4 Reasons Why PCB Design is Straightforward Even for Beginners

May 28, 2019 Geekopedia Design, Electronics, PCB

There are many tech hobbies which have a reputation for being difficult to get a grasp of; especially if you are a complete beginner. However, while it may have this reputation, PCB design is actually fairly simple to get started with. You can soon be making simple circuits with minimal prior knowledge about the subject. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why PCB is so straightforward even for beginners.

Plenty of Tutorials

Don’t know a resistor from an LED? Have no fear, there are plenty of PCB board design tutorials on the internet for you to read through. They will give you all the know-how you need to get started designing your own boards. Whether you are looking for something super-simple or you are thinking about branching out to try something a little more complex, you will find all the guidance you need. You can also find it in the medium which best suits you; whether that is a step-by-step picture guide or a video on YouTube.

Forums

If you are having a problem with your current design and you don’t know where the fault is, you can find support and answers on some of the many internet forums specialising in PCB design. The other patrons of these forums may be able to point out where the problem is in your design and can give you tips on how to improve.

What’s more, by joining such a forum you will be able to take part in other discussions and help other people solve their design problems. You could even make some new friends.

Access to Top Design Programs

If you are learning to design PCBs as a casual side-hobby, you might not want to fork out for one of the top-tier design softwares. While they are the best for designing PCBs, they have very expensive monthly or annual fees attached and it might be one expense which is just not worth it.

However, they also frequently have a free edition of their main software. While this will be a stripped-back version of the full software, it will have many of the same tools and it is often all you need for a fully-functioning, comprehensive design.

Constant Updates

PCB design is a hobby which is alive and well. This means that you as a designer can grow with it and learn each and every innovation as they occur. One of the best ways to keep up with everything which is happening in the world of PCB design is with a subscription to a PCB magazine. This way, every update and new leap forward which is discovered will be yours to view as soon as the magazine arrives to you. It is a great way to keep yourself informed.

While PCB design may primarily take place in your own, it is clear to see that there is a vast online community waiting to help anyone who wants to give it a go. If you are a complete beginner, don’t think about letting that hold you back from PCB design.