Adafruit QT Py Heart Shaped NeoPixel PCB User Manual
QT Py Heart Shaped NeoPixel PCB
Created by Ruiz Brothers
Last updated on 2021-02-15 10:26:23 AM EST
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Guide Contents
Guide Contents
Overview
Parts
CNC Milling Parts & Supplies
Designing the PCB
Software
QT Py Footprint
NeoPixel Footprint
Board Shape
Traces and Spaces
PCB Service
Design File
Upload to OSHPark
Board Upload
Verify Board
Submit Order
Milling PCBs
FR-1 Single-sided PCBs
Double-sided Tape
Secure to Spoilboard
Endmill with the Fan Bit
Otherpan
Start Milling
Remove PCBs
Clean PCBs
Finished PCBs
Soldering the SPI Flash Chip
2MB SPI Flash
Orient the Flash Chip
Solder the Flash Chip
Soldered Flash
Voltage and Ground Pads
CircuitPython
Set up CircuitPython Quick Start!
Code
Install Libraries
Upload Code
Solder QT Py
QT Py
SMD QT Py
Position
Solder QT Py Pads
Inspect Pads
Solder NeoPixels
NeoPixel Placement
Solder NeoPixel
Continue Soldering
Inspect Pads
USB-C Power
Finished Build
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 2 of 26
Overview
Create a heart-felt NeoPixel LED badge using Adafruit's QT
Py development board. This is cute project was created for
makers getting started with SMD soldering.
This singled-sided PCB features SMD pads for six 5050
NeoPixel LEDs and the Adafruit QT Py. The center cutout
allows a SPI flash chip to fit through the board. It's simple,
easy to assemble and customizable.
Use a desktop CNC to mill your custom PCBs using FR-1
blanks. You can fit up to four QT Py heart PCBs on a 4x5in
PCB blank in less than 10 minutes!
Use a PCB service like OSHPark to create custom PCBs with beautiful solder mask and silkscreen.
Download the CAD file and upload it to have them shipped to you.
Parts
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Adafruit QT Py - SAMD21 Dev Board with STEMMA QT
What a cutie pie! Or is it... a QT Py? This diminutive dev board comes with our favorite lil chip, the SAMD21
(as made famous in our GEMMA M0 and Trinket M0 boards).For...
$6.00
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 3 of 26
In Stock
GD25Q16 - 2MB SPI Flash in 8-Pin SOIC package
These little chips are like miniature SSD drives for your electronics. When you don't need something with
as much storage as a micro SD card, but an EEPROM is too small, SPI (or...
$1.25
In Stock
Add to Cart
Add to Cart
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 4 of 26
NeoPixel 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Driver Chip - 10 Pack
Make your own smart LED arrangement with the same integrated LED that is used in our NeoPixel strip
and pixels. This tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) RGB LED is fairly easy to solder and is the...
$4.50
In Stock
1 x Stickvise PCB Vise
Stickvise PCB Vise
1 x Solder Wire
Solder Wire - 60/40 Rosin Core
1 x Soldering Iron
Hakko FX-888D
1 x USB-C Cable
USB Type A to Type C Cable - 6" long
CNC Milling Parts & Supplies
If you'd like to use a desktop CNC to create the PCB, you can get the build materials and tools below.
1 x Bantamtools PCB Milling Machine
Desktop CNC
Add to Cart
Add to Cart
Add to Cart
Add to Cart
Add to Cart
Buy Now
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 5 of 26
1 x FR-1 Single-sided PCB Blanks
Pack of 25
1 x 1/32in Flatend Mill
2-Flute flat end mill
1 x Scotch Brite Scuff Pads
Scuff Pads
Buy Now
Buy Now
Buy Now
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 6 of 26
Designing the PCB
Software
This was created using Autodesk EAGLE. The PCB features custom footprints for the NeoPixels and QT
Py. Feel free to use them in your projects.
https://adafru.it/zBt
https://adafru.it/QrD
QT Py Footprint
The QT Py board features 2x7 (14 total) pins that are spaced
apart 0.1in. The two rows of pins are spaced apart 0.675in.
The SMD pads are 0.1 x 0.05in. This features an outline of the
board on the silkscreen layer to help with placement. The
rectangular outline represents the USB-C port on the QTPY.
https://adafru.it/zBt
https://adafru.it/QrD
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 7 of 26
NeoPixel Footprint
The NeoPixel 5050 LEDs feature four SMD pads that are
0.05 x 0.03in. The pads are spaced apart 5 x 3.4mm. Check
the SK6812 datasheet (https://adafru.it/uaS) for referencing
the technical drawing. The outline of the NeoPixel LED
features a corner marker to note the ground pad.
Board Shape
The heart was creating using the line tool. The grid was set to
be millimeters which helps to visually draw the shape and
make it symmetrical. The size was tweaked several times to
accommodate space for the QT Py, NeoPixels and traces.
Traces and Spaces
Traces were set to 0.6in width with 0.6in of minimum spacing.
This optimizes the traces for a 1/32in flat end mill. Using a
single tool can help speed up the milling process.
Reference the design considerations
guide (https://adafru.it/BCu) on Bantamtools site for more info.
© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/qtpy-heart-pcb Page 8 of 26
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