user67327: I have just about completed my first Arduino project using an Arduino Uno board, but is that what I use inside the finished device? I figured I’d keep the Uno for future projects and have something else controlling the finished product. Are you supposed to just keep purchasing the Uno board every project?
I just got it a couple of days ago so I’m not very familiar with any of it. If that is the case do you use the batter for power since I can’t have it connected to my laptop once it’s done.

user31105: What you can do is:

Buy the main IC (Atmel 328P)
Use some external components to get it working (like a crystal). Check this on a breadboard to see if it works (and check.
Buy a case to put it in
Buy some protoboard or PCB to solder it on (or use a footprint)
For power, use some components (voltage regulator) or an adapter, or battery, whatever you need. Make sure you check this on a breadboard before you solder it.

If you want to read more about the subject, search for 'prototyping'.

user7508: There are many options, so it all ends up depending on your personal
preferences:

You could indeed dedicate this Arduino to this project, and buy a new
one for the next project. This may be the simplest solution, if not
the cheapest. Just make sure you are not using a breadboard for the
other parts. A “proto-shield” may be a good option for soldering the
rest of your circuit in a permanent form.

You may replace the Uno with a smaller Arduino, like the Micro (but
beware it uses a different MCU) or a Pro Mini clone (same MCU). These
smaller boards can then be soldered onto a PCB using standard 0.1” pin
headers.

You could buy a cheap clone, test it to make sure it works as intended
on this particular project, and dedicate the real one for further
prototyping.

You could get a bare ATmega328P plus crystal and caps and put them,
together with the rest of your circuit, onto a perf-board or a
strip-board. C.f. Michel Keijzers’ answer. Note that if your program
can run happily off a somewhat inaccurate 8 MHz clock, you can
use the MCU's internal oscillator instead of a crystal.

If your program is far from using all the resources of the Uno, you
may consider a smaller MCU. The ATtiny85 is a popular “minimalistic”
choice. Make sure an Arduino core is available for it, unless you want
to program all low-level.

For the most professional result, you could design and order a real
PCB for your whole circuit, including the MCU.



67327: <p>I have just about completed my first Arduino project using an Arduino Uno board, but is that what I use inside the finished device? I figured I’d keep the Uno for future projects and have something else controlling the finished product. Are you supposed to just keep purchasing the Uno board every project?</p>
<p>I just got it a couple of days ago so I’m not very familiar with any of it. If that is the case do you use the batter for power since I can’t have it connected to my laptop once it’s done.</p>
 31105: <p>What you can do is:</p>
<ul>
<li>Buy the main IC (Atmel 328P)</li>
<li>Use some external components to get it working (like a crystal). Check this on a breadboard to see if it works (and check.</li>
<li>Buy a case to put it in</li>
<li>Buy some protoboard or PCB to solder it on (or use a footprint)</li>
<li>For power, use some components (voltage regulator) or an adapter, or battery, whatever you need. Make sure you check this on a breadboard before you solder it.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you want to read more about the subject, search for 'prototyping'.</p>
 7508: <p>There are many options, so it all ends up depending on your personal
preferences:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>You could indeed dedicate this Arduino to this project, and buy a new
one for the next project. This may be the simplest solution, if not
the cheapest. Just make sure you are not using a breadboard for the
other parts. A “proto-shield” may be a good option for soldering the
rest of your circuit in a permanent form.</p>
</li>
<li><p>You may replace the Uno with a smaller Arduino, like the Micro (but
beware it uses a different MCU) or a Pro Mini clone (same MCU). These
smaller boards can then be soldered onto a PCB using standard 0.1” pin
headers.</p>
</li>
<li><p>You could buy a cheap clone, test it to make sure it works as intended
on this particular project, and dedicate the real one for further
prototyping.</p>
</li>
<li><p>You could get a bare ATmega328P plus crystal and caps and put them,
together with the rest of your circuit, onto a perf-board or a
strip-board. C.f. Michel Keijzers’ answer. Note that if your program
can run happily off a somewhat inaccurate 8 MHz clock, you can
use the MCU's internal oscillator instead of a crystal.</p>
</li>
<li><p>If your program is far from using all the resources of the Uno, you
may consider a smaller MCU. The ATtiny85 is a popular “minimalistic”
choice. Make sure an Arduino core is available for it, unless you want
to program all low-level.</p>
</li>
<li><p>For the most professional result, you could design and order a real
PCB for your whole circuit, including the MCU.</p>
</li>
</ul>
