Spotify Button Build

This post shows the completed Banger Button project build. It turned out better than expected though I’ve had to remove the OLED screen for lack of time.

I’m working on 4 different projects concurrently and, frankly, I’m getting a bit fed up with the slow progress and feature creep that tends to happen. I would rather finish a project and start using the completed product than spend significantly more time implementing cool features.

Watch out for feature creep, kids. You don’t know its happening until you find yourself with way too many ideas — all of which you are equally keen to implement and they would be soooo nice to have.

You may have seen the breadboard prototype in a previous post:

Now it’s time to convert this into the final product.

The Button Box

Now that I have gathered all hardware parts, I can go ahead and build the thing. Check out the gallery below and the image captions for more thoughts and commentary.

Series of photos showing the PCB layout design progression and the final design as well as finished pcb.

Creating the PCB circuit board

PCB design software is difficult to use and I gave up on figuring it out. Printed circuit board layouts are nice but nothing beats the simplicity and productivity of hand drawn circuits. Not only is the design quicker, it also eliminates a few steps as the design does not have to be printed, transferred to a board and developed before the PCB can be etched in acid.

Here are some photos showing the design progression. Coming up with a suitable layout is a lot like solving a crossword puzzle. Except there is are no right (but certainly wrong) answers. Here are a few rules I keep in mind: 1. Reduce the overall length of copper lines. 2. Make the layout compact while leaving enough room for soldering components. 3. Keep the length of lines carrying positive voltage as short as possible. Try to keep positive voltage lines away from other lines and components. 4. Group inputs and outputs to one side of the board (if possible).

The next step is to drill holes and solder components. Photos follow.

Round trip test (video)