Printed Circuit Boards may be found in almost all electrical devices (PCBs). Circuit boards (PCBs) are used to house electronics and make connections between them. Therefore, printed circuit board (PCB) design is a likely future professional endeavor for any Electrical or Electronics expert. Even though this is an essential part of electrical design, it is seldom included in engineering curricula. Engineers can quickly learn the fundamentals of PCB fabrication design and put them to use. There are several factors to think about. It is necessary to fulfill all of the functional requirements, which include designing the schematics, positioning the components, and determining the routing. The timeline and budget are also important considerations.
Develop a diagrammatic outline
Using electrical language and logic, we can transform the idea of needs into a printed circuit board. Create a diagram using simple shapes as building blocks. The arrangement of components and considerations for things like PCB material and operating temperature will all be detailed in the accompanying schematic layout.
CREATE A MATERIALS INVOICE
Together with the schematic drawing, a BOM must be created. This document provides a breakdown of every part and connection that goes into making the PCB. The BOM may be broken down into five main parts:
PCB POSITIONING
It will be necessary to strategically place all of the parts taking into account their respective functions, temperature requirements, and potential for interference from other electrical components. This is the recommended order of placement:
After the PCB has been first installed, it must be tested, examined, and perhaps modified according to power tolerance and available funds.
ROUTING
Each part of the PCB prototype is linked to every other part by traces that have been routed between them. Power levels, noise sensitivities (or production), and routing capabilities are all factors to think about while planning a route. Residues with a diameter of 10–20mils can transport 10–20mA of current, whereas tracing with a thickness of 5–8mils can transport currents below 10mA. High-frequency nodes should be considered for routing when high-frequency communications or quickly changing signals are required.
CONTROL OF THE TEMPERATURE
The way something conducts heat is a major consideration in architecture. The ideal layout would maintain a consistent temperature over the whole board. The design must strike a good thermal balance between the various components and connections. Considerations include copper thickness, the board size, and the number of layers. There are three approaches to dealing with heat: creating effective thermal and high-current pathways, increasing the area utilized for heat transfer, and ensuring a solid grounding or power plane is linked directly to heat sources.
DOING A LAST-MINUTE CHECK
Design Rule Checking is the last step in any good design process (DRC). If the PCB's physical layout is by Design Rules, DRC will provide a pass/fail result.