Revised March 6, 2008

EXPRESS PCB TUTORIAL

This tutorial leads you through the design of a PCB using layout software from ExpressPCB, which is freeware available at www.expresspcb.com. Before beginning you should make sure your computer has both ExpressPCB and ExpressSCH, if not than you should download the software. Before beginning the PCB process, you should come up with the initial design, build it and test it on a breadboard, fix any errors, and determine specific components. It is also useful to have datasheets and dimensions for all of the "special" components such as transistors, Ies, sensors, actuators, etc., on hand. For this tutorial, we will use a drawer burglar alarm circuit, which had the following form after testing on a breadboard:

I ,

co/~~~.

:C:;'" :.! !

•. . .'--!....__,_: 1.N 1~ I ; ,

l;. '

~ I

,

! !

·1· ..

1 !

There are two stages remaining in the process to creating the circuit board. In the first stage, you build the schematic using the ExpressPCB schematic editor. In the second stage you layout the circuit board. It is possible to skip directly to the layout editor. However, doing the schematic first will allow you to link the schematic into the layout editor reducing the probability of error.

1. Open ExpressSCH to create a fresh schematic. The first time you start ExpressSCH you

will get a dialog box with a link to a quick start guide for ExpressSCH. This can be useful if you want to get a general overview for the tool. Once you are ready to start, close the dialog box to view the empty schematic.

Entering the Schematic into ExpressSCH

Ell Expressgr.H - (Untitled)

Eils ~dit 'Liew 2:heet C;;_ompQnent t1elp

rsc~4

><2.850 Yl.S50 Snap 0.050" ....

- "fa

2. Click on Op-Amp-like symbol to place components. To place the resistors, select "PassiveResistor" in the text box in the upper right comer.

:[}

... eg~.:;::iy'~.,:.,6.'~,:;::!:?,\Q!., ... , .. , .. , ... , .. , ..

<;>----------------------1 Passive-Resistor network "'S"p'j';:"'8'j'p' Passive - Resistor network ·l 0 pin sip Semiconductor - 4N25 Optocoupler - DIP-S Semiconductor-Diode

Semiconductor - Diode bridge - Diodes IncW04GGI Semiconductor - Diode bridge - Vishey KBL04 Semiconduclor-Diodezener

Semiconductor - FET N channel

Semiconductor - FET P channel

Semiconductor - LED

Semiconductor - MOSFET N channel depletion Semiconductor - MOSFET N channel enhancement Semiconductor MOSFET P channel depletion Semiconductor MOSFET P channel enhancement Semiconductor Transistor NPN

Semiconductor Transistor PNP

Switch· DPDT

Switch· Momentary NC Switch - Momenter NO

5chE"mab C NamE"

3. Then click on the schematic for the 4 resistors (not including the photoresistor or potentiometer) in roughly the location you want them to display. Then zoom in using the magnifying glass tool (or the wheel on the mouse) and pan the display (using the sliding bars) to improve your view.

