Tutorial: Printed-Circuit Boards

Page under construction!

--D. Thiebaut 12:37, 20 June 2011 (EDT)

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Software

All are open-source.

• TinyCAD
• FreePCB
• ViewMate (get the free registration code via email to install)
• PCBExpress/Sunstone: Web site where to order PCB from.

Process

• First create schematics with TinyCAD
• Then route the lines on a 4-layer board with FreePCB
• Check the CAM files generated by FreePCB with ViewMate
• Once the output files are ready, upload them to PCBExpress (accept 4-layers+mask option).

An Example

• We'll create a PCB for the following simple circuit taken from seekic.com:

TinyCAD

• Open TinyCAD
• Open the 74TTL library in the left pane
• Pick the Hex Inverters
• Drop two inverters on the blank schematics pane
• Update the reference for each gate (U1A and U1B) in the Tool Options window.