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Throwback Operator

AidanHockey5·Throwback_Operator·Schematic/OPL3_VGM_Player/OPL3_VGM_Player.kicad_pcb

Throwback Operator PCB layout, top view — open source STM32 board by AidanHockey5

About the Throwback Operator PCB

Throwback Operator is an open source STM32 PCB design by AidanHockey5, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 80 × 57.2 mm, with 54 components from 31 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the STM32F103C8Tx, from the STM32 family. Other key parts include the LD1117S33TR_SOT223, CH340E, YMF262-M, YAC512-M and TL074. By type, the board carries 23 capacitors, 9 resistors, 6 ICs, 5 connectors, 5 switches and 3 inductors.

It belongs with the displays & leds designs in this gallery.

From the project

OPL3 VGM player powered by STM32

This project is a hardware video game music (VGM) player that uses a genuine YMF262 (OPL3) sound chip and its accompanying YAC512 DAC. There is no emulation here. This is the real chip.

Included in this repository is the complete schematic, firmware source, and KiCAD board files. Feel free to make your own board, but please don't resell them :)

If you would like to purchase an official complete Throwback Operator board, you can order one from me here: https://www.aidanlawrence.com/product/throwback-operator/

Throwback Operator, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Throwback Operator

LD1117S33TR_SOT223STM32F103C8TxCH340EYMF262-MYAC512-MTL074

Throwback Operator bill of materials (BOM)

54 components, 31 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
1
LD1117S33TR_SOT223
U1
1
STM32F103C8Tx
U2
1
CH340E
U3
1
YMF262-M
U4
1
YAC512-M
U5
1
TL074
U6
1
8MHz
Y1
1
USB_OTG
J1
1
Conn_02x03_Odd_Even
J2
1
Micro_SD_Card
J3
1
Conn_01x04
J4
1
Audio-Jack-3
J5
1
R_POT_Dual
RV1
5
SW_Push_Dual
SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5
1
128x32_I2C_OLED
DS1
1
BLM18PG221SN1D
L1
1
33uH
L2
1
10uH
L3
3
10uF
C1, C2, C21
9
100nF
C3, C5, C9, C10, C11, C12, C14, C15 +1
Show 11 more
QtyPartRefs
1
10nF
C4
5
10uF
C6, C13, C19, C22, C23
2
22pF
C7, C8
1
68pF
C16
2
2.7nF
C17, C18
2
100K
R1, R2
1
1K
R3
2
10K
R4, R5
1
33
R6
1
4.7
R7
2
4.7K
R8, R9

Throwback Operator design files

The KiCad project lives in the AidanHockey5/Throwback_Operator repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Throwback Operator: common questions

What microcontroller does the Throwback Operator use?

The Throwback Operator is built around the STM32F103C8Tx, from the STM32 family.

How big is the Throwback Operator PCB?

The Throwback Operator measures 80 × 57.2 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Throwback Operator?

54 components, from 31 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Throwback Operator design files?

From the AidanHockey5/Throwback_Operator repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Throwback Operator design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with AidanHockey5. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Throwback Operator without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug STM32 firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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