:t=: ExpressSCH (UntitLedl ~~rR1

File Edit View Sheet Component Help

Passive -Hesistor

~~~

X 7550 Y 2650 S 0050"

~'artlt r~~TrendMI[rOPC[lhnI-r~prortotYPlngL-3b--r~EXPRESSPCBTUTOR- :t=::-Express5CH (Untitled) U ': '-V~ 941AM

4. Now you need to give each of the resistors unique identifiers. Right click on a resistor and choose "Set component properties." In the Component Properties box, under "Component ID," select "Auto assign Part ID." The program should assign this resistor to be Rl. Set its value 10k in the "Part Name" field and hit OK. Repeat this process to identify and label R2 (10k), R3 (lOOk), and R4 (10k).

b:pressSCH (Untitled) ~~ X

File Edit \lie!") sheet Component Help

Component properties

~RJ ?10r3K

Component 10 P<lrllD[i_e_U'2orC13J:~ -~,""r-Text height: ~ r Hide pert ID

Textolientation: F ~ IHi:l1 ~ I

~Rl ?iOl

Component name 01 value:

Parlname(i.e.14LS14or.lul): 10~

~R2 flO}

TextOlienlalion: F ~ 1"",1:11 t I

Order # [i.e. Digik.ey 1234-NDJ

lThe '~dec, Ie P'< '" 'heBI"t'_Mo_,e,_iaIS_1 _ _j

OK~

i3r~~

wi X. 5.900 Y'3.650,j SC'P o050"vil

"weEd!! e".~ He

i'1'd,,"j@-· ..... ;iiW

,W"f"

File Edit vew Sheet Component Help

5. Rotate R4 by right clicking on it, selecting "Rotate component" and then "Body left 90°"

:t=: ExpressSCH IUntitled) [J~[Rl

:l,R 1 riol

Copy

I

~R2 ?10k

Deselect

-:tlew'

I_F1i_P '_O",--P"_"_' ----I. ::~~ :i;~~900

Set component properues.v. ccnconere rrenecer..

Body a text leFt 90° Body &text right 900 Body&text 1800

6. Now add the capacitor, potentiometer, comparator, and transistor to the circuit by first clicking back on the component placement tool (the red op-amp symbol) and using the component names "Passive-Capacitor polarized," "Passive- Potentiometer," "IC - National - LM311 - Comparator - DIP-8," and "Semiconductor - Transistor NPN." Use "set component properties" to assign all of these parts Part IDs, label them and position them (using the arrow tool) in a logical manner.

Ell E:xpre~sSCH ~ C:\Documents and Settings\firebaug\My Documents\EE241\[xpressPCBTutorial\Tutorial.sc:h _ r5I If3I

File Edit View Sheet Component Help

R40k ~

.....,j\/y-o ~1711

Jp

l100cF

5,R3 'flOtH

Snap: Disabled ..-

~Inbox'Micro< ~Mi[rosoftEX(el,.. .l]http://www,u< I!:) ExpressPCBTut. ~EXPRESSPCBT.

7. Now we need to add some components (the photoresistor and the buzzer) that don't exist in the library. Let's start with the photoresistor. The easiest way to make new parts is to start with a symbol that's already close to what you want and modify it. Place a regular resistor on the layout (using the placement tool with 'Passive - Resistor'). Go to the selection tool (the arrow), choose that resistor and go to the "Component" menu at the top and select "Ungroup component"

Ell ExpressSCH - C:\Dotuments and SeUings\firebilug\My Documents,\EE241\[xpressPCBTutoriaIUutorial.sch - ~iil

5,R2 ?10t

_±j~~

X: 4.739 Y: 1.871 Snap: Diaebled ...

, @JlnbQx-MiCrQ"" ! I3IMicrQ~oftExcel ! ;l]http://'H'Hw,UI,,, ! ~Expre"PCBTlJt", ! ~EXPRESSPCBT", Ni'.'- !i!!1@l~ 2:36PM !

8. Using the circle shaped tool from the tool menu, draw a circle around the resistor.

ExpressSCH - C:\Documents and Settings\firebaug\My Documents\EE241\ExpressPCBTutoriaIHutorial.sch _ BI U

File Edit vew Sheet Component Help

5, RS """fl0k

5, R3 'f lOOk

~1711

Jf1

1l00uF

S,R 1 flOk

5,R2 ?IOl:

~EXPRE55PCBT

,'!IIlI~rll! 238PM

Select the whole object (using the arrow tool), and choose "Component" -> "Group to make component"

File Edit View Sheet I'-c-:om-:po~co-:'t"'-;-Hc:"p::- --,_

-olr-r l ..-/1 e..11 Rotate body 90°

~....:..:..J ~ Rotate body e.text 900

~ ~

~ ~

9.

Flip right to left

Flip top to bottom

Group to make componerlt.,:::::J

Ungroup component

ill

Seve custcm ccmpcnent.. Set component Properties.

Group to make symbol

Ungroup symbol

5, RJ ? IOO-If

seve custom sjmbol..

Set symbol Properties.

ComporJerlt&symboIM-3r.ager".

Comooneotlntcrmetlcn..

~Rl f10k

5,R2 ?10l:

X 3132 Y 1871

Snap Disabled

~ 1'.IT'2Irnbox-Miuos", II!!IMicrosoftExcel" 'J @jhttp://I"II"II"I,US,,, ~ ~ExpressPCBTut", l' ~EXPRE55PCBT.

oiiI~rll! 239PM

10. In the component properties box that appears, assign the photoresistor a unique part ID, such as "PRl".

II [xpressSCH - C:\Documents and Settings\firebolug\My Documents\EE241\[xpressPCBTutorioll\Tutoriill.sch File Edit View Sheet Component Help

~ ............... ~m

Component properties ~ r J

