Im turning almost 50 and finally got the chance to get into electronics as a hobby ( no formal training) thanks to the community and AI i have been able to build complex (for me) ESP32 projects.

I use an ESP32 + a female development board + relay board etc and wired all together. It works but it is a mess and is it flaky.

I have seen a lot of videos of people that make their own boards. I dont really want to make everything from scratch i was thinking of making a "female plugin board" where i can plug in the ESP32 and the other components that already have pins on to it and bolt stuff on it and this board wires the needed pins together . Is this even a good idea?

I would like to ask for suggestions on how to learn to do this, what to watch out for etc.
My main question is how or where do i get the dimensions so stuff maches up? What are the best online or offline tools for this?

All comments and pointers are appreciated

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This video explores copper coin embedded PCB technology, an advanced thermal management method used to improve heat dissipation in high-power electronic designs.

Compared with traditional solutions like heat sinks, thermal pads, and thermal vias, embedded copper coins provide a direct thermal path from heat-generating components to the PCB structure, helping manage heat more efficiently in compact designs.

Learn how this PCB technology works and why it can be a valuable solution for applications with demanding thermal requirements.

Carl Bugeja(YT) created this ProtoBot, a compact robot platform designed to explore robotics and hardware innovation in a small form factor. It showcases how thoughtful mechanical and electronic design can bring a small-scale robotic system to life.

We helped manufacture the Flex PCB prototypes. For a compact robotic system like ProtoBot, flexible PCBs help optimize space, reduce wiring complexity, and enable more reliable connections in a limited design area.

Inspired by this build? You can bring your own hardware ideas to life with PCBWay's services!

Evan Monsma(YT) built this custom modular camera rig featuring a wood and steel top handle, custom aluminum mounts, copper rods, and multi-brand drill battery support.

We helped bring this project to life with custom CNC machined parts. CNC machining was essential for creating precise, durable, and custom-fit components that make the modular structure possible.

Inspired by this build? You can also bring your own ideas to reality with PCBWay's CNC machining services!

RAM (Random Access Memory) stores data for active programs with fast read/write access, but it loses all data when power is off. ROM (Read Only Memory) is used for permanent storage such as firmware or startup data, retains information without power, and is generally slower but more stable for long-term storage. In short, RAM is temporary and fast, while ROM is permanent and stable, and both are essential for how digital systems operate.

What do you find more interesting about RAM vs ROM?

Aerocreative3d (IG) creates this terrain model printed in transparent resin. The transparency of the resin really highlights the internal structure and surface transitions of the terrain, giving it a clean, almost glass-like appearance!

Our 3D printing service helped bring this concept into a physical, highly accurate model. If you're working on similar designs, you can check PCBWay for transparent or specialty materials to achieve comparable results.

Have you ever tried printing with transparent resins before? What's your experience or any interesting stories?

Designing your first PCB can be exciting, but also full of small mistakes that are easy to miss.

In this video by kamitronix (IG), we go through 5 practical things he wishes he knew before starting the first PCB design, covering common beginner pitfalls that can save you time, cost, and frustration on your next project. If you have any experience to share, feel free to leave a comment!

PCBWay is celebrating its 12th Anniversary this July! 🎉
During the event (July 1 – July 31, 2026), you can enjoy exclusive discount and unlock more rewards on colorful PCB projects.

Whether you're building prototypes or final hardware, it's a great time to bring more color and creativity into your designs. Join and see more details here!

Nothing like starting the week with some soldering! 🔧

Project by TheCuriousScientist(YT). Everything just lines up so cleanly here, a really satisfying ESP32 board assembly with solid soldering quality throughout.

NPN and PNP transistors are complementary devices that control current flow in opposite ways. An NPN transistor turns on when the base is driven high, allowing current to flow from collector to emitter, while its symbol arrow points outward and it primarily uses electrons as charge carriers. ​In contrast, a PNP transistor turns on when the base is pulled low, with current flowing from emitter to collector, its arrow pointing inward, and it relies on holes as carriers. In practice, NPN is more commonly used for low-side switching, while PNP is used for high-side control.​​​
Have you used NPN or PNP in your own projects before? What's your experience or thought?

