Screwduino

The Screwduino Story

A Screwduino is an Arduino UNO compatible with Screw Terminals.

We find most of the approaches to Arduino breadboarding annoying. They work OK if you don't know what you want to make and you just want to mess around, but they are painful when you are ready to really make something useful.

We have spent countless hours soldering simple interconnect wires on prototype shields. They give us exactly what we need/want but why do we have to spend time soldering in yet another connector that doesn't do much more than pinout another connector?

Sensor shields are a pretty decent solution since they pin out everything with a power and ground for each signal, but they can get pretty pricey when you add in the cost of the shield and cabling. Plus they get pretty tall till you have a Processor, Sensor Shield and then the vertical wiring above all that.

Then, we saw a screw shield and it looked like the ideal solution for loose wires and builder frustrations. Easy to connect with just a small screwdriver. No connectors to install for simple wiring but no accommodation for I2C connections. The stackup height has less of the same height problems as a sensor shield. The screw shields got me thinking. It's a great idea, but why add the shield? Why not just take an Arduino design and replace the headers/pins with screw terminals?

Here is the result which we call the Screwduino:

ScrewduinoX4-5493-640x310px.jpg

In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity. - Henry Wadsworth

Features

• Arduino UNO compatible
  • Arduino UNO bootloader
  • Select UNO in Arduino IDE to download card
• No USB connector/chip.
  • Use a FTDI download cable or FTDI to USB interface for programming of USB (not supplied)
  • Can also program the card with a 6 pin cable using Arduino as ISP using the 2x3 header ICSP header
  • Can also program the card using D0 and D1 of an Arduino UNO as a USB to FTDI bridge with the UNO card held in reset page here
• 4-pin I2C connector for easy attachment of an I2C LCD display and other I2C sensors (like temperature sensors).
  • Beware there are many different I2C pinouts.
  • Added 10K ohm pullup resistors (R3 and R4) from the I2C SDA/SCL to +5V
  • If the user doesn't want the resistors, they can snip them out of the circuit
• Uses through hole parts so that it is easier to assemble.
  • The sole exception is the voltage regulator which is surface mount for heat transfer
• 5mm pitch screw terminal blocks.
• Reset switch.
• 7-12V DC on standard 2.1mm DC power connector
• Power selection jumper (FTDI, Regulator, Screw Terminals)
• Four (4) good mounting holes that take 4-40 screws and have more than enough clearance for screw heads, standoffs and/or nuts.

Design Advantages

Gets away from all of the painful wire jumpers and pins that constantly come loose. Makes the step from prototype to final design much easier.

Method	Material Costs	Labor Tasks	Power/Ground pins	Wires secure?	Mounting	I2C Support
Processor	UNO - $30	Strip wires and solder to parts	3 GND1 PWR	Wires don't stay in holes with any stress.	Poor	No connector
Breadboards	Uno - $30 +Breadboard $10	Strip wires or use breadboard wires	120 each PWR/GND for 700 point breadboard	Moderately secure since the holes are usually “tight”	Poor	No connector
ProtoShields	Uno - $30 +Shields - $15	Lot of time- consuming soldering of custom wiring	Vary but usually enough although maybe not connectorized in the best use	Wires typically soldered so secure	Poor	No connector
Sensor Shields	Uno - $30 +Shields - $15	Use custom wires	Excellent at 1 per Arduino Digital/Analog pin	Connectors are secure	Poor	Yes
Screw Wings	Uno - $30 + Wing Shield - $15	Strip wires and solder to parts	Varies depending upon shield	Connections very secure	Poor	No connector
Screwduino	$30 (est)	Strip wires and solder to parts	5 – Ground 4 – PowerAdditional on other connectors	Connections very secure	Excellent	Yes

Screwduino Schematic

• Screwduino Schematic - Rev X6
• Screwduino Schematic - Rev X3

Screwduino Layout

Power

Measured 15 mA with 9V external power input (no loads but running program).

Card Power Source - VSEL Jumper

• This jumper selects the power source for the card
  • Install jumper across the USB pins to power the card from the FTDI interface.
  • Install jumper across the EXT pins to power the card from the DC jack.
  • Leave the jumper off when powering the card from the ISP connector.

