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Experiment 10
PCB Layout designing using Proteus

Generally, we are listening the words PCB’s, PCB layout, PCB designing, etc. But what is
PCB? Why we are using this PCB? We want to know about all these things as an electronic
engineer. PCB means Printed Circuit Board. This is a circuit board with printed copper layout
connections. These PCB’s are two types. One is dotted PCB and another one is layout PCB.
The two examples are shown in below.

What is the main difference between the dotted PCB and layout PCB?
In dotted PCB board only dots are available. According to our requirement we can place or
insert the components in those holes and attach the components with wires and soldering lid.
In this dotted PCB we can make the circuit as out wish but it is very hard to design. There are
so many difficulties are there. Those are connecting the proper pins, avoiding shot connections
and etc. Coming to the layout PCB this is simple to design. First we select our circuit and by
using different PCB designing software’s, design the layout of the circuit and by itching process
preparing the copper layout of our circuit and solder the components in the correct places. It is
simple to design, take less time to design, no shortages, looking nice and perfect.
Up to now we have discussed about types of PCB’s and difference between the types.
Now we can discuss about PCB designing software.
There are so many PCB designing softwares available. Some are
Express PCB, eagle PCB, PCB Elegance, free PCB, open circuit design, zenith PCB and
Proteus etc.
Apart from remaining Proteus is different. Proteus is design suit and PCB layout designing
software. In Proteus we can design any circuit and simulate the circuit and make PCB layout
for that circuit.
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Introduction to Proteus:
Proteus professional is a software combination of ISIS schematic capture program and ARES
(Advanced routing and editing Software) PCB layout program.
This is a powerful and integrated development environment. Tools in this suit are very easy to
use and these tools are very useful in education and professional PCB designing. As
professional PCB designing software with integrated space based auto router, it provides
features such as fully featured schematic capture, highly configurable design rules, interactive
SPICE circuit simulator, extensive support for power planes, industry standard CADCAM &
ODB++ output and integrated 3D viewer.
Up to know we have discussed about the basics and software description. Now we are entering
into the designing section. Run the ISIS professional program by clicking the icon on the
desktop, then this splash screen will appear.

Next, a work space with interface buttons for designing circuit will appear as shown in figure
below. Note that there is a blue rectangular line in the workspace; make sure that whole circuit
is designed inside the rectangular space.
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Next step is selecting the components to our required circuit. Let us take one example is
designing of 38 kHz frequency generator by using 555 timer IC. The circuit diagram is shown
in below image.

Lab Task

In the above circuit the required components are 555 timer IC, 470? and 22K? resisters, 10K?
variable resister, 0.001µf capacitor and one IR LED. So select the components from library. In
menu bar library > pick device/ symbol. Then one window will open that shown in below.
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There is another way to select the components. In work space left side there is a tool bar. In that
tool bar click the component mode button or pick from library.

Select the all components from library, that components are added to devices list. Click on the
device and change the angle of the device by using rotate buttons. Then click in the work space
then the selected component is placed in work space. Place all the devices in work space and
put the curser at the component pin end then draw the connections with that pen symbol.
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Connect all the components according to circuit then that designed circuit is show in below
image.

If any modifications want to do to the component place the mouse point and click on right
button, then option window will open. That is shown in below figure.
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After completion of designing save with some mane and debug it. This is virtual simulation
means without making circuit we can see the result in virtually through this software and we
can design the PCB layout to our required circuit with this software.

PCB Layout Designing

Now we are going to design a PCB layout for the above circuit. Proteus has the integrated
ARES PCB designing suit. By using this we can easily develop the PCB layout. After
simulation save the circuit designing and click on tools then select netlist to ARES. Then a
window will open with list of component packages. That is shown in below image.
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Then next step is creating a board edge by selecting 2D graphics box mode. Next click on the
select layer at bottom left corner and select the board edge option. The image is shown in below
figure.

Then next click on work space then a green line will appear. With that draw a box and click
again once. Then the box is fixed and turn into yellow color layout. This box is same like in
above ISIS professional blue line. The circuit should be inside of the yellow box. If the circuit
is more complex and big in size, the there is a chance to expand the box by clicking on the
select mode. Then next click on the component name and change the angle of the component
by using rotation arrow options if required. Then place the component on the work space. After
adding the all components to the work space, arrange the position of the components properly
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in the workspace. To move component one place to another place click on selection mode and
click on component then it change color with white and hold the component and moved to
required place within the yellow box. After placing the all components in correct position, next
thing is tracking. Tracking means establishing the connection between the components with
copper layer. First select the track mode by clicking the track mode button, and change the track

width by clicking ‘C’ create or ‘E’ edit buttons shown in the below image. When we click the
button C or E immediately a window will open. Select the width of the track from given list. It
is better to select between 25, 40. Electronic hobbyists made their required PCB’s at their home
or lab. At that time track width in case less than 25, there is a chance of occur cuts in tracks.
The less width is useful in computer based PCB layering. So hobbyists are making their PCB’s
their own. So the width should be greater than 25. My suggestion is the width should be 35.

Then next thing is create tracks between components. Connection representation in green line
and yellow line shows the direction. After setting the track width click at the component one
end with pen and follow the green line. When two components are successfully connected then
green line will removed automatically.
Another main thing is there are several PCB’s are available. Those are single layer PCB, duel
layer PCB, multi layer PCB. In single layer PCB components are placed at one side and
connections (tracking) done in another side. Coming to duel layer PCB, tracking is done in two
sides and components are placed in two sides also. In this type mostly SMD components are
used. Next finally multi layered PCB’s, in these many layers are used. In this two are top and
bottom layers and remaining all are inner layers. In Proteus we can design up to 16 layers PCB.
One is top layer, another one is bottom layer and remaining all are inner layers. The layer
selection in Proteus is at left down corner. Each layer will represent in different color. For
example bottom layer represented in blue color, top layer represented in red and inner layers
are represented in different colors. The image shown in below figure.
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In the above image, it shows that track is placed between R1-2 pin and RV1-1pin. Another thing
is placing the track from 6th pin to 3rd pin. The direction is indicating in white arrow mark.

Connection is indicating in green line and blue line indicates the track. If any contact errors
occurred while tracking, those are represented in red circles and the image shown in below
figure.

In the above image red color represented circles are errors occurred while tracking. To avoid
such errors change the track path. Like this arrange the tracks between the all pins without
errors. If you are planning for duel layer PCB, there is short cut for changing the track layers
from one layer to another that is press the mouse left button two times immediately turned into
another layer. In above image there is an orange circle. That represents the ‘via’ means placing
connection between one layer to another layer. There is an advantage in Proteus. That is auto-
router. This is special tool to arrange tracks automatically without errors. But this tool creates
duel layer PCB. When we select this tool, automatically shape based auto router window will
open. This window having the execution mode, design rules and grid width changing options.
By changing all options according to our requirement and click the button begin routing
automatically routing will start.
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In above second image red tracks indicate top copper and blue tracks indicate bottom tracks.
This is duel layer PCB designing. If we want single layer PCB, we can place tracks out own.
The given below image shows the single layer PCB design of our required circuit. After
completion of tracking save the project in same folder where the above Proteus project saved.
In Proteus we have one other tool that how the circuit is been looking like after completion.

To see the final circuit, click on output in menu bar and then select 3D visualization. Then the
circuit visualization will open in other window. It is having the features of all angles
visualization, components less board view and back layer view. That is shown in below figure.
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Next this is the final step of PCB layer designing, which is layout printing. Taking prints of
board layer is the final step. So to take print of the circuit layout, click on output in menu bar
and click on print. Then print layout setup window will open.

In that window all layer selection options, modes, path, rotation options, scale, reflection and
image preview available. Coming to modes it is having the four modes those are artwork, solder
resist, SMT mask and drill plot. In artwork mode all our work means tracks and components
view means in above images yellow color module view can take print. While printing the
bottom copper layer one important thing is there, that is reflection selection. That should be
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selected in mirror mode. The window is shown in below figure. We have to take many prints
of the circuit layout.

PCB Layout Printing

1. Top copper layer printout. It is no need to this because this is single layer PCB. It is only
for duel layer PCB.
2. Bottom copper layer printout. While printing this layer except bottom copper and board
edge remaining all boxes will unselect position in layers/artwork part. Next select the scale
as 100%, select the rotation as X horizontal and the important thing is reflection should be
select mirror. Because after printing this layer on paper it is placed on the copper board in
opposite direction means the printed side should be faced to copper layer. That’s why we
are selecting reflection as mirror.

Soldering side view

3. Top silk layer printout. This combination with bottom copper. In single layer PCB we are
using only bottom copper. That means components are present in top side. So top silk layer
prints the components view. This will prints the place of the components. While printing
this layer except top silk and board edge remaining all boxes will unselect position in
layers/artwork part. Remaining all selections is same except reflection. Reflection should
be selected in normal mode.
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Component side view

4. Bottom silk layer printout. This is for duel layer PCB.

5. Solder resist layer printout. This is for preventing from short circuits. To print this layer
select the mode as solder resist and click the bottom resist box and board edge and
reflection mirror mode. Because this is also same like bottom copper layer printing.

6. SMT mark is not for this because in our circuit we don’t use the SMT modules.
7. Drill plot layer printing. This layer indicates the drill place and drill hole size. While
printing this layer only drill and board edge boxes is in selected position.
Reflection is normal mode.

After printing the all layers next thing is PCB itching. That means copper tracks designing with
layer printed paper.
1. Take the copper layered PCB board and cut the board according to our requirements.
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2. Place the bottom copper layer printed paper on the copper PCB board by facing the
printed surface to copper layer. The example shown in below figure.

3. Fix the paper and board without moving.

4. Apply heat by iron box or any other sources to the white printed paper.
5. At the printing machine carbon powder sprayed on white paper and applying heat,
the model is scanned, according to that model carbon powder is stick on the paper
and remaining powder on the paper is cleaned.
6. Here we are applying same process. Place the face of printed paper to copper layer
and applying heat to it then the carbon power stick to copper layer. So the paper is
merged with board.
7. Drop the board into water and remove paper slowly then the carbon layer fixed on
copper board. That example image shown in below figure.

8. Then drop the board into ferric-chloride liquid. Then the copper react with ferricchloride
and the copper which is not having carbon layer is dissolved in ferric-chloride and
remaining part which is having the carbon layer that is not dissolved in ferricchloride. That
example image shown in below figure.
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9. Next clean the board with sand paper. Erase or remove the carbon layer by scratching the
board with sand paper. Then the carbon layer completely removed and copper layer shown
out.
10. Make the holes by drilling according to drill position layer.

11. Then finally place the proper components in correct places and by using soldering kit fix
the components to the board.
12. Then finally cut the extra pins come from holes by cutter. Then our circuit is ready.

Result and observation:

The experiment involved the successful implementation of a 38 kHz frequency generator
circuit using Proteus software. The circuit design, executed through ISIS schematic capture
and ARES PCB layout programs, demonstrated the user-friendly nature of Proteus in
education and professional PCB designing. The 3D visualization feature aided in verifying the
design, and the subsequent layer printing facilitated accurate PCB fabrication. The etching
process using ferric chloride effectively removed unwanted copper, resulting in a well-
defined circuit layout. Challenges were noted in component soldering, emphasizing the need
for precise techniques. The experiment underscored the importance of high-quality printed
layers and showcased Proteus as an efficient tool for circuit simulation, layout design, and
overall PCB fabrication.

Analysis of Result:
The results of the experiment highlight the successful execution of a 38 kHz frequency
generator circuit using Proteus software for circuit simulation and PCB design. The
comprehensive circuit design and layout were achieved seamlessly, showcasing the user-
friendly nature of Proteus in both educational and professional contexts. The utilization of 3D
visualization contributed to the verification process, ensuring accuracy in the design. The
subsequent layer printing and etching stages were effective in fabricating a well-defined PCB
layout, with ferric chloride successfully removing unwanted copper. However, challenges
were observed in component soldering, emphasizing the importance of precise techniques
during this crucial phase. The overall success of the experiment underscores the significance
of high-quality printed layers, demonstrating Proteus as a robust tool for the end-to-end
process of circuit simulation, layout design, and PCB fabrication. Future iterations of the
experiment could focus on refining soldering techniques and exploring additional features
within Proteus for more complex circuit designs.
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Conclusion:
In conclusion, the experiment showcased the efficacy of Proteus software in the design and
fabrication of a 38 kHz frequency generator circuit. The user-friendly interface of Proteus,
particularly in the ISIS schematic capture and ARES PCB layout programs, facilitated a
seamless workflow for both educational and professional purposes. The 3D visualization
feature provided a valuable tool for verifying the circuit design before proceeding to the
fabrication stage. The layer printing and etching processes proved effective in producing a
well-defined PCB layout, underscoring the importance of precision in each step. Despite
encountering challenges in component soldering, the overall success of the experiment
highlights the capabilities of Proteus in circuit simulation, layout design, and PCB fabrication.
The results contribute to a better understanding of the practical aspects of electronic design
and provide a foundation for future endeavors in refining soldering techniques and exploring
advanced features within Proteus for more intricate circuit designs.