If you want to know a printed circuit board is designed here is the explanation in simple terms.
1. First you decide on the components which are in the design.
2. Need a software in which you can get symbols (both schematic symbols and physical symbols) of standard components and which also allows you to create your own symbols for new components which are not in the standard tool library.
3. In schematic capture tool, you will use symbols of components and also connect the pins of components with wire lines to complete the schematic drawing. Based on complexity and size of the design this can be few pages or hundreds of pages.
4. In the layout tool you will have to make a board outline (based on the shape/size of PCB you want to design) and define number of layers etc.
5. Schematics need to be exported to layout using the board outline you designed. Result will be that all the physical symbols will appear in the layout tool along with un-routed wire connections.
6. Now you can place components on the PCB based on floor plan (where you want to place what components) and start routing the connections. Decide thickness of routes or traces based on impedance and current these nets need to carry. Based on how many layers have been defined and needed as per design traces can run through multiple layers
7. When routing is complete, with help of tool you need to create PCB fabrication data for PCB fabricator.
These are top level steps involved in a PCB design. There are finer steps like back annotation (process to sync up layout and schematics) which also important. Many tools give options for auto placement, auto routing which can aid in the design. These used with proper constraints and care can help speed up the design process. Check for PCB tool vendor websites.
- Neeraj
AnswerProton led displays says:Go to www.circuitboards.com scroll down to the links area and click free cad software by cadsoft. My friend told me the other PCB designing software mentioned makes you pay for there software if you want it manufactured outside of there facility. Basically locking you into there price or no price. Cadsoft is free up to a certain layer count I believe.
Printed circuit boards are typically green or red, with a lot of holes on the surface through which to put the leads of electronic components. An unfinished board will have its traces (lines of conducting material) very visible, until all of the components are added and soldered on, at which point they become the main focal point.
For multilayer (more than double sided) circuit boards, several very thin copper clad boards are run through steps 3 thru 7 above, these boards are coated with an epoxy adhesive, carefully aligned, and placed in a high pressure press until the epoxy cures. When removed from the press, step 8 is performed and the holes are electroplated with copper to interconnect the various layers.
Once made and before components are installed the copper traces are usually protected in some way to preventcorrosion. A nonreactive metal is sometimes used like gold, tin, or by dipping in molten solder. Most modern circuit boards are now protected with a coating of green varnish, applied everywhere except the component solder pads and the edge connectors (which are usually gold plated).
I cannot imagine a modern embedded system that is not built on a printed circuit board.
The motherboard aka mainboard
Design of a circuit board starts with a layout of what you require the circuit to do. Plug and component placement depend on where the board will be mounted and the environment that the board will be used in.
Ferric Chloride
mechanically support and electrically connect the components
You can find a printed circuit board design online in some blogs or message boards that are interested in designing circuit boards. You can also find some designs on websites that sell kits and circuit boards.
It means Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
printed circuit board printed circuit board
is the main printed circuit board (PCB)
I cannot imagine a modern embedded system that is not built on a printed circuit board.
printed circuit board
Printed Circuit Board, the circuits/wiring are printed in copper traces on an insulating board.
The motherboard aka mainboard
Printed circuit board
Printed Circuit Board
The board is called the 'Mother Board'
Design of a circuit board starts with a layout of what you require the circuit to do. Plug and component placement depend on where the board will be mounted and the environment that the board will be used in.