Factory Test Procedure

Programming and test procedure

Check DC regulator

• Install shunt JP2 on "EXT" (DC jack)
• Connect DCJ to regulated power supply
  • DC output off
  • 9.0V +/- 0.1V
  • Current limited at 100 mA
• DC output ON
• Verify 5V +/- 0.1V on screw terminal pins
• Verify current draw is < 30 mA
• DC output OFF
• Move shunt JP2 to "USB"

Program Bootloader

• Use ATProgHead programmer
• Two methods
  • In ATProgHead programmer DIP-28 socket
  • On card

Program Bootloader in ATProgHead programmer

• Connect ATProgHead programmer USB to PC
• Find COM port using Device Manager
• Run Arduino IDE
  • Select COM Port
  • Set Board "Arduino UNO"
  • Programmer "Arduino as ISP"
• Load Blink sketch
• Install ATMega328 in 2 pin DIP socket
• Program the MCP23008 with UNO bootloader
  • Tools / Burn Bootloader
  • Verify it programs without error
  • Tail looks like

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.03s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lock verified

avrdude done.  Thank you.

• Program Blink
  • Press Shift key on PC and Upload button in IDE (Programs using Arduino as ISP)
  • Verify it programs without error
  • Tail looks like

avrdude: 924 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against C:\Users\HPz420\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_503532/Blink.ino.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file C:\Users\HPz420\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_503532/Blink.ino.hex:
avrdude: input file C:\Users\HPz420\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_503532/Blink.ino.hex contains 924 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.83s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 924 bytes of flash verified

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Program Bootloader on card

• Connect 6-wire ISP cable to JP3
  • Be careful to observe location of pin 1 (red power lead is at pin 2)
• Find COM port using Device Manager
• Run Arduino IDE
  • Select COM Port
  • Set Board "Arduino UNO"
  • Programmer "Arduino as ISP"
• Program the Screwduino with UNO bootloader - verify it programs without error
  • Tools / Burn Bootloader

Download FAT

• Download program "Screwduino_test" to UUT
• Verify each pin blinks (100 mS blink rate)
  • Move LED + side to terminal pins D3-D13 and A0-A5
  • LED should blink shortly at each position

Download Blink Sketch

• Board ships with Blink (PC13) running
• Board ships with JP2 in "USB" position, ie, power comes from the FTDI jack

Assembly Sheet

• Screwduino Assembly Sheet

Revision History

Rev X6 (vs X5)

From kiCompNL.py
First netlist: Screwduino X5\screwduino.net
Number of Nets: 33
Second netlist: screwduino.net (Rev X6)
Number of Nets: 33
Mismatch in net (1): +5V diff ['JP8-3']
Mismatch in net (1): /SDA diff ['JP8-2']
Mismatch in net (1): /SCK diff ['JP8-1']
Mismatch in net: +5V diff ['JP8-2']
Mismatch in net: /SDA diff ['JP8-3']
Mismatch in net: /SCK diff ['JP8-4']

Rev X5 (vs X4)

From kiCompNL.py
First netlist: C:\Users\doug_000\Documents\GitHub\lb-boards\Screwduino\ScrewduinoX4\screwduino.net
Number of Nets: 33
Second netlist: C:\Users\doug_000\Documents\GitHub\lb-boards\Screwduino\Screwduino X5\screwduino.net
Number of Nets: 33
Mismatch in net (1): 5V diff ['C8-1', 'C7-1']
Mismatch in net (1): SDA diff ['R3-2']
Mismatch in net (1): SCK diff ['R2-2']
Mismatch in net (1): RST* diff ['C1-1', 'R1-2']
Mismatch in net (1): VIN diff ['C2-1', 'C3-1']
Mismatch in net (1): DTR* diff ['C1-2']
Mismatch in net: 5V diff ['C1-1', 'C2-1']
Mismatch in net: SDA diff ['R2-2']
Mismatch in net: SCK diff ['R1-2']
Mismatch in net: RST* diff ['C3-1', 'R3-2']
Mismatch in net: VIN diff ['C8-1', 'C7-1']
Mismatch in net: DTR* diff ['C3-2']

Rev X4 (vs X3)

