Mechatronics Putting It All Together A Quick Look Into PCB Design July 17, 2013

The Start So you have been working hard on refining your circuit and now you are ready to move from the breadboard to something a little more neat and electrically sound.

So what do we need? Software/CAD Hardware Depending on budget and feasibility a DIY PCB can be a nice alternative to spending 30x to 100x the amount it would cost to have it manufactured. For a DIY PCB we will need *Copper Clad, *Laser Printer,*Copper Etchant,*Soldering Tools and a*Drill. If the complexity of the design requires the use of a PCB manufacturer then the tools the end-user needs can vary. Preferably an “all-in-one” tool suite to minimize time wasted switching between multiple software components. In reality “all-in-one” is rarely achieved with the desired goals completed to a professional level. There are numerous software packages out there to help bring what's on our paper to life. So building your own tool-chain is rather feasible.

The SchematicThe Board The Printed Circuit Board is like many other subjects in this world, it can quite simple or immensely complex. Designing PCB layout (routing) is an on-going skill that can always improve no matter how much experience is at hand. When designing a board there are many aspects to keep in mind. Aspects might include anywhere from the physics of the board and components to manufacturing and assembly capabilities  Drawing the schematic is essential to developing the correct circuit layout for not only for the software, but for you and anyone else who needs to understand what in the world is going on.  The schematic will usually contain additional information used later on, such as component package type, footprints and even a 3d model.

Generating The Outputs When you have checked the design more times than captain ocd. You are now ready to export your design so that PCB manufacturers can understand and build your board. The two most important file types for basic board construction include gerber and NC drill files The gerber files provide information about all the different layers, including routing and component footprints. The NC drill files contain information regarding where all the holes for routing, tooling and mechanical applications will be placed.

Putting In The Order There are hundreds of PCB Manufacturers so choosing one can be a bit of a challenge. Aspects that will influence choice can be complexity, HDI, Class build and PRICE. When a manufacturer has been chosen providing the necessary files should be as easy as uploading a zip file. When the PCB house receives the order they will try to have the process at least somewhat streamlined. This can entail an automated process that will analyze the design for common problems and can notify the designer rather promptly. Pricing When placing the order, there will be countless options to choose from if the design calls for custom parameters. Ordering a truly custom board can get expensive really fast, especially if there are numerous variables regarding holes, trace and board properties. That is why some manufactures provide a “template” of preset build specifications making the price drop substantially.