Guidelines to create a first design - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: amigalover
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 10:49:15 pm
content: Hi all,I am preparing to make my first design; got the project as prototype, it works fine, so I am going for a PCB now.There are few problems though:1) I am using breakout boards made by other companies; is possible to just "copy" what is on the board, follow the traces and modify it? I want to make my own design; instead than using their breakout board (also because if such companies won't make breakout boards anymore; I could not eventually mass market my product). I did get such boards from Ebay (Chinese breakout boards), Sparkfun, Adafruit and such (for some I don't even remember the store where I did purchase them).2) I know nothing about CAD nor Electronic design; how hard would it be to learn the basics to make a simple design? I have the free version of eaglecad; planning to buy the standard version if it is worth the money and if I am going to move further and mass produce something.3) Would be more efficient and economically convenient, to have someone in USA make the boards (I can put the components on the bare board, since I need just 5-10 boards in total for now), or should I look at Chinese manifacturers? I did hear that the more you make, the less it cost; but I need just few boards to continue the prototyping, and the companies that I did contact, ask me for the Gerber file, which I do not have yet.Thanks for any info you may give!

author: Ammar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 01:43:31 am
content: Hi,I use Kicad personally, but I have heard good things about Eagle. I like Kicad since it is open source and free. Different strokes for different folks. There are plenty of online tutorials that walk you through step-by-step. I would recommend starting there. It takes a little practice to get used to. A design project will consist of several different files. This was something I struggled with at first.I would recommend OSH park for small runs. They are US based and work by sticking your design on a panel with many other projects. When the panel is full, it is send off for fabrication. This is great, as it reduces the cost significantly. I sent off a small 4 layer board (maybe 4 by 4cm) and I am getting three for $40. The catch is you have to wait for a panel to be full, but they fill up quickly, within a few days now.Yes, you can certainly backwards engineer a "module" and make your own board. Go for it! Just watch out for a few things. Layout can be important depending on the design. If it has bypass capacitors, make sure they are close to the ICs supply pins as a starting point.OSH park are also good as they will accept kicad_pcb files as well as the Eagle files directly. So you do not have to bother with generating gerber files. Nice touch on there part.Good luck with it!

author: pcbfox
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 07, 2016, 04:19:08 pm
content: Hello Ammar ,For your problems:1). Sure , It is possible to copy what on the board , but the cost may not be cheap , this depends on the boads ,how complex it is .2).For the eaglecad , if you have interest on the electronic design , and have many projects on hand, I think it is worth to get a standard version , by the way may be I can sent you a cracked version , haha.3).Maybe you can try Chinese factory , if that I can support you

author: old gregg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2016, 09:23:41 pm
content: be aware that Eagles isn't free for commercial use.Instead of copying the breakoutboard, why not design your own stuff ? you may reduce cost as well ! you'll end up with something more compact and consistent.a small run of PCB is always expensive, unless you go to the chinese road which is also viable.

author: amigalover
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 12:53:07 am
content: Thanks for the replies.Basically the cost of Eaglecad is not an issue; at least the basic oneI just want to use what is most commonly used, because I do not have a degree in electronics and electric engineering, so I am better learning the standard wayFor the design; I could write my own; if I would know what actually I need to put onI am a beginner so, while I know how to use a breakout board, I do not necessarily know how do you put resistors and capacitors, as I see on the breakout board. Also I have no idea how to program a chip, since I assume that when you buy them from a store like Digikey, they are blank. At least if I reproduce the same design, I can be sure that I am doing something right. IF it was possible to make PCB at home, I would like to experiment; but spend 400 dollars a pop to get few PCB done, and get them wrong, is a good way to just burn moneyI see a ton of Arduino clone, so I assume there is no legal implication in reproducing a design; as long as it is not 1:1 carbon copy I believe (which is not my case; I need part of the connections that each chip expose.I did pick a reflow oven and a heatgun, so at least I only need to have the PCB done, saving on the small batch of assembly.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 09:42:07 am
content: Be careful,You can't just "copy" a PCB, you have to know what you are doing in terms of layout and what kind of traces to use for power requirements etc.Once you know enough about PCB design to make your own (not just how to get it fabbed / assembled, but actual layout) and you know some basics about electronic components then you can copy everyone else's design all day every day if you so desire. Not that you should and not that they will necessarily work!