SRI ? 10k

Text utienletjun F ,;: 1,,,1 ;: 1

~c~om~p~on:en~' n~"m~e~m~v":,"~e ~~~~~~ .. ct

Part name [i.e. 74LS74 Of_lui): I 100l)F

Te)!1 height: ~ r Hide pari name

Text cneraenon: F ~ I H~ I t I

~1711

Component 10

PClltIDli_e_~1201C13):~ ~

Teat height: ~ r Hide pert 10

5,R2 ?10k

Order II: [i.e. Digikey 1234-ND):_,,',

[The order ft IS printed on Ihe Bill Of Materiels]

11. For future use, save this as a custom component by selecting "Component" -> "Save custom component" and then in the dialog box that appears give the component a name such as "photoresistor." (If someone else has already completed the tutorial on this computer, the part may already exist, in that case you should either save this component with a unique name, or save your component on top of the one already existing)

III ExpressSCH - C:\Documents and SeUings\firebaug\My Documents.UE141\[xpressPCBTutorial\Tutorial.sch ~[i]tal

File Edit liiew Sheet Component Help

<. RJ

5. R5

~?10 k

Save custom component

SRI flO'

Name: IPhQtQre~i~tQ~

~1711

SR2 f 10k

@I 2:41 PM

12. Move the photoresistor to the spot you want it in the circuit.

13. Now we will create the buzzer. The buzzer is a polarized device, so a good starting point is a polarized capacitor. Go to the component selector, choose a polarized capacitor, ungroup the capacitor, and then add a circle to the symbol to distinguish it as a buzzer. Group the entire object as a component with part If), "BZl," and label "CEP-2224" and save the component as a "Buzzer" under custom components. At the last step, you're display will be as follows:

I'll ExpressSCH - C:\Documents and Settings\firebaug\My lJocuments\EE141\h::pressPCBTutoriaIHutorial.sch

File Edit View sheet Component Help

.!.R3

~l7ll

:!,RS

-t?10k

Save custom component

(I'\Zl

WCEP-2224

:!,R2 ?IElk

N •• e: 180""

I 5,,, I

0~F

X:3.113 2.385 Snap: Disabled ..-

~, K2llnbox-Micro~oF ~Micro,oFtExcel I.lhttp://w\I-I.I-/.um. ~Expre,~PC8TlJto I@:]EXPRESSPCBT", .+I!IExpre~'SCH-C .. ~[ill] 2:42PM.

14. Now we need to add our connections to power and ground. Let's start with ground. Go to the "symbol or signal label" tool, which looks like a ground, and select "Power - ground" from the text box in the upper right.

~ c:::::>rE

~

~

J

-

A

ExpressSCH - (:\Documents. and Settings\firebaug\My lJo[:uments\[E241\[xpressPCBTutoriaIHutoriaL.sch

file Edit Vi8w Sheet Component Help

SRl ?,'Gl;

SR2 ?10}

~EXPRESSPCBT".

15. Place 5 grounds into the circuit, at the bottom of R2, near pins 1 and 4 of the LM311, near the bottom of the capacitor, at the emitter of the BJT, and at the bottom of the potentiometer.

_ 01

ExpressSCH C: \Documents and Settings \firebaug\My Documents \E£241 uxoresspcnr utorialH utoriet.sch

File Edit View Sheet Component Help

Power-Ground

. ~RS

-->?10 k

c:::::>~

~R3 ? 100k

(I'\zl

\J:}CEP-U24

SRI fl0k

SR2 f10'

~EXPRE55PCBT ...

16. Repeat this process, but using "Power - Voltage Supply +9V" to put 5 power connections in at the top of R 1, the photoresistor, pin 8 of the LM311, the top of R3 and the top of the buzzer.

ExpressSCH - C:\Documents and Seuings\firebaug\My Documents\EE241\[xpressPCBTutoriaIHutorial.s,ch

File Edit View Sheet Component Help

~+9V¢:=J

~R3 . .

? 100;

c:::::> ~+9v ~

~RI f 10,

~1711

Jfl

~R2 ? 10k

~EXPRE55PCBT".

~ 2:47PM

17. Now let's add in our battery connection. Place a battery into the circuit, using "Mise - Battery." Assign the battery the part ID "B 1" and give it the label "9V." Then, use the symbol tool to add a ground connection and a +9V network connection (this will link the positive terminal of the battery with every other point in the circuit that should go to 9V-if you wanted to add a switch to the circuit, you would add it between the + terminal of the battery and the '+9V' symbol.)

File Edit vew Sheet Component Help

:t=: [xpressSCH C.WaclJmenls a.nd Seltlngs\Fuebdugh Cravens'\MyDDcumenlsUJSNAwork\EE241UJrarlolypmg Lebuutcnet sch ~@~

SRl f10l

SR2 ?'IOl<

[S[~~

1<4900 Y1%O S 0050"

SR3 ? 1001<

WE21 WCEP-2224

r(fl

18. Now select the wire tool, and wire your circuit together. The left-click starts the wire and sets a bend, and the right click ends a wire. After wiring, the schematic should appear as follows:

File Edit View sheet Component Help

:t=: Express5CH C \Documents and 5ettings\Firebaugh CravenslMy DDcumenlsUJ5NA workUE241\Prorlolyplng Labuutertat sef _ [jl X

