I am new to Fritzing and could use some help with designing a custom PCB. I have managed to create a basic schematic but I am struggling with optimizing the PCB layout. Specifically:
How can I efficiently place components to minimize trace length while avoiding overlaps: ??
What’s the best way to ensure the ground and power planes are properly routed: ??
Any tips for using the Autorouter effectively or is it better to manually route everything: ??
Additionally, I would like to include custom components in my design. I have read that I need to use the Fritzing Parts Editor but I a’m finding it a bit tricky. Any step by step guides or tips to create and import custom parts would be amazing !!
In general manual routing is the best bet (that assumes you have experience with routing pcbs of course) because humans are much better at routing than any software at present (and likely for the future.)
These two tutorials apply to current versions of Fritizng.
I lately learned there aren’t links to the videos in Old_Grey’s tutorial so you need to do a google search for the title and then they come up on YouTube.
I don’t use Parts editor, it was not completed when development stopped in 2016 and hasn’t yet been updated now that development has started again. That said, part making is very complex to do correctly, for small numbers of parts you are better to ask (supplying a data sheet for the device with physical dimensions and connection information and I or someone else will likely make it for you. For pcb your best bet may well be to upload the sketch (the .fzz file, upload is 7th icon from the left in the reply menu) and one or more of us will make suggestions on how to lay out pcb. If you have size or position constraints place the associated parts on the pcb layout and tell us if they can not be moved.