PCB design checklist
General
- A Power LED!
- Check connector pin sequence (is it mirrored?)
- If it goes into an enclosure, design all connectors to be pcb-mounted
- Add holes so that wires can be patched from top to bottom
- Check inverted logic is used and named properly
- ERC and DRC
- Print 1:1 on paper and check new footprints
- I2C: pullups ok?
- Are decoupling caps at the right place?
- Via placement for ground plane?
- Check track widths. Enough vias? Via diameter?
- No via under pad.
- Add test points?
- Check thermal management
- Silkscreen labels for jumpers and connectors
- Verify that silkscreen component labels are next to their component
- No silkscreen over pads
- Verify mounting holes position
- Verify clearance around mounting holes to avoid shorts
- Verify 3d clearance if several boards stacked or if it has to fit in an enclosure.
- Double-check orientation of connectors
- No silkscreen over vias or pads!
- Silkscreen board name and revision. Optional which square for tested tick
- Machine assembly: add fiducials, check part centroids, check pin 1 location (IPC-7351)
- Check solder mask clearance
RF tips
- Michael Ossman's rules: 4 layers, ICs, 50 Ohms everywhere, follow recommendations, route RF first
At order time
- What PCB thickness to use?
- Manufacturers: Oshpark, Aisler, Seeed, Eurocircuits
When using an ATmega:
- Crystal: frequency, load caps, 1M
- VCC decoupling caps
- RESET pullup
- AUTO RESET necessary for arduino bootloader programming
- Decouple AVCC with ferrite BLM15BB221SN1D and 10uF
More at https://pcbchecklist.com/