Practical PCB Design:A Hands-On Guide to Developing Printed Circuit Boards

This hands-on, beginner-friendly book guides hobbyists and makers through every step of creating a custom printed circuit board (PCB), from conception through production.

Based on a popular university course, this book is a fun, practical guide to designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) for readers of all skill levels – no industry experience required.

Readers will learn to transform a breadboard prototype into a professional-grade PCB. More than that, this book bridges the gap between a basic understanding of electronic design and the methods used to manufacture those designs in a reliable, consistent, and scalable manner.

Software-agnostic exercises are provided throughout, allowing readers to try out new concepts no matter what design platform is used. By the end, they’ll be ready to develop their own custom electronics. | Introduction

Part I: From Idea to Schematic
Chapter 1: Design Considerations
Chapter 2: Creating Component Symbols
Chapter 3: Making a Schematic

Part II: Physical Design
Chapter 4: Component Footprints and Packages
Chapter 5: The Layers of a PCB
Chapter 6: Planning a PCB's Structure
Chapter 7: Component Placement
Chapter 8: Routing Techniques and Vias

Part III: Preparing for Production
Chapter 9: Refining a Design
Chapter 10: Design Reviews
Chapter 11: Building Your Board
Chapter 12: Testing

Appendix A: Design Software
Appendix B: Resources
Glossary | Mike D. Smith is the founder and principal designer at Bold Circuits LLC, which provides full-service electronics design to the commercial, military, and research markets. He has 20+ years of industry experience and specializes in systems-level electronics design, high-speed digital design, PCB layout, and FPGA development. Mike teaches a senior-level course in practical PCB design at the University of Rhode Island, which served as inspiration for this book, and is a consulting technical director to the school’s ELECOMP Capstone Design Program.