[TriEmbed] Lowest learning curve to design a board?

[Kevin Schilf]

 Hi Jonathan,
All EDA tools carry overhead to get started.  The first step is schematic and footprint libraries.  Then you have to learn to drive the tool to ultimately make gerber files that folks like OshPark can turn into boards.  The question is whether or not that overhead benefits you in terms of future volumes or required board complexity.
The simplest path is buying a pre-perforated circuit board then secure the components and connect with discrete wires.  The boards easily handle things on a 0.1" center.  You may need to drill additional holes for other components.  This becomes more difficult for smaller surface mount devices.

If you are making a single board, one layer (no internal planes no backside). check out toner transfer.  This is the way poor grad students used to/still make project boards.  You can do the artwork on any graphics program then transfer and etch.  You will have to manually drill the holes as applicable and won't have automatic hole plating or via options.  If you have circuitry on the front and back sides then you will have to watch registration before drilling to make sure your holes line up on both sides after you drill them.

There are also small purpose built CNC machines designed to grind off the unwanted copper from the sheet.  They are expensive unless you have access at work or a university?

Once you start adding internal layers, need tighter registration, or want more complex routing relationships you are better off going the EDA route.
Here is a hackaday article...

Take Your PCBs From Good To Great: Toner Transfer

| 
| 
| 
|  |  |

 |

 |
| 
|  | 
Take Your PCBs From Good To Great: Toner Transfer

A lot of us make circuit boards at home. I find it a useful skill to have in my bag of tricks for intermediate s...
 |

 |

 |




Good Luck,Kevin

    On Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 11:44:40 AM EST, jonathan hunsberger via TriEmbed <triembed at triembed.org> wrote:  
 
 Hi everyone, I have a need for a custom board and don't really get excited about board design as a skill to acquire. I previously tried KiCad and was a bit overwhelmed. Are there any other options out there that are a little more approachable for a one-off project? It is really simple, just connecting a Teensy with two module boards, a USB-c socket, an RJ11, a POT, and a few passives and I plan to hand-solder everything together.Thanks!
_______________________________________________
Triangle, NC Embedded Interest Group mailing list

To post message: TriEmbed at triembed.org
List info: http://mail.triembed.org/mailman/listinfo/triembed_triembed.org
TriEmbed web site: https://TriEmbed.org
To unsubscribe, click link and send a blank message: mailto:unsubscribe-TriEmbed at bitser.net?subject=unsubscribe
Searchable email archive available at https://www.mail-archive.com/triembed@triembed.org/

  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.triembed.org/pipermail/triembed_triembed.org/attachments/20231227/1180d25c/attachment.htm>