Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design: From Schematic to Manufacturing

Original price was: ₹10,000.00.Current price is: ₹5,000.00.

Course Duration:10 weeks

Level:

Intermediate to Advanced

Prerequisites:

Basic understanding of electronics, familiarity with circuit components and schematics.

Course Objectives:

  • To provide students with a thorough understanding of PCB design concepts, tools, and processes.
  • To equip students with hands-on skills for creating schematics, laying out PCB designs, and preparing files for manufacturing.
  • To introduce students to design standards, best practices, and quality checks in PCB design.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Introduction to PCB Design

Overview of PCB: What is a PCB? Types of PCBs (single-layer, double-layer, multi-layer).

Applications and Importance: PCBs in various industries like automotive, consumer electronics, medical devices, etc.

Course Scope and Objectives

Module 2: Schematic Design Basics

Understanding Schematic Symbols and Standards: Industry standards (IEEE, IEC) and best practices.

Tools for Schematic Capture: Overview of tools (Altium, KiCad, Eagle, etc.) and tool installation.

Creating Simple Circuits: Hands-on practice with basic schematic capture, and component libraries.

Design Rules and Constraints: Defining requirements based on the circuit’s purpose.

Module 3: Advanced Schematic Design

Component Selection and Sourcing: Choosing appropriate components and creating custom library parts.

Designing for Reliability: Noise reduction, signal integrity, and power management.

Hierarchy in Schematics: Multi-page and multi-sheet schematics for complex designs.

Hands-on Project: Designing a multi-component schematic (e.g., a simple power supply).

Module 4: Introduction to PCB Layout

Layers and Stack-up: Understanding the different layers in a PCB (signal, ground, power, etc.).

Component Placement: Rules for efficient layout, such as grouping components and minimizing trace lengths.

Traces and Routing Basics: Setting width, spacing, and types of routing (manual vs. auto-routing).

Power and Ground Planes: Importance of power planes and effective grounding techniques.

Module 5: Advanced PCB Layout Techniques

High-Speed PCB Design: Techniques for minimizing EMI, managing signal integrity, and controlling impedance.

Thermal Management: Heat dissipation, copper pours, and thermal vias.

Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Guidelines to ensure PCB can be reliably manufactured.

PCB Layout Rules and Constraints: Setting up design rule checks (DRCs) in the software.

Module 6: Verification and Simulation

Schematic and PCB Design Verification: Cross-checking between schematic and PCB layouts.

Simulation Tools and Techniques: Signal integrity analysis, thermal simulations, and basic SPICE simulation.

Hands-on Lab: Simulating a PCB design to identify potential issues before manufacturing.

Module 7: Preparing for Manufacturing

Bill of Materials (BOM) Generation: Automating BOM creation and managing component sourcing.

Gerber File Generation and Verification: Creating and understanding Gerber files, drill files, and assembly files.

Selecting a Manufacturer: Key factors in choosing a PCB manufacturer and an overview of the manufacturing process.

Panelization and Design for Assembly (DFA): Ensuring the board is optimized for assembly processes.

Module 8: PCB Fabrication Process

PCB Manufacturing Steps: Overview of fabrication steps like etching, drilling, solder mask application, and silk-screening.

Quality Control in Manufacturing: Common quality checks and standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012).

Understanding PCB Materials: Types of substrates, copper weights, and how material choices affect cost and performance.

Hands-on Workshop: Visit a local PCB manufacturer (if feasible) or virtual factory tour.

Module 9: PCB Assembly and Testing

PCB Assembly Overview: Surface-mount and through-hole technology.

Soldering Techniques: Basics of manual and automated soldering processes.

Testing and Troubleshooting PCBs: Using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and test jigs.

Reliability Testing: Environmental tests like thermal cycling, humidity, and mechanical stress tests.

Module 10: Course Project and Final Review

Capstone Project: Design, layout, and prepare a small PCB for manufacturing (e.g., a sensor board, LED driver).

Review and Debugging: Final checks and debugging tips.

Presentation of Designs: Students present their final projects, sharing challenges and solutions.

Feedback and Next Steps: Career guidance in PCB design and areas for further learning.

Course Materials:

  • Software Requirements: Access to PCB design software (trial or student licenses may be available).
  • Tools: Breadboard, soldering kit, multimeter, oscilloscope (recommended but not mandatory).
  • Readings: “Printed Circuits Handbook” by Clyde F. Coombs, “High-Speed Digital Design” by Howard Johnson, and IPC standards for PCB design.

    Assessment:

    Weekly Assignments and Quizzes: Based on each module’s content.

    Midterm Exam: Covering modules 1-5.

    Final Exam: Comprehensive exam covering all modules.

    Capstone Project: Graded on design, functionality, and presentation.

     

This course structure will provide a solid foundation in PCB design, preparing students for real-world applications in the electronics industry.