Time for a Reality Check...

If all you know about board design is what you've found here, you are definitely NOT a good designer! The material presented so far in this introduction is only deep enough to get your feet wet. This is only the beginning of a foundation for you to build on as you learn more.

Let's face it, YOU NEED HELP !!!

But don't panic, no one was born knowing how to design circuit boards, we all had to learn the same things you are learning now. I'm not going to go much furthur with this project, but fortunately there are a lot of resources available to you. FREE resources! You are not alone. So do yourself a favor and check these out: 

   

 

 PCB PUBLICATIONS

 F A P D ?
CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY    
CIRCUITREE    
DESIGNER COUNCIL
IPC
PCD and M  
SMT    
SMTinfo
SMTnet  


PCB SOFTWARE F A P D ?
MENTOR
MUG
PCB LIBRARIES
PCB STANDARDS    
POLAR      
ULTRACAD  


     PCB RESOURCES
BTC  DEFECTS  DEN  EMPF  FAB  FINISH  FORM  GREG'S  HAPPY  HEAT  KWICKFIT  LEADFREE  MAGIC  MERIX  MIL  MICROSECTIONS  PBR PCBSTANDARDS POD POWER  PROCESS  QUOTE  QUOTE  RIGID-FLEX  SCOPE  SI-LIST  SMD  SMPS SMTA  SMTINFO  SYMBOLS  STATS  TKB  TYCO  VIEWMATE  WHISKER  YAHOO 


     PCB CALCULATORS
AMPACITY  CONDUCTION  CREEPAGE  DIFFERENTIAL  IMPEDANCE  INDUCTANCE  THERMALMAN  WIDTH 

And here are some resources that aren't free, but are highly recommended when you are ready to learn more:
 

 

     READING LIST

Printed Circuits Handbook
by Clyde F. Coombs
Defining the best in printed circuit board design and technology and unparalleled in thoroughness and reliability, Coombs' book provides definitive coverage of every facet of printed circuit assemblies, from design methods to manufacturing processes.

Signal Integrity Issues and Printed Circuit Board Design
by Douglas Brooks
In this book, renowned engineer, author, and seminar leader Douglas Brooks teaches PCB designers how to successfully design boards for any high-speed application. Brooks begins with an easy-to-understand electronics primer for every PCB designer, then offers practical, real-world solutions for every important signal-integrity problem.
 

PCB Design for Real-World EMI Control
by Bruce R. Archambeault
Emphasizes understanding basic concepts of controlling the currents on printed circuit boards, and provides a wealth of insightful information detailing the possible sources of emissions. Numerous design strategies are presented to help readers understand how to control and eliminate emission sources. Additional highlights include the following: Information explaining how to design pcb's to pass EMC Requirements the first time! Controlling intentional and unintentional currents at their source; Decoupling strategies explained and myths exposed; Proper I/O filter design and connection strategy explained; Not simply a list of do's and don't's....but an explanation of "why" things work as they do