Electronics > Beginners

Why am not able to get a grasp of PCB designing?

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redgear:

--- Quote from: EEVblog on November 25, 2019, 11:00:08 am ---You've done 90% of the work, which is the schematic, netlist, footprints, and component placement. Actually routing that board takes the same amount of time in any package, they are all basically the same productivity at that point with manual routing.

--- End quote ---

I'm just getting blocked at many points while trying to route. I think it will get better with practice. Also, they are traces that needs to be thicker than the rest and I'm just getting confused.

thinkfat:

--- Quote from: redgear on November 25, 2019, 11:04:04 am ---
--- Quote from: EEVblog on November 25, 2019, 11:00:08 am ---You've done 90% of the work, which is the schematic, netlist, footprints, and component placement. Actually routing that board takes the same amount of time in any package, they are all basically the same productivity at that point with manual routing.

--- End quote ---

I'm just getting blocked at many points while trying to route. I think it will get better with practice. Also, they are traces that needs to be thicker than the rest and I'm just getting confused.

--- End quote ---

I always found the ratsnet being the most helpful visual aid while placing components. Every "airwire" crossing another wire is a hint that something isn't quite right yet. You turn and shove components around until the tangle unravels. It's just a skill you develop by doing it over and over. After a while you just "see" paths for tracks while you place the components. Also, building little compartments helps a lot to reduce the complexity. It's like small fish following big fish: every major component has a zoo of smaller stuff following it around - decoupling capacitors, resistors, etc. You group them together, placing them with minimal crossing ratsnet lines of minimal length and then you move the whole group to their final place on the board. After you've done that for all the major functional blocks you connect them with tracks.

Placement is the main work anyway, when you've done that properly, the rest is just "connect the dots".

Regarding track widths and getting confused what is what, that's what "net classes" are for.

redgear:

--- Quote from: thinkfat on November 25, 2019, 11:36:30 am ---I always found the ratsnet being the most helpful visual aid while placing components. Every "airwire" crossing another wire is a hint that something isn't quite right yet. You turn and shove components around until the tangle unravels. It's just a skill you develop by doing it over and over. After a while you just "see" paths for tracks while you place the components. Also, building little compartments helps a lot to reduce the complexity. It's like small fish following big fish: every major component has a zoo of smaller stuff following it around - decoupling capacitors, resistors, etc. You group them together, placing them with minimal crossing ratsnet lines of minimal length and then you move the whole group to their final place on the board. After you've done that for all the major functional blocks you connect them with tracks.

--- End quote ---

Yep, I am not telling it is not useful. But as a beginner looking at ratsnet is scary for me. And how much ever orientations I try I am not able to untangle them.

tautech:

--- Quote from: redgear on November 27, 2019, 08:26:03 am ---Yep, I am not telling it is not useful. But as a beginner looking at ratsnet is scary for me. And how much ever orientations I try I am not able to untangle them.

--- End quote ---
Yeah well you did take on something a bit complex first up.

The ratsnest is you placement lifeline first then your eyes as to possible routing solutions.
Something less complex and forcing yourself to do it on a single layer is the way to get your head around it along with a not too stifling PCB size until more experience is gained.

It might seem I ramble on a bit but my posts are not just directed at you but for the wider audience that also follow this stuff.  ;)

Still, do show progress as there's plenty of us here to help if you get really stuck.

redgear:

--- Quote from: tautech on November 27, 2019, 09:12:08 am ---It might seem I ramble on a bit but my posts are not just directed at you but for the wider audience that also follow this stuff.  ;)

Still, do show progress as there's plenty of us here to help if you get really stuck.

--- End quote ---

Your replies on this thread has been very informational for me. I have been following the advice you(and everyone else on this thread) have given me. Like I said, when I was about to start routing the older layout, I found a better IC and I decided to start from the beginning again. I have few DRC errors on the schematic and I'm trying to correct. I even created a new topic and got some advice from jhpadjustable but still there are a few errors. Once I fix them, I will start with the PCB design.

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