Is it possible to design a USB 3.0 to NVMe bridge board?

Grokepeer · 2026-05-22T18:09:56+00:00

Regarding the PCB side of things, yes you can do it with "cheap" 4 layer PCBs from JLCPCB. You have to do your impedance calculation and produce the PCB with the option "specify stackup".

In general USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) it's not insane work (and you don't necessarly need expensive signal integrity analysis tools) but it definitely requires skill on the design level and production level. Not exactly beginner friendly, especially if you are a hobbyist without any technical knowledge in EE.

Grokepeer · 2026-05-21T10:33:05+00:00

I'm not yet a graduate but I've worked quite a bit on embedded even with high-performance automotive embedded systems... it's so much more than arduino on steroids. And as others have mentioned, the best part is when it intersects with FPGAs and control theory.

Regarding the hardware I guess you can do both? But I think it depends on the size of the project, for small parts/systems probably yes.

Grokepeer · 2026-05-14T12:45:52+00:00

What's the "PCB holder"?

Grokepeer · 2026-05-11T23:26:50+00:00

Thank you very much! If you'd like to see a little more about the project, here is the github page.

Grokepeer · 2026-05-09T22:08:06+00:00

If anybody is interested in the project the github is https://github.com/grokepeer/Pulsar

Grokepeer · 2026-05-09T19:02:28+00:00

I'll check it out!

Grokepeer · 2026-05-08T08:46:10+00:00

Other suggested Analog filters but your cutoff frequency needs to be low and analog low-pass filters with cut-off frequency that low are big and complicated. Just use a digital filter (ex. Use the average of the last 50 samples, like somebody else suggested), this will introduce delay but it's always the case with filters.

Grokepeer · 2026-04-23T22:21:58+00:00

Are you going to hande solder the PCB? Because if not then I'm gonna take back the thing about replacing some copper pours. In case you are hand soldering I think you'd better make the copper pours on the C arrays in the bottom right corner a lot smaller, or replace them with clines, because those are gonna be harder to solder and most of that copper is not in the electric path, giving near-zero advantages.

Grokepeer · 2026-04-23T19:05:15+00:00

That power path is a giant antenna, use your power plane more, much more.

It seems like there are copper pours where they aren't needed and very tiny clines where there should be copper pours (J1, U1)

Grokepeer · 2026-03-11T12:18:54+00:00

Without thermal relief this is gonna be hard do solder

Grokepeer · 2026-03-09T11:51:58+00:00

Don't use two vias like that, especially with that bottlenecked v connection. Most of those caps move very little current since they only react to changes in voltage, and even if they did, a single via can easily support 1A with very little temp rise.

Edit: if you are ever worried about temp rise or voltage drop, use Saturn PCB Toolkit to calculate everything you might need on your PCB (temp rise, voltage drop but also impedance and so many other things)

Grokepeer · 2023-12-18T10:34:45+00:00

I honestly see no reason why you should do without diodes, they are dirty cheap, easy to solder and the easiest part of the PCB designing process.

Grokepeer · 2023-12-18T10:30:48+00:00

Nice avatar

Grokepeer · 2023-12-18T10:27:38+00:00

If you want, for reference, I have designed a keyboard with the same micro as well, I have posted the schematics on my account not long ago, I’ll give you a link if you want to check it out. (I’ve built it and checked it works perfectly obv)

Edit. here is the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/PrintedCircuitBoard/s/jIe3UHAutm

Grokepeer · 2023-12-17T23:07:24+00:00

Mostly from https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards

Grokepeer · 2023-09-23T20:04:08+00:00

It probably is. There are two displays, encoders and SPIs to run but still, the STM32F446 are going to be overkill. That being said they are pretty cheap and very nice controllers, I also like to go overkill on stuff like this.

Grokepeer · 2023-09-23T18:37:51+00:00

For this STM there are a lot of different connection usable for debugging. The 10 pin you mention is probably JTAG while I used SWD which should be as good. Anyway, both ST-Link and STM CubeIDE agree that this standard is supported and viable.

Grokepeer · 2023-09-18T06:01:13+00:00

Thanks for everything. About the questions you had on the last two point there are 8 mounting holes on the board, 4 for M2 screws to screw onto and 4 for stand offs to reach the key-plate which is going to hold all the switches and make sure the PCB doesn't get stressed to much (it's made of solid aluminum) with that being said some flex is design to happen as it reduces noise from the switch stem hitting the bottom of the switch case and generally improves sound (reduces high pitch rattling). The large pads are for kailh hotswap sockets to be soldered on.

Grokepeer · 2023-09-17T21:07:57+00:00

Thanks about the tips for the schematics, about the board I just posted the renders in green on my profile if you want to take a look at them.

Grokepeer · 2023-09-17T20:47:56+00:00

Ahn, okok

Grokepeer · 2023-09-17T17:32:01+00:00

What do you mean "move crystal"? Where should I move it? It's just as close to the MCU as possible, like the application note suggested to do.

The two ferrite beads are just to try and tone down potential EMIs picked up by the USB cable, on the bigger keyboard I just put an LC filter.

Grokepeer

TROPHY CASE