Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Show off your completed mintyPi, or post your build logs here!
Post Reply
User avatar
Pierre
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:59 am
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Post by Pierre » Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:15 pm

Hi everyone. Pierre here from Quebec city Canada so forgive my bad english it's because of the cold weather. Instead of polluting the Discord, I have decided to write a follow my builds log. It's my first time building and I am getting a lot of help so big thanks to all I am really enjoying it so far. Here are the specs for my build:
  • Standard Altoids Tin
  • pi Zero W
  • mintyPi PCB V1.1W
  • mintyPi PCB V2.0
  • Low Battery Monitor PCB V1.0
  • Screen with board 2.2"
  • Screen with ribbon 2.4"
  • 3D parts
So I have my basic specs parts (thanks Wermy and Helder for speedy shipment) and have started to receive other parts, mostly from AliExpress which is taking a long time because of free shipment. Will definitely look into ePacket shipment next time which is much faster.
IMG_3876_1296x972.jpg
Parts
IMG_3876_1296x972.jpg (1.31 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
After watching Wemy videos for second time, firgured out that I had wrong 3D parts (see photo) because I would be using a 2.2" screen with welded wires instead of 2.4" screen with ribbon attachement. So reached out to Wermy who shipped out the right 3D parts for 2.2" screen half.

First order of business was preparing the tin. Used a small one hand dremel I got from my local electronic store and a 3D printed guide Wermy sent me. Worked out good and fast very pleased with result. Will be doing small adjustments with hand file later when I get parts for final fitting.
IMG_3878_1296x972.jpg
Preparing thin
IMG_3878_1296x972.jpg (1.22 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
Next up fusing the pi Zero to the board. Very nervous because first time welding. Took advice and practiced a bit on other parts but visibly not enough because after testing continuity, I had to start over a few points thats why you see darker marks where it got hot. Changing for smaller pin tip on welder helped solder to reach bottom board.
IMG_3891_1296x972.jpg
Fusing pi and board
IMG_3891_1296x972.jpg (1.43 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
After following conversation on Discord, learned Helder had a few Low Battery Monitor PCB so ordered one of those and installed it.

Getting better with iron.
IMG_3974_1296x972.jpg
Low Battery Monitor PCB V1.0
IMG_3974_1296x972.jpg (1.39 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
Got a local guy to print extra 3D parts. I got the STL files for the print from the "FAQ" section on the Wiki build page here:
https://www.sudomod.com/wiki/index.php? ... intyPi#FAQ

The quality was far from Wermy parts but for the price, can't complain. Printing 23 g is very cheap.
IMG_3896_1296x972.jpg
3D parts
IMG_3896_1296x972.jpg (1.37 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
Since I have extra parts, ordered second kit this time from Helder with 2.4" screen and ribbon attachment. Not much difference between 2.2 and 2.4 screen.
IMG_1844.JPG
Compare 2.2" and 2.4" - Front
IMG_1844.JPG (473.09 KiB) Viewed 5187 times
IMG_1845.JPG
Compare 2.2" and 2.4" - Back
IMG_1845.JPG (475.97 KiB) Viewed 5187 times
The 2.2" screen did not fit 3D parts as is so needed to remove SD card reader and pins. Better to snap off pins then cut. If you cut, you will need to file them down for fitting.
IMG_3991.jpg
Remove screen SD card reader
IMG_3991.jpg (1017.99 KiB) Viewed 5187 times
If you keep screen board, 3D screen holder needs small modification in left screw corners to fit screen in.
IMG_3995_1296x972.jpg
2.2' 3D screen holder
IMG_3995_1296x972.jpg (1.18 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
You could always change 3D model before print or other option is to use a minimal board iliPlate from OSH Park like this one I was told would also work.
6a019baece8d7a75c03c9d9d6e473b5b.png
iliPlate.brd
6a019baece8d7a75c03c9d9d6e473b5b.png (3.96 KiB) Viewed 5187 times
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/zUNmnlLF

I decided to kept screen board to save cost and also am thinking is safer to weld to wires instead of ribbon considering my newly learned skills. To make it work (fit), I also had to cut corner of board where screws where landing.
IMG_4001_1296x972.jpg
Screen board corner cut
IMG_4001_1296x972.jpg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 5187 times
Thats it for now waiting on parts.
Last edited by Pierre on Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:52 pm, edited 3 times in total.

