Hi, I have been working on a fun teensy drum machine project. I have almost everything working on a breadboard and want to build a prototype. I've downloaded KiCad and creating the schematic is something I can do but taking that to a PCB is a challenge. Does anyone have any tips on how to accomplish that?
Hey rcon, self-taught PCB layout is a bit of a challenge. I have been doing occasional boards for over 10 years now and each time I learn something new. The first time things blew up (the footprint for the transistors were all backwards), by the third time things worked.
My suggestions would be:
- start with the outline for whatever space requirements you have of the PCB. give yourself lots if you can, getting a working first board is the most important thing here.. shrinking it down can be done later.
- make sure every footprint matches up with what you're using for that component.
- place jacks/switches/pots where you want them first and lock those in place.
- place IC's in logical positions near the components they connect to.. keep in mind any flow of signal left to right, etc.
- if stuff is being too hard, rip out the traces and move components around and start again.
- look at some real PCBs for inspiration.
- if the routing and space requirements are hard, don't be afraid to increase the layers to 4. I learned this recently... 4-layer boards are now cheaper than your effort required to route a difficult board onto 2-layers.
Lastly:
- change the default colours of KiCAD as soon as you start. Make the background darkish grey, make those ratsnest lines a light grey... try to make the contrast and colours such that they don't burn an image into your brain until the end of time and haunt your dreams.