For this activity, I used KiCad to design a custom PCB for a Seeed Studio XIAO RP2040 microcontroller.
Since I do not have access to in-house PCB manufacturing equipment, I used JLCPCB as a board house to
fabricate the board.
Design Rules
When designing the PCB, several manufacturing constraints were considered to ensure the
board could be produced successfully:
- Appropriate trace widths were used for signal routing.
- Adequate spacing was maintained between traces and pads.
- Component footprints were verified before exporting manufacturing files.
- Board outlines were checked to ensure proper dimensions.
- Design Rule Checks (DRC) were performed in KiCad before generating output files.
- Board House Workflow
The workflow used for PCB fabrication was:
- Design the PCB in KiCad.
- Run design rule checks and correct any errors.
- enerate Gerber files and drill files.
- Upload the manufacturing files to JLCPCB.
- Review the board preview generated by the manufacturer.
- Select board options such as quantity and board color.
- Submit the order for fabrication.
- Receive the finished boards and inspect them for quality.
- Assemble and test the completed board.
Outcome
The board was successfully manufactured by JLCPCB and delivered within approximately ten days.
After assembly and soldering, the board was tested using a simple LED blink program to verify
proper operation of the XIAO RP2040 and supporting circuitry.
This activity helped me better understand the complete PCB production process, from schematic
design and board layout to manufacturing and assembly. It also demonstrated how board houses
simplify PCB fabrication by providing automated file verification, board previews, and
manufacturing services.