I finally bit the bullet and tried my hand at PCB layout design. It took a while to get the hang of it; but in the end I managed to get the controller PCB layout done! I need to verify the layout before I get them actually produced, just in case there might be foot-print errors.
One of the biggest jobs I found in doing a PCB layout is the parts have to be from a consistent source otherwise some parts might not fit the PCB foot-prints; so instead of sourcing all bits from Ebay, i'm looking at a more stable electronics component supplier like Digikey etc; I'll still source some parts from Ebay, but just not all.
One of the reason why I decided to do the PCB was because I've never done a proper PCB before so it was a great learning experience for me; and it also means the controller will be available to a lot more people who perhaps don't have either the time / skill or tools to create one themselves.
(19th June 2013)
A few parts have arrived, these came from Ebay; the most critical foot-print parts are still en-route from Digikey. these include the battery holder and the fuse holder.
In the meantime I'm looking at finalizing the PC kiln controller software and I also need to get the documentation PDF completed - more updates as I make more progress!
