Lab Engr: Mashood AhmadDESIGNING A PCB USING PROTEUS PCB stands for Printed Circuit Board. The naming convention will be clear once steps for the design are understood. On a lower level of project, PCBs are usually designed on a board whose one side is lined with copper. But on the industrial scale or on a professional level, it is preferred to have a double sided PCB. This also complexes the procedure through which PCBs are made. This document only emphasizes on PCB designing in PROTEUS 7.10 sp0. Other versions of PROTEUS may have similar steps but you might need to be cautious anyway. 1. Installing Proteus: Before installing the PROTEUS, make sure there aren’t any previous versions on PC. If there are any, uninstall them and restart the PC. Make sure to install the software from ‘administrator’ login. Then see the ‘readme.txt’ file that came with the PROTEUS setup and follow the instructions. If there aren’t any instructions, then follow whatever is given in below paragraph to complete installation. In the setup folder, there will be the ‘setup’ file, a file with ‘lxk’ extension, another file starting from ‘LXK’ and a ‘crack’ folder in which there will be certain files that will be useful after installation. The ‘crack’ folder part might skip if there isn’t any ‘crack’ folder. Run the ‘setup’ file to start the installation. During installation it will ask for a key, locate the file with ‘lxk’ extension. After completing the installation, open the file starting from ‘LXK’ and follow the procedure required by this file. Now, open the folder where PROTEUS has been installed. Also, open the crack folder or if there are any other folders in this folder. There will be files that will be present in both the installation folder and the crack folder. Replace the files of the installation folder with the files in crack folder. If there are other files in the crack folder that are not available in the installation folder, just find a place for them in the installation folder according to the extensions they are assigned. 2. Proteus ISIS: Open the ‘ISIS Professional’ from PROTEUS. This is the application where the simulations of the circuits can be tested. But the same file can be further processed to transform it into a layout. Layout is the final design which is needed in order to make the PCB of a circuit. To make the schematic, first we must have its raw design. Below is the schematic, that this documents uses to explain the steps to make the PCB. Figure 1 Air University Complete the schematic given in Figure-1. just select the component from the pane. This can be done by selecting the ‘Component Mode’ icon indicated by the arrow number 1 in Figure-2. Move the component to an appropriate location and then place it by clicking once more. To add the components click on the ‘P’ indicated by red square in the figure. The ‘PANE’ will be empty in the start. A window similar to following figure will be opened. Fill in all the components required to complete the desired schematic. In this case. let us discuss how to change the values of the components in the schematic. The component will appear instead of the ‘pencil’ pointer. to place a component in the main window (right to the pane). click on other’s component end.2 Adding Footprints: Adding or editing the footprints is the most crucial and important step in the making of the PCB. Figure 2 Now. first add the suitable components in the ‘Component Mode’ pane. double click on the component instead of the text attached to the component.DESIGNING A PCB USING PROTEUS 2. This will bring another window. The icon indicated by arrow number 2 is ‘Terminals Mode’. and then type in the name to add the appropriate component. click once in the main window. Then. 2. To add or edit the footprint. In our case. double click on the text attached to the component placed in the main window. To place a wire between the components. The ‘Ground’ terminal must be connected if it is required to generate a Power Plane. click and hold is not necessary. Power Plane will be explained later in the document. simply click on one of the component’s end using the ‘pencil’ pointer. To do this. This contains the ‘Power’ and ‘Ground’ terminals required in the circuit. Figure 3 Air University . so that the change in the component value can be made. But before this. add the components as shown by figure to proceed further. Then.1 Making Schematic: To make the schematic. Proceed with the following steps to make the PCB layout. The icon indicated by arrow number 1 is ‘Component Mode’ that reveals the components pane. 3. Sub-category: Resistors 2N2222 > TO92-50. they start disappearing from the components pane. on this stage the simulation of the circuit can also be run. just add the footprints of the components as follows: CONN-H2 > TBLOCK-I2. But for the current schematic.DESIGNING A PCB USING PROTEUS If the default footprint is correct. Notice that as the components are placed in the main window. type and sub-category. The vectors can be annoying a bit.1 Making Schematic in ARES: Figure 4 Now. Type: Through Hole. Category: Diodes Discrete Components. Also. the software will not be able to generate any results. Type: Through Hole. The ‘PANE’ in the ‘ARES’ looks like Figure-4. the work on the software will be finished. 