6. Electronics design¶

Group assignment:¶

• Use the test equipment in your lab to observe the operation of a microcontroller circuit board(as a minimum, you should demonstrate the use of a multimeter and oscilloscope)

To see our group assignment click here

Individual assignment:¶

• Design a development board to interact and communicate with an embedded microcontroller

• extra credit: try another design workflow; make a case for it; Simulate its operation

PCB Design Documentation¶

This section outlines the workflow for designing a custom Printed Circuit Board (PCB), from initial schematics to production-ready files.

Step 01: Schematic Circuit Design¶

The first phase involves creating the logical blueprint of the project. This stage defines the electrical connections between components.

• Component Selection: Choosing symbols and footprints from libraries.

  ESP32

• Electrical Rule Check (ERC): Verifying that there are no disconnected pins or short circuits.

Step 02: Layout Design (Routing)¶

After validating the schematic, components are placed physically on the board. This is where you define the traces and board characteristics.

• Track Width: Set according to current capacity ( 0.25mm for signals and 0.6mm for power) but in my case use 0.6mm for all.
• Clearance: Maintaining enough space between tracks to prevent interference.
• Pad & Via Diameter: Adjusting sizes for easy soldering and reliable connectivity.

3D visualize¶

clix on 3D tool to swich to 3D

results¶

Step 03: Manufacturing File Generation¶

The final step is to export the design into formats compatible with fabrication machines (CNC or industrial manufacturing).

• dxf Files: Standard files for each layer (Copper, Solder Mask, Silkscreen).
• Excellon Drill Files: Specific data for hole locations and sizes.
• Design Rule Check (DRC): A final automated check to ensure the design matches the manufacturer's capabilities.

Summary Table of Specifications¶

Files