[CANCELLED] Project Caterpillar - Open Source 3RU DIY ASIC Miner

[daemondazz]

Any updates?

Sorry, yes I have been working on this but haven't had time for updates. I'll try to get the updates posted on the website soon.

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[daemondazz]

Hi All,

Thanks for your patience, I've finally found time to update the information on our website at http://cryptominer.org/caterpillar/, so there has been a fairly big update to the tray schematic and block diagram. I've also updated the wording on the page to reflect the design changes that have been made.

The schematic incorporates the changes that have been made to the result capture part of the circuit on the Klondike project. As a reminder, the Caterpillar is now based on the Klondike16, but (primarily) changes the analog temperature sensor for 6x I2C sensors and obviously has a different physical layout to suit our mounting requirements.

I'm now in the middle of verifying part numbers for everything in the schematic and making sure they have footprints, etc, before getting stuck into the PCB layout.

[Foofighter]

nice work! amazing project here, like it!

regards

[daemondazz]

I've started working on the PCB layout, primarily to ensure that I should have space for everything within the constraints we've set, and so far it's looking good:

Top layer (light brown) is high current 1.2V supply (3x rails)
Layer 2 (medium brown) is low current PLL 1.2V supply (2x rails)
Layer 3 (very dark brown) is signals (currently only CONFIG lines are drawn) and 3.3V rail.
Bottom Layer (blue) is ground

The CONFIG lines are length matched to less than 0.1mm. I'm still verifying footprints for other other components, so the layout may need to change slightly as I go through it.

[Blisk]

Do you plan to make the board by yourself or it will be maded fro you?

[daemondazz]

Do you plan to make the board by yourself or it will be maded fro you?

I'll be getting the boards themselves manufactured for me and we haven't decided on the assembly part yet. I'll probably assemble the first one myself so I can test everything is ok before getting an assembler to put the remaining boards together.

If there's anyone lurking who does assembly, I'd love to hear from you.

[Blisk]

I use to work alot with electronics and assembling boards when I maded a board by myself, but not with smd chips.
And ironing asic chips is not possible to a board at home because they have pins at the bottom.
So that's why I asked. But still If I get a board I can put all parts on it, it takes time but still.
Here is just a question of time. If you assemble this board at the end of the year it is question how much of bitcoin you can make it?
Or you can do it now?

[daemondazz]

I use to work alot with electronics and assembling boards when I maded a board by myself, but not with smd chips.
And ironing asic chips is not possible to a board at home because they have pins at the bottom.
So that's why I asked. But still If I get a board I can put all parts on it, it takes time but still.
Here is just a question of time. If you assemble this board at the end of the year it is question how much of bitcoin you can make it?
Or you can do it now?

I plan on having the board design completed in the next week or so and then the boards should take another week or so to be manufactured. While the boards are being manufactured we will be sourcing components and the server equipment. The goal is to have the system online and hashing before the end of August.

It is very possible to do reflow smd soldering at home. I'll be using the method outlined here: http://www.ahars.com.au/htm/hb_reflowsoldering.html

[Blisk]

Yes I know the system. I think I can manage to put a board into factory where they have industrial soldering if I needed. because chips can be quickly dead if there is too hot.

Is there possible to get a board if you will do it for you to get one more for me I will pay for it?
I think there is for start better more testing to find out bugs, what you think?
If we can talk about it will be better on privat!

[daemondazz]

Is there possible to get a board if you will do it for you to get one more for me I will pay for it?

At the moment, we have no plans on selling assembled boards, although that could be an option if there is enough interest. Check back with us once we get closer to being ready.

[Blisk]

I didn't mean assembled board, but empty board.
Ok I will check your progress.

[daemondazz]

I didn't mean assembled board, but empty board.

Ahh, yeah, that should be possible.

[Blisk]

Ok if that is possible, than please if you can do one for me?

[daemondazz]

I have updated the design schematic at http://cryptominer.org/static-media/caterpillar/caterpillar-asic-miner-schematic.pdf to use the Texas Instruments TPS53353 buck regulator instead of the IR3895.

The TPS53353 is a higher current device (at 20A instead of 16A) and is easier to lay out. It is also available, which is rather important! The extra current means that at stock we should have a headroom of around 30% of the max rated current, which will allow a bit of overclocking if the thermal side of things turns out ok.

[Blisk]

how far are you now with this project?

[daemondazz]

how far are you now with this project?

Sorry for the delay in replying here Blisk, I thought I had!

Like everyone else at the moment, we're waiting for the Avalon chips to arrive.

[daemondazz]

Update 16th August 2013: The Caterpillar team have had a meeting and in light of the currently exponential increase in network difficulty and the continual delays regarding the Avalon chips come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to ROI with the Avalon chips, and have hence decided to cancel our project based around these chips.

This decision was not taken lightly and it was with a deep regret that this decision was reached. I currently have the components to build a single board with 7 chips and will be looking for 1 more sample chip, if anyone has one, so that I can build one board with 8 chips to prove that the design works. Once this has been completed I'll upload my design files to github under an open hardware license and will not be touching anything Avalon in the future.

[freedomno1]

Well thanks for your efforts

[daemondazz]

Thanks. It really was a hard decision to make for me, I've invested quite a lot of time into this - that's the reason I want to get one board working.

Hopefully Bkk and burnin have better luck...

[freedomno1]

I hope so as well, the Avalon delays are making the DIY climate a challenge to say the least.
That said your efforts were and are appreciated even given the outcome if you ever start another project I will be watching.