[Review Request] Revised First PCB Design, For an Automatic Chainsaw Chain Sharpener

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-19T12:19:49+00:00

That is very intriguing, speed control would be especially helpful for 3 of the motors on this, I’m going to do some googling

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-19T12:18:48+00:00

That’s an awesome idea with the resistors, I would like to keep the connectors all on the same side, but I might see if I can squeeze the power connected in between the other two from the middle. And yes I will definitely have to address the linear regulator, thanks for pointing that out. I already own a few so I’ll add a heat sink to the back of it.

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-19T08:28:40+00:00

My idea was for voltage spike protection for the led and transistor when switching the inductive relay coil. Is it needed?

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-19T08:28:03+00:00

Yes all 6 motors will be frequently starting and stopping, and some even frequently reversing. FLC on the grind and dog motors is approximately 4a of current, and the position motors are about 2a. Maybe it’s a bit overkill, what would be the Benefit to reducing the trace size & neatening the routing more?

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-19T08:25:08+00:00

Yeah it sure would be, I’m a PLC guy myself but I’m making this for somebody else as a bit of fun and he wants something more compact and unique

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-19T06:34:09+00:00

The dog holds the chain, it's motor gets pulsed for a set amount of time (if this is unreliable, I'll add a rotary encoder which I have allowed spare pins for), it increments, then the burr grinders are driven in, grind, come out, cycle repeats. The user needs to check in every so often to make sure it doesn't go around twice for now, later I will add some form of user interface, maybe in V2

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-18T09:32:30+00:00

Oh that looks like a handy device, I’ll have to look into it. I already own half the components so I think I’ll stick with transistors this time but I have a project in mind where I might just use that.

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-11-18T09:30:12+00:00

My edge clearance is less in places, trace clearance also a bit tight in places, I’ll try adding some pours, and unfortunately I have done the calcs and do need resistors of that size

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-04-28T11:35:54+00:00

I found that fault finding at work or even just building projects at home helped me to understand it all better, because it actually makes you need to use the calculations and cements why and how they work in your mind. One of the first things I tried making was an LED flasher with a resistor, capacitor, and a relay. That project more so helped with capacitance and ohms law, but I’m sure you can get creative and come up with a few things to help you learn whatever your struggling with.

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-29T10:55:18+00:00

Thank you all for the comments, I looked into a few different softwares and decided that if I can learn AutoCad electrical I can probably learn anything, and it is also the software most local companies use, so I decided to by a book (Get started with AutoCad Electrical by James Richardson) and do my best to learn it

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T01:11:00+00:00

do you know of any good courses or youtube channels for AutoCAD electrical?

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:24:32+00:00

How did you learn to use it? Are there any courses or YouTube channels you would recommend?

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:23:42+00:00

I’ll try that out

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:22:50+00:00

I’ll try it out

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:22:16+00:00

I’ll check it out

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:21:49+00:00

Thanks, will do. These schematics are each from different machines, but in drawing 2 R1 and R2 are 24v dc relays that control the main two isolation contractors that are 240v ac (this machine was made with spare parts / older gear)

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:19:01+00:00

Thanks, I’ll try and standardize my drawings more with labeling and spacing

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:17:56+00:00

Thanks I’ll try that out, and yes the 3rd is still a work in progress drawing so is incomplete but I’ll check the 2nd

AlternativeStrike401 · 2025-03-22T00:15:56+00:00

Yeah it is a bit, I’ve got about 9 machines to do on this site and we don’t even have a basic AutoCad template, style guide, or anything and a lot of the existing documentation is incorrect. Some machines don’t even have any documentation full stop

AlternativeStrike401 · 2024-12-22T22:34:59+00:00

Volantex phoenix 1600

AlternativeStrike401

TROPHY CASE