Unit 5.8 - PCB Design:
Introduction, Designing, Manufacturing, Debugging & Deploying a PCB

Learning About How Printed Circuit Boards are Designed & Built

This is a Module about learning how to design and build a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and the process that goes into making it. This set of lessons are focused on the process and steps to make a simple PCB, both as a Through Hole Technology (THT) and Surface Mount Technology (SMT) board.  I'll be posting my lessons, presentations, labs and other resources.  This is primarily a Resource Page, so that means it's a Mish-Mash of PCB process content.  

I'm a huge supporter of Open Source and Creative Commons resources.  This is another way of saying Free, Equitable and Accessible resources...  As an example, here is a accounting of the time I have spend on this module: Link to time sheet  <-- This is my Mythical rate, really if I don't have a sponsor, all this open source material got developed for free. Do you want to Sponsor Some Curriculum Development?🛠️

Construction Zone:

Author: Jim Burnham -  TopClown@STEAMClown.org.  License: Distributed as Open Source. 

I'm still working on this Unit... This will be developed in Spring and Summer of 2023 and taught for the 2023-2024 school year... I hope... Link to time sheet

  • Unit: PCB Introduction
  • Module: AC/DC Fundamentals
  • This is a LEARNING Activity : Lesson / Lab

Overview, Introduction & Prerequisites:

"Introduction to PCB Design" is an educational project to teach PCB design & manufacturing. This module will teach you how to design a PCB, show you how to get it manufactures, and assemble and solder it when you get it back.  

Resource Key:

📰 Slides / 📽️ Video/YouTube / ✨ Resources /  🖼️ Tutorial / 📖 Reading Activity / 📝 Writing Activity / 📖 📝 Reading/Writing / 🛠️ LAB Activity / 🚀 Quiz /  🔎 Review / 🍕 Extra Credit / 🕸️ Web Links

Sid Bar for Teachers: This Module or lesson is how I teach in my class. Many of the lessons might be specific to my class, but you could probably adjust them for your class.  I'll try to make them a neutral as I can, so they can be used in any Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or any other Engineering / Technology class.  Let me know how I can make that better. I'll try to keep this unit current and relevant.  Please let me know if any resource links are broken or not accessible.  Use this email link to let me know what is broken @ TopClown@STEAMClown.org 

Sponsor Shout Out

I would like to thank <Your Company or Organization Here> for their generous support of my classroom and curriculum development.  <Your Company or Organization Here> has <Your value proposition, call to action, & related content and message> 

If you would like to Sponsor This Open Source Curriculum Module, please see my Sponsor Page for more information on how to "donate. " to "Sponsor Curriculum Development Projects"

If you are Sponsoring the "Curriculum Development Projects", this is a bit different, because you are actually paying me personally to develop the Open Source Curriculum material. More like a stipend. You can pay me through the following ways: 

How to Provide a Stipend: You can send something to my personal PayPal.Me Account, Venmo Account, or my Patrion Account, even Buy Stuff On My Amazon Classroom Wishlist, donate to my DonorsChoose projects, or contact me at TopClown@STEAMClown.org, if you want to pay by check.  

Learning Objective:

Module Scope:
  • Introduction to PCB Design and Manufacture
Learning Targets:
  • Able to describe the schematic design process
  • Able to migrate a schematic design to a PCB layout
  • Able to describe the PCB manufacturing process 
  • Design, Manufacture, Solder, Test, Debug, & Deploy a PCB 
Prior Knowledge:
  • No prior knowledge expected - You be you!!! 
Resources & Materials Needed:
  • PC, Laptop or Other device to access the PCB tools and Web application
  • Each lesson will have specific items needed to complete the labs and tasks

Prerequisites:

Caution & Safety  Considerations:

Primer:  "Aaron, I can imagine no way in which this thing could be considered anywhere remotely close to safe. All I know is I spent six hours in there and I'm still alive... You still want to do it?"

Essential Questions:

Key Academic Vocabulary or Concepts:

Lesson Topic - PCB Design and Manufacturing Process:

Scaffolding before the PCB Lessons

These are the lessons to scaffold student knowledge of the PCB topics like breadboard basics, understanding data sheets, understanding simple schematic diagrams, & basic electronic circuits: 

These links will be posted later (soon) 

Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) - Let's Build A Board:

PCB Lessons

High School PCB Program:

Working in conjunction with... 

stuff to make into a lesson:


PCB - Industry Introduction

In this lesson you will get an overview of the PCB industry, the Design and manufacturing process. You will get an introduction to the PCB design flows. What are the jobs and career path for a PCB designer

Lesson Resources:

PCB - Hands On Lab With A Bare PCB

In this lesson you will get to experiment with a Bare PCB. You will get to use a DMM to probe and trace the PCB connections. Find the Ground Plain, Find the VCC Plain. Find connections from device position to another. Practice soldering on a Through Hole (THT) and a Surface Mount SMT board.

