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The following video delves into the basics of design in EasyEDA (including the schematic design and PCB layout tools).
Here is a roadmap of the 'big picture' steps of the PCB Design process:
Convert an existing schematic into a PCB
Place all components onto the PCB
Route and Export the PCB
EasyEDA PCB Design - Video Tutorial (16:33 - 27:59)
EasyEDA PCB Design - Video Tutorial (16:33 - 27:59)
Using this video, I have developed a guided walkthrough of the PCB Design process.
'PCB Design' Section Deliverable
'PCB Design' Section Deliverable
After following along with either the video above or the guided walkthrough below, you should have a PCB layout that looks like the following:
Converting an Existing Schematic to a PCB
Converting an Existing Schematic to a PCB
Firstly, go to the 'Design' tab on the upper toolbar and select the 'Convert Schematic to PCB' option. Alternatively, you can use a hotkey combination of 'Alt' + 'P'.
A new window should open in your project that looks something like this. All of your components will be outside below a pink board outline, and a menu is pulled up on the screen which prompts you to fill out the specifications for your PCB.
For our purposes, we will be changing the width and height of our PCB to be 45 mm and 10 mm respectively.
Press 'Apply' to see your changes.
As soon as these changes are applied, we see that the board outline has changed to fit our specifications.
At this point, we are ready to start adding components to the board!
NOTE: Each component is outlined in yellow, and just as they did in our schematic, have different symbolic representations. These are called 'footprints'. Every circuit element that you import from a library, design, or use in your schematic is mapped to a footprint with a distinct size and shape.
NOTE: Notice that there are several blue wires which connect components to each other. These directly mirror the schematic that we first developed. As we change and re-orient components throughout this process, notice that these connections will automatically adjust.
Placing and Re-Orienting Components to Fit onto our PCB
Placing and Re-Orienting Components to Fit onto our PCB
Firstly, select the 'B1' component by clicking and dragging a box around it. This battery is outlined in yellow. Selecting the component should change its outline to white.
NOTE: As you begin moving components, remember that their locations probably won't be permanent! There's no need to be counting pixels as you're placing and aligning things.
Click and drag the outline of 'B1' and move it so that it lies on the PCB. Ensure that the '+' and '-' ports are enclosed in the PCB outline.
NOTE: The battery's footprint is a bit larger than our specified layout, mostly because we have opted to use parts from EasyEDA's library for simplicity. If we only pay attention to the location of the through holes, we can assume that a battery exists in the world somewhere that will fit in the space.
Now, select 'KEY1' and move it inside of the PCB outline.
NOTE: The enclosed space is quite small, but there are absolutely other ways to fit the components, too! This is just one option that I feel does a good job of relating our circuit schematic to the PCB layout (most junctions stay grouped in the same area, and it's pretty easy to see the wires).
Next, select 'R1' and carry it into the PCB layout. While selected, rotate the component 90º using either the 'spacebar' hotkey, or within the 'Format' tab, 'Rotate Right' or 'Rotate Left'. Do the same for 'R2', 'R3', and 'R4', so that they are vertically-oriented components positioned in a horizontal line (pictured in the next step).
Proceed to select and move 'C1' and 'C2'. You can align them so that both are close to their respective junctions ('R1', 'R2' and 'C1' are enclosed in the box-like junction on our schematic, so it makes sense for them all to be close to each other on the PCB, too).
Now, select 'Q2'. Notice the layout of the footprint, one base terminal opposite an emitter and collector terminal. We are going to change its orientation to better fit our PCB.
While selected, rotate the component three times. The single base terminal should be facing upwards, and the component label should be on the right side.
Perform the same operation to 'Q1', and group both transistors with their respective junctions.
Now, we will use an alignment tool to make the board a bit more intuitive and easier to read. Click and drag a box around the four upper resistors to select them.
NOTE: Alternatively, you can select them by holding 'ctrl' or 'command' (depending on your O.S.) as you click each component.
Open the 'Format' menu and select 'Align Top'.
NOTE: You can also use the 'Cmd' + 'Shift' + 'O' hotkey set!
Using the tools discussed in this section, we can place the remaining components ' C3' and 'J1' inside of our PCB outline. As you finish, try to make sure that:
Components are not overlapping
Component labels are readable and non-overlapping
NOTE: If things aren't fitting as you'd like, don't be afraid to move what you've already placed!
Routing and Exporting a PCB
Routing and Exporting a PCB
Before routing, first save the PCB Layout from the 'File' menu, or use the 'Ctrl' + 'S' hotkey. It is in good practice to save your work often, or at least at every major benchmark.
Now, navigate to the 'Route' menu and press 'Auto Route'.
As the software prepares to route the PCB, it prompts you to examine a few options. The default selections are perfect for our application, so we are ready to press the 'Run' button at the bottom.
NOTE: In our case, we won't be delving into the 'Design Rule' section, but it is definitely a good tool to sanity check your work.
After running the autorouter, the software will push a datalog pop-up. If all is attempted and completed with zero failures, your work is successful! Press 'OK' to view the updated PCB.
Notice that the thin blue lines have turned into precise, red, angular connections. If you zoom closely enough, you should also be able to see labels for each port! This is our finished PCB.
Now, navigate to the 'Fabrication' menu and select 'PCB Fabrication File(Gerber)'.
NOTE: Gerber (.gbr) file types contain the shape and location information for each element in a printed circuit board (PCB) layout.
From the software, you are able to see a rendered PCB with the specifications and components that you have designed. The pop-up prompts you to download the Gerber file, which you can upload to the linked JLCPCB site for easy manufacturing.
Clicking on the 'One-Click Order PCB/SMT' button brings you to the JCLPCB site where you can upload your Gerber file. This populates all of the sites categories and provides a front/back view of your PCB.
And finally, we are finished with the PCB Design process. At this point, we are prepared to represent our circuit on a breadboard which will be covered in the next section.
For more detailed information on the in's and out's of EasyEDA, scroll through the following documentation:
EasyEDA-Tutorial_v6.4.32.pdfPage updated
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