Do you want to build a printed circuit board? Don't know how to do it? Well, there are a few tips that can help you in this regard. If you want to build an electronic circuit then a PCB is the first thing that you will need. A perfect PCB design ensures a perfect electronic circuit with perfect interconnection among various parts. You can easily build a simple circuit as it doesn't necessarily demand the presence of a PCB. But In more complicated circuits a PCB is a must. So if you are going to prepare a project for your college then you may have to create one or two for your project.
Layout design:
It is the first and the most important step of the PCB design. But in order to create a layout you will need to collect some information.
1.Size of each physical component
2.Configuration details of the components
3.Creation of design rule for the application
4.The size of PCB
5.The termination of connection
The Layout scale:
Depending on the need for accuracy, the layout must be created at 1:1, 2:1 or the 4:1 scale. 4:1 scale is specific for high precision and the 2:1 is the most common scale.
Layout procedure:
1.First you will have to create the component layout
2.You should create the layout in direction of the signal flow
3.You should place the larger electronic components at first and then fill the remaining spaces with components of smaller size like the resistors and the diodes.
4.You should know about those components that require the input-output connections and should place them near the PCB edge
5.You should place the components in such fashion that it will need the desoldering of other components if you want to replace any one of them. It is an important step in the whole procedure.
6.Divide the whole electronic circuits in some functional sub units. Each subunit should occupy a definite place on the board.
7.When you are preparing a layout, you should only draw conductor lines on the graph sheet.
8.You should be careful about the spacing of the components. The spacing must be uniform and it should be checked whether the conductor passes in PCB pads or not. If they don't pass between the PCB pads then you will have to fix them.
9.In case of critical parts, minimum precaution should be taken regarding the conductor length and the definite separation of the input lines and the output lines.
10.Some components produce heat and all of them should be checked and measures should be taken to prevent concentrated heat. It should keep the circuit board safe.
11.In case of double layer PCB's you should use pencils of multiple colors and draw lines in between the conductor lines or interrupted conductors.
These are the basic steps to designing a PCB layout. Once you know each of them, you can begin building your board.
