It has never been easier to design your own printed circuit boards, as long as you know what you want to do with them, of course. Lots of people who get into PCB design find that they soon bump up against a wall and don’t know where to go next. If this sounds like you, try looking for inspiration in the following places.
Look at Existing Examples
Whenever you are doing something creative, be it writing a song, drawing a comic book, or even designing a PCB, it is natural to begin by imitating the work of those that have come before you. For example, when most writers sit down to write their first novel, they will usually produce something that resembles the works of their favorite authors. It takes time for their own individual style to develop and emerge.
When you are looking for inspiration for your PCB designs, a logical place to start is with PCBs that other people have designed and which you know are up to a professional standard. The PCBs inside any of the electronic devices in your home are an excellent place to start. Next time one of your home appliances stops working and you’re about to throw it out, take it apart instead and study the PCB within.
Check Out Online Tutorials
PCB design is so much more accessible today than it was just a decade or so ago. Ok, so if you don’t have any prior knowledge of PCBs then it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to design a perfect board straight away, even if you do follow a tutorial. However, given that the design software and the guidance that you need to use it properly are both easily and freely available online, anyone who wants to start learning about PCB design can do so.
No matter what your current experience level is, reading and following online tutorials are excellent ways of gaining some design inspiration. When you have developed some degree of self-confidence in your PCB design abilities, you can begin to riff on the tutorials you find, modifying and customizing them to your liking.
Following tutorials for projects that are quite different from your usual efforts and just a little bit out of your comfort zone will encourage you to think about PCB design in ways that you otherwise wouldn’t.
Experiment With Different Software Options
PCB design software comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The options available to you range from free open-source software to professional industry-specific packages with subscriptions that cost thousands of dollars every month. Choosing the right PCB software is vital for anyone who wants to be able to do their best design work, and this doesn’t just mean buying the most expensive option available.
For example, Gumstix Gepetto software is a free browser-based option that is fantastic for experimentation and finding inspiration. The drag and drop interface makes it easy to try all the different options you want.
Designing PCBs is an art form that takes most people a little while to get right. Don’t feel disheartened if you are still having to follow along with instructions, you can build confidence at your own pace. Always be on the lookout for new sources of inspiration and if you really don’t know what to do then fire up Gepetto and just play with it until inspiration strikes.
