Documentation

This article as a PDF file: How do I create a PCB Layout?

How to start with TARGET 3001!

Start a new project "Double sided PCB with schematic" and zoom into the schematic a bit with the mouse wheel. Press the [Ins] key from your keyboard or click the "Import component [Ins]..." icon in the toolbar to open the component data base.

The component browser opens and allows to search for the name of a diode, say 1N4148. The device will be listed in green and the highlighted one displays its drawing elements. Using the button Import component gets the symbol of this component to the schematic. The land pattern of the device including its 3D image is recognized as package proposal for the layout use. You may deviate from this proposal later if you would like to use a different package. But first we handle its symbol.

Import the symbol to the schematic and drop it by mouse click as often as wanted. Release it from the cursor by [Esc] or press both mouse keys at the same time (M12) which has the same effect. We don't switch to the layout view yet but add more symbols to the schematic.

By clicking an icon in the sidebar, such as connectors, the component database opens within this component group. We choose a two pin connector which immediately is fixed to the cursor tip. It can be dropped multiple times. Every single element of a symbol drawing (outline, text, connection pin) can individually be displaced, turned, edited. For doing so in the context menu (M2) the first option: "Always select entire component" must not be ticked. Otherwise you won't get a single element of a drawing marked. The context menu can be opened by right-clicking (M2) at a free position in the schematic or layout.

Clicking a resistor or capacitor symbol in the sidebar opens the Component_database#The_parametric_search parametric search, because we focus here on technical parameters rather than names. We'd like a resistance of "4.7kilo-ohms" so we enter 4k7. We select a package 0207 from the list and place the resistor to the circuit. In other cases please open the parametric search in the row of the component types using button

Thats how our schematic at this time may look like.

In order to wire the pins we switch from the schematic router, which is preset to the bending mode: "Lay two segments first horizontal". The spacebar toggles between bending modes. "Snap on" boxes help hitting the connection correctly. The size of this little boxes depends on the grid which can be set using the icon "View". The connection will be effected by mouse click.

Related topics: Ground plane Schematic router

A ground symbol (= a Reference_Symbol) can be dragged and dropped from the sidebar. After placement we wire it towards the existing signal so we get asked to give it a new name. GND by default - which we accept.

Related topics: Outline by hand Layer

Use the auto placer to bring the the packages into the layout. They are by default placed above the outline. Now drag and drop them to their desired position. Clicking the right mouse button allows to rotate them by 90° before placement.

Related topics: Autoplacer Airwires / Ratsnest

In the "draw track" mode press functional key [F8] in order to switch on the cross hairs. Again we can toggle the bending modes using the space bar. Route the tracks according to the air wires by clicking. During the placement of the tracks a via can be placed using the "full stop" key It switches over to the opposite side of the board so that you can place signal tracks there. Pressing full stop again, another via is placed and you are back on the layer you started from. Double clicking any drawing element allows individual setting.

Related topics: Thermal Pads Select Layer

The 3D view, allows to examine the plausibility of the construction and by this means you get a good impression how our board will look like after it is finished. Create production data in menu "File/Input-Output Formats / Production".

Related topics: Package proposal 3D View Gerber Signal polygon

Documentation

Introduction