4.6 KiB
Step by step guide how to make SC64
All necessary manufacturing files are packaged in every sc64-extra-{version}.zip
file in GitHub releases.
Please download latest release before proceeding with the instructions.
PCB manufacturing data
- Locate KiCad project inside
hw/pcb
folder - Export gerber/drill files
- Export BOM spreadsheet
- Export PnP placement files
- Send appropriate files to the PCB manufacturer
PCB requirements
- Thickness: 1.2 mm
- At least ENIG plating or better
- PCB contains edge connector: yes
- Beveled edge connector: yes, 45°
Components
- Locate interactive BOM file inside
hw/pcb
folder - Order all parts listed in the BOM file or use PCB assembly service together with your PCB order
Plastic shell
- Locate
.stl
files insidehw/shell
folder - Use these files in the slicer and 3D printer of your choice or order ready made prints from 3D printing company
- Find matching screws, go to discussions tab for community recommendations
Putting it together
There are no special requirements for soldering components to board. All chips and connectors can be soldered with standard manual soldering iron, although hot air station is recommended. Interactive BOM has every component and its value highlighted on PCB drawings and it's strongly recommended to use during assembly process. You can skip this step if PCB assembly service was used in previous steps.
Initial programming
Please read the following instructions carefully before proceeding with programming.
For initial programming you are going to need a PC and a USB to UART (serial) adapter (3.3V signaling is required). These steps assume you are using modern Windows OS (version 10 or higher).
As for software here's list of required applications:
- FT_PROG - FTDI FT232H EEPROM programming software
- Python 3 with
pip3
- necessary for initial programming script:primer.py
Programming must be done in specific order for primer.py
script to work correctly.
First, program FT232H EEPROM:
- Connect SC64 board to the PC with USB-C cable
- Locate FT232H EEPROM template
ft232h_config.xml
- Launch
FT_PROG
software - Click on
Scan and parse
if no device has shown up - Right click on SC64 device and choose
Apply Template -> From File
- Select previously located
ft232h_config.xml
- Right click on SC64 device and choose
Program Device
Your SC64 should be ready for next programming step.
Second, program FPGA, microcontroller and bootloader:
- Disconnect SC64 board from power (unplug USB-C cable)
- Connect serial adapter to
TX/RX/GND
pads marked on the PCB - Connect serial adapter to the PC
- Check in device manager which port number
COMx
is assigned to serial adapter - Connect SC64 board to the PC with USB-C cable (IMPORTANT: connect it to the same computer as serial adapter)
- Locate
primer.py
script in root folder - Make sure these files are located in the same folder as
primer.py
script:requirements.txt
,sc64-firmware.bin
- Run
pip3 install -r requirements.txt
to install required python packages - Run
python3 primer.py COMx sc64-firmware.bin
(replaceCOMx
with port located in step 4) - Follow the instructions on the screen
- Wait until programming process has finished (DO NOT STOP PROGRAMMING PROCESS OR DISCONNECT SC64 BOARD FROM PC, doing so might irrecoverably break programming through UART header and you would need to program FPGA and/or microcontroller with separate dedicated programming interfaces through Tag-Connect connector on the PCB)
Congratulations! Your SC64 flashcart should be ready for use!
Troubleshooting
primer.py
threw error on Bootloader -> SC64 FLASH
step
This issue can be attributed to incorrectly programmed FT232H EEPROM in the first programming step.
Check again in FT_PROG
application if device was configured properly.
Once FPGA and microcontroller has been programmed successfully primer.py
script needs to be run in special mode.
Please use command python3 primer.py COMx sc64-firmware.bin --bootloader-only
to try programming bootloader again.