Introduction: Low Cost Waveform Generator (0 - 20MHz)
ABSTRATH
This Project comes from the necessity of getting a wave generator with a bandwidth over 10 Mhz and an harmonic distortion under 1%, all of this with a low cost price.
This document describes a design of a wave generator with a bandwidth over 10MHz , which produce: sine, triangle, sawtooth, or square (pulse) waveforms with an harmonic distortion under 1%, duty-cycle adjustment, frequency modulation, TTL output and offset voltage. It is also presented the design of a frequency counter.
This Project comes from the necessity of getting a wave generator with a bandwidth over 10 Mhz and an harmonic distortion under 1%, all of this with a low cost price.
This document describes a design of a wave generator with a bandwidth over 10MHz , which produce: sine, triangle, sawtooth, or square (pulse) waveforms with an harmonic distortion under 1%, duty-cycle adjustment, frequency modulation, TTL output and offset voltage. It is also presented the design of a frequency counter.
Step 1: Parts List
This is the main parts list.
The main part, MAX 038 is a discontinued part, but it still can be bought .
It is attached an approximate budget.
The main part, MAX 038 is a discontinued part, but it still can be bought .
It is attached an approximate budget.
Attachments
Step 2: PCB Made
Make Ready the PCB for the serigraph.
It is double faced PCB. The chosen process is a chemical one, so the first thing we have to do is the serigraph of the layout with a laser machine, and after the chemical process.
Firstly, we begin with the layouts in JPG format, due to it is a double faced PCB, we will have to turn over the PCB to do the serigraph by both sides, because we are going to use a laser machine. for this reason the PCB must have exactly the same size than the layout or at least one of the sizes,( depending on the direction in which we turn over the PCB).
After cutting the PCB with the exactly measurements ( it is also possible to adjust the layout at the PCB ) the PCB is painted with black acrylic spray paint. ( it must be painted at least one day before)
The PCB must be placed at the left top corner, ( the 0,0 point of the machine must be exactly at this point) because when we turn over the PCB, it has to be exactly in the same place in order to make the holes coincide.
The layout dimensions are: 207,5mm X 52 mm.
It is double faced PCB. The chosen process is a chemical one, so the first thing we have to do is the serigraph of the layout with a laser machine, and after the chemical process.
Firstly, we begin with the layouts in JPG format, due to it is a double faced PCB, we will have to turn over the PCB to do the serigraph by both sides, because we are going to use a laser machine. for this reason the PCB must have exactly the same size than the layout or at least one of the sizes,( depending on the direction in which we turn over the PCB).
After cutting the PCB with the exactly measurements ( it is also possible to adjust the layout at the PCB ) the PCB is painted with black acrylic spray paint. ( it must be painted at least one day before)
The PCB must be placed at the left top corner, ( the 0,0 point of the machine must be exactly at this point) because when we turn over the PCB, it has to be exactly in the same place in order to make the holes coincide.
The layout dimensions are: 207,5mm X 52 mm.
Step 3: PCB Made (Serigraph)
Serigraph.
The laser .machine will eliminate the paint in the parts where it is necessary that the acid attacks.
The laser machine parameters for this process are:
Speed 60. Power 30. Resolution points 1200, mood Raster.
We need to do the process twice in both sides of the PCB, in order to remove the paint correctly.
The laser .machine will eliminate the paint in the parts where it is necessary that the acid attacks.
The laser machine parameters for this process are:
Speed 60. Power 30. Resolution points 1200, mood Raster.
We need to do the process twice in both sides of the PCB, in order to remove the paint correctly.
Step 4: PCB Made (paint Traces Removing)
Paint traces removing.
After the previous process, there are still traces of paint and they must be removed before the acid process , but after taking out the PCB from the laser machine we have to wait at least one hours in order to get dry. For this purpose we use a soft solvent such as turpentine or a substitute substance.
Once we have cleaned the PCB, it has to appear like the one of the picture
After the previous process, there are still traces of paint and they must be removed before the acid process , but after taking out the PCB from the laser machine we have to wait at least one hours in order to get dry. For this purpose we use a soft solvent such as turpentine or a substitute substance.
Once we have cleaned the PCB, it has to appear like the one of the picture
Step 5: PCB Made (acid Attack)
Acid attack
For this process we need the acid and another product in order to start the reaction and doing the process faster.
The necessary for this process can be bought in an electronic shop. In general, the used acid is hydrochloric acid plus water, sold in supermarkets like a cleaner product (muriatic acid). Bigger the concentration faster will be the process. Apart from the acid we need, as we said before, an accelerator product. The best one is sodium perborate sold in electronics shops and in supermarkets like a product to whiten clothes ( at least in Spain), another product is oxygen water, but it needs a high level of concentration.
For this process we need the acid and another product in order to start the reaction and doing the process faster.
The necessary for this process can be bought in an electronic shop. In general, the used acid is hydrochloric acid plus water, sold in supermarkets like a cleaner product (muriatic acid). Bigger the concentration faster will be the process. Apart from the acid we need, as we said before, an accelerator product. The best one is sodium perborate sold in electronics shops and in supermarkets like a product to whiten clothes ( at least in Spain), another product is oxygen water, but it needs a high level of concentration.
Step 6: PCB Made (rest Paint Removing)
Rest paint removing
After the acid process we remove the rest of the paint, using a strong solvent.
After the acid process we remove the rest of the paint, using a strong solvent.
Step 7: Waveform Generator Schematic
Step 8: Waveform Generator Assembling. 1
Firstly we have to drill the PCB and we start to solder the components. We have to pay attention to the fact that it is a double faced PCB, so it has vias to connect both sides and most of the components are soldered by both sides in this circuit. We can see this in the pictures.
The emplacement of the components it is like the pictures show.
The resistors of 100K, the chip 1 (operational amplifier), the capacitors associated to the chip 1 and the potentiometer of 220K, constitute the adjustment of the duty cycle , useful just to incline the wave. This circuit can generate some distortion, for that it is usually commuted to the ground through the switch SW3.(type switch ON-ON). If we do not use this we can eliminate it, remembering to connect it to ground.
The emplacement of the components it is like the pictures show.
The resistors of 100K, the chip 1 (operational amplifier), the capacitors associated to the chip 1 and the potentiometer of 220K, constitute the adjustment of the duty cycle , useful just to incline the wave. This circuit can generate some distortion, for that it is usually commuted to the ground through the switch SW3.(type switch ON-ON). If we do not use this we can eliminate it, remembering to connect it to ground.
Step 9: Waveform Generator Assembling. 2
The capacitor of 1uF is not polarised, (see circuit explanation 3.2.1).
The connector of the range selection is connected to a rotary switch, in which the pin of the connector attached to the resistor 4K7 is connected to the common pin (A) of the switch . This rotary switch is set for four switches, leaving one free ( high frequency selection, 27pF).
As it is commented in the circuit explanation, the parasite capacity can limit the bandwidth. In this design there are parasite capacities due to the use of transistors to the commutation of the capacitors, so the maximum frequency reached is 10MHz, but if we want to exceed this limit it is just necessary to disconnect the 27pF capacitor or using a smaller one getting a bandwidth over 20MHz.
The other connector is to type waveform selection. We have to set the rotary switch to 3 switching The 5V pin is connected to the common pin of the rotary switch (A) and A0 and A1 to the pins 1 and 2 , leaving the pin 3 free.
The MAX038 is an unlisted component, but it is possible buying it. It is not recommended buying it in China because although it is cheaper it does not work.
The connector of the range selection is connected to a rotary switch, in which the pin of the connector attached to the resistor 4K7 is connected to the common pin (A) of the switch . This rotary switch is set for four switches, leaving one free ( high frequency selection, 27pF).
As it is commented in the circuit explanation, the parasite capacity can limit the bandwidth. In this design there are parasite capacities due to the use of transistors to the commutation of the capacitors, so the maximum frequency reached is 10MHz, but if we want to exceed this limit it is just necessary to disconnect the 27pF capacitor or using a smaller one getting a bandwidth over 20MHz.
