What is the best method for Printed circuit board layout for beginners?

This method of printed circuit board layout has been modified by me to make it the simplest implementation but still effective for group design suitable for small and medium-sized groups and companies. I would also be happy if you can give feedback to make the tutorial better. If you find it interesting and effective, please share the article.

Advantages of the method of printed circuit board layout

• Free if you have an Altium license, if you don’t have an Altium license, this method of printed circuit board layoutis still free
• No need to send files, overwrite files manually to update
• No conflic, file loss, file overwrite
• Store design history
• Designs are always stored securely
• Multiple people working on the same project

What is Git and how to do it?

All engineers need to know more about Git, this is very simply called a disadvantage that is not quite right.

• Save design data in a local repository aka Git
• Using Altium from Altium designer version 19 or later
• Recommend using the latest version as possible because there are many versions of Altium that have errors when working with git
• Use the management features for printed circuit board layout
• manipulate with git right on Altium’s interface to manipulate group circuit design
• update, design commit.

Step 1: Prepare or create a Github account

There will also be other platforms that will be similar. In this article, I use Github for free because it is a popular platform. Create a Github account here. To work in a group, you need to create an Organization and then add members, this you learn more about in Github.

Step 2: Download and install Github Desktop

If you can use git bash, git command, you can skip this step. I choose to use Github desktop to be intuitive and accessible to newbies. Download Github desktop here.

Step 3: Create a private repository on GitHub web

Once you have created like printed circuit board layout, log into the account on Github desktop with an interface and Click on Create Repository. In my experience, every design project should be a “Repository” on Github.

Step 4: Clone Repository just created in step 3 to your computer

This step will create a directory mapped with “Repository” on Github’s server. Changes and designs will be in this mapping folder and you can synchronize the mapping folder and Repository by operations on Altium or using Git command, Github desktop, etc. After creating a new Repository, you are taken to the web interface as below, here you can click Set up in Desktop, you can use this link to share with others.

Or simply go back to Github Desktop and click the refresh button, and then select the Repository you want to open and then press Clone. This step is only done once to create the mapping folder on the computer. Select the path where you want to save your design on your computer then press Clone

Step 5: Create a printed circuit board layout on Altium Designer

You can create a new printed circuit board layout or simply copy the entire project data into it and save it to the folder cloned in step 4. The goal is to get all the project files in the cloned directory.

Step 6: Add the printed circuit board layout project to revision control

Right click on the project name created in the previous step, select

• Version control -> Add to Version Control
• Add project to version control
• Next right click on the project
• Version Control -> Commit Whole Project…
• Commit whole project
• Add a professional comment and then press Commit and Push
• Commit and push the project printed circuit board layoutto github
• The dialog box requires additional certificate information, you enter your Github account
• Login to your github account
• Commit process
• Result: All files in the project have green ticks.
• The project is ready to design the group circuit

What is SMT assembly?

Surface mount technology, or SMT, is an electronic technology of the twenty-first century widely common in the printed circuit board layout and manufacture of electronic equipment. Our equipment allows you to work with traditional PCBs made of PCB, flexible, aluminum printed circuit boards. The technological equipment of our production allows us to solve any client’s problems.

The line for automatic assembly of printed circuit boards, with a total capacity of up to 21,000 comp./hour, guarantees the execution of an order of any complexity in a timely manner. The equipment works with boards of high complexity, installs components with frame sizes from 0.6 * 0.3 mm (0201) to BGA, CSP, QFP cases with a small pin pitch and a limiting size of 40 mm.

What is SMD assembly?

 

Ø First phase

The process of mounting SMD components begins with the application of solder paste after printed circuit board layout. This operation is performed on specialized equipment – printers. The performance of the final product largely depends on the correct application of solder paste on the board. The accuracy of automatic alignment of the board and the stencil on the printer is 50 microns.

This indicator is especially important when working on boards with a high component density with a fine pitch. Bottom support and edge clamping prevent the board from warping during paste application.

Ø Second phase

The next step is the installation of surface-mountable (SMD) components. Several automatic installers are common in our production.

Ø Soldering

The next technological stage is brazing in a convection oven. For brazing, we use a 7-zone oven, with an accuracy of maintaining the temperature of ± 1 ° C in each zone. To protect against overheating and spontaneous dismantling of elements from the first side of the board, special screens are common. In the case of double-sided mounting, the board goes through the entire described technological cycle again.