User avatar
VeteranGamer
Posts: 1738
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 11:12 am
Location: London, UK
Has thanked: 528 times
Been thanked: 909 times

Re: Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Post by VeteranGamer » Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:24 am

Pierre wrote:
Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:15 pm

I decided to kept screen board to save cost and also am thinking is safer to weld to wires instead of ribbon considering my newly learned skills. To make it work (fit), I also had to cut corner of board where screws where landing.
you can cut a lot more of the board, most of it isnt going to be used......
(it might help a little with getting it to fit and sit more flush)

Image


.

User avatar
rodocop
Posts: 1723
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 3:14 pm
Location: Saskatchewan
Has thanked: 606 times
Been thanked: 608 times

Re: Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Post by rodocop » Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:49 am

Very nice detailed post! Everything is looking good. I feel your pain getting shipments from China to Canada can take forever!

User avatar
Pierre
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:59 am
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Post by Pierre » Sat Jan 20, 2018 1:11 am

Good to know which part of the board is used. I guess SD_xx prefix is for SD reader.
Left board full length of screen because it makes it a flat fit.
IMG_3992_1296x972.jpg
Before corner cut
IMG_3992_1296x972.jpg (1.19 MiB) Viewed 5115 times
IMG_4002_1296x972.jpg
After corner cut
IMG_4002_1296x972.jpg (1.08 MiB) Viewed 5115 times

User avatar
Pierre
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:59 am
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Post by Pierre » Sat Jan 20, 2018 10:12 am

Found a great reference card (teaching aid) for learning soldering on the Adafruit blog. Hats off to these guys and girls for there great work or should I say bonet because that's what they call there add on parts for the pi:
https://blog.adafruit.com/2016/12/26/ne ... ring-101/

The card was updated by @abrugsch on the Discord off-topic channel for using the pointed tip on the mintyPi projet which I have also found to be very helpfull.
solder_cheat_sheet.jpg
Solder Cheat Sheet
solder_cheat_sheet.jpg (78.3 KiB) Viewed 5104 times
Sparkfun another great site also has a good reference page on soldering here:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/ho ... -soldering
soldering_sparkfun.jpg
Soldering Sparkfun
soldering_sparkfun.jpg (131.31 KiB) Viewed 5098 times
I am still having issues with this part of the build. Hopefully as a group we can find a better way to fuse boards together. I understand space is an issue so presolder GPIO pins like the new Raspberry Pi Zero WH is not an option.
RaspberryPiZeroWH.jpg
Raspberry Pi Zero WH
RaspberryPiZeroWH.jpg (174.8 KiB) Viewed 5104 times
Source: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3708

User avatar
Pierre
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:59 am
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Follow My Builds Log : Pierre

Post by Pierre » Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:48 pm

Download the latest pre-made RetroPie 4.3 image from the "Software" section of the MintyPi Wiki page here:
https://www.sudomod.com/wiki/index.php? ... i#Software

Used SD Card Formater on MacOS to prepare card.
SDCardFormater.jpg
SD Card Formater
SDCardFormater.jpg (83.24 KiB) Viewed 5086 times
Used ApplePi-Baker to write image to SD Card.
ApplePi-Baker.jpg
ApplePi-Baker
ApplePi-Baker.jpg (239.9 KiB) Viewed 5086 times
Tested it out to make sure the Raspberry Pi Zero and Retropie works using two adapters for screen (miniHDMI to HDMI to VGA) and one adapter for keyboard and mouse (miniUSB to USB). After system double booted by itself (one for expanding to card size) system is looking good.
IMG_3950_1296x972.jpg
Testing System
IMG_3950_1296x972.jpg (1.45 MiB) Viewed 5086 times

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest