PCB Business Card Project - How I'm doing it - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 09:41:40 am
content: Hi!Some time ago I saw that people were doing their own business cards with PCB. I thought that it would be great if I design my own card, because I want to work as an electronic designer and showing to the world a SmartCard that you have done should add value to apply to a electronic designer job. So, that is what I'm doing.My card will have a 2 MByte SPI Flash memory, micro USB connector, a PIC microcontroller (The cheapest I could find with integrated USB controller), RGB LED, 4 Blue LEDs and a SOT23 temperature sensor. It will be powered by the USB and it will work as a regular USB Flash drive. My resume will be inside that Flash drive, and there will be a link to a presentation video in Youtube too.I'm not trying to design the "cheapest possible solution" for manufacturing 100 units. I'm only going to build 5 units, one of them that I will keep with me. The cards will be expensive, but the idea is not to give them away indiscriminately, and they will include some instructions to return them back to me in case that they are not interested. Of course losses are expected, but as I said I'm not planning to give them away like regular carton cards.I'm recording my project's state in my video blog. I will be doing some videos about this, from where I am now until I finish the project.Part 1Part 2-Sorry for spelling/Pronunciation/whatever mistakes with my English. I'm Spanish and I learnt English the self-taught way. :')PD: By the way, How do you embed the Youtube video in the post? hahahaUpdate (30/04/2013): Added some screenshots (work in progress, I know about the silkscreen, is just a quick update). Current statusUpdate (28/05/2013): Sent for manufacturing. Part two released.

author: Greek0
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 11:33:37 am
content: I saw the following on hackaday some time ago and thought it was quite neat; especially the PCB reused as USB connector:http://hackaday.com/2010/10/29/tiny-usb-business-card/

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 11:44:22 am
content: Quote from: Greek0 on April 26, 2013, 11:33:37 amYes, I knew about that one. When I was thinking how to do my card y didn't want to have a "weird" shape card, and I like to have a real USB connector, even knowing that it's more expensive. Thanks for the interest mate :')

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 12:10:40 pm
content: Looks cool, would be good to see when they're done.I can't see why you'd only make 5 though. Surely you're not going to give them to a potential employer and ask for it back? They wouldn't be that expensive to make?

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 12:21:31 pm
content: Quote from: Harvs on April 26, 2013, 12:10:40 pmEach card will cost like 15€ (17$) in small quantities. Maybe 100 of them would cost 7€ (9$ I guess) each. But I'm doing them has a personal project and to have something to show. The card will have some kind of text on the silkscreen saying "Return to: See resume inside" or maybe I will talk about that in the linked presentation video.:')

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 03:41:45 pm
content: I would not ask for them to be returned. That demonstrates a lack of confidence in yourself and also lessens the impact of what you are giving them. It would also be rather "weird" for them if they do decide to not use your services.You may want to say something along the lines of "it was challenging to support all of the features I wanted while remaining under a $15 BOM in small quantities, but I think you will find that the outcome and quality were worth it". That would still convey that this isn't some ultra-cheap throwaway trinket, and also shows that you think about efficiency in design and keeping costs under control.

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2013, 09:10:28 am
content: Quote from: MacAttak on April 26, 2013, 03:41:45 pmYeah, you're right, I will use another approach similar to the one you just said. Thanks for the tip mate!

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2013, 09:35:44 am
content: I think you need to be a bit clearer on whether this is a business card or a demonstration board that shows off your abilities.If it's a demonstration, then go to town and make something really worthwhile that you can show off to prospective employers. I did this a couple of years ago and got myself a regular customer out of it, so it was really worthwhile in that sense as well as being a piece of kit that I actually wanted for myself in the first place.If it's a business card, be prepared to make enough that you can give them out to anyone who might potentially be able to give you some work - and for crying out loud, don't try and ask for them back. Nobody is ever going to go to the trouble of mailing the board back to you, they'll either end up in the bin, or people will decline to take one off you in the first place.A business card doesn't need to be an active circuit at all, the only reason to do it as a PCB is so that it gets noticed - and it will. A tiny circuit with a microcontroller that blinks a couple of LEDs is something any engineer can do, so it isn't actually going to impress anyone with your talents. It might even count against you if someone starts looking into the design and spots room for improvement. A thin PCB with your name and contact details in copper is all you need.As a cautionary tale: a couple of years ago I went to a trade show and went round speaking to a variety of contract electronics manufacturers. One firm was handing out business cards made on PCBs, with their company logo made up of hundreds of 0201 capacitors as a way of showing off their capability.I took a card back to the lab and peered at it under a microscope. Several parts were missing. Others were tombstoned.They didn't get any work from me.

