=  NOW 30 WPM  =  TEXT IS FROM APRIL 2020 QST  PAGE 36 =

GOALS WAS TO MAKE A SMALLER, LIGHTER DEVICE THAN THE HEATHKIT ORIGINAL.  I
WANTED TO USE AN ARDUINO NANO BOARD, BUT MY SKETCH EXCEEDED ITS MEMORY
LIMITS.  I ENDED UP DOING MUCH OF MY PROTOTYPING WORK ON A BREADBOARD USING
AN ARDUINO MEGA.  I SETTLED ON THE ROBOTDYN MEGA 2560 PRO CH340G/
ATMEGA2560 16AU PERFBOARD FOR MY FINAL DESIGN.  I WANTED THE KEYER BOARD TO
BE INSTALLED BEHIND THE DISPLAY.  THE NEXTION INCLUDED AN ACRYLIC CASE THAT
IS JUST A FRAME FOR THE DISPLAY A FLAT BACK WITH CUTOUTS FOR THE DISPLAY
CONNECTOR, MICROSD CARD, AND THE REAL TIME CLOCK BATTERY, SOME PLASTIC
SPACERS, AND HARDWARE.  I ORDERED ANOTHER CASE TO USE FOR MOUNTING THE
KEYER BOARD BEHIND THE DISPLAY.  THERE ARE SEVERAL PCB MANUFACTURERS THAT
WILL PRODUCE A SMALL RUN OF BOARDS QUICKLY, AND AT LOW COST.  I USED KICAD
TO DESIGN THE PCB, AND PCBWAY TO MAKE THE ACTUAL BOARDS.  THE TOTAL COST
WAS ABOUT 30.  MY FINAL VERSION INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR ATTACHING THE
QRPGUYS PADDLE KIT, SHOWN IN FIGURE 1.  I USED EPOXY PUTTY TO ATTACH A PAIR
OF 6 32 STANDOFFS DIRECTLY TO THE PCB, PLACED BY USING THE PADDLE ITSELF
FOR THE PROPER LOCATIONS.  I ALSO USE THE UMATIC2 KEYER WITH VIBROPLEX
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