How to Design Your First PCB: Step-by-Step Project Tutorial (2025)

Introduction

You've read about PCB design theory. You've watched videos. Now it's time to actually build something. This tutorial takes you from zero to a manufactured PCB, step by step, with a real project you can hold in your hands.

Unlike theoretical guides, we're building a complete, working circuit - a 555 timer LED flasher. It's simple enough to complete in an afternoon, but teaches all the essential PCB design skills you'll use in every future project.

By the end of this tutorial, you'll have:

• Designed a schematic from scratch in EasyEDA
• Created a PCB layout with proper trace routing
• Generated manufacturing files (Gerbers)
• Ordered real boards from JLCPCB
• Assembled and tested your first PCB

What We'll Build

Our project is a 555 Timer LED Flasher - a classic beginner circuit that blinks an LED at an adjustable rate. It's perfect for learning because:

• Simple schematic: Only 8 components total
• Clear functionality: LED blinks = it works!
• All through-hole parts: Easy to solder by hand
• JLCPCB basic parts: Cheap and readily available
• Real-world application: Foundation for timers, oscillators, PWM

Project Requirements

Our LED flasher will have these specifications:

• Power input: 5-12V DC (USB power bank compatible)
• Flash rate: Approximately 1-2 Hz (adjustable)
• Board size: 30mm x 40mm (credit card size)
• Mounting: 3mm holes for standoffs
• Components: All through-hole for easy assembly

Tools Needed

Step 1: Create the Schematic

The schematic is your circuit's blueprint. We'll draw the 555 timer circuit in EasyEDA's schematic editor, then convert it to a PCB layout.

Start a New Project

1. Go to easyeda.com and sign in (create a free account if needed)
2. Click File → New → Project
3. Name it "555-LED-Flasher"
4. Click File → New → Schematic to create a schematic sheet

Add Components

Now we'll add each component to the schematic. Use the search bar (keyboard shortcut: Shift+F) to find parts in EasyEDA's library.

Search for and place these components:

Wire the Circuit

Now connect the components according to the 555 astable configuration:

1. 555 Timer Connections:
   • Pin 1 (GND) → Ground
   • Pin 2 (TRIGGER) → Pin 6 (THRESHOLD) - connect together
   • Pin 3 (OUTPUT) → R3 → LED anode
   • Pin 4 (RESET) → VCC (keeps timer running)
   • Pin 5 (CONTROL) → C2 → Ground (noise filtering)
   • Pin 6 (THRESHOLD) → C1 → Ground
   • Pin 7 (DISCHARGE) → R2 → Pin 6
   • Pin 8 (VCC) → Power supply (+)
2. Timing Circuit:
   • R1 connects VCC to Pin 7
   • R2 connects Pin 7 to Pins 2/6
   • C1 connects Pins 2/6 to Ground
3. LED Circuit:
   • LED cathode (flat side) → Ground

Use the Wire tool (keyboard: W) to draw connections. Click to start a wire, click again to add corners, and click on a pin to complete the connection.

Add Net Labels

Net labels make your schematic clearer and help during PCB layout. Add these labels:

• VCC - Power supply positive
• GND - Ground

Press N or use Place → Net Label, type the label name, and place it on the wire.

Run Electrical Rule Check

Before moving to PCB layout, verify your schematic has no errors:

1. Click Design → Check ERC (or press Ctrl+Shift+E)
2. Fix any errors shown (common issues: unconnected pins, missing power symbols)
3. Warnings about "unconnected pins" on unused 555 pins are OK

Step 2: Create the PCB Layout

Now we'll convert the schematic into a physical board design. This is where your circuit becomes real!

Convert Schematic to PCB

1. In the schematic editor, click Design → Convert to PCB
2. EasyEDA creates a new PCB file with all your components
3. Components appear clustered together with "ratsnest" lines showing connections

Set Board Outline

First, define the physical board size:

1. Select the Board Outline layer (purple) in the layers panel
2. Draw a rectangle: 30mm wide × 40mm tall
3. Or use Tools → Set Board Outline and enter dimensions

Place Components

Component placement is crucial for a good PCB. Follow these guidelines:

1. Place the 555 IC first - it's the central component
   • Position it in the center-left of the board
   • Pin 1 (marked with dot) should be at top-left
2. Group related components:
   • Timing components (R1, R2, C1) near pins 6/7
   • Bypass capacitor (C2) near pin 5
   • LED and R3 near pin 3 (output)
3. Place connectors at board edge:
   • Power connector (J1) at the top or bottom edge
4. Leave space for mounting holes in corners

Step 3: Route the Traces

Routing turns those ratsnest lines into actual copper traces. For this simple board, we'll route everything on the top layer with a ground plane on the bottom.

Routing Basics

• Trace width: Use 0.25mm (10 mil) for signals, 0.5mm (20 mil) for power
• Via size: 0.3mm hole, 0.6mm pad (EasyEDA default is fine)
• Clearance: Keep at least 0.2mm between traces
• Angles: Use 45° angles, not 90° (better signal integrity, easier manufacturing)

Route Power Traces First

Always route power (VCC) and ground first:

1. Select the Top Layer (red)
2. Press W for wire tool
3. Set trace width to 0.5mm in the properties panel
4. Route VCC from J1 to all VCC pins (555 pin 4, pin 8, R1)
5. We'll handle GND with a ground plane later

Route Signal Traces

Now route the remaining connections:

1. Set trace width to 0.25mm for signal traces
2. Route the timing circuit: R1 → 555 pin 7 → R2 → 555 pins 2/6
3. Route C1 from pins 2/6 to ground pad area
4. Route C2 from pin 5 to ground pad area
5. Route the output: 555 pin 3 → R3 → LED → ground pad area

Add Ground Plane

A ground plane (copper pour) on the bottom layer provides excellent grounding and electromagnetic shielding. For our simple board, it also means fewer traces to route!

1. Select the Bottom Layer (blue)
2. Click Tools → Copper Area or press Shift+P
3. Draw a rectangle covering the entire board outline
4. In the properties, set the Net to GND
5. Click Rebuild Copper Area to fill the plane

The ground plane will automatically connect to all GND pads through thermal relief patterns.

Step 4: Finishing Touches

Add Silkscreen Labels

Silkscreen text helps during assembly. Add these labels:

• Board title: "555 LED Flasher" at the top
• Version: "v1.0"
• Polarity markers: "+" next to positive power pin
• Your name/website (optional but fun!)

Select the Top Silk Layer and use Place → Text to add labels. Use 1mm text height for readability.

Add Mounting Holes

Mounting holes let you attach the board to an enclosure or standoffs:

1. Search for "mounting hole 3mm" in the library
2. Place one in each corner, 3mm from the edges
3. Connect to GND net for shielding (optional)

Run Design Rule Check

The DRC ensures your board is manufacturable:

1. Click Design → Design Rule Check (or Ctrl+Shift+D)
2. Use JLCPCB's design rules (loaded by default in EasyEDA)
3. Fix any errors - common issues:
   • Clearance violations: Traces too close together
   • Unrouted nets: Missed connections
   • Copper/outline conflicts: Traces too close to board edge

Step 5: Order Your PCB

Time to make it real! We'll generate manufacturing files and order from JLCPCB.

Generate Gerber Files

Gerber files are the industry-standard format for PCB manufacturing:

1. Click Fabrication → PCB Fabrication File (Gerber)
2. Review the preview - all layers should look correct
3. Click Generate Gerber to download a ZIP file

Order from JLCPCB

1. Go to jlcpcb.com
2. Click Order Now → Add Gerber file
3. Upload your Gerber ZIP file
4. Configure options:
   • Base Material: FR-4
   • Layers: 2
   • Dimensions: Auto-detected from Gerbers
   • PCB Qty: 5 (minimum, usually cheapest)
   • PCB Color: Green (cheapest) or your preference
   • Surface Finish: HASL (lead-free)
   • Copper Weight: 1 oz
5. Review the PCB preview to ensure it looks correct
6. Add to cart and checkout

Typical cost: $2-5 for 5 boards + $2-15 shipping (depending on speed). Boards usually arrive in 5-14 days.

BOM and Parts List

While waiting for boards, order components from LCSC or your preferred supplier:

Step 6: Assemble Your Board

When your boards arrive, it's time to solder! Through-hole components are beginner-friendly - if you can use a pencil, you can solder.

Soldering Tips for Beginners

1. Work from lowest to tallest:
   • First: Resistors (R1, R2, R3)
   • Second: Ceramic capacitor (C2)
   • Third: IC socket (optional but recommended for U1)
   • Fourth: Electrolytic capacitor (C1) - watch polarity!
   • Fifth: LED (D1) - watch polarity!
   • Last: Pin header (J1)
2. Polarity matters:
   • Electrolytic cap: Long leg = positive, stripe = negative
   • LED: Long leg = anode (+), flat side = cathode (-)
   • 555 IC: Notch or dot indicates Pin 1
3. Soldering technique:
   • Heat the pad AND lead together for 2-3 seconds
   • Apply solder to the joint, not the iron
   • A good joint looks like a shiny volcano
   • Let cool before moving the component

Testing Your Board

1. Visual inspection: Look for solder bridges, cold joints, or missing connections
2. Continuity check: Use a multimeter to verify:
   • No short between VCC and GND
   • VCC reaches all power pins
   • GND reaches all ground pins
3. Power on:
   • Connect 5-12V power supply (USB power bank works great)
   • Positive to VCC, negative to GND
   • LED should start blinking!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Next Projects to Try

Now that you've completed your first PCB, try these progressively more challenging projects:

1. RGB LED Controller - Add a potentiometer to control LED brightness with PWM
2. USB-Powered LED Strip Driver - Learn about MOSFETs and higher currents
3. Arduino Nano Clone - Build your own microcontroller board
4. ESP32 Development Board - WiFi-enabled IoT project with SMD components

FAQ