Are