Fab Academy 2026

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WEEK 6 – Electronics Design ​

Assignments ​

Group Assignment ​

  • Use the test equipment in your lab to observe the operation of an embedded microcontroller

Individual Assignment ​

  • Simulate a circuit
  • Use an EDA tool to design an embedded microcontroller system using parts from the inventory, and check its design rules for fabrication
  • Extra credit: try another design workflow
  • Extra credit: design a case

Group Work ​

Our group work is accessible HERE (add the link)

Individual Work #1 ​

PCB Design Process ​

Project Initialisation ​

Step 1: After reviewing a few EDA platforms with my instrutor, such as KiCad, Altium, Cadence, and EasyEDA/IcDEA... I decided to use IcEDA for this week first trial. EasyEDA/IcDEA is a free open-source EDA software. The IcEDA is the Chinese version which can be set in English, and the EasyEDA version is the international version.

Step 2: This is the home interface of the software - Click "New Project" to create a new project

Step 3: Define file name and its location on my laptop, and then click "Save"

Step 4: The new project file is created and the software interface updated

Step 5: Double-Click P1 to make visible the skecth page and frame template

Import Components from the Component Library ​

Here is the process to import my first component, the XIAO-ESP32-C3, which I decided to use for this practice exercise.

Step 1: Click the "Library icon"

Step 2: Select the "JLCEDA library", then type the name of the board we are looking for, the XIAO-ESP32-C3, then click the "Place" button for the relevant one (see below "Hardware Specification Analysis" section)

Step 3: Click anywhere in the displayed page space to place it on the schematic page P1

Step 4: Repeat Step 1 to 3 to import from the JLCEDA library in IcEDA the other required components for my electronic design scenario as listed below:

Hardware Specification Analysis ​

Before going any further in my Electronics Design, I must better understand the specifications and Pin definitions of the hardware, the XIAO-ESP32-C3. To do so, I looked for a "Getting Started" tutorial on the XIAO-ESP32-C3.

Pin Assignment Plan ​

Here below is my plan for connecting the pins:

Pins (IAO-ESP32-C3)Signal Name
A0Ultrasonic Sensor TRIG
A1Ultrasonic Sensor ECHO
D7Servo PWM
D9LED +
GNDLED - / Ultrasonic Sensor / Servo PWM
VCCUltrasonic Sensor / Servo PWM

Circuit Design Implementation ​

Schematic Design ​

Step 1: Connect the components to the appropriate pins of the IAO-ESP32-C3 micro-controller as shown below, using wires and connectors:

Step 2: Convert schematic to PCB. It is needed to "Confirm" to create a new PCB and place it on the same board. It is also required to "Apply Changes" to confirm importing changes information.

Here is the result:

PCB Layout and Design ​

Step 1: Now, we need to re-arrange the layout of the components on the PCB to optimise its size, clarity and routing complexity.

Step 2: Define the outline of the PCB.

Here is the result:

Step 3: Create the routing by clicking "Auto Routing" in the "Route" top menu, and check/set the parameters (Design Rules) before clicking "Run".

Here is the result: Looking at the result in the image above, we can identify two problems:

  • The wire connecting Pad 2 is crossing the connection pads for the battery, and therefore should relocated
  • The blue wires are on the bottom face of the board and should be moved to the top face for manufacturing simplicity

Step 4: Wiring improvement according to the two above listed recommendations.

OHHHH!!!! MISTAKE... ​

I forgot to connect the VCC and the GND to the Pinhead 😦 😦 😦

Final PCB Design ​

Wire View ​

2D View ​

3D View ​

Individual Work #2 ​

For this second PCB Design work, I will be using Fusion 360.

PCB Design Process ​

Project Initialisation & Import Components from the Component Library ​

Step 1: Import "Eagle" EDA Fab library to Fusion 360

In Fusion 360:

Step 2: Fix the "fab" library to look for component in the right side bar

Step 3: Search for the desired component (e.g. XIAO_ESP32_C3, LED, resistor, pinheads)

Hardware Specification Analysis ​

(Refer to the same sub-section from the previous Individual Work #1)

Pin Assignment Plan ​

Here below is my plan for connecting the pins:

Pins (IAO-ESP32-C3)Signal Name
A0Ultrasonic Sensor TRIG
A1Ultrasonic Sensor ECHO
D7Servo PWM
D8LED +
D9LED +
D10LED +
GNDLED - / Ultrasonic Sensor / Servo PWM
VCCUltrasonic Sensor / Servo PWM

Circuit Design Implementation ​

Schematic Design ​

Step 1: Connect components to the micro-controller by using the "Net" tool

Step 2: Connect the resistors to the LEDs and micro-controller

Step 3: Look in the fab library for a 5x2 Pinhead and place it in our schematic design

Step 4: Reposition the 5x2 Pinhead to the left of the mricro-controller and connect the 2 components together

PCB Layout and Design ​

Step 1: Switch the view to 2d PCB mode (from Schematic mode)

Step 2: Draw the shape of the board... 1st try NOT CREATIVE ENOUGH!!!

Step 3: 2nd try... Draw the shape of the board using the Outline Polyline and Outline Spline tools - within the BOARD SHAPE tools section

Step 4: Check the Design Rules and adjust them if needed...

...Adjust some Design Rules parameters from 6 mil to 16 mil according to the capability of our CNC equipment, as shown below:

Step 5: Click QUICK ROUTE and then select Autorouter

...Check the Main Setup** of the autorounting, and click Continue

...A dialogue box appears with the Routing Variants... Click Start!

Here is the Auto-Routing result:

  • The Routing Top Layer is RED
  • The Routing Bottom Layer is BLUE
  • There are 12 errors for Copper Clearance in Results Window (right side)

Step 6: Change the Pad - Pad Clearance from 32 mil to 24 mil to adapt the gap between pads of the micro-controller

...The Results window show there is no more error, and is therefore ready to push our design to 3D PCB

Final PCB Design ​

3D PCB visualisation ​

Top face

Bottom face

Step 1: Hide the components (folders and layers) to keep visible only the PCB board with the 2 copper layers

Final Result - Top Face

Final Result - Bottom Face

Step 2: LET'S HAVE MORE FUN... Let's try to add some text to be engraved on the board...

...Enter the text "UNNC-FABLAB 2026" and set/change the parameters if needed... Click Done

Here is the result:

...Let's change the Typface

Step 3: Select the text and right click. Set the Layer property to "s3 NamesTop"

Final 3D PCB with engraved text on top face ​

REFERENCE FILES ​