Anyone that can take a hand drawn schematic and convert to a PCB ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Crambone
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2024, 09:55:47 pm
content: Not sure if I asked that correctly? I have 3 small hand drawn circuits that I would like to have boards made up at PCBway or equivalent but I just don’t know how to do that kind of thing?Looking for someone that may be able to do it?It’s for a hobby project so don’t kill me on the price.Thanks, Andrew

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2024, 10:00:31 pm
content: Why not do it yourself?Install KiCAD, draw the schematic, create the PCB and send the files to your favourite PCB house.It's free.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2024, 10:21:57 pm
content: Quote from: Crambone on July 12, 2024, 09:55:47 pmI built an early digital clock and my first computer (6800 with 128bytes RAM) from hand drawn sketches. Made the PCBs at home, too. There was no choice: at that time CAD wasveryhigh-end technology, and PCB fabrication was prohibitively expensive. See here for hints at the techniques:https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/vintage-hacking-or-the-past-is-a-foreign-country-they-do-things-differently-there/or using more modern alternatives:https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2020/07/22/prototyping-circuits-easy-cheap-fast-reliable-techniques/More realistically, learn to use a CAD package to create schematics and PCB layouts yourself. It is a useful skill for anybody doing electronics.https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/creating-pcbs-with-surface-mount-components/

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 04:03:05 am
content: If you’re old fashioned like that, you could use some grid square paper and draft a PCB sketch in pencil. Then you can transfer the design to CAD without necessarily needing to learn too much about routing and net lists.

author: EasyGoing1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 04:32:26 am
content: If this isn't something that you're going to be doing on a regular basis, it might not be worth your effort learning software like KiCad. There is another free program out there called EasyEDA that is owned by JLCPCB.com. It is easier to use than KiCad in my opinion and it has a direct connection to their PCB ordering process and the boards are dirt cheap. When I say dirt cheap, I'm talking like $5 for 5 boards plus around $20 shipping from China. I usually get the boards within a week.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 07:57:04 am
content: Andrew, it's not hard to do yourself, some of us have been making our own print boards for years, and in my case recently given up home etching and drilling and now have boards made by JLCPCB.Each of us has our own favourite PCB layout software. Personally I prefer Sprint Layout from:https://www.electronic-software-shop.com/lng/en/sprint-layout-60.htmlIt is not free, but is very straightforward to use (IMO far easier than KiCad). Basically you decide on a board size, then drag components from the side menu onto the board and join up the pads with tracks, simple as that. Well, there is a little more to board design, but that is how you operate Sprint Layout. You can easily design your own pad layout, or copy the layout from one board to another, typically used for unusual parts such as double balanced mixers, coin cell holders, etc.Initially, your layouts will take up too much space on the board as the layouts will resemble the circuit diagram. As you gain experience/confidence you will look to layout components in a neater fashion and become clever at routing the tracks to them. The good part about commercial boards is that even at their cheapest they are double sided and "vias" (through plated holes to connect one side of the board to the other) are free, so you can have a lot to help you arrange tracks.As per another reply, I recommend JLCPCB. The cost of small boards is unbelievably cheap, in UK money you can have a set of 5 boards (sadly all the same) delivered including postage and sales tax, for less than 5 GBP (circa $6.50). Delivery takes around 2 weeks from uploading the zip file. JLCPCB make boards in a stack of 5 for drilling and cutting, hence why they don't offer a single board option.One of my recent projects was a GPS disciplined oscillator board, there is a Sprint Layout file for that board that you can view/play with in the free Sprint Layout demo/viewer programs. A set of 5 of those boards cost me $23.28 (£18.05). Details of the projecthttps://www.qsl.net/g4aon/gpsdo/Bottom line, have a go yourself! There is plenty of help available in various forums, including this one, but you are unlikely to find anyone willing to do the work for you.

author: daisizhou
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 08:44:15 am
content: Quote from: Crambone on July 12, 2024, 09:55:47 pmWhat circuit do you need to draw? If I am interested, I will help you draw it.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 09:06:44 am
content: Quote from: Crambone on July 12, 2024, 09:55:47 pmHow big a schematics, what kind of components (SMD or through hole, IC's or more discrete stuff), are the schematics verified to work in a prototype, etc.I second the use of EasyEDA because it is possible to share your work with someone and do reviews on it without having to send the files over. It is also very simple to use and easy to learn.When simple schematics and not to time consuming I can also help you out for free. Designing PCB's is always interesting puzzle solving and good for the brain.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 10:20:38 am
content: If it's one off small circuits and no complex smd parts you can do it like us old guys did when pcb's where unobtainable: veroboard

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 10:40:26 am
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on July 14, 2024, 10:20:38 amAnd if it does contain SMD parts and involve UHF/microwave frequencies (e.g. modern logic), then there is manhattan and modern commercial variants thereof.For examples, see the second half ofhttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2020/07/22/prototyping-circuits-easy-cheap-fast-reliable-techniques/

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2024, 11:23:43 am
content: It would be helpful/essential for the TS to post the schematics. I suspect a lot of information needed for a PCB is missing from the hand drawn schematics. Let's start with defining exactly what the TS wants.

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2024, 03:38:27 pm
content: Yeah, tape that Mylar like a boss!

author: Positron Enthusiast
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 01:46:28 pm
content: Are you still looking for help? I would agree that you should try it in EasyEDA, but if you still have your mind set on paying someone send me a PM with what you have so far for schematics

author: SteveThackery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2024, 12:36:59 pm
content: Hmmm..... looks like the OP has left the building.