The success of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) prototyping and manufacturing takes place mainly due to the design process. The PCB layout and design process is essential as that allows for the creation of an error-free prototype and a smooth manufacturing process. But what sort of tools are utilized to accomplish the design and layout process? Let’s find out.

The Basic PCB Design and Layout Process

Before we get down to the tools, it is important to have a clear idea of the basic PCB design process.

• Schematic design creation
• Schematic design capture
• Determination of PCB template, card dimensions, heat sinks, and fixed components
• Deciding on PCB stack layers
• Line impedance determination
• Component placement
• Signal traces routing
• Gerber file generation

PCB Design Tools and Software