HardLabs

Aqua

nickbild·aqua·aqua_pcb/breakout_board.kicad_pcb

Aqua PCB layout, top view — open source board by nickbild
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About the Aqua PCB

Aqua is an open source PCB design by nickbild, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 58.4 × 75.7 mm, with 10 components from 7 distinct parts.

Other key parts include the 28C256, 74LS86, 74LS00 and 74LS04. By type, the board carries 5 capacitors, 4 ICs and 1 connector.

It belongs with the dev boards & breakouts designs in this gallery.

From the project

Aqua turns the underpowered Mattel Aquarius into a respectable computer by adding 32 KB of RAM and SD card mass storage.

Aqua turns the underpowered Mattel Aquarius into a respectable computer by adding 32 KB of RAM and SD card mass storage.

The Mattel Aquarius home computer was released in June of 1983 and had already been discontinued by October of that same year. The short lifespan of this machine is no big surprise — it is equipped with 4 KB of RAM, which is reduced to 1.7 KB of free RAM after factoring in the reserved video memory and system variables. It also has a terrible rubber chiclet keyboard that is not quite large enough for adult hands. But despite these (and many more!) flaws, beyond all reason…

Aqua, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Aqua

28C25674LS8674LS0074LS04

Aqua bill of materials (BOM)

10 components, 7 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
1
28C256
U1
1
74LS86
U2
1
74LS00
U3
1
74LS04
U4
1
Pin Header
J2
1
CP
C1
4
C
C2, C3, C4, C5

Aqua design files

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

Aqua: common questions

How big is the Aqua PCB?

The Aqua measures 58.4 × 75.7 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Aqua?

10 components, from 7 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Aqua design files?

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

Can I use the Aqua design in my own project?

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

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