Summary of Making your first Circuit Board – Getting started with PCBway [Part 2]
This article outlines the essential steps for designing and manufacturing a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB). It emphasizes verifying schematic connections, ensuring component footprints match physical parts, and carefully planning PCB layout features like mounting holes. Key manufacturing constraints, such as trace width, spacing, and hole sizes specific to PCBWay, are highlighted to balance design feasibility with cost. Finally, it stresses generating accurate Gerber files as the final step before production.
Parts used in Making Your First PCB:
- Schematic design software
- Component footprints
- PCB CAD software
- Mounting holes
- V-scores
- Mouse bites
- Fingers
- Gerber file generator
This is the next part of “MAKING YOUR FIRST PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD – GETTING STARTED WITH PCBWAY [Part 1]“ Series.
![Making your first Circuit Board – Getting started with PCBway [Part 2]](https://duino4projects.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Making-your-first-Circuit-Board-%E2%80%93-Getting-started-with-PCBway-Part-2.jpg)
Designing your PCB
When you design your first PCB, there will be several steps that you will need to take before you sent the design files off to the manufacturer for manufacturing.
Create The Schematic
When creating the schematic in any of the programs mentioned in part 1, remember to double check that everything is connected where it needs to be with a NET. This is how the program’s auto-routing, DRC, and ERC features know what is connected where. I generally like to go over my schematic two or three times, counting each net, and making sure that everything is connected and accounted for before moving on to the board layout.
When designing your schematic, you will need to pay particular care to ensure that the footprint of the component you use in the schematic exactly matches the footprint of the component that will be soldered to the PCB.
Creating the PCB
Each PCB CAD software will usually offer a way for you to transfer your schematic design to a PCB layout. Designing a PCB layout might be slightly tedious if it’s your first time doing it, but fortunately, several tutorials talk about it. If your design features mounting holes, v-scores, mouse bites, or fingers, make sure you place them on the board first.
When designing your PCB Layout, it is essential that you take note of your traces size. Manufacturers usually have restrictions on how small your traces can be, as well as how small the clearances can be between traces. PCBWay minimum track and spacing are 4mil and 4 mil respectively, their minimum hole size is 0.2mm. Of course, going for the minimum will slightly increase your board cost.
Having your PCB manufactured
The first thing you will need to do before you can ship your design off to be manufactured is to generate a Gerber file that contains all of the necessary design files to use in the PCBs production. This file is a universal file and is generated in the CAD program you used to design your PCB. Each program has its way of generating this file, so be sure to read the program’s instructions, or search for the proper way to create the file with the program you are using.
Read more: Making your first Circuit Board – Getting started with PCBway [Part 2]
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Why is checking nets important when creating a schematic?
Checking nets ensures auto-routing, DRC, and ERC features know what is connected where. -
What must match between the schematic and the physical board?
The footprint of the component in the schematic must exactly match the footprint of the component soldered to the PCB. -
Which board features should be placed first during PCB layout design?
Mounting holes, v-scores, mouse bites, and fingers should be placed on the board first. -
What are the minimum track and spacing requirements for PCBWay?
PCBWay has a minimum track and spacing of 4mil each. -
What is the minimum hole size allowed by PCBWay?
Their minimum hole size is 0.2mm. -
How does using minimum specifications affect board cost?
Going for the minimum specifications will slightly increase your board cost. -
What universal file must be generated before shipping a design for manufacturing?
You must generate a Gerber file containing all necessary design files for production. -
Where do you find instructions for generating Gerber files?
Instructions are found within the specific CAD program used or by searching for the proper method for that program.
