4 layers40.6 × 17.8 mm
4 layers31.8 × 31.8 mm
RCM Hardware BYTE
RCMgames/RCM-Hardware-BYTE2PCB CAD for small wifi connected Robot Control Modules
- Size
- 31.8 × 31.8 mm
- Copper layers
- 4
- Thickness
- 1 mm
- Parts
- 61
- Nets
- 60
- Pads
- 275
- Tracks, vias
- 563, 132
- Pours
- 34
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 7 (file 20221018)
- Created
- 21 Mar 2024
- Updated
- 7 Oct 2024
Overview
RCM Hardware BYTE is an open-source printed circuit board by RCMgames, from the RCMgames/RCM-Hardware-BYTE repository on GitHub, published under the MIT licence. It is a 4-layer board of 31.8 × 31.8 mm with 61 parts on 60 nets, routed with 563 tracks and 132 vias.
It is built around the TMC7300-LA. Its parts include 27 capacitors, 14 resistors, 7 ICs, 6 connectors and 1 diode. It belongs with the radio and wireless boards and the ESP32 boards of this library.
Main components
1README
README.mdRCM-Hardware-BYTE
v2.3
- 1.25 by 1.25 inches, 31.75 by 31.75 millimeters
- 8 motors
- 8 servos
- battery monitoring
- I2C connector on QT PY
- runs on 3-11 volts
Tested with the following types of ESP32 QT Py:
| Type of Qt Py | PlatformIO name | link to Adafruit |
|---|---|---|
| S3 with 2MB PSRAM | adafruit_qtpy_esp32s3_n4r2 | https://www.adafruit.com/product/5700 |
| S3 with 8Mb Flash | adafruit_qtpy_esp32s3_nopsram | https://www.adafruit.com/product/5426 |
| S2 | adafruit_qtpy_esp32s2 | https://www.adafruit.com/product/5325 |
Look here for how to program it: https://github.com/RCMgames/RCMv2
Look here for more information and examples of robots: https://github.com/rcmgames
Want slightly smaller with a built in IMU? Look at the Nibble
Options for purchasing
- PCBWay link (PCBWay will give me a commission without increasing the price for you). (approximately $90 for 2 boards and manufacturing took a month).
- send the gerbers, bill of materials, and ComponentPlacement files to a PCB manufacturer of your choice (details you may be asked for: min hole 0.25mm, min track/spacing 5/5mil, thickness 1.0mm, 1 oz Cu outer 1.5 oz Cu inner)
Components
Solder by hand to complete the assembly of your boards.
| part | links | quantity | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCM BYTE circuit board | options for purchasing | 1 | |
| ESP32 QT Py | compatible QT Py | 1 | |
| 2x8 female header pins | this or 2 strips of 8 | 1 | for motors |
| 7 female header pins | 2 | for QT Py | |
| 8 male header pins | 4 | for servos | |
| battery wires | JST RCY OR 9V battery snap | 1 | Amazon JST RCY |
| servo buck boost 5v 2A OR replace with a short length of wire | Pololu | 2 | regulators are needed if you want to supply voltages above or below what servos can accept. There are 2 servo power buses, each with 4 servos. |
Acknowledgements
- I would like to thank PCBWay for sponsoring prototyping runs of this project. PCBWay produces very nice boards, supports open source hardware, and gave me great support as I worked on this project. Special thanks to Liam!
Parts
61| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 100nF/0402/16V/X7R/<=10%/ceramic | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C1, C3, C4, C5, C6, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C17, C18, C19, C20, C22 +3 |
| 8 | 120mΩ / 0.5W / 1206 / <=1% | Resistor_SMD:R_1206_3216Metric | R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 |
| 4 | 1x08 male header pins | !RCMhardware footprints:servo pin column | J2, J3, J4, J5 |
| 4 | 22uF/0805/>=16V | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C2, C25, C26, C27 |
| 4 | TMC7300 | !RCMhardware footprints:QFN-20-1EP_3x3mm_P0.4mm_EP1.65x1.65mm | IC1, IC2, IC3, IC4 |
| 3 | 10k / <=1% | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R2, R11, R12 |
| 2 | 10uF/0603/>=16V | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C23, C24 |
| 2 | 10uF/0805/>=16V | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C16, C21 |
| 2 | 30k / <=1% | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R1, R14 |
| 2 | 5V, 2A, buck boost | !RCMhardware footprints:pololu4085 | U5, U6 |
| 1 | 130k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R13 |
| 1 | 1A Zener Diode / >=1A / 600 mV Vf @ 1 A | Diode_SMD:D_SOD-323 | D1 |
| 1 | 2x08 female header pins | !RCMhardware footprints:PinSocket_2x08_P2.54mm_Vertical | J6 |
| 1 | 5V pwr | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.5mm | TP3 |
| 1 | TPS63070 5V 2A buck-boost | !RCMhardware footprints:TPS630701RNMR | U1 |
| 1 | XFL4020-1.5μH | !RCMhardware footprints:L_Coilcraft_XxL4020 | L1 |
| 1 | gnd | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.5mm | TP4 |
| 1 | microcontroller | !RCMhardware footprints:ESP32 QT PY | ESP32_QT_PY1 |
| 1 | pads to solder wires to, recommend JST RCY | !RCMhardware footprints:battery wires | J1 |
| 1 | usb | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.5mm | TP1 |
| 1 | vbat | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.5mm | TP2 |
Questions
How big is the RCM Hardware BYTE PCB?
It measures 31.8 × 31.8 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1 mm thick.
What parts does the RCM Hardware BYTE use?
61 parts, built around the TMC7300-LA. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the RCM Hardware BYTE KiCad files?
From the RCMgames/RCM-Hardware-BYTE repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is KiCad/RCMhardwareByte.kicad_pcb and its schematic KiCad/RCMhardwareByte.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the RCM Hardware BYTE design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the MIT licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).
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