No netlist changes
Rev X3 (vs X2)
From kiCompNL.py
net is in 1 but not 2 ['+5V', 'JP6-7', 'JP7-2', 'JP3-2', 'D1-2', 'R1-1', 'JP4-3', 'JP2-2', 'JP4-4', 'U1-7', 'U1-20', 'C8-1', 'C9-1', 'C7-1', 'C4-1', 'JP8-3', 'C5-1', 'R3-1', 'R2-1', 'C6-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D12', 'U1-18', 'JP3-1', 'JP6-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AREF', 'U1-21', 'JP5-8']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D5', 'U1-11', 'JP7-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D4', 'U1-6', 'JP7-4']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D0', 'JP1-4', 'JP7-8', 'U1-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D6', 'U1-12', 'JP4-8']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D7', 'U1-13', 'JP4-7']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D8', 'JP4-6', 'U1-14']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/SDA', 'JP8-2', 'R3-2', 'U1-27', 'JP5-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/VROUT', 'U2-2', 'U2-4', 'JP2-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/VUSB', 'JP1-3', 'JP2-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/SCK', 'R2-2', 'U1-28', 'JP8-1', 'JP5-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD3', 'U1-26', 'JP5-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD2', 'U1-25', 'JP5-4']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD1', 'JP5-5', 'U1-24']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD0', 'JP5-6', 'U1-23']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/RST*', 'SW1-1', 'U1-1', 'JP4-5', 'SW1-2', 'D1-1', 'R1-2', 'JP3-5', 'C1-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D11', 'U1-17', 'JP3-4', 'JP6-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D13', 'JP3-3', 'JP6-1', 'U1-19']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D2', 'U1-4', 'JP7-6']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/VIN', 'C2-1', 'C3-1', 'U2-3', 'K1-1', 'JP6-6']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D9', 'JP6-5', 'U1-15']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D10', 'U1-16', 'JP6-4']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D1', 'JP1-5', 'U1-3', 'JP7-7']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D3', 'JP7-5', 'U1-5']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG4-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG3-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/CX1', 'X1-1', 'U1-10']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/CX2', 'U1-9', 'X1-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/DTR*', 'JP1-6', 'C1-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG1-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG2-1']

Rev X3 (vs X2)

From kiCompNL.py

net is in 1 but not 2 ['+5V', 'JP6-7', 'JP7-2', 'JP3-2', 'D1-2', 'R1-1', 'JP4-3', 'JP2-2', 'JP4-4', 'U1-7', 'U1-20', 'C8-1', 'C9-1', 'C7-1', 'C4-1', 'JP8-3', 'C5-1', 'R3-1', 'R2-1', 'C6-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D12', 'U1-18', 'JP3-1', 'JP6-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AREF', 'U1-21', 'JP5-8']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D5', 'U1-11', 'JP7-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D4', 'U1-6', 'JP7-4']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D0', 'JP1-4', 'JP7-8', 'U1-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D6', 'U1-12', 'JP4-8']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D7', 'U1-13', 'JP4-7']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D8', 'JP4-6', 'U1-14']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/SDA', 'JP8-2', 'R3-2', 'U1-27', 'JP5-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/VROUT', 'U2-2', 'U2-4', 'JP2-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/VUSB', 'JP1-3', 'JP2-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/SCK', 'R2-2', 'U1-28', 'JP8-1', 'JP5-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD3', 'U1-26', 'JP5-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD2', 'U1-25', 'JP5-4']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD1', 'JP5-5', 'U1-24']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/AD0', 'JP5-6', 'U1-23']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/RST*', 'SW1-1', 'U1-1', 'JP4-5', 'SW1-2', 'D1-1', 'R1-2', 'JP3-5', 'C1-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D11', 'U1-17', 'JP3-4', 'JP6-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D13', 'JP3-3', 'JP6-1', 'U1-19']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D2', 'U1-4', 'JP7-6']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/VIN', 'C2-1', 'C3-1', 'U2-3', 'K1-1', 'JP6-6']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D9', 'JP6-5', 'U1-15']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D10', 'U1-16', 'JP6-4']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D1', 'JP1-5', 'U1-3', 'JP7-7']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/D3', 'JP7-5', 'U1-5']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG4-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG3-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/CX1', 'X1-1', 'U1-10']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/CX2', 'U1-9', 'X1-3']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['/DTR*', 'JP1-6', 'C1-2']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG1-1']
net is in 1 but not 2 ['""', 'MTG2-1']