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Printed Circuit Board

http://saturnpcb.com/pcb_services.htm

Daniel Miller
Joe Quesada
Justine Lazo

Overview
What is a PCB?
Why use a PCB?
How do I make a PCB?

Printed Circuit Board

Circuit connects components through board

Made of alternating layers of conducting and
insulating materials

http://www.seilpcb.co.kr/products/images/2_1_img5.gif

Why PCB?
Features
Surprisingly Affordable
Highly reliable
Compact

Drawbacks
Requires more layout than other board types
Higher initial cost than wire wrap or point-topoint construction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breadboard_complex.jpg

PCB Design Steps

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Design the circuit

Place the components
Route the wires
Manufacture

EDA Software
PCB design software package
Design the circuit (Schematics editor)
Place the components (PCB editor)
Route the wires (Autorouter module)

Examples:
EAGLE
ExpressPCB

Schematic Capture

Pin in/outs
Components
Interconnections
Easily Readable
High-Level Block
Diagram

All pictures of schematics and EAGLE screenshots from http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/108

and http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/109

Placement of Components
Rats Nest

Placement of Components
Place big components first- e.g. microcontroller
Place components in separate functional groups
Put a ground plane under all components

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Signal Routing Component Placement

Surface mount
Top and bottom planes
Minimal routing area

Through-hole mounted
All components on same side
Reduces routing area on all planes

http://www.ehow.com/how_8306661_solder-mini-components.html
http://blog.amal.net/?p=188

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Signal Routing
Traces are wires connecting components
Traces can be routed through multiple layers

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Vias and Pads

Vias are connections between layers
Pads are copper areas for pin connections

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Manufacturing Files
Gerber Files
Industry standard file format to describe circuits
Generated by PCB design software
Contains all necessary info to manufacture a
circuit board (Traces, Pads, Silkscreen, etc.)

Drill Files
Describes the location and size of holes
Zipped with Gerber files and sent to manufacturer

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Viewplot Check

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Cost Estimate
www.pcbfabexpress.com

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Cost Estimate
www.sunstone.com

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Summary
PCBs allow for portable and reliable circuits
Designed in EDA Software

Design the circuit

Place the components
Route the wires
Manufacture

Price varies based on size and urgency

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References

http://saturnpcb.com/pcb_services.htm
http://www.seilpcb.co.kr/products/images/2_1_img5.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breadboard_complex.jpg
http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/108
http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/109
http://www.ehow.com/how_8306661_solder-minicomponents.html
http://blog.amal.net/?p=188
http://www.pcbfabexpress.com/preview_specs.jsp
http://www.sunstone.com/products-services/quickturnproto-boards/pricing.aspx

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Questions?