HardLabs

MicroTrainer

mlyle·armtrainer·hw/MicroTrainer.kicad_pcb

MicroTrainer PCB layout, top view — open source STM32 board by mlyle
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About the MicroTrainer PCB

MicroTrainer is an open source STM32 PCB design by mlyle, published on GitHub under the BSD-2-Clause license. It is a 4-layer board measuring 135 × 118 mm, with 56 components from 37 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the STM32F412RETX, from the STM32 family. Other key parts include the LP5907MFX-3.3. By type, the board carries 23 switches, 12 capacitors, 12 resistors, 3 connectors, 2 ICs and 2 diodes.

From the project

ARM "Microprocessor Trainer" code base

This is a minimal monitor and and hardware stack for a small microcontroller trainer board, that was used to teach a Computer Organization class to students from ages 11-14.

Microprocessor trainers were a commonplace tool used to learn computing in the 1970s and early 1980s. They replicated the console found on minicomputers, and allowed engineers to gain experience writing programs in machine code.

MicroTrainer, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the MicroTrainer

LP5907MFX-3.3STM32F412RETX

MicroTrainer bill of materials (BOM)

56 components, 37 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
1
LP5907MFX-3.3
U1
1
STM32F412RETX
STM32F411R_C-E_Tx
U3
1
25MHZ
25MHz
Y1
1
CONN_01X04
Conn_01x04
J4
1
CONN_01X08
Conn_01x08
J5
1
USB_C_RECEPTACLE_USB2.0
USB_C_Receptacle_USB2.0
J6
1
BootJumper
JP1
1
KEY_C
SW1
1
KEY_D
SW2
1
KEY_E
SW3
1
KEY_F
SW4
1
KEY_CLR
SW5
1
KEY_8
SW7
1
KEY_9
SW8
1
KEY_A
SW9
1
KEY_B
SW10
1
KEY_ADDR
SW11
1
KEY_4
SW13
1
KEY_5
SW14
1
KEY_6
SW15
Show 17 more
QtyPartRefs
1
KEY_7
SW16
1
KEY_STOR
SW17
1
KEY_STEP
SW18
1
KEY_0
SW19
1
KEY_1
SW20
1
KEY_2
SW21
1
KEY_3
SW22
1
KEY_LOAD
SW23
1
KEY_RUN
SW24
1
KEY_RST
SW25
2
LED
D1, D2
4
2.2UF
2.2uF
C1, C3, C8, C9
6
0.1UF
0.1uF
C2, C4, C5, C6, C7, C12
2
12PF
12pF
C10, C11
8
5.1K
5.1k
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R9, R12
2
10
R7, R8
2
330
R10, R11

MicroTrainer design files

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

MicroTrainer: common questions

What microcontroller does the MicroTrainer use?

The MicroTrainer is built around the STM32F412RETX, from the STM32 family.

How big is the MicroTrainer PCB?

The MicroTrainer measures 135 × 118 mm, has 4 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the MicroTrainer?

56 components, from 37 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the MicroTrainer design files?

From the mlyle/armtrainer repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the MicroTrainer design in my own project?

Yes, under the terms of its BSD-2-Clause license, which mlyle chose for the repository.

Can I test firmware for the MicroTrainer 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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