Lesson Resources:

PCB - Tools & Project Installation Steps (Schematic & PCB layout tools)

In this lesson you are going to learn about the different PCB design tools.  You will install an open the tools used for this class module. the steps to create your first Open ROAD project.  You will learn the options to execute the following steps:

Lesson Resources:

Your First PCB - PCB Project Introduction

Creating a Basic PCB Layout: Step-by-step guide to designing a simple PCB. You will learn the steps to create your first real PCB Design. Explore / Review the following project features:

Lesson Resources:

Lets Build Something Useful - PCB Project Ideas & Projects To Build For Class... Pick One

Here is a list of interesting project I would like to build, and by "I", I mean you...  If one of these project looks interesting, talk to me, and I'll assign an Engineering project page for you to document the process.

Project List:


PCB Design Layout Rules - Building A PCB Based On Industry Standards

In this lesson you are going to explore the PCB Design Constraints and Requirements.  You will learn the steps to create your first Open ROAD Design. Explore / Review the following project features:

Lesson Resources:

PCB - Signal Integrity and EMI Considerations

Study the effects of layout with respect to Noise and ither EMI issues. Explore / Review the following project features:

Lesson Resources:

PCB Manufacturing Fundamentals

Understanding and Researching the PCB Manufacturing process. Explore / Review the following project features:

Lesson Resources:

PCB - Surface Mount Technology (SMT) vs. Through-Hole Technology (THT)

Understanding and Researching the SMT vs. THT Manufacturing process. Explore / Review the following project features:

Lesson Resources:

PCB Assembly, Testing, & Debugging

Design Testing into the Assembly process.  Design Test to run when you get your boards back.  What can go wrong, what might be a point of failure. Participate in Lab that test student Debugging skills  :

Lesson Resources:

PCB Design Verification, Simulation, Debug

Understand Design Rules Check. Explore how they are developed and why they are in place. 

Lesson Resources:

Case Study and Final Projects

Research Case Studys.  Select and Design Final Project.  2-4 layer board building a classroom lab/testing board 

Lesson Resources:

A class might have the following topics.  Each lesson lecture (about 60 min), would be accompanied with about 2 hours of lab activities.

Lecture and Lab Topics:

Class Outline: Introduction to Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design

Class 1: PCB Industry Introduction

Class 2: Career in the PCB Design Industry

Class 3: Your First PCB

Class 4: PCB Design Layout Rules

Class 5: Signal Integrity and EMI Considerations

Class 6: PCB Manufacturing Fundamentals

Class 7: Surface Mount Technology (SMT) vs. Through-Hole Technology (THT)

Class 8: PCB Assembly, Testing, & Debugging

Class 9: Design Verification, Simulation, Debug

Class 10: Case Study and Final Projects

Each lecture and lab modules will contain the following collateral and curriculum so that a STEAM teacher anywhere in a Highschool or Community College can implement the course work. 

Modules deliverables will include: (about 4 hours of 30 min Lectures & 8+ hours of Lab & Assessment activities) 

Getting Started:


Chapters - Lessons - Lectures - Labs:

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PCB Resources Links:

Links & Resources:



Working Topics - Move or Delete

Logic Gates & Tiny Tapeout - Sites You Should Register, Get An Account or Sign-up for:

Reference, Attribution & Resources:

License - "Be A Hero"... Distribute Your Content As Open Source... That Is What I'm Doing...

The content on this site may have been pulled from other open source sites, but typically the interpretation and presentation is primarily the Intellectual Property of Jim Burnham, - TopClown@STEAMClown.org at www.steamclown.org and the Student curriculum can be found under the specific Mechatronics Engineering Units section of this web site.
If you do use my material, and make changes, I would appreciate getting a copy... because if you are making changes, it means that you think there is a better way to teach this… and I would really appreciate understanding that. Please send me feedback on my Questions or Feedback form. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions or comment.
You also should keep and include my STEAM Clown Logo and Copyright in any derivative works you create. I would appreciate if you would include one of these images found on my Steam Clown License page and link it to www.steamclown.org

Teachers - Unit, Module and Lesson Plans

If you are a teacher and want to connect and teach this Lesson or Module, discuss how I teach it, give me feedback, please contact me at TopClown@STEAMClown.org 

To access this Lesson Plan and the Teacher collaboration area, you will have needed to connect with me so I can Share the content with you.  Please go to  the Teachers & Partner Page, check out my Licensing and fill out my Collaboration and Curriculum Request Form.  I'll review and then grant you access to the requested areas and lesson plans if they exist.

If you have questions or feedback on how I can make a presentation, lesson, lab better please give use my Feedback Form.

Standards Alignments & Objectives:

I’ll work on getting these in, but it’s the last thing I want to work on :-) When I have them updated, I’ll move to the top of the Lesson Plan. 

Resource Attribution:
Sites Referenced or Summarized:

Images:

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