The other connector is to type waveform selection. We have to set the rotary switch to 3 switching The 5V pin is connected to the common pin of the rotary switch (A) and A0 and A1 to the pins 1 and 2 , leaving the pin 3 free.
The MAX038 is an unlisted component, but it is possible buying it. It is not recommended buying it in China because although it is cheaper it does not work.
Step 10: Waveform Generator Assembling. 3
The BNC connector is for the TTL output.
The bridges p1 and p2 replace the 47 ohms resistors, because the BNC connector has this impedance implemented.
The positive pin of the electrolytic capacitor are connected in the squared footprint. They are placed according to the picture.
The potentiometer of 1K is for controlling the output level of the waveform.
The blue potentiometer of 4k7 controls the gain , in order to chose the max output level.
The bridges p1 and p2 replace the 47 ohms resistors, because the BNC connector has this impedance implemented.
The positive pin of the electrolytic capacitor are connected in the squared footprint. They are placed according to the picture.
The potentiometer of 1K is for controlling the output level of the waveform.
The blue potentiometer of 4k7 controls the gain , in order to chose the max output level.
Step 11: Waveform Generator Assembling. 4
The switch SW5 commutes the offset voltage to Zero.
The potentiometer 4K7 is use to change the offset voltage.
The bridge p3 and the hole that is above and an operational amplifier work like a circuit follower , in order to send the signal to the frequency counter.
The potentiometer 4K7 is use to change the offset voltage.
The bridge p3 and the hole that is above and an operational amplifier work like a circuit follower , in order to send the signal to the frequency counter.
Step 12: Waveform Generator Assembling. 5
In this picture we can see the correct placement of the operational amplifiers.
Step 13: Power Supply Schematic
Attachments
Step 14: Power Supply Assembling 1
The layout have the dimensions of : 63,4 mm X 7,9 mm.
Step 15: Power Supply Assembling 2
The components are placed like we can see in the picture.
Step 16: Power Supply Assembling 3
The unmarked wires supply voltage to a diode led, in order to know when the generator is turned on.
Step 17: Structure Box
The structure is made in plywood piece of wood of 5mm.
The design has been make with the program Rhinoceros by Zoe Carbajo.
It is mede with a laser machine.
It is necessary to add tolerances in the design, in order to do that the different parts join perfectly. It will depend of the material.
It has been attached a piece of adhesive aluminium paper ( usually used in plumbing) in order to connect to ground, the metallic parts of the potentiometers and the switches. Thos ground is joined to the aluminium paper through the FM input BNC connector.
The design has been make with the program Rhinoceros by Zoe Carbajo.
It is mede with a laser machine.
It is necessary to add tolerances in the design, in order to do that the different parts join perfectly. It will depend of the material.
It has been attached a piece of adhesive aluminium paper ( usually used in plumbing) in order to connect to ground, the metallic parts of the potentiometers and the switches. Thos ground is joined to the aluminium paper through the FM input BNC connector.
Attachments
Step 18: PCB and Structure Box Assembling 1
It has been attached a piece of adhesive aluminium paper ( usually used in plumbing) in order to connect to ground, the metallic parts of the potentiometers and the switches. Thos ground is joined to the aluminium paper through the FM input BNC connector.
Step 19: PCB and Structure Box Assembling 2
In the following we can see the place of the transformer, a connector for the supply wire and a switch. These two last components have been obtained from a power supply of a computer.
The two pins of 0V from the secondary of the transformer, must be joined, because our supply requires a middle power point. These go connected to the ground (middle pin of the connector)
The ground of the wire supply must be connected to the ground of the power supply as well
The two pins of 0V from the secondary of the transformer, must be joined, because our supply requires a middle power point. These go connected to the ground (middle pin of the connector)
The ground of the wire supply must be connected to the ground of the power supply as well
Step 20: Waveform Finished and Working
