RE: [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Advice on Learning PCB Design

["Jenkins, Charlie" <JENKINSC@PIOS.COM>]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to one of the best programs for the beginner. I hope I speak for all
those that contribute to this list...feel free to ask any question on this
list. If the response is wordy we will reply to you directly. Some of us
(myself included) have contemplated publishing a book, paper or web site
devoted to getting started.

The first rule is everyone has different rules!  When you bought Protel it
came with components and footprints.  The footprints may have been laid out
according to some standards group like IEEE. Or they may have been generated
based on an individual that had success with a particular footprint on his
manufacturing process. In any case the goal is to produce artwork that a
chosen PCB mfr. can reproduce in copper with quality, quantity and economy.

Someone else said it and I agree, start with a manufacturer that has
prepared a guide book for clients with suggestions for Design for
Manufacturing.  The guide book will give you a feel for what capabilities
this manufacturer has and is comfortable with.  There should be spacing
recomendations here as well as suggested pad layouts. It should discuss
clearance issues between types of components, component skylines and spacing
on boards.  These all have to do with making a board that is compatible with
the manufacturer's automatic assembly equipment. They are also living
documents, changing to get the most out of new technologies and equipment.

I have one from Kodak. It is 3 inches thick. 

If you have other questions please shoot me an email.

Charlie Jenkins


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Andy Lintz [SMTP:al@ppsystems.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, August 01, 2000 10:30 AM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list proteledausers
> Subject:	[PROTEL EDA USERS]:  Advice on Learning PCB Design
> 
> I am new to printed circuit board design (but have 20 years in
> systems/electronics engineering).  
>  
> Most of the questions in this newsgroup are of the type
> I-know-what-I-want-to-do, but-I-can't-get-Protel- to-do-it.  My problem is
> that I don't know what I want to do.  How can I teach myself the concepts,
> general practices, and common conventions of printed circuit board design
> (besides sitting next to an experienced designer for several years)?  
>  
> I have purchased a couple of books, but I didn't seem to pick the right
> ones (who can tell from Amazon.com descriptions?)
>  
> I understand Protel training is available, but I worry that it would be
> more about how to get the software to do things rather than the basics of
> pcb design.
>  
> I have a brochure on some short courses associated with PCB Design
> Conference East in Sept, but I don't know if these are worth the time (and
> $).
>  
> Does anyone have any recommendations, or experiences on how they learned
> pcb design?
>  
> Andy Lintz
> PP Systems
> Development Engineer