Electronics > Beginners
Why am not able to get a grasp of PCB designing?
tautech:
Thanks, that makes it much easier.
My eyes are drawn to the components with the most ratsnest connections so I would endeavor to optimize their placement first.
Passives with a Gnd connection are much easier as you really only have to find a routing path for one connection as a Gnd is generally always close by. Any you can easily rotate them to make for simpler routing.
In the same way I look for crossed ratsnest connections like to D27 where you might have 2 choices, rotate either D27 or the IC 180 degrees.
The big green pad bottom right has a trace that goes clean across the PCB whereas if it was shifted up near C16 there are better paths for it's other connections yet vias and other side routing might still be needed.
Push, pull, jiggle and rotate one of two things at a time and pathways will open and become simpler, shorter and better.
R2, 3 and 4 need rearranging. NT4 can be flipped. C5 can be vertical....and so on.
Focus on the big stuff with lots of connections going to one place, especially if from adjacent pins all in a row as it's easy to simple route them rather than make things tight needing to find room for vias.
It might help to go into single layer mode rather than have to look at the complete ratsnest and things should become clearer.
Looking forward to your next iteration. :)
Rerouter:
If you would be willing to zip the project files, I'd be happy to see what I can make of it,
Also your DS1 component if going to be a real pain there as you cannot route through it
redgear:
--- Quote from: thinkfat on December 02, 2019, 08:47:28 am ---With C1/C2 right there, it's going to be tricky to route the differential traces to J6. If you turn the controller 45° clockwise, it might become easier.
Rotate Q1 90° anticlockwise to shorten some traces.
Place C3 directly adjacent to the pads it's connecting to, move the whole group a bit to the right to make space.
Move C5 closer to the controller pads it connects to, reduces waste of board area.
--- End quote ---
Done.
--- Quote ---Also, what are all those net-ties doing there? They seem to serve no actual purpose. What nets to you need to tie together?
--- End quote ---
The net-ties are for connecting the mosfets drains to the IC. I am attaching the schematic so you can have a look.
--- Quote ---What's the purpose of Q3/Q4/Q6, VBUS switching? It looks like they'd better be place on the left side of the controller, and the controller moved towards the right to make space. This would also make routing to J6 easier. Or, if they actually do VBUS switching, they functionally belong the connectors, so move them over.
--- End quote ---
Yes, they are responsible for current sensing and act as a switch to the connectors.
--- Quote ---Giving hints on component placement is really hard if you don't provide schematics...
--- End quote ---
Sorry! I'm attaching it with this reply.
--- Quote ---Update: Oh yeah, as others noted, DS1 must go away there. Flip it 180° and move it to the bottom of the board.
--- End quote ---
It is a 7 segment LED display and that is where I want to place it mechanically. :(
--- Quote from: tautech on December 02, 2019, 08:49:41 am ---My eyes are drawn to the components with the most ratsnest connections so I would endeavor to optimize their placement first.
Passives with a Gnd connection are much easier as you really only have to find a routing path for one connection as a Gnd is generally always close by. Any you can easily rotate them to make for simpler routing.
In the same way I look for crossed ratsnest connections like to D27 where you might have 2 choices, rotate either D27 or the IC 180 degrees.
--- End quote ---
Do you mean the DS1? I took thinkfat's suggestion to rotate the IC 45deg, I think its better than before now.
--- Quote ---
The big green pad bottom right has a trace that goes clean across the PCB whereas if it was shifted up near C16 there are better paths for it's other connections yet vias and other side routing might still be needed.
Push, pull, jiggle and rotate one of two things at a time and pathways will open and become simpler, shorter and better.
R2, 3 and 4 need rearranging. NT4 can be flipped. C5 can be vertical....and so on.
--- End quote ---
Done.
--- Quote ---Focus on the big stuff with lots of connections going to one place, especially if from adjacent pins all in a row as it's easy to simple route them rather than make things tight needing to find room for vias.
--- End quote ---
Ok. :-+ I have been sketching the components on paper and arranging them, i feel easier that way.
--- Quote ---It might help to go into single layer mode rather than have to look at the complete ratsnest and things should become clearer.
--- End quote ---
Idk if Kicad has a single layer mode, but I can make the either Back or Front planes invisible if that is what you mean.
--- Quote from: Rerouter on December 02, 2019, 09:14:17 am ---If you would be willing to zip the project files, I'd be happy to see what I can make of it,
Also your DS1 component if going to be a real pain there as you cannot route through it
--- End quote ---
Thanks. Do you mind if I send you a private message?
@thinkfat and @tautech I'm attaching the next iteration of the PCB. Please have a look.
thinkfat:
--- Quote from: redgear on December 02, 2019, 10:18:59 am ---
--- Quote ---Also, what are all those net-ties doing there? They seem to serve no actual purpose. What nets to you need to tie together?
--- End quote ---
The net-ties are for connecting the mosfets drains to the IC. I am attaching the schematic so you can have a look.
--- End quote ---
OK, so they're not serving a real purpose. Drop them, it will at least make the ratsnest connections more clear.
--- Quote from: redgear on December 02, 2019, 10:18:59 am ---
--- Quote ---Giving hints on component placement is really hard if you don't provide schematics...
--- End quote ---
Sorry! I'm attaching it with this reply.
--- End quote ---
Seems you forgot.
--- Quote from: redgear on December 02, 2019, 10:18:59 am ---
--- Quote ---Update: Oh yeah, as others noted, DS1 must go away there. Flip it 180° and move it to the bottom of the board.
--- End quote ---
It is a 7 segment LED display and that is where I want to place it mechanically. :(
--- End quote ---
bummer that... OK, well, you'll have to suck it up, then.
--- Quote from: redgear on December 02, 2019, 10:18:59 am ---
--- Quote ---It might help to go into single layer mode rather than have to look at the complete ratsnest and things should become clearer.
--- End quote ---
Idk if Kicad has a single layer mode, but I can make the either Back or Front planes invisible if that is what you mean.
--- End quote ---
Press 'H' and see if the result helps you.
--- Quote from: redgear on December 02, 2019, 10:18:59 am ---@thinkfat and @tautech I'm attaching the next iteration of the PCB. Please have a look.
--- End quote ---
Are you hellbound on the placement of those connectors? The routing would become much easier if J4 and J5/J6 swapped places.
jhpadjustable:
--- Quote from: thinkfat on December 02, 2019, 10:59:55 am ---OK, so they're not serving a real purpose. Drop them, it will at least make the ratsnest connections more clear.
--- End quote ---
That was me. I suggested redgear add them so that the current/voltage sensing at the MOSFETs would be distinctly routable. Is that overkill?
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version