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PCB Tutorial

The document is a tutorial on designing a PCB, outlining steps from determining functionality and creating a schematic to finalizing the PCB layout and generating Gerber files for manufacturing. It includes tips on component selection, wiring, routing, and creating custom parts and footprints. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of design rules, error checking, and efficient layout to minimize complexity in PCB design.

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mrnriaz
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4 views

PCB Tutorial

The document is a tutorial on designing a PCB, outlining steps from determining functionality and creating a schematic to finalizing the PCB layout and generating Gerber files for manufacturing. It includes tips on component selection, wiring, routing, and creating custom parts and footprints. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of design rules, error checking, and efficient layout to minimize complexity in PCB design.

Uploaded by

mrnriaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Eagle PCB Tutorial

Josh Fromm
EE 475, April 11th
Steps in Designing a PCB

> Decide what functionality you need


– Break that functionality into small modules
> Sense motion -> IMU
> Communicate with phone -> Bluetooth module
– Research components for each module
> Always read the datasheets
> Check to make sure footprints are solderable
– Choose a CPU that can interface with your modules and
meets other requirements
> Try not to pick something overly complicated
Steps in Designing a PCB

> Make the system schematic


– Confirm every part has a schematic symbol and
footprint
> If it doesn’t then make your own
– Place all parts on the schematic and wire
– Remember to add lots of bypass caps
– Check errors to make sure everything is properly
connected
> Make PCB
– Check design rules
– Place parts in reasonable location (minimize rats nest)
– Use polygon pours for power and ground
– Route remaining traces (use larger width for high
current)
Interacting with Schematic Parts

> All parts have a crosshair that can be interacted


with
> Kind of goofy for some parts like frame
> When selecting multiple objects, some
commands like move require right clicking to
affect the whole group
Wiring it Up

> Use net tool to make connections


> Don’t always need to make a physical connection
– Create a partial net
– Use the name tool to give it a proper name
– Use the label tool to place that name right on the net
– Repeat for other pins you want to connect
> Always do an ERC when finished to find any
mistakes.
PCB Layout

> Use File -> switch to schematic to create a PCB


for your schematic
> First set up your grid, usually want a slightly large
grid and a much smaller alt grid
> Next, use DRC to set up design rules according to
PCB manufacturer requirements
– Can download and import Osh Park DRU
> When moving parts, everything snaps to grid, can
hold ALT key to get more fine grained control
> Try to arrange parts to minimize the rat’s nest
Altium Layers
Routing

> Current operating layer shown in upper left


> Click middle mouse button to switch
> Focus on one trace at a time
– Use middle click to place a via
– Right click to change wire style
– For tight boards, try to keep top layer horizontal and
bottom layer vertical
– Use bigger traces for power and ground if possible
> When finished, use rats nest to check if anything
missed
> Always do a DRC
Advanced Routing

> Good idea to use polygon pours for Power and


Ground
– Provides good capacitance to reduce noise
– Makes routing easier
– Looks cool
> Use polygon pour tool to trace outline
> Press ratsnest to fill in.
> Can still route through the pour or hide with ripup
on the edge
> Also fun to write on the board by editing the
silkscreen
– Choose tPlace or bPlace layer then use drawing or text
tools
Finishing Up

> Need to convert schematic to format a PCB


manufacturer can parse
– Standard to use Gerber files
– Need one Gerber file for each layer of the board
> Press the Cam tool button
– Open job, choose the sparkfun job file
– Process job
– Zip the cam files up and submit to Osh Park
Creating Custom Parts

> From the Control Panel go to File -> New ->


Library
> Library -> Symbol, name it and accept
> This opens an editor similar to a schematic
– Use shapes to draw a box
– Use the add pins tool to place pins on the box
– Name the pins
– Good idea to add >NAME and >VALUE text to part to
allow more customization down the line, make sure to
set these to Names and Values layer respectively
– Save and then go to Library -> Create -> Package
Creating Custom Footprints

> Start by using the SMD or pad tool to place pads


> Can change to metric units using grid
> Set size of pads with info tool
> The grid is your friend
– Set the grid distance to be the distance between pads
for quick and easy placement
– Hold control while moving to have pads center on grid
– Can also use info to explicitly choose center
> Use tPlace layer to draw shape of chip body
(optional)
> Add >NAME and >VALUE text in tName and
tValue layers
Associate Symbol and Package

> Library -> Device -> New


– Name it the same thing as the Symbol and Package
> Use add to place the symbol for the part
> In the right side, press new and add the Package
– Note the yellow exclamation, this means pins have not
been associated
> Double click on the package name to associate
> Set prefix (default is U)
> Match left and right sides then press connect
> Save and you’re done!
> Find your library in the control panel, right click
and use

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