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4 layers63.5 × 100 mmDistribution amp, the printed circuit board in 3D

Distribution amp

thinkfat/dist-amp4

10MHz Distribution Amplifier (4 channels)

Size
63.5 × 100 mm
Copper layers
4
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
42
Nets
23
Pads
142
Tracks, vias
253, 342
Pours
4
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 5 (file 20171130)
Created
9 Jan 2021
Updated
12 Jan 2021

Overview

Distribution amp is an open-source printed circuit board by thinkfat, from the thinkfat/dist-amp repository on GitHub. It is a 4-layer board of 63.5 × 100 mm with 42 parts on 23 nets, routed with 253 tracks and 342 vias.

It is built around the 1N4148WS and PJ-037BH. Its parts include 16 capacitors, 9 resistors, 6 connectors, 2 ICs and 2 inductors. It belongs with the audio and music boards of this library.

Main components

2

README

README.md

dist-amp

This repository contains a 10MHz Distribution Amplifier (4 channels). It's use is mainly in electronics labs or ham radio shacks for distributing a 10MHz frequency standard (GPSDO, Rb atomic clock).

The circuit is based on a design by W. H. Rech, DF9IC, with minor modifications by myself.

Documenation

The doc folder contains the schematic in PDF format. It also contains S11/S21 measurements done with a NanoVNA V2plus4 (nanovna-saver screenshot):

  • Maximum input: 10dBm into 50 Ohm
  • Cut-off frequency (-3dB): 13.8MHz
  • Roll-off: 38dB/octave
  • S11 @ 10MHz: -27dB
  • S21 @ 10MHz: -0.7dB

Switching the ports I got also:

  • S12 @ 10MHz: < -90dB

    In other words, the VNA cannot measure it. The dynamic range is not big enough.

Fabrication

The fab folder contains Gerber plots, a drill file and CPL+BOM files for JLCPCB SMT service. If you want to recreate the board, remember to enable impedance control and choose the JLC7628 PCB stack-up.

BOM

The bom folder contains an interactive HTML BOM you can open in a browser. It will help with sourcing parts and assembling the PCB. Most parts are generic, but some parts must meet either footprint or electrical constraints.

  • L1, L2: Johanson Technology L-15F1R0JV4E
  • U2: Maxim MAX4022ESD+
  • J6: CUI PJ-037BH
  • C13-C15: use MLCC capacitors with C0G/NP0 dielectric

Customization

The MAX4022ESD+ has a much larger bandwidth than the 12MHz imposed by the input filter. One obvious modification is therefore to choose a higher roll-off frequency for the input low-pass. Note that total bandwidth and flatness will also depend on parameters of other components in the signal path, notably coupling capacitors at in and output. These are currently generic 100nF MLCC with X7R dielectric. For more demanding applications, you might need to find better ones.

Parts

42
QtyValueFootprintReferences
10100nCapacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.18x1.45mm_HandSolderC1, C4, C5, C6, C7, C9, C10, C11, C12, C16
649.9Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolderR1, R3, R5, R6, R7, R9
5Conn_CoaxialConnector_Coaxial:SMA_Amphenol_132203-12_HorizontalJ1, J2, J3, J4, J5
4MountingHole_PadMountingHole:MountingHole_3.2mm_M3_Pad_ViaH1, H2, H3, H4
310uCapacitor_SMD:CP_Elec_5x5.4C2, C3, C8
210kResistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolderR2, R4
21uInductor_SMD:L_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.05x1.20mm_HandSolderL1, L2
2220pCapacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.18x1.45mm_HandSolderC13, C15
11N4148WSDiode_SMD:D_SOD-323D1
1470pCapacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.18x1.45mm_HandSolderC14
14k7Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolderR8
1Logo_Open_Hardware_LargeSymbol:OSHW-Logo2_14.6x12mm_CopperOSHW1
1MAX4022ESDTPackage_SO:SOIC-14_3.9x8.7mm_P1.27mmU2
1MC78M09_TO252Package_TO_SOT_SMD:TO-252-2U1
1PJ-037BHDC_Jacks:CUI_PJ-037BHJ6
1TestPoint_2PoleConnector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_VerticalTP1

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Questions

How big is the Distribution amp PCB?

It measures 63.5 × 100 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the Distribution amp use?

42 parts, built around the 1N4148WS and PJ-037BH. 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 Distribution amp KiCad files?

From the thinkfat/dist-amp repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is distribution-amp.kicad_pcb. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the Distribution amp design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask thinkfat before reusing the design.