How to start with PCB Design if you only know basic electronics

Hi everyone! So I would like to share my personal experience designing PCBs as a beginner. So I have been designing PCBs for 3 years already and the most important thing I have learned in this period is that to start designing PCBs and actually get into that, you just have to choose a project and get hands-on.

• First of all, look at some videos on-line, there are plenty, one example could be the following one: How To Start Video. Then, choose an easy project: it could be a simple LDO circuit, a buck converter, or a simple microcontroller activating some LEDs, and then start designing. For the software I would suggest EasyEDA just because for beginners it's the easiest one. Then just start designing the schematic! For the schematic I would say that the most important thing to keep in mind is: keep it organised and clean! For example, all the input pins on the left, outputs on the right, name the connections etc.. In this way it will be way easier to understand the schematic not only for you, but for whoever looks at it. I think that, by beginning to draw schematics with the good-practice guidelines in mind, you already have done a huge step ahead.
• RUN THE DCR! (design rules checker) This is one of the most significant stept in my opinion, it allows you to not make huge mistakes!
• After you have finished the schematic just go into the layout and routing! Just try and connect all the components as the software tells you by keeping in mind some easy rules: no 90 degrees angles, always keep it clean, don't be scared to use vias, use the right width for the traces, don't be scared to do something wrong it's perfectly normal. Personally, I think that designing PCBs just requires a lot of practice and attempts. Also EasyEDA has a lot of tutorials so if you need something just look there.
• Once you have done some little projects, you can also try to do something more elaborate such a basic audio amplifier, or something that actually interests you. I think one of the best way to learn is do something useful for you and that you find exciting!
• Finally, I would suggest you to print the PCB and actually test it. Even if you don't get to actually use it, having the product and actually testing it helps you understand what could you have done better. Also with JLCPCB printing the pcb is actually very cheap and the delivery is quite fast, so you don't need to have big capital to invest or something like that.

I will attach a little project (an LDO) I did as a beginner that might help you to get started. Since it was a PCB design I made as a beginner, it has some mistakes! What do you think they are? #PCBDesign#