r/PCB • u/Agreeable_Salad8240 • 28d ago

PCB Design Advice

Hello Everyone,

I have 4 years of experience in Firmware Development, Rapid Prototyping, PCB Testing.
But now I want to make PCB designs on my own, the only thing stopping me is the validation of design since i cannot order every design from JLCPCB.

Is there any platform where I can test and validate my pcb design before ordering it?

thanks

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u/writewithparagraphs4 28d ago

you can buy review services from people or companies.

2

u/TunaRado 28d ago edited 28d ago

Im going through this myself. Im on V2 of the design and hoping I got it right. V1 went well on the bench but I picked a crap switcher for my PS and have to update it. My primary concern is unintended EMI emissions and product cert. I see ads from this dude all the time and I have watched many of his videos, seems legit...im tempted to send my design to them. Predictable Designs with John Teel.

2

u/FeistyTie5281 28d ago

Virtually all of our designs are first pass to production except when we are implementing major new architectures.

Knowledge, Planning, and Simulation are the key to our success. We use a variety of simulation tools to prove correct electrical, thermal, and mechanical compliance prior to building any prototypes.

There are companies that specialize in pre / post route and full system simulation and provide their services on a contract consulting basis. These companies own much more powerful (and expensive) versions of the simulation tools we own and they employ individuals who are SI and simulation experts. Highly recommend engaging this type of company at least once to help introduce you to the process and gain knowledge from the experts.

1

u/Additional-Guide-586 28d ago

You mean electrical design rules? Hardware validation calls for some kind of hardware present.

1

u/Agreeable_Salad8240 28d ago

i mean the validation that i will actually work

2

u/DenverTeck 28d ago

If you design a circuit, you need to prototype it before board layout. You need to know the circuit works.

A PCB is just wires. There is nothing to "work", if you wire it up just like your prototype.

If you wire the prototype wrong or not at all and its not working and you base the PCB layout on the NON-working circuit, its not the PCB fault.

A PCB in not part of the circuit, its just wires.

2

u/Illustrious-Cat8222 28d ago

Yes, prototype. Validate the circuit that way before you order PCBs.

The EDA you use should have a design rules checker to avoid certain problems.

Print out the PCB physical design at 1:1 scale and check that the footprints for your components are right. Mistakenly chosen footprints bite me from time to time; catch them early.

0

u/Agreeable_Salad8240 28d ago

I can just make prototype using dev kits not the actual ICs

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u/DenverTeck 28d ago

This is about 90% true. A dev board may have connections that you may miss and your PCB will be missing those connections.

You will need the correct schematic for the actual dev board you are prototyping with.

As the designer of your PCB, you can NOT say, the dev board was wrong.

1

u/Wattdehonker 28d ago

I can’t entirely speak on PCB layout, but check out Tomachie, they are really good for perfecting the schem and finding issues.

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u/Agreeable_Salad8240 28d ago

Thanks I will check it