do decide to manufacture some boards, my temptation level would
> go sky high.  Cost would be a factor for me.  PCB only option would be
> cool.  But I may have to download Eagle and see if I can fab a
> double-sided board.  I have a homebrew CNC drill that I've done far too
> little with so far.  I wonder where I can get ahold of the 82077AA.

Humm having looked at the board produced by Eagle's auto-router, I think 
it would be hardish to produce that using DIY methods, either by your 
CNC, or by the photo etch process (as I use), as there are many through 
holes that would be almost impossible to hand top solder (specifically 
the ones for the PLCC).

The board would need to be re-routed with this in mind. As a fairly 
experienced Eagle user I have come to the conclusion that the 
auto-router is not too good other than for the simplest of jobs and I 
mostly tend to hand route things, yes it can mean a fair amount of 
tedious work, it can also mean ripping things and starting again, but 
overall the finished result will be easier to work with.

I do however tend to optimise mostly for DIY photo etching where you 
don't have plated through holes, though you can of course use component 
legs for this purpose, using turned pin IC sockets also helps greatly as 
they can be top soldered, with a little practice, and taking care on the 
  order that you assemble the board.

This of course does not matter so much if you are going to have the 
board made by a board house, as they generally can do plated holes and 
so this isn't so much of a concern.

All IMHO of course.

Cheers,

Phill.

-- 
Phill Harvey-Smith, Programmer, Hardware hacker, and general eccentric !

"You can twist perceptions, but reality won't budge" -- Rush.