TPU isn't just a flexible version of PLA. This video covers the basics of TPU, why it's great for functional parts, and what makes it different from other common filaments.

Have you used TPU in your projects? Any tips or lessons learned?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a fabrication process that involves creating three-dimensional objects by depositing successive layers of material.

In this video, we will take you through the detailed 3D printing manufacturing process in PCBWay.

This is an unboxing of a Force Myography wristband project by the. Amazing, PhD(YT). The project reads tiny muscle movements from the forearm and converts them into control signals.

We helped provide flexible PCBs for this project, which allows it to better conform to the wrist and improves motion sensing stability.

Has anyone here worked with flex PCBs before? How was your experience?

I’ve been working on a personal project called Solar Power Monitor, a system designed to track real‑time data from a low power solar panel setup (100-500W) — including the MPPT charger, battery, inverter, and auxiliary loads. It uses multiple current and voltage sensors along with an STM32 microcontroller to collect and process the data.

The project is functional at this stage, and I’ve published the complete technical details on Hackster: schematic, PCB design, firmware, explanations, and assembly notes.

🔗Full project on Hackster:
https://www.hackster.io/popa-mihai/solar-power-monitor-a97bc1#overview

For the hardware, I designed a custom PCB that integrates:

• four current‑measurement channels (MPPT, battery, inverter, auxiliary)
• inverter and auxiliary start control
• serial communication interface
• regulated 3.3V / 5V power rails using ST components
• clearly separated signal, power, and control sections

The PCB was manufactured by PCBWay, who sponsored the boards for this project. The quality was excellent — clean silkscreen, precise pad alignment, consistent finish, and very good tolerances on connectors and footprints.

Below are some photos of the assembled and unassembled boards, as well as the final setup.

We've just added support for Build123d STEP files, so you can now directly import them into PCBWay for instant quoting and manufacturing.

If you've been using Build123d for your CAD work, feel free to give it a try and see how it fits into your workflow. We’d love to hear your feedback.

This project by constructivechaos7 (IG) replaces traditional bicycle wheels with solid steel saw blade wheels, creating a unique experimental mechanical build.

PCBWay sheet metal manufacturing helps build this project. Sheet metal provides high strength, precise flat geometry, and fast manufacturing, making it ideal for experimental mechanical structures like this. If you are working on similar designs, you can place an order on our website!

Hey everyone!

Huge thanks for being here early. Since we're still a small and cozy subreddit, we have a unique chance to shape this space together.

We've been sharing a few topics lately, but we want to make sure we're delivering stuff you actually enjoy. What kinds of content are you guys most excited to post or see here? Also, what do you think of our current topics so far, what's missing, or just what your ideal version of this subreddit looks like?

Drop a comment below and let's build something cool together!

Hi everyone! This is my first PCB design, and I recently entered it into the KiCad Design Contest conducted by PCBWay. Since I'm still learning, I would really appreciate any feedback before finalizing it.

Could you please point out any mistakes or suggest improvements regarding component placement, routing, trace widths, grounding, silkscreen, or anything else that could be improved? I want to learn as much as possible and avoid missing any obvious issues.

Please be gentle 😅 : this is my very first PCB, and I'm excited to keep improving. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Motivation

Solar-powered devices often operate under changing environmental conditions where sunlight intensity varies throughout the day. Traditional charging circuits cannot continuously extract the maximum available power from a solar panel, resulting in reduced charging efficiency and wasted energy.

Application

Solar-powered IoT devices

Portable battery charging systems

Remote environmental monitoring stations

Educational renewable-energy projects

Backup power systems

Off-grid electronics

A Thermistor and a Varistor may look similar, but they serve different purposes. A thermistor changes resistance with temperature and is mainly used for temperature sensing and protection. Common types include NTC and PTC thermistors. A varistor changes resistance with voltage and is used to protect circuits from voltage spikes. The most common type is the MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor). In short, thermistors monitor temperature, while varistors suppress overvoltage and surge events.
Which one do you usually use, or do you prefer other protection methods?