3. To be certain of this. Sub- CAP > ELEC-RAD20M. The footprint is searched by first erasing the actual footprint. click on the question mark indicated by the red square in Figure-3 to change it. Type: Through Hole. we just need to transfer the ‘netlist’ to ‘ARES’. But if it is not. go to View > Layers and uncheck the option ‘vectors’ or ‘force vectors’. they show the green lines and yellow arrows like vectors. To do this. extra work is required before even starting the PCB designing on the software. first select the ‘Component Mode’ and start placing components in the main window. The most important issue in dealing with the footprints is its compatibility between the software and the real world components. notice that when the components that have the interconnections are placed in the main window. Arrow number 3 indicates ‘2D Graphics Box Mode’ which will be used for Power Plane Generation. Category: Connectors. Category: Discrete Components. To proceed with the making of the PCB. Sub-category: RESISTORS > RES40. Sub-category: Transistors LED > SOD93. Category: Discrete Components. Category: category: Radial Electrolytics Discrete Components. don’t bother to change it. click on ‘Tools’>’Netlist to ARES’ or press Alt+A or just press the ARES icon on the right most side in the tab above the main window. Sub- 7805 > TO220. Category: category: Radial Electrolytics Discrete Components. then by choosing the appropriate category. Sub-category: Diodes Now. Type: Through Hole. as the circuit is incomplete without a transformer which is left only because it doesn’t need to be included in the PCB design. To remove them. Category: Transistors Discrete Components. Now. Sub-category: CAP > ELEC-RAD75M. Category: Discrete Components. Type: Through Hole. Sub-category: Terminal Blocks DIODE > DO41. Type: Through Hole. Make the schematic similar to the one in ‘ISIS’. Arrow number 2 indicates ‘Track Mode’ which will be used for routing. Once the layout is made. This is the application where the final layout will be made. Complete the schematic before starting the routing. Type: Through Hole. Proteus ARES: ‘ARES Professional’ will open automatically once the previous step is done. Air University . All the steps in the ‘ISIS’ are finished. Type: Through Hole. this may seem hectic to make the schematic again but actually it is easier than in the ‘ISIS’. For this schematic. To do ‘Manual Routing’. T50 is the width of the track. ‘Mills’ is a unit frequently used by PCB making softwares. Click on the second component’s end very carefully otherwise the route won’t finish. Leave the routes which were supposed to be ground and the routes with the BJT terminals. However.27 mm wide track. 1000 mills equal 1 inch and 1 inch equals 2. click and release. This prevents from selecting default track for every route. it is preferred to make it a Power Plane. the schematic might resemble like the figure below. Also.DESIGNING A PCB USING PROTEUS 3. Then select ‘Track Mode’ as explained by Figure-4. Using T50 track means we are actually using 1.54 cm or 25. This way. The trick is to use all the rest of the copper on the PCB.381 mm and the BJT pins’ width is 0. all the tracks must be of blue color. Use T15 track for the BJT components. ‘Auto Placer’ makes the schematic and places the components by itself on the main window. except the tracks. first of all uncheck Tools > Auto Trace Selection. double click again. then take it to another component’s end and click there. But ‘Manual Routing’ has certain advantages to ‘Auto Routing’. But the arrangement of the components done by ‘Auto Placer’ might not be satisfying. The routes and their thickness are chosen as desired. To change it to blue. if a bypass is required. The 50 associated is the width in ‘mills’. A route of blue color appears. automatic routing can be done. the next step is to route the track. Also. the symbols of the components can also be used. Figure 5 3. The T50 track is wide enough that it will be merged when connected to BJT’s pin. the node voltages are very Air University . Leave the ground wires to create the Power Plane discussed in the following section. Choose ‘T50’ from ‘Traces PANE’ and make routes between the component’s pins just like the wiring was done in schematic. And since the PCB in progress is single bottom layer PCB. Using T50 layer.3 Power Plane Generation: After all the rest of the tracks are complete. T20 track could also have been used here. If instead of the first single click. make all the routes. The kind of routing discussed in this document is manual routing. Instead of making a simple track for the ground. Take the route under a components symbol and the route will be completed without intersecting any other route. The T15 track has a width of 0. If this happens. Place pencil on one of the component’s end. Now. The T15 track’s width is kept in accordance with the BJT pins’ width and the distance between these pins.4 mm. the routes color changes to red. a double click is made. The red color is for the ‘Top Layer’ routing and the blue color is for the ‘Bottom Layer’ routing. The desired width can be converted from ‘mm’ to ‘mills’. as ground. ‘Auto Routing’ does not cause much trouble for smaller circuit but for larger circuits it is not recommended.56 mm.2 Routing: Once the schematic is complete. For this go to Tools > Auto Router under the option ‘Auto Placer’. so may be the case with the ‘Auto Routing’. the copper in actual PCB will make short connections