[nevi-me]

How does one get PCBs with all the components wired in? I've been prototyping for a while, and it would be great for me to learn how to start putting stuff in cases instead of having wires dangling around.

I was looking at PBCWay just yesterday, and the process is unclear. If I say that I need some parts, do I have to source them, or can PCBWay/alternative do so for me?

EDIT: what software does one use to draw PCBs for production too? I've seen a few options online, perhaps a better question is what preferences there are. One thing I'm curious about is whether that software will say "you need this much resistance between these 2 components".

[dghlsakjg]

Jlcpcb has the easiest and most affordable service. They have a library of pre selected parts that you have to choose from, but it is pretty comprehensive (300k or so to choose from). They are the only ones that do the pre-selected parts library thing, but it also makes them SO much cheaper and faster.

They also have their own free eda software to design the schematic and pcb that links up with their parts library. Easy eda. It puts out a generic gerber file and bom too so you can shop around if you want to double check what the cost will be at another producer. Kicad is another alternative for PCB design.

[bonzini]

The PCB can be prepared with KiCad or Eagle for example. Then you do a lot of preparation work. You have to prepare the bill of materials, be super careful about the annotation layers on the PCB to prepare a PDF of the components.

Finally you pay. :) PCB assembly services exist from various places, for example Seeedstudio is very reliable but pretty expensive. Note that different factories have different formats for the BOM and annotation PDFs.

[sebazzz]

I’m also curious how people come from the level “I know C, C++, Arduino, I understand what capacitors, resistors, transitors and diodes do” to the level of “I can integrate a 3.3V Arduino Nano with 5V or more circruitry with logic level shifters, I know when to use certain capacitor types, understand when inrush current conditions can happen, etc”. And I mean just for hobby. Not interested in anything pro.

[jnovek]

I’m also a hobbyist and I think it’s just slow and incremental.

This year I decided to expand my electronics hobby into synth stuff. I was by no means prepared for this, but after a year of studying various synth module circuits I’m starting recognize certain patterns when I look at a schematic.

Perhaps the hardest part of this process was learning enough to start asking good questions. Everything has gotten so much easier in the last 2 or 3 months because I’ve finally built enough confidence, knowledge and intuition to ask my EE friends why something was designed a certain way. I’ve also learned that they are often equally puzzled. :-)

I think it helps if you have a project you’re working towards.

[_Microft]

Speedrun

KiCad[0] is an open source tool for electronics CAD/EDA [1]. You will use it to create a schematic in the schematics editor, assign a "footprint" [2a] to each component (that's the size and shape of a components) and then import it into the PCB editor to lay these components out. The board outline goes onto the Edge.Cuts layer, the traces [2b] onto the copper layers, e.g. F.Cu for the front layer and B.Cu for the backside layer. You will also place your components on these outer layers (You won't need inner layers for a while). You can switch your traces between layers using a "via" [3].

Generate Gerber and drill files then using the "Plot" dialog, zip them and upload them to a service like JLCPCB (very cheap!), OSHPark, PCBWay, e.g. Aisler [4] if your based in Europe. I'd choose leadfree HASL [5] as surface finish. It's cheaper then ENIG and perfectly fine for the beginning.

If you are fine with soldering, then source the parts from e.g. Mouser or Digikey [6] and solder them yourself. That will save you the trouble of having to generate a list of which parts go where for the manufacturer. Make sure you order the parts with exactly the footprint that you put on the PCB.

Start small, ideally with a circuit of which you already know that it's working. This way you can concentrate on getting the details of the PCB manufacturing process right.

[0] https://www.kicad.org/

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_design_automation

[2a] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footprint_(electronics)

[2b] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_trace

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics)

[4] https://jlcpcb.com/, https://oshpark.com/, https://www.pcbway.com/, https://aisler.net/

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_air_solder_leveling

[6] https://www.mouser.com, https://www.digikey.com/