~~~

~ X: 7.300 Y:1850 • Snap; 0,050" a~

@'·+e'f_c3+i",,"'_e·e·i~i'$

1"9V

R3 lOOk

p," Ok

or :t>,;ExpressSCH

19. Save your work, using "Save As .. " to create a unique filename.

20. Check your file for netlist errors using "File" -> "Check schematic for netlist errors"

Sheet Component Help

Open".

Ctrl+N ctrl+O em-s

Page see.v. Print"

Export schematic image.

·"·.'-'%'9",1

C:\DQcument, and Setting,\Firebaugh-(raven,\My DQcument,\USNA I"IQrk\EE241\PrQrtotyping Lab\tutQrial.~ch C:\Do[uments and Settings\Firebaugh-Cral'ens\My Do[uments\U5NA l0ork\88332\Supplement\FlashAD(,sch

fS[~~

X 2050 Y 1650 S 0050"

]21 CEP-2224

21. The pins inside of the BJT are not specified (this is because pin assignments vary for different BJTs) so you will probably will get an error message, like that shown below:

Ell bpressSCH - C:lDocuments ilnd Setting:s\firebtJug\My Documents\[[14Ub::pres:sPCBTutoriilIHutoritll.:sch ~~.I

Netlist ~E~n"'!~~~~~~~~~~~~24

100uF

22. Hit "cancel" on the error message, and then as that message suggested, select the part and choose "Component" and then "Ungroup Component." This example uses the 2nl7ll BJT in the little tin can (the TO-39 package). For this package the base is pin 2, the emitter is pin

1, and the collector is pin 3. To set this in the schematic, double click onjust the collector pin, and assign it to pin 3.

File Edit View Sheet Component Help

[:x:pressSCH - C:\I)ocuments and Settings\Firebaugh CravensWy ()ocumentsUJSNA work\EE241\PrortDtyping Lebttuterlet.seh _ Dl X

0k

CEP-2224

Set properties of the selected pin

Position (inches): X ~ Y ['1'3"0'0

I OKII~

Pin numher

Pin number (i.e. 1. 2 ... ): ~ Auto anign pin I

1"1 numberto4

T ext height: ~ r Hide pin nureber T ext orientation: F ~ It,;;! I ~ I

Pin name text:

Pin name [i.e. elK 01 DO): Ie

TeKI heigh!: ~ fi7 Hide pin name

Text urientetion. F ~ I t,eI I t I

100uF

±J .. ~ Sheet1

X' 6895 Y. 3296

D" bid

Clicked on pin 3

23. In a similar fashion, assign "2" to the base, and" 1 " to the emitter. Then select the entire component (this takes a lot of shift-clicking-be sure to get all the little parts), choose

to make from the and the ID to be Q 1.

~~

1 P-2224