How to make a customized Arduino board step by step

Hello and welcome back. In this project, we will learn how to make a customized Arduino board step by step. This is a very simple and beginner-friendly process. In this project, I used an ATmega328P microcontroller with the Arduino Pro Mini bootloader already installed. If you want, you can change the microcontroller or bootloader as you like. You can upload or change the bootloader using an Arduino UNO board through SPI communication. For this, we will connect the SPI pins properly and use the Arduino IDE to burn the bootloader.

I also designed a PCB for this customized Arduino board. Because of this PCB, we can easily assemble all the required components such as the microcontroller, crystal oscillator, capacitors, resistors, and power section. To upload programs to this customized Arduino board, we need a separate Arduino board or a TTL USB programmer. In this project, I used an Arduino UNO board for uploading the code, but you can use any suitable programmer as you like. After uploading the code, this customized Arduino board will work just like a normal Arduino board.

OK, let’s do this project step by step. The required components are given below.

• ATmega328P — Our Store / Amazon
• 5mm Red LED x 1 — Our store / Amazon
• 180 ohm Resistor x 1 — Our store / Amazon
• Male header x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
• 5V Active buzzer x 1 — Our store / Amazon
• 10k Resistor x 2 — Our store / Amazon
• Tactile Push button x 2 — Our store / Amazon
• LM7805 Voltage regulator x 1 — Our store / Amazon
• 100uf Capacitor x 2 — Our store / Amazon
• 16Mhz Crystal x 1 — Our store / Amazon
• 18pf Capacitor x 2 — Our Store / Amazon
• 100nf Capacitor x 4 — Our Store / Amazon
• 1N4007 Diode x 1 — Our store / Amazon
• Two-pin terminal x 1 — Our store / Amazon

Disclosure: These Amazon links are Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Step 1

Firstly, identify these components.

Step 2

Secondly, you need to order your PCBs. For that, follow the steps given below.

• First, go to the JLCPCB official website and log in to your account. If you are a new customer, please use my link here to register and claim $70 in new user coupons.

• Click the “Instant Quote” button and upload the Gerber file, which you can download from the link below.
• Gerber file – Download
• For this project, I ordered five red PCBs and a stencil. Next, select the build time and shipping method. Finally, click “Save to Cart” and complete the payment.

Step 3

Thirdly, unbox your PCB package.

Step 4

Next, solder the ATmega328P chip at the center of the PCB. For this, use a stencil, solder paste, and a hot air gun or a hot plate.

Step 5

After that, solder the other components one by one.

Step 6

Next, open the Arduino IDE and connect the Arduino UNO board to your computer. Then, upload an empty sketch to the Arduino UNO board.

Step 7

Afterward, connect the customized Arduino board to the Arduino UNO board. For this, I used the serial communication pins.

• RX — RX
• TX — TX
• GND — GND
• 5v — 5v
• DTR — RESET

Step 8

Now, copy and paste the example push-button control program into the Arduino IDE. Then, select the correct board and port. After that, click the upload button. I used an ATmega328P microcontroller with the Pro Mini bootloader.

• Program — Download

void setup() {
  pinMode(3,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4,INPUT);
}

void loop() {
  bool value = digitalRead(4);
  if(value == 1){
    digitalWrite(3,HIGH);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
  }
}

Step 9

Now, you can test it without the Arduino UNO board. Power up your customized Arduino board using an external power supply or the Arduino UNO board. Then, copy and paste the servo motor example code into the Arduino IDE. After that, select the correct board and port, and click the upload button.

• Program — Download

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myservo;  

int potpin = A1;  
int val;    

void setup() {
  myservo.attach(5);  
}

void loop() {
  val = analogRead(potpin);            
  val = map(val, 0, 1023, 0, 180);     
  myservo.write(val);                  
  delay(15);                           
}

Step 10

Afterward, remove the Arduino UNO board and connect the servo motor to the D5 pin. Then, connect the potentiometer to the A0 pin. After that, power up your customized Arduino board using an external power supply. For this, you can use a 9V battery.

Now, you can test it however you like. You can also use your own Arduino board for any other projects. The full video guide is below. We hope to see you in the next project. Have a great day!

How to make a customized Arduino board step by step