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2013, 03:39:32 pm
content: I'm taking note of all this feedback, thanks! :')

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 10:00:02 am
content: I'm not quite sure an electrically conductive business card is a good idea. Once upon a time somebody gave me an aluminum business card. I kept it until I dropped it into a PC. Needless to say the next stop for the business card was the bin.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 11:38:30 am
content: That same logic could be used to imply that coffee was a bad idea too.

author: komet
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 01:02:38 pm
content: Yeah, asking for your business card back is very bad and makes a worse impression than no card at all, and don't forget that a business card might languish somewhere for years before generating concrete business. But I also understand your reluctance to hand out $20 cards left right and centre.So what I would suggest would be to make a lot of blank PCBs as business cards. You can hand these out to everyone (that is the whole point of a business card - even non-EEs might pass on your card to someone else. You never know). You keep a fully working demo board with you at all times, so that you can demonstrate that it's not a dummy PCB but would actually do something. If somebody shows enough interest to invite you to an interview or a pitch or something, you can leave a working board with them then.Your board should definitely have a URL on it with your homepage. There you could include youtube videos of the working board along with other information.For God's sake make sure the URL stays valid for many years.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 01:10:54 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 28, 2013, 10:00:02 amBy "the next stop ... was the bin", you don't mean you turned him downbecause of it, right? That's an asshole thing to do! I can't imagine what kind of logic determines that business cards, of all things, should not be conductive. You can drop anything into a computer, but that's not an argument for making screwdrivers and knives from plastic and coffee from oil, is it? Just don't drop conductive things into your PC.

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 09:21:38 pm
content: I'm still working. I have to dedicate some time to think about where I should place the components.

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 02:14:05 am
content: An idea I have seen a lot of people do is to have the PCB as the USB plug. That way the prospective employer doesn't have to go out of his/her way to find a cable to plug it in.-kizzapedit: had a closer look. I would also reconsider the use of the PLCC6 LED, it is bulky considering the height of the other components on the board. 0805 LEDs would probably be a better option, cost wise and height related.

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 03:15:35 am
content: That USB connector is going to rip off in a heartbeat. There isn't nearly enough pad surface area underneath it to keep the pads adhered to the pcb. Even being very careful with it you will still easily pry it off and that's just going to be an embarrassment for you.I would try to find a different connector, perhaps one that allows you to install via a board notch for minimal profile height. But certainly something that offers better strain relief.edit: going back to your original video I see that you did in fact choose to mount the connector into a board notch (great!). But I still think you need to make those pads a LOT larger to avoid them lifting from the pcb.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 03:37:35 am
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on April 27, 2013, 09:35:44 amI totally agree with this - a very insightful post!I've gotten thousands of cards over the years and I've seen almost all kinds of funky cards. I can't say I have ever had anything designed to be super-cool or quirky that worked as intended. I've had people give me odd sized cards (the idea is it will stand out in your rolodex/wallet). They are a pain in the ass so I throw them out. I've had metal cards that were printed but the ink wore off. I've had ones with circuits on them - I always like to see what they do, then I give them to my niece to play with - or maybe desolder a part from the board I need for testing, then toss the rest out because it no longer works.If it's meant to be a business card, it should be just that - a 0.031" PCB silkscreened with copper only is enough. Probably get them for $0.20/ea. A demo of one's abilities should be something else and separate from a biz card.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 03:50:01 am
content: I like the idea of PCB business cards, but whatever you do, NEVER ask for them to be returned. If I was an employer, I would think you are cheap and count that as a minus. And that minus would probably outweigh the plus you would get for the originality on the PCB business card. The cards may be pricey to make, but the potential employer obviously won't know that.It is a good idea to have your resume on your cards, but I would ditch the LEDs. The card would look too flashy and you don't want to give out the impression that blinking LEDs is the peak of your electronic knowledge and creativity. That's for wannabe engineers with Arduinos at Makezine, you are beyond that.Like others have suggested, think about integrating the USB plug into the PCB. Several reasons:1. You can directly plug it into your computer - no cables needed.2. It's less likely to get damaged (ripped off the board) than the connector you have selected.3. Stacking the cards is much easier.

