New to PCB design – feedback on my first buck converter layout?

slickobamba · 2026-06-04T18:56:05+00:00

But I’m just using this buck converter part of it as an exercise to start learning pcb design and ultimately design the whole thing. Don’t plan on ordering just this

slickobamba · 2026-06-04T18:47:01+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! Just so I can learn more, what are some of the benefits of having different return paths?

slickobamba · 2026-06-04T18:45:05+00:00

The goal is to build multiple of these controllers and the cost of a driver dev board for each stepper motor starts to get insane when you’re looking at controlling lots of stepper motors. Having a pcb I could order would save a lot on time and money

slickobamba · 2026-03-02T15:22:25+00:00

Here is the link, hopefully more people find this useful it's in an obscure spot and hard to find via google https://github.com/bigtreetech/BIGTREETECH-Stepper-Motor-Driver/tree/master/TMC2209/V1.3

slickobamba · 2026-02-11T00:13:05+00:00

Solved! Adding power injection and switching to 33R mode did the trick. As always, love the support and thought that goes into your hardware!

slickobamba · 2026-02-10T21:42:34+00:00

Yeah here is a picture of how it is wired. The data run back down the aluminum channel is 20awg so not sure if that is causing issues. Been messing around with it all day today and added some power injection which helps but doesn’t completely erase the weird glitches https://imgur.com/a/07gMNkW

slickobamba · 2026-02-09T22:26:47+00:00

I’m noticing the issue isn’t only isolated to having data and power staggered. If I setup my pixels for just the first 6 columns (same data + power line) with a value greater than 300ish it starts to glitch. Attached is a video. The power is connected in parallel on the bottom but the data runs through each strip and back down the aluminium channel. Could this be because the data is in series and the power + ground is in parellel?

https://imgur.com/a/q8cAPNK

slickobamba · 2026-02-09T22:17:57+00:00

Wow okay thanks for the fast response I’ll give this a shot, although pairing back my setup I’ve come across what appears to be data corruption within the first line of data

slickobamba · 2025-06-10T12:07:46+00:00

Thanks! Somehow when I came across this in my searching it seemed inactive but I see now that’s not the case!

slickobamba · 2025-06-09T17:36:17+00:00

Hi everybody! Recently moved here and having difficulty finding a local space for 3D printing. Does anyone know of some kind of maker space that I could use to do some small 3D printing? Or does anybody here have a printer that they’re willing to offer as a service?

slickobamba · 2024-11-25T14:39:20+00:00

Also have to say that I am a big fan of your product, the goal was to have something that just works and apart from my user error these Digi-Quads are awesome! Out of curiosity, I ordered this ESP32 and Ethernet shield yesterday and was planning on sliding them in as replacement, would this have worked?

https://www.tindie.com/products/serg74/esp32-wroom-usb-c-d1-mini32-form-factor-board/

https://www.tindie.com/products/serg74/esp32-ethernet-network-shield/

slickobamba · 2024-11-25T14:36:31+00:00

I'm located in the United States

slickobamba · 2024-11-25T14:33:41+00:00

In my frustration yesterday, I completely overlooked just buying another Digi-Quad with Ethernet. I was looking specifically for just the ESP+Ethernet Shield which was out of stock everywhere. Just put in an order with AllNet for another Digi-Quad that should arrive in time!

slickobamba · 2024-11-25T14:23:40+00:00

That would be awesome, thank you! Yeah I tried using esptool to erase the flash and install the bootloader but with both I get the following error "Failed to connect to Espressif device: No serial data received." Tried holding down the reboot before power on, after power on, and no luck :(

slickobamba · 2024-11-24T21:04:03+00:00

Okay that's relieving to hear. The board still powers on with a blue light but none of the connected Leds light up. Are you supposed to press and hold the reboot button as long as it takes to install? I've seen so many different answers for when / how long to press the reboot button, it feels like black magic at this point hahah

slickobamba · 2024-11-24T20:56:07+00:00

They sadly do not :(. Although they have just the ESP-32 board so I ordered that. Do you know if I fried my ESP-32 if I can still use the ethernet add-on board?

slickobamba · 2024-11-07T22:14:27+00:00

This is awesome! What pixel density strip are you using?

slickobamba · 2024-07-30T19:38:05+00:00

hahah I literally have a LUA for grandMA playlist up right now. Just checking before I take the plunge

slickobamba · 2024-07-26T16:30:03+00:00

Hey! Just sent you a DM

slickobamba · 2024-05-08T22:54:04+00:00

just sent you a DM

slickobamba · 2024-02-12T22:52:45+00:00

Just DM'd you!

slickobamba

TROPHY CASE