How to Make a Printed Circuit Board

Tired of messy wires and fragile prototypes? A custom Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is the ultimate way to turn your electronics ideas into polished, permanent projects!

Circuit boards are the fundamental building blocks of electronics, whether you're prototyping on a breadboard, soldering on a perf board, etching a copper-clad board at home, or getting it professionally made.

In this Instructable, we're skipping the DIY mess and diving straight into the professional workflow. You will learn how to design a complete circuit using the free, online tool EasyEDA, and more importantly, how to prepare and check your design to get it manufactured affordably by a high-quality PCB fabrication house. Let's make your project look factory-fresh!

Design Phase (Software & Information)

These supplies are necessary to complete the PCB design and prepare the manufacturing files.

1. Laptop or Desktop Computer
2. Internet Access (Required for the EasyEDA online tool)
3. Final Circuit Diagram (The schematic of the project you intend to build, with all component values specified)
4. Component Datasheets (Essential for confirming physical dimensions, pinouts, and electrical characteristics of complex parts like ICs and connectors)

1. Go to the official EasyEDA website and Sign Up for a free account if you haven't already.
2. Once logged in, you have two options:
3. Click the "Design Online" button to use the web-based editor. This is the fastest way to get started and requires no installation.
4. Alternatively, you can choose to install the desktop application.
5. When prompted to select an edition, choose the Standard Edition. As a beginner, this version is intuitive, fast, and contains all the features necessary for most hobbyist projects.

1. Once the editor loads, navigate to the top menu and click File -> New -> Project.
2. A dialog box will appear. Give your project a name.
3. Click Save.
4. Now, create the actual design file: Click File -> New -> Schematic.
5. This will open a large, blank canvas—this is where you will draw your circuit diagram.

1. Accessing the Component Libraries

When looking for components, note the two main library panels on the left side:

1. Common Library: This panel holds parts that are used frequently (like basic resistors, capacitors, and voltage sources). You can usually find the generic symbols here.
2. Libraries: Use this panel to search for specific or specialized parts (like ICs, specific connectors, and custom modules).

2. Naming and Changing Component Values

1. Select the Component: Click on any component you've placed (like a resistor or a chip).
2. Use the Right Panel: The right-hand panel will automatically update to show all the properties of that selected component.
3. Make Changes:
4. Change Value: Find the box labeled "Value" (e.g., it might say R). Change this to the value you need (e.g., 10k, 100nF).
5. Change Name: You can also rename the component's reference (e.g., from R1 to LED_Resistor).

3. Wiring the Circuit

1. Find the Wire Tool: Look at the main toolbar near the top of the screen. Find the tool that looks like a diagonal line or a wire. Click it.
2. Connect the Pins: Click once on the end (pin) of the first component, then move your mouse and click on the pin of the second component you want to connect. EasyEDA will draw a wire between them.
3. Draw All Connections: Follow your original circuit diagram and wire up all the necessary connections.
4. Use Net Ports (For Cleaner Diagrams): If two parts are far apart (like power/ground lines), use a Net Port (found in the wiring toolbar). Place a Net Port on one pin and give it a name (e.g., VCC). Place another Net Port on the distant pin and give it the exact same name. EasyEDA knows these two pins are connected, even without a visible wire.

Goal Check: By the end of this step, your EasyEDA schematic should perfectly match your original circuit diagram, and all components should have the correct values assigned.

This is the important step where the parts you drew in your schematic (the circuit diagram) are moved into a real, physical board shape.

1. Conversion

1. Click to Convert: In the top menu of the schematic editor, find and click: Design -> Convert Schematic to PCB.
2. This tells EasyEDA to grab all your components and wires and put them into the PCB editor.
3. Save Your Work: The system will ask you to save. Click Yes.
4. The New View: A new tab or window opens. You will see a small gray rectangle (the default board) and all your components placed outside of it, connected by thin blue lines called Ratlines. These Ratlines show you where the wires need to go.

2. Setting the Board Size Precisely

1. Go to Tools: In the top menu bar, click on Tools.
2. Set Outline: Click on Set Board Outline.
3. Enter Dimensions: A small window will appear where you can enter the exact Width and Height (in millimeters, usually) that you want your final PCB to be.
4. Confirm: Click OK. The gray rectangle on your screen will instantly update to your specified size.

