Creating a custom board and program it

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 11:10:48 GMT

Download the data sheet of the chip on nordicsemi.com website. At the end there are reference schematic. You can also download the reference design of the DK on nordic website. Eagle reference design is here.

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

MartinBL — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:24:21 GMT

If you are completely new to PCB design I suggest that you try something simple first and google around to figure out what software to use etc. nRF5 RF designs can be difficult. Anyway, there are some design guidelines here and you will find reference designs and hardware/layout files for all our development kits in the infocenter.

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Raja — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:10:39 GMT

Hi @Martin, sorry for misunderstanding. I want to make a pcb with NRF module like SKB360 URL: www.skylab.com.cn/.../productview-69.html OR MDBT42Q – nRF52832 from SeadStudio URL: www.seeedstudio.com/MDBT42Q-nRF52832-based-BLE-module-p-2736.html They both have antenna or crystal.

My aim is to learn the circuit development PCB design using this, till not i have only used development kits So my learning is very limited on it.

If i am able get it on PCB, will i be able to program it with my NRF51-DK (for SKB360) and NRF52-DK (MDBT42Q).

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

MartinBL — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 07:55:44 GMT

@Rahul: I'm not sure if I understand what you want, but you won't be able to plug a bare nRF5 device into a breadboard and assemble an antenna, etc. in the breadboard as well. The antenna needs to be almost perfectly tuned with the correct capacitor values etc. to work and the "rails" in a breadboard is loaded with stray capacitances and whatnot. You will need an nRF5 breakout board with an assembled antenna on it so then why not use your dev kit.

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Raja — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 10:00:56 GMT

Hi @Nguyen Hoan Hoang i am really interested to learn how to create a simple Schematic/pcb design with nrf51/nrf52 i want to make it run on breadboard without buy of the shelf kit. I already have a kit but i want to know what all it takes to make Schematic/pcb from scratch. Like for arduino we have tutorials openhomeautomation.net/.../

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Raja — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 09:59:42 GMT

Hi @Daniel, @Matt i am really interested to learn how to create a simple Schematic/pcb design with nrf51/nrf52 i want to make it run on breadboard without buy of the shelf kit. I already have a kit but i want to know what all it takes to make Schematic/pcb from scratch. Like for arduino we have tutorials openhomeautomation.net/.../

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Daniel Wang — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:40:48 GMT

You can use the J-Link programmer/debugger found on your NRF51 DK to flash the custom boards. No reason to use money on another programmer/debugger in prototype stage.

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Matt — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:12:26 GMT

You may want to look at this one also: devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../

RE: Creating a custom board and program it

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:14:58 GMT

The chip comes blank so you need to program it via SWD pins. For that you would need a JTag tool such as J-Link or the low cost IDAP-Link. Those tools allow you to program your board after assembly. You can also program the chip before assembly. For that you will need to make an adapter board with sockets to put the chip in. Usually that would cost you a lot more than programming after assembly. Unless you have a big production volume, you can work with your supplier to pre-program the chip with your firmware. Arrow does offer such service.