Jump Start PCB design/layout

Greetings,
  I have been looking for good references about learning the proper
ways and rules to layout and design pcb's. Are there any good resources
(books, tutorials) out there?

Thank you,

A

>the proper ways and rules to layout and design pcb's ?
> amerdsp

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/85d427921d4ae936/4f65710c80ef5961?q=the-main-stepps-involved-in-circuit-board-design
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/c50de971e779f7e8/c32c0c19ccd2080e?q=you-could-add-a-few-more

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/dc3c1272fe977f38/a6c3f9f678a407bd?q=My-PCB-Design-tutorial+several-*-universities-*-*-*-*-*-are-*-including-it-as-*-reference-material-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*+zz-zz+qq+*-major-*-PCB-*-package-*-*-included-it-in-their-Help-system

amerdsp wrote:
> Greetings,
>   I have been looking for good references about learning the proper
> ways and rules to layout and design pcb's. Are there any good resources
> (books, tutorials) out there?
>
> Thank you,

I have designed many boards, but I have only laid out a few.  When I
work with a PCB designer, I find that there are as many ways and
guidelines to use with PCB work as there are designers.  I have never
seen two PCB designers who could agree for example, on what is the best
pad shape.  Maybe my perception is distorted because I am on the
outside looking in rather than doing the work myself.

I have found that the main issue in board layout is to set design rules
for the features on your board.  This includes the trace width and
space, via size including the width of the annular ring, component
spacing along with placement guidelines which need to be set by the
design engineer.  A layer stackup needs to be done to take into account
any special requirements for impedance or signal integrity.  You also
need to plan your routing for signal integrity as high speed signals,
differential signals and terminations need to be considered.

You can find web sources for some of these issues.  Board stackup for
controlling impedance is done in several calculators.  Signal integrity
is a significant issue that requires a lot of reading and design tools.
 The issues of trace and via size have to do with manufacturability
which you can discuss with your board fab house.

rickman wrote:
> amerdsp wrote:
>> Greetings,
>>   I have been looking for good references about learning the proper
>> ways and rules to layout and design pcb's. Are there any good resources
>> (books, tutorials) out there?
>>
>> Thank you,
> 
> I have designed many boards, but I have only laid out a few.  When I
> work with a PCB designer, I find that there are as many ways and
> guidelines to use with PCB work as there are designers.  I have never
> seen two PCB designers who could agree for example, on what is the best
> pad shape.  Maybe my perception is distorted because I am on the
> outside looking in rather than doing the work myself.
> 
> I have found that the main issue in board layout is to set design rules
> for the features on your board.  This includes the trace width and
> space, via size including the width of the annular ring, component
> spacing along with placement guidelines which need to be set by the
> design engineer.  A layer stackup needs to be done to take into account
> any special requirements for impedance or signal integrity.  You also
> need to plan your routing for signal integrity as high speed signals,
> differential signals and terminations need to be considered.
> 
> You can find web sources for some of these issues.  Board stackup for
> controlling impedance is done in several calculators.  Signal integrity
> is a significant issue that requires a lot of reading and design tools.
>  The issues of trace and via size have to do with manufacturability
> which you can discuss with your board fab house.
> 
Most of the above points can be settled by your prospective board 
manufacturer. Any reputable one will give you a set of their design 
rules: minimum track width & clearance, minimum hole size, etc.
These should be considered mandatory.
After that, particular customers/employers may have their in-house 
standards.
After that, artistic freedom begins to seep in.

"David R Brooks" <davebXXX@iinet.net.au> wrote in
message news:44a7a617$0$2009$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

> Most of the above points can be settled by your prospective board manufacturer. Any reputable one 
> will give you a set of their design rules: minimum track width & clearance, minimum hole size, 
> etc.
> These should be considered mandatory.
> After that, particular customers/employers may have their in-house standards.

Aye, but don't forget that you'll be paying a premium for using the
smallest dimensions the board manufacturer can handle.

There's no point paying for 4 thou tracks and clearances if 6 will do.



Nial.

Nial Stewart wrote:
> "David R Brooks" <davebXXX@iinet.net.au> wrote in
> message news:44a7a617$0$2009$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> 
>> Most of the above points can be settled by your prospective board manufacturer. Any reputable one 
>> will give you a set of their design rules: minimum track width & clearance, minimum hole size, 
>> etc.
>> These should be considered mandatory.
>> After that, particular customers/employers may have their in-house standards.
> 
> Aye, but don't forget that you'll be paying a premium for using the
> smallest dimensions the board manufacturer can handle.
> 
> There's no point paying for 4 thou tracks and clearances if 6 will do.
> 
Correct: perhaps I should have written "mandatory minima".
Hopefully the design rules document will include details on price-break 
points (although not actual prices, usually).

David R Brooks wrote:
> Nial Stewart wrote:
> > "David R Brooks" <davebXXX@iinet.net.au> wrote in
> > message news:44a7a617$0$2009$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> >
> >> Most of the above points can be settled by your prospective board manufacturer. Any reputable one
> >> will give you a set of their design rules: minimum track width & clearance, minimum hole size,
> >> etc.
> >> These should be considered mandatory.
> >> After that, particular customers/employers may have their in-house standards.
> >
> > Aye, but don't forget that you'll be paying a premium for using the
> > smallest dimensions the board manufacturer can handle.
> >
> > There's no point paying for 4 thou tracks and clearances if 6 will do.
> >
> Correct: perhaps I should have written "mandatory minima".
> Hopefully the design rules document will include details on price-break
> points (although not actual prices, usually).

My experience is that it is very hard to get vendors to give you any
insight into their pricing other than, "that will be more expensive,
send us your plots and we will quote it".  There are some online
vendors with web sites that let you enter a description of your design
in the terms that matter to them... number of pads, spacing of pads,
hole sizes and counts... etc.  You can then change various parameters
to get a feel for how they affect board prices.

rickman wrote:

> David R Brooks wrote:
> 
>>Nial Stewart wrote:
>>
>>>"David R Brooks" <davebXXX@iinet.net.au> wrote in
>>>message news:44a7a617$0$2009$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Most of the above points can be settled by your prospective board manufacturer. Any reputable one
>>>>will give you a set of their design rules: minimum track width & clearance, minimum hole size,
>>>>etc.
>>>>These should be considered mandatory.
>>>>After that, particular customers/employers may have their in-house standards.
>>>
>>>Aye, but don't forget that you'll be paying a premium for using the
>>>smallest dimensions the board manufacturer can handle.
>>>
>>>There's no point paying for 4 thou tracks and clearances if 6 will do.
>>>
>>
>>Correct: perhaps I should have written "mandatory minima".
>>Hopefully the design rules document will include details on price-break
>>points (although not actual prices, usually).
> 
> 
> My experience is that it is very hard to get vendors to give you any
> insight into their pricing other than, "that will be more expensive,
> send us your plots and we will quote it".  There are some online
> vendors with web sites that let you enter a description of your design
> in the terms that matter to them... number of pads, spacing of pads,
> hole sizes and counts... etc.  You can then change various parameters
> to get a feel for how they affect board prices.
> 

That was yesterday. today they give rules what is allowed
for which cathegory of pcbs and their webbased software
gives you the price immediately.

Rene
-- 
Ing.Buero R.Tschaggelar - http://www.ibrtses.com
& commercial newsgroups - http://www.talkto.net