Hi Jonathan,
All EDA tools carry overhead to get started. The first step is schematic and
footprint libraries. Then you have to learn to drive the tool to ultimately
make gerber files that folks like OshPark can turn into boards. The question
is whether or not that overhead benefits you in terms of future volumes or
required board complexity.
The simplest path is buying a pre-perforated circuit board then secure the
components and connect with discrete wires. The boards easily handle things on
a 0.1" center. You may need to drill additional holes for other components.
This becomes more difficult for smaller surface mount devices.
If you are making a single board, one layer (no internal planes no backside).
check out toner transfer. This is the way poor grad students used to/still
make project boards. You can do the artwork on any graphics program then
transfer and etch. You will have to manually drill the holes as applicable and
won't have automatic hole plating or via options. If you have circuitry on the
front and back sides then you will have to watch registration before drilling
to make sure your holes line up on both sides after you drill them.
There are also small purpose built CNC machines designed to grind off the
unwanted copper from the sheet. They are expensive unless you have access at
work or a university?
Once you start adding internal layers, need tighter registration, or want more
complex routing relationships you are better off going the EDA route.
Here is a hackaday article...
Take Your PCBs From Good To Great: Toner Transfer
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Take Your PCBs From Good To Great: Toner Transfer
A lot of us make circuit boards at home. I find it a useful skill to have in my
bag of tricks for intermediate s...
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Good Luck,Kevin
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 11:44:40 AM EST, jonathan hunsberger via
TriEmbed <triembed@triembed.org> wrote:
Hi everyone, I have a need for a custom board and don't really get excited
about board design as a skill to acquire. I previously tried KiCad and was a
bit overwhelmed. Are there any other options out there that are a little more
approachable for a one-off project? It is really simple, just connecting a
Teensy with two module boards, a USB-c socket, an RJ11, a POT, and a few
passives and I plan to hand-solder everything together.Thanks!
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