[BlindMath] Assistance with PCB design

Sat Dec 19 01:47:05 UTC 2020

Hi brandon,

thanks for the great resources.

The tracing of circuits is currently being done with a draftsman and tactile paper. Plus, a PF machine. The circuits aren’t the problem as such, it is just the PCB design. I am going to look at the grove shield, and see if we can get one to play around with.

Regards
Santi

> On 15 Dec 2020, at 11:22 am, Brandon Keith Biggs via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I have not designed a PCB board, but I have drawn serket diagrams with the
> Sensational Blackboard:
> http://www.sensationalbooks.com/products.html <http://www.sensationalbooks.com/products.html>
> Email me and I can get you on a beta for an app to digitally    label the
> diagram.
> For viewing existing diagrams, we still need a transcriber sadly. Swell
> paper may help, or a View Pluss embosser.
> If you can get your hands on a Graphiti, it may help, but DPI is like 6
> whereas an embosser is around 20.
> 
> Open SCAD is the best 3D modeling tool at the moment:
> https://www.openscad.org/ <https://www.openscad.org/>
> 
> I personally love the Grove Arduino Shield:
> https://www.amazon.com/Beginner-Arduino-Starter-Compatible-Projects/dp/B01AI9V6DW/ref=asc_df_B0874GGGVJ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459641872450&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12242042423130330895&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032139&hvtargid=pla-942524307974&th=1 <https://www.amazon.com/Beginner-Arduino-Starter-Compatible-Projects/dp/B01AI9V6DW/ref=asc_df_B0874GGGVJ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459641872450&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12242042423130330895&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032139&hvtargid=pla-942524307974&th=1>
> It's so easy to build items with the Grove shield, it's legos. In my
> masters program, I was switching prototypes in class because rewiring is so
> easy and quick.
> I never needed to trace out my cerkets though.
> Thanks,
> 
> Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/ <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>>
> 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 14, 2020 at 1:52 PM Ken Perry via BlindMath <
> blindmath at nfbnet.org <mailto:blindmath at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> You may have to draw things out on paper for now.  There are amazing
>> devices
>> like the Graphiti being sold and more under development.  I have a Graphiti
>> and draw schematics can be done but right now there is not a program like
>> eagle or others that make doing it as easy because of the resolution of the
>> apps more than anything.  You could draw with something like a drafts man
>> tactile drawing board and then have a sighted assistant transpose your
>> design to eagle.   The command lines of those apps are not as useful as you
>> might think.  I have many on my computer and I am 100% blind, but I am
>> using
>> them more for research on making an accessible version for Graphiti and
>> other tactile displays that will be forth coming in a few years.
>> Orbit
>> Research orbitresearch.com  does sell the Graphiti and you could view
>> schematics with it and even draw some of your own which I have done for a
>> couple conferences to show people how to build simple circuits.      Of
>> course, good old raised line drawing pins or the for mentioned draftsman
>> might be a better way to get your ideas down.  As for viewing them you
>> could
>> embossed simple circuits, but you might have to blow them up and emboss
>> them
>> in sections if they are complicated.  Blind people have been doing
>> electronics for as far back as it goes.  There are many resources online
>> for
>> example the SmithKettlewell technophiles are legacy text on doing
>> electronics as far back as the early 80's.
>> 
>> http://www.ski.org/smith-kettlewell-technical-file
>>    There are also talking multi meters.
>> 
>> https://www.mpja.com/mobile/Talking-Digital-Multimeter/productinfo/35042+ME/
>> 
>> Don't give up trying even if you need sighted assistance at the start.  You
>> can build just about anything with breadboards and heck don't even knock
>> using snap Circuits.  A Washington university has upgraded their PHD
>> physics
>> class to use Snap Circuits because it is easier for all their students not
>> just blind folks.  Snap Circuits is more than a toy and it can solve some
>> quick builds if you use them.  APH has a few sets that are labeled with
>> braille and once you see how it is done you an go farther.
>> 
>> Just let me know if you have other questions: kperry at blinksoft.com
>> 
>> ken
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> 
>> 
>> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Santiago
>> Velasquez via BlindMath
>> Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2020 11:25 PM
>> To: BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Santiago Velasquez <zanty410 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [BlindMath] Assistance with PCB design
>> 
>> Hi To you all,
>> 
>> I hope this email finds you well.
>> 
>> I am currently doing Electrical Engineering, but focusing more in the
>> abstract side of things. However, I need to take a unit that requires me to
>> do PCB design. My uni is very supportive, but nobody knows what the best
>> path to take is. For some context:
>> I use screen readers, tactile assets and braille to interact with most of
>> the information. I am primarily a Mac user, but I use Windows and Linux for
>> my work as well.
>> 
>> With that out of the way, here is where we stand. The three pieces of
>> software that the unit uses are:
>> LTspice, Eagle and Altium.
>> They are not required, and I can choose other options if they would work
>> better. However, they are our starting point. The professor mentioned that
>> some, if not all can be used by a command line interface. However, neither
>> him, or the people who are providing support know much about that.
>> 
>> There is also the option of me telling a person how, and what to do, and
>> they would operate the software. However, I feel that would not be as good
>> for my own learning.
>> 
>> Regardless of which avenue we take, there will be a support person who
>> knows
>> the unit inside and out.
>> 
>> IF people can provide recommendations, or suggestions, that would be very
>> much appreciated.
>> 
>> Regards
>> Santi
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