Turning a circuit into a physical board.

A PCB is a circuit made real in copper and fiberglass. These are the concepts every layout is built from.

1. 1Schematics & netlistsThe schematic captures intent, the netlist turns it into connectivity the layout tool can enforce. Symbols, nets, and why annotation matters.1 min read·2 questions
2. 2Footprints & land patternsA footprint is the copper, mask and paste a part lands on. Pad geometry, courtyards, and why the wrong land pattern fails at assembly, not at DRC.1 min read·2 questions
3. 3Layers, traces & viasStackup, copper weight and trace width, plus how vias move a signal between layers and what that costs in inductance and manufacturing.1 min read·3 questions
4. 4Planes, solder mask & silkscreenWhat copper pours, mask openings, and silkscreen each do, plus the clearance rules that keep them from interfering with assembly.1 min read·2 questions
5. 5Design rule checksDRC and ERC catch what review misses: clearance, width, annular ring and unconnected nets. How to set rules that match your fab, not the defaults.1 min read·2 questions