Re: PC board fabrication
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:34 pmhttps://easyeda.com/
I would try that if you are going to use JLC-PCB. They have a link to it on their website. My thought is that you may have one less issue as far as board files and formats. I expect they know what to expect from the output of that program.
A part of my job at work is to do the pcb layout for my designs. I have used Pads for over thirty years now. It is a commercial package and hate how much we have to pay for it. I think it was about $5000 for the basic level with one license.
I have a few boards I want to do. I wanted to use a free package but I just hated to have to learn a new program for the little I plan on doing. So I had borrowed the USB dongle a few times but haven't got too far due to lack of time.
Assuming you pick up the program's operation pretty fast, the part that can suck a lot of time is making parts. Parts for the schematic, and then the footprint for the pcb layout. Whatever package you look at, take a look to see if there are libraries for parts you plan to use. Look to see if they have the ESP module you want to use. Odds are you probably will use pretty standard parts. When using someone's library part, check it over carefully. Make sure the dimensions are correct, the pads and traces how you would want them.
Most surface mount footprints are made as small as the part allows. This is great in order to get higher part density in the design but it doesn't make it easy for manual assembly or rework. I tend to make my pads extend further beyond the part in order to give me some pad that I can touch a soldering iron to when I am soldering the part.
I suggest staying away from autorouting a board. It usually eds up being crappy. Auto-routers are ok if you put enough effort into working with the rule set. And that often is as much work as just running the traces yourself.
One of the worst things as far as pcb design is the ground symbol. It gives the allusion that as long as you are connected to the ground net, that everything is ok. When you have an input or output, follow the path that the current will need to take. The whole path from whatever starting point you have, along with the return path back to the start. It should be as direct as possible. Not snaking all over the place. Usually I look at ranging the parts so the connected parts fit together as cleanly as possible. But when I start laying down traces I first start with power and ground. I might or might not not run them completely, but I plan the path and how it will end up.
I would try that if you are going to use JLC-PCB. They have a link to it on their website. My thought is that you may have one less issue as far as board files and formats. I expect they know what to expect from the output of that program.
A part of my job at work is to do the pcb layout for my designs. I have used Pads for over thirty years now. It is a commercial package and hate how much we have to pay for it. I think it was about $5000 for the basic level with one license.
I have a few boards I want to do. I wanted to use a free package but I just hated to have to learn a new program for the little I plan on doing. So I had borrowed the USB dongle a few times but haven't got too far due to lack of time.
Assuming you pick up the program's operation pretty fast, the part that can suck a lot of time is making parts. Parts for the schematic, and then the footprint for the pcb layout. Whatever package you look at, take a look to see if there are libraries for parts you plan to use. Look to see if they have the ESP module you want to use. Odds are you probably will use pretty standard parts. When using someone's library part, check it over carefully. Make sure the dimensions are correct, the pads and traces how you would want them.
Most surface mount footprints are made as small as the part allows. This is great in order to get higher part density in the design but it doesn't make it easy for manual assembly or rework. I tend to make my pads extend further beyond the part in order to give me some pad that I can touch a soldering iron to when I am soldering the part.
I suggest staying away from autorouting a board. It usually eds up being crappy. Auto-routers are ok if you put enough effort into working with the rule set. And that often is as much work as just running the traces yourself.
One of the worst things as far as pcb design is the ground symbol. It gives the allusion that as long as you are connected to the ground net, that everything is ok. When you have an input or output, follow the path that the current will need to take. The whole path from whatever starting point you have, along with the return path back to the start. It should be as direct as possible. Not snaking all over the place. Usually I look at ranging the parts so the connected parts fit together as cleanly as possible. But when I start laying down traces I first start with power and ground. I might or might not not run them completely, but I plan the path and how it will end up.