Printed circuit board design can seem daunting when you are new to the process. While PCB design used to cost-prohibitive and exclusive to engineers, now anyone can design and order their custom printed circuit boards quickly and easily. Students, hobbyists, makers, and professionals are now able to complete projects that were out of reach just a few short years ago. With the right software and guidance, you will be able to create a functioning, efficient PCBs of your own.
Create Your Budget
Printed circuit boards can quickly become much more expensive than anticipated. Creating a balance between the best components and affordability can be an art form.
Deciding on a budget ahead of time allows you to quickly adapt when you notice that your design or materials are going to be too expensive. You will want to try to stay as far under budget as possible early on in the design process, as unexpected costs can and do come up.
Don’t forget to factor in your design software and any learning material or courses you wish to take into your overall PCB cost estimation.
Start With Your Schematic
Your schematic is the backbone of your printed circuit board design. New PCB design software options are being released regularly, with many intuitive and easy-to-learn options.
You will use your schematic to create a framework for your design that meets all the needs of your application. If possible, start with schematics for simple printed circuit boards, before moving on to a more complicated project that involves many components or multiple layers.
Determine the Necessary Components and Materials
When you are happy with your initial schematic, you can begin to create a list of the components and materials you will need when manufacturing your PCBs. This is often referred to as the Bill of Materials (BOM).
You can use your BOM to determine whether there are unnecessarily expensive areas and to quickly assess whether there are components that would be cost-effective to improve, and where you could easily save on costs.
Sometimes PCB design software will create an automated BOM, which can be helpful when you are in the early stages of your design.
Improve Your PCB Design
Once you ensure you have included all of the necessary components for your application and you are satisfied with your basic design layout, you can begin to optimize your PCB design.
Each design and application is going to have unique needs, however, some basic guidelines are useful for beginners to keep in mind.
You should be mindful of the spacing between the components in your PCB design so that the weight and heat are properly distributed. Similar elements are often grouped, but this should only be done if it does not compromise the quality of the board.
When there are hot spots or heavier areas, this can affect not only the performance of the board but may affect soldering and cause manufacturing difficulties. You will also want to maintain consistent angles in your design, aiming to keep traces at 45 degrees.
The materials you choose can also call for design adjustment. With new and innovative PCB materials that allow for flexibility, temperature fluctuation, and smaller sizes, layouts and design have become increasingly creative. Don’t be afraid to save multiple configurations of your PCB so that you can compare several options and choose the best one.
PCB Software Simulations
PCB software allows you to quickly run simulations to ensure that your design adheres to electrical rules and performs as it should. You should be running simulations regularly during the design process to catch and fix any errors as they occur.
Sometimes PCB software will even offer helpful suggestions to assist you in fixing common mistakes when a simulation throws an error. It is critical to correct any problems before your printed circuit board design gets to the manufacturing stage.
Generate a Gerber File
When you have completed your printed circuit board design, you will save it as a Gerber file. This is the standard format used by PCB manufacturers and can be quickly done with any printed circuit board design software.
Communicate With Your PCB Manufacturer
When you have begun creating your design and ready to buy circuit boards, don’t be afraid to reach out to your printed circuit board manufacturer.
They are usually able to answer any questions or concerns you may have about designing and manufacturing PCBs.
Typically, there are engineers on staff available to review your design and offer advice or check for mistakes, and they can offer knowledge and insights gained from years in the printed circuit board industry.
When you have perfected your PCB, you will submit the Gerber files and BOM for your PCB design, so that they can print your customized printed circuit boards. If you are ordering a large number of boards, you may want to ask to have a prototype board tested at this stage.