author: ecat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 04:06:39 am
content: Neat, shiny, flashing lights and oh look, a USB port.If I wanted to hack into some company's computer system I'd certainly give this a try. And if some perspective employer were to actually plug it in during an interview my rates would double as my Security Consultant hat appeared.I do love the look and the idea of these things but to my mind connecting to such a device is about the same level of stupidity/naivety as clicking a spam email attachment.Sorry for being a downer

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 08:55:04 am
content: Quote from: kizzap on April 29, 2013, 02:14:05 amIt's a 5050 RGB LED, but yeah, it's a litte bit big. Any way, I have chosen that one because y like the 5x5mm size and shape. I'm not really really concerned about board thickness. Thanks for you observations!

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 08:57:15 am
content: Quote from: ecat on April 29, 2013, 04:06:39 amI think that employer should try to change his mind and start thinking that the world still has good people around xD

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 11:04:12 am
content: Quote from: MacAttak on April 29, 2013, 03:15:35 amI'm changing those pads right now, thanks.

author: ramicio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 03:50:28 pm
content: Quote from: kizzap on April 29, 2013, 02:14:05 amI suggest the same. Make the person you are trying to impress have to do as little work as possible.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 06:34:45 am
content: So, is this a business card or a demo?It looks as though you're making a business card that wouldn't fit my wallet or in the folder that I use to store other cards. Having components stuck to the board is just a pain, either they'll get knocked off, or they'll be the reason why the card ends up in the bin.Nobody is ever going to actually plug in your board to see what it does. Seriously.If you meet someone who thinks you're interesting enough to want to make contact, a regular card is just fine, and if you really want to use a PCB then fair enough - it shows you're prepared to make a bit of effort and spend some money. Adding active circuitry isn't going to gain you anything extra; if someone wants more information from you, they'll telephone or email.

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 08:00:04 am
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on April 30, 2013, 06:34:45 amThe idea is that the board has his resume/contact information on it. I still maintain that he should ditch the usb connector and make the board the usb plug. The more difficult it is for someone to get that information, the more likely that they won't obtain it. Make it ridiculously easy for them to plug in, and straight away be reading your resume? GOLD.-kizzap

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 09:03:51 pm
content: I added some new pictures showing the actual progress. It's just a quick update. Feedback is welcome.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 09:07:17 pm
content: I wouldn't plug it in.I have to echo others' comments that a bare PCB would be enough, or at least something standalone that doesn't need to plug into anything.

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 05:01:39 am
content: The "instructions" are in broken English.By the way, you have a QR code on the front. Those can easily link to a website or your choosing, where you could keep an *up to date* copy of your resume and whatever else you want there. That would be MUCH safer than asking them to plug it in to their computer. Just imagine what will happen if they do plug your card in, and something goes wrong (like your hands were sweating just a little bit when you were holding the card) and it fries the USB port on their brand new $3,000 laptop?I think I would really just stick with the basic contact information plus the QR code on a super-thin PCB, with no components.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 08:02:35 pm
content: Whenever I put a new job listing out there, I get lots of resumes. I want to hold a resume in my hand, to read through it when it's convenient for me. I don't want to have to work to see your resume... like plugging something into my computer and waiting for it to recognize it, then opening a file on a drive. You should not make it difficult to see your resume - which putting it on a chip on a USB-enabled drive does.And since you are keeping the costs down, the parts on the card need to be simple by their nature. But if I am hiring an EE, showing me something simple isn't impressive. If it's something you expect to give only to very serious people, then I think you would be much better served with a traditional business card, and then an example of your most complex project, or the one you are most proud of. I probably don't even need to see it working.I would be much more impressed and likely to hire someone who gives me a traditional resume and a more traditional business card, and brings a PCIe Graphics card they designed while working at nVidia... or a Wifi enabled lawn sprinkler controller or whatever... but a small thing with a light and sensor reminds me of a high school or hobbyist project.

author: 2nOrderEDO
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2013, 06:27:47 pm
content: Updated with part 2.Thanks!