LART hardware distribution version 1.0 (October 10, 2000)
---------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) Jan-Derk Bakker 

= Contents
==========

0) Introduction
1) Distribution content


= 0 Introduction
================

This is a release of the hardware design files for the Linux Advanced Radio 
Terminal (LART). LART is a self-contained StrongARM-based embedded board targeted 
at low power applications that require high performance.
See 

http://www.lart.tudelft.nl

for more information.

= 1 Content
===========

This distribution currently contains the Gerber PCB design files for LART and the 
Bill of Materials (BOM).
Future versions will include component placement files.

The six-layer PCB is defined by sixteen Gerber files:

l1_silk.gbr  Component side silkscreen
l1_mask.gbr  Component side solder mask
l1_pos.gbr   Component side positive copper
l1_neg.gbr   Component side negative copper
l2_pos.gbr   Layer 2 positive copper
l2_neg.gbr   Layer 2 negative copper
l3_pos.gbr   Layer 3 positive copper
l3_neg.gbr   Layer 3 negative copper
l4_pos.gbr   Layer 4 positive copper (starting to see a pattern yet ;-)
l4_neg.gbr   Layer 4 negative copper
l5_pos.gbr   Layer 5 positive copper
l5_neg.gbr   Layer 5 negative copper
l6_pos.gbr   Solder side positive copper
l6_neg.gbr   Solder side negative copper
l6_mask.gbr  Solder side solder mask
l6_silk.gbr  Solder side silkscreen

These files work for me, but as the LICENSE states, YMMV. I strongly urge you to
check the files in a Gerber preview program (like gcprevue) before sending them
off to a board fab house. I personally use the DOS version which can be found at
http://www.apcircuits.com/html/software.html ; a Windows version (with IMHO a bad
case of featuritis) is at http://www.graphicode.com/datasheets/gcprevue/
I don't know of any free Gerber viewers for Linux.

To increase the likelihood that you will get what you want, I've included 
Postscript previews for all layers, in the files

l1_silk.pdf Component side silkscreen
l1_mask.pdf Component side solder mask
l1.pdf      Component side composite copper
l2.pdf      Layer 2 composite copper
l3.pdf      Layer 3 composite copper
l4.pdf      Layer 4 composite copper
l5.pdf      Layer 5 composite copper
l6.pdf      Solder side positive copper
l6_mask.pdf Solder side solder mask
l6_silk.pdf Solder side silkscreen

BIG FAT WARNING: I strongly urge you to 1) preview the Gerbers and the PDFs
yourself and look for discrepancies, and 2) send a hardcopy of the .pdf files to
your board manufacturer as a 'proof'. It's the path with the smallest probablity
of ending up with expensive PCBs that function as great near-zero Ohm resistors.

Oh, and PCB fab houses really want the Gerber data, the .pdf files alone are no 
use to them.

The file drill.ncd holds the drill data in Excellon format.

If you want an estimate on the PCB cost, try http://www.4pcb.com . I have
absolutely no experience with them, but their on-line calculator will give a
reasonable cost breakdown. The PCB parameters are:
 six layers
 (about) 3"x4"
 miminum trace width 0.006"
 minimum hole size 0.012"
 minimum SMD pitch 0.020"
 about 700 holes
 about 1000 SMD pads

- Bill of Materials
See bom.txt for the Bill of Materials. I have had moderate amounts of luck getting 
components out of http://www.avnetmarshall.com ; other possible sources include
http://www.arrow.com, http://www.ied.pios.com and http://www.wyle.com

It is *very* advisable to get a hold of these components before building a PCB.
My own experience has made me cynical: I don't send a PCB off to a fab house
before I have the critical components on my desk. All other components
(connectors, decoupling caps) are available through distributors like Farnell
(http://www.farnell.com).

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Jan-Derk Bakker, bakker@mmc.et.tudelft.nl