MrDEB said:
How can one design a board that is easier to trace?
any rules or guidlines.
I want to learn by doing.
hi,
You have heard it before, good artworking is down to practice.
As the designer of the electronic part of your circuit you should have a mental image on how the finished pcb should look.
For instance, you have an idea what the finished size and shape of the pcb, sometimes you will not have a free choice,
if you are designing a pcb to fit an existing enclosure.
Points to consider when doing an artwork layout are:-
- the voltage on the tracks will determine the minimum spacing between tracks.
- the current carried by a track will determine is minimum width.
- a track, carrying a low level signal or a heavy noisy signal will require careful routing.
- a heat generating component will need clearance away from heat susceptable components.
- a heavy component fixed to a pcb may require fixing holes or large copper pads.
- the decoupling components should be considered as part of the circuit/artwork layout.
- ensure that the pad size, when its got the correct size holed drilled thru, has enough
copper remaining to enable a quality solder joint.
- some designers [I do] work on a X/Y layout, that is tracks on the back of the pcb, horizontal.
tracks on the front of the pcb vertical. [where possible]
- allow space and track for off board connections.
- don't forget the pcb mounting holes, at the corners and one in the middle, if its a big board.
- large blank areas of your pcb, can be used for dummy track/pads for later mods, or tracked over.
this will reduce your etchant usage, no point in etching copper from these areas.
- if possible, use pad/tracks for Test Points, identify them with lettering.
No two designers will layout an artwork the same way.
These a just a few points, there are lots more!.
Get a good artworking program, practice on 'dummy' layouts, create lots of component outlines,
prove them and use them as building bricks for your layouts.
SAVE you work on a regular basis, before you make an important change, SAVE the current artwork file,
rename the artwork and then modify the artwork, this way, if you screw up, you have not wasted all of your work.
Just a few links, bit deep, but you have to know some of the standards.
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http://www.new-wave-concepts.com/files/PWtutor4.pdf
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