3. Arranging Your Components

1. Move Parts onto the Board: Click and drag the components onto your newly sized board outline.
2. Make it Tidy: Arrange the components so the Ratlines (the blue connection lines) cross over each other as little as possible. This arrangement directly affects how easy the next step (wiring) will be.
3. Tip: Put parts that connect to the outside world (like plugs, buttons, or power jacks) right on the edge of the board.
4. Save Your Layout: Always save your work (Ctrl+S).

4. Running the Auto Router

1. Find the Tool: Look in the top menu bar and click on Route.
2. Start Auto Route: Select Auto Router... (or sometimes just Auto Route).
3. Set Basic Options: A window will pop up with many settings. For a beginner, you usually don't need to change much, but confirm these basics:
4. Layer Count: Set to 2 (Top Layer and Bottom Layer).
5. Routing Gap/Width: Leave these at their default settings, as they are usually safe for manufacturing.
6. Click Start: Click the Run or Start Auto Routing button.

5. Reviewing the Results

1. Wait: The auto-router will work quickly to draw all the copper traces onto your board, replacing the Ratlines.
2. Check for Errors: Once finished, the auto-router will show a summary. Ideally, the status should be 100% routed, meaning all connections were made.
3. Manual Check: Zoom in and look over the board. The wires (traces) will be red (Top Layer) and blue (Bottom Layer), connected by small green circles called Vias (which allow the wire to switch sides). Make sure no traces look too close together or weirdly shaped.

Before you generate the manufacturing files, it's crucial to inspect your board visually. This helps you spot mistakes like incorrect component size, silkscreen text being over pads, or traces running too close to the edge.

1. 2D View Inspection

1. Find the 3D Tool: In the top menu bar, click on 2D.

2. 3D View Inspection

The 3D view is the ultimate check, showing you exactly how the assembled board will look in your hands!

1. Find the 3D Tool: In the top menu bar, click on 3D.
2. Inspect the Board: A new window will open showing a three-dimensional model of your PCB.
3. You can click and drag the board to rotate it and view it from every angle (top, bottom, and sides).
4. Crucial Check: Look for components that seem to overlap or appear to hang off the edge of the board. If the 3D model looks right, your physical board will likely be correct!
5. Close: When satisfied, close the 3D view window.

The manufacturer doesn't use your EasyEDA project file; they use a set of standardized files called Gerber files.

Generate the Gerber Files

1. Access Fabrication: In the top menu bar, click on Fabrication -> PCB Fabrication File (Gerber).
2. Review the Output: A window will pop up showing a final preview of your board layers (copper, silkscreen, solder mask, etc.). Look closely one last time!
3. Generate: Click the Generate Gerber button. EasyEDA will create a single compressed .ZIP file containing all the necessary manufacturing data.

While EasyEDA partners closely with JLCPCB, it's smart to shop around for the best price, shipping time and local support.

1. Do Your Research: Before ordering, research manufacturers in your country or area. Shipping manufactured boards internationally can sometimes be expensive and slow.
2. My Experience (Robu.in): I chose to manufacture mine through Robu.in. I uploaded my Gerber .zip file to their platform.
3. Delivery Note: My order took approximately one month from placing the order to final delivery. This is a common turnaround time for custom manufacturing, so be patient!
4. Manufacturer Settings: No matter which service you choose, you will need to set the order parameters on their website:
5. Upload: Upload the Gerber .zip file you downloaded from EasyEDA.
6. Settings: Confirm the board Size, 2 Layers, Quantity (e.g., 5 or 10 boards), your preferred PCB Color, and 1.6mm thickness.
7. Finalize: Select your shipping method, pay, and you're done!

The PCB I designed is a simple, programmable TM1637 IC-controlled clock display that can be easily connected to and run by any popular microcontroller platform (Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266, etc.).

If you are a beginner or a hobbyist living in India and wish to skip the design and ordering process for this specific project, I would be happy to help you get started!

1. Offer: I can provide a complete kit, including the manufactured PCB, the TM1637 IC, LEDs, and all other necessary components.
2. How to Contact: Please contact me directly through the messaging system on this Instructable platform or through Instagram if you are interested in acquiring a complete kit for this project!

Thank you for following along, and happy tinkering!