When creating PCBs, the quality of the work is the most important element.\u00a0 If the design has a flaw, the work can lead to malfunction, damage, or worse depending on the application.\u00a0 Quality is key.\u00a0 It’s good practice to keep that in mind regardless if the design is complex or rudimentary.<\/p>\n
I’ve found that component placement on the board to be a good first step.\u00a0 It allows you to know that parts will fit and connect with the outside world with ease.\u00a0 Once all the components are in place, then traces can be run.\u00a0 Traces are a bit of art.\u00a0 The symmetry and structure to complex boards create patterns that draw attention.\u00a0 If a component needs to be moved or added later, legacy traces typically will need to be deleted and recreated.\u00a0 Don’t waste your hard work.\u00a0 Get you component placement right the first time.\u00a0 If additional components will be added later, factor that in.\u00a0 It can take weeks of work to get a first pass done on a complex PCB design.\u00a0 You don’t want a do over, most likely you won’t be afforded with one.<\/p>\n
Be prepared to make changes.\u00a0 It’s highly unlikely the first rendering of your layout into a Gerber file will be ready for production.\u00a0 I’ve used these programs to quality check my layouts.\u00a0 I’ve managed to find something in each that brings me back to make another change.<\/p>\n
Fritzing – http:\/\/fritzing.org\/home\/<\/a> There is another windows based program you can try, however I have not tested it.<\/p>\n ZofzPCB: FREE 3D Gerber Viewer – https:\/\/www.zofzpcb.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nGerbv – http:\/\/gerbv.geda-project.org\/<\/a>
\nGerbLook – http:\/\/gerblook.org\/<\/a>
\nMayhew Labs 3D Gerber Viewer – http:\/\/mayhewlabs.com\/3dpcb<\/a><\/p>\n