that were not desired in the circuit. make sure that the routes do not intersect each other. the only one left is the ground track. Then right click once. A4. place the mouse pointer on the inner side of the PCB board drawn and find the location where the mouse pointer icon changes into a ‘hand’ icon. Now. It should be peeled before the print. ‘25th’ is fine. This can’t be done directly. Because a circuit is printed Air University . very thin that is not easily noticeable. the print is going on to be. be cautious. Add a ground. One side of the sticker sheet is rough and may be white.e. Now. To delete the Power Plane. Also. this means that during the schematic. Also. Figure 6 4. There will be a drop down button menu at the bottom left of the ARES window with ‘Top Copper’ written within it. Take out a print in PDF form by utilizing softwares which allow the prints to be converted into PDF. uncheck all the layers except ‘Bottom Copper’ and to reassure that the footprints doesn’t change. The board is the actual width and length of the PCB that is desirable. Make sure that all the print is transferred onto the copper before removing the sheet.DESIGNING A PCB USING PROTEUS easy to measure which implies the correct circuit. create a board first. A window with 4 options will appear. the option given to ‘Edge Clearance’ by default i. If the ‘OK’ button is available. Let the ‘Boundary’ be ‘Default’. If there isn’t any available. Create a Box on the main window which covers all the components. To print the layout.2 of this document. The only annoying thing after this will be the track to ‘Power Plane’ clearance. select delete object or right click twice to delete. Making PCB: The print must be printed on a copper board. Now. The Power Plane is now created. But. If printer is not available on the same PC. Just go to the ISIS schematic. The width and the length in mills can also be read at the bottom of ARES window. Change the ‘Trace-Trace’ clearance to change the above width. Click the button and select the ‘GND=Power’ net. Select the ‘2D Graphics Box Mode’ highlighted in Figure-4. is to keep this side safe and is noticeable and can also be peeled. Then go to Tools > Power Plane Generator. simple A4 paper won’t help. the option ‘GND=Power’ will be available. if present. Now. the easy thing about Proteus is that there is no need of starting all of it from the top. a list will appear. in ‘ARES’ again select the ‘Power Plane Generator’ option. from printer options e. The other side has a thin plastic sheet on it. on which the print is going to be. Select the option. connect it and select the ‘Netlist to ARES’ option as discussed at the end of section 2. The other thin plastic sheet. Expand this button and select Board Edge. This is the clearance from the board edge. click it otherwise press ‘Enter’. the schematic will look like Figure-6. To create Power Plane. and before printing on actual paper. One doesn’t need to find the ground this way. After taking the print on this side. select ‘Bottom Copper’. again select A4 or the type of paper. match the type of the paper. and then in the ‘Layer’ option. The first option is ‘Net’ with drop-down button. the ground is missed. press it against the copper side of the PCB board using Iron. This width and length is very important as it decides the actual size of the PCB in hardware.g. and Proteus is not installed in the PC with the printer. This can be changed accordingly by selecting Technology > Design Rules. go to Output > Print. The print must be taken on ‘Glossy Sheet’ commonly known as ‘Sticker Sheet’ or ‘Sticker Paper’. darken the tracks using a Permanent Marker. The FeCl3 solution must be a 1:1 with water. LED will blink. Jumper is simply a wire that can’t be traced during the PCB. connect the circuit with the supply and test it. clean the PCB and remove the marker or print using spirit. For it. Generally ¼ kg of powdered FeCl3 is dissolved in ¼ kg of boiling water. they connect the components and make a whole circuit. The print and the marker are going to act as insulation when the board will be dipped in FeCl3 solution. Then drill the PCB where the components pins are to be soldered. In this case the circuit is an AC to DC converter and the BJT circuit will allow us to know whenever the circuit is on i. After removing unwanted copper.ahmad32@gmail. And if lesser copper is needed to be removed. drill extra holes and use an external wire and solder it to complete the circuit. Another terminology to be aware of in the PCB business is jumper. connect it to an AC transformer that steps down a 220V AC into 12V AC and the output from the second connector will be 5V DC. CONTACT ME AT: mashood. So. that’s why it is called Printed Circuit Board commonly called PCB. The remaining copper are the wires of the circuit. the number of PCBs that can be made increases.DESIGNING A PCB USING PROTEUS on a board. After the print is transferred onto the copper. 5 to 10 PCBs can be made using this solution. The PCB will now be complete. Figure 7 IF ANY PROBLEMS. for the first connector. If inconvenient do not use marker on the Power Plane.e. The drilling points will be prominent in the print and thus on PCB. All the copper where there is no track or power plane must dissolve.com Air University . Now. See Figure-7 for how the print is going to be. The boiling water helps the reaction of copper with FeCl3.