Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
because that is what Fritzing started with. For the PCB, it is different. The
Arduino headers, for example, are placed in a specii c position and cannot be
moved. Fortunately, this is just one of the many ways in which Fritzing helps you.
When opening the PCB view, you are presented with a black screen with
individual components placed on the screen. Again, there are dotted lines con-
necting the different pins and components. In the middle of the screen, Fritzing
has placed a shield layout. By default, it will be for the Arduino Uno, but this can
be changed. Fritzing can help you create shields for almost all Arduino types.
To select a board, click the board on the screen, and select the board type in
the Inspector on the bottom right side, and select the type. For this example,
you create a shield for the Arduino Uno without the need for the ISCP headers.
This particular shield design already has the correct header placement, so you
do not have to place those. However, you have to place the integrated circuits
and the two headers. This is why you had to use headers for the breadboard
view so that the component is visible. If you had used wires only to connect
other devices, the header would not have been added.
Place the headers on the left in a line close together but not too close. Next,
place the integrated circuits on the board, somewhere where the dotted lines
don't cross over too often. Remember to use the rotate function to place the
components in the best possible location.
Printed circuit boards have one or several copper plates on their sides or
inside. Basic printed circuit boards have one copper side, known as the single
layer. More advanced circuit boards have copper on both sides and are known
as dual-layered. The mainboard inside your personal computer can sometimes
have up to a dozen “layers” of copper and are extremely advanced. Instead of
the wires on your breadboard, there will be copper “lanes” going from one
component to the other. Fritzing can provide double-layer printed circuit boards,
meaning that there can be connections on both sides.
Contrary to the schematic view, wires cannot cross each other on the same
side. If you cannot go around a wire, you can go underneath or above. This
makes routing slightly difi cult, but luckily, Fritzing has yet another tool to
help you, known as autoroute. Autoroute attempts to create wires between the
components and normally does a good job but does need a little bit of tweaking.
Have a look, and compare with your own.
The i nal step to making your shield is to send it for fabrication. This is done
automatically by clicking the Fabricate button on the bottom-right side. After
selecting the amount of printed circuit boards, the design is sent to the Fritzing Fab.
Fritzing checks your design, but only for major problems: short circuits,
design problems, or missing connections. After a few days, you will receive a
professionally made printed circuit board, ready to go! Place it on your Arduino,
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