PCB Tips

PCB Design Rules and Tips

General Principles

• Find out about trace spacing, trace widths, milling, and other limitations of your PCB process before laying out boards.
• Use the most relaxed specifications you can. If your board can be made with 12mil traces and spacing, don't use 6mil.
• Watch out for mirror-imaged layers, especially the bottom.

Fabrication Techniques

• Send it out - this is often your best option, as you will get professional results.
  • Costs time and money
• Photo-resist method
• Toner transfer
• Inkjet printing

Sparkfun's PCB Design Tips

• Better Boards in Eagle CAD
• Sparkfun Eagle Rules

Nullspace Labs Eagle CAD Information

• On-line Eagle CAD Tutorials
• Check list prior to submitting a PCB to a board house

Small run PCB vendors

• Itead Studio - Good deals if you are willing to open-source
• Sparkfun's PCB Service - Have a nice free DRC check
• PCB Fab Express - Have an affordable 5-day "bare bones" service
• Flash Line Electronics Quick-turn PCBs made in USA. More spendy than off-shore but top quality
• Advanced Circuits - High Quality, quick turn PCBs made in USA.
• Silver Circuits - Offshore but reasonable English-language support.