getting started

welcome to this introduction to pcb-rnd.
if you are here, you probably already know it,
but just to be sure, I'll still say it.
pcb-rnd is a EDA software, to do printed circuit board layout, as the name might have suggested it.
but why would you use it?
is it because it is very lightweight, blazing fast, or doesn't require an Internet connection?
that too.
but for me it's like when I switched from notepad to vim or emacs.
it's meant for power users.
but for now, let's just get started with it.
I'll try to keep the video short,
and if I go too, just rewind it or decrease the playing speed.

starting pcb-rnd reveals an austere interface from the last century.
but no worries, it is still very functional and actively being developed on.

like with most EDA you find the layers, the menu, tools, and the status.
let's first set a working environment.
we will mostly use surface mount devices, and because most of them are metric, I will switch the grid unit from inches to mm by clicking on the top right.
you can also use the menu: view -> grid -> grid unit -> mm.
there you also see the corresponding shortcut: gm for mm, and gi for inches.
most actions have a corresponding shortcut, and as power user they will become very handy once you learned them.
you can also what you type on the bottom.
* try gi gm
let's also switch to a coarse grid size for part placement.
with gb will make it finer for routing.

next is setting up the board.
in the preferences let's set the name.
we will make a USB micro-B cable tester.
this will be a simple two layer board, so we will remove the internal layers.
don't forget to save the board frequently to not loose the progress.
the extension for pcb-rnd board file is .lht.

now you could start placing components.
in the library you can find some footprints.
like 0603 for SMD 2-pin chip devices.
there are even parametric footprints.
for example let's make a 2x5 pin header.
and voila.
but there you can only find the most basic footprints.
this is fine, because there can be no exhaustive perfect library of footprint.
you always prefer to use your own collection of footprints, which match yours needs and preferences, and most importantly, which a proven and trusted.
luckily supports a most common footprint file formats.
in pcb-rnd, footprints are called subcircuit.
so let's import some subcircuit.
some manufacturer provide footprints in BXL files, like this one.
if you select it, it will not place if directly, but put it in the paste buffer.
this is why it appears red.
the paste buffer allows to work on the footprint, but most of the time we just want to place it by click on a position.
if you are coming from another EDA like KiCad, and already built your library,
then you can just import the kicad footprints.
now a new window popped in.
this is the message log, and will show you warning or errors.
this will become a good friend to understand why some thing don't work.
here it's just some warning about the clearances, showing the footprint is lacking some information, but nothing we can't work with.

but often before you do the board layout, you already drew a schematic.
this will be our schematic.
I will not explain it, because it is outside of the scope of this video.
plus, pcb-rnd is only for board layout.
for the schematic you will have to use another EDA software.
and in this schematic I already specified the footprint to be used for the parts.
so pcb-rnd can automatically import them, you have to tell where to find them.
for that go into file, preferences, library
there are already some default path.
we want to add one to our subc folder, which holds my footprints.
so click insert before, and if you click on help, you will get some useful variables.
we will use the one for the design, since it will be in the same relative folder
so let's enter $(rc.path.design)/subc
you can also see the actual folder this will point to.

this is done, and we are ready to import the schematic.
go to file, import, import schematic.
so will pcb-rnd does not provide a schematic capture softare, it support most of the exisiting ones.
here I use lepton-EDA, so let's use this.
select the file, and import.
and voila, it imported all the footprints.
and if you click on connects -> rats nest -> optimise rats nest,
you can see all the rats you have to connect.
btw, if the schematic software is not supported, or you don't have the source schematic,
you can also just imnport the netfile.
this file also includes the footprint and netlist, and all schematic capture software can export it.
and if you make a change in the schematic, just re-import it and update the board layout.

next we will do a very rough placement.
you probably already have experience routing boards, and know it is a very iterative process.

once this is done, we can check the rats and can have an overview if it makes sense and is routable.
now let's start with the routing.
but first we need to define the route style.
this is done here.