Anatomy Of A Circuit Board

When it comes to both large corporations and hobbyists, using good techniques is a guaranteed way to create consistent, well-produced printed circuit boards. The design is most important, as it leads the entire project. Well-thought-out designs create boards with less chance of failure or revision, increasing production and efficiency.

Aesthetic Printed Circuit Board Design Layout

Traditionally, circuit boards are designed on a 0.05?? grid. The lower left corner is the point where the two axises meet, making it (0,0). Usually, board frames are rectangular, making the above practice common for all boards, but some specific projects could have other shapes, like squares, polygons, or connected shapes for complex projects. These boards should still be designed on a 0.05?? grid, with (0,0) in the lowest left ?corner.?? The 0.05?? grid is not for negative space, but rather for aligning parts, connectors, and components.

For a sleek-looking board, it?s ideal to have any LEDs labeled with a purpose, and have them placed only where necessary. Most high-quality designers group components together. In the same vein, avoiding vias cutting through the silkscreen lettering gives a more thoughtful and clean design. Many designers and contractors prefer to avoid right angles and opt for straight lines and 45 degree corners instead.

Technical Design Commonalities

Consistently, 7 millimeters is the smallest width for traces, although this is the ideal width for negative space between the tracers. Most contractors and designers aim for tracers with a width of 10 millimeters or more. These consistent sizes fit nicely with the established 0.05?? grid. Traditionally, power lines have larger traces of over 15 millimeters.

For complex productions, it?s common to have the board and all components color coded in the design and matched during production. These color-coded sections are smaller and allow the highest attention to detail, without overwhelming the developer. Adding the appropriate symbols for components within the design is typical, as well.

All designs should have a reference designator, which will identify all the components of the printed circuit board in the design. They?re easy to create and utilize and will make the production run much smoother. The silkscreen for any printed circuit board must be carefully designed so as to not cross over exposed metal, or visible pads. These surfaces are too slick for the silkscreen and the lettering will flake off. Regarding the silkscreen, all printed circuit boards should have specific indicators showing the mechanical sizes, dimensions, and wiring to each part.

When finishing a footprint design, most developers will mark the top component layer with a red center cross, to ensure that all the subsequent vias and connections will be functional.

Designing Effectively and with Style

It?s not uncommon to see sloppy, unappealing printed circuit board designs, but there are some similarities that set beautiful and cohesive projects apart. Choosing to follow guidelines is up to the developer and designer, but having consistent, clean results and production means higher output, increased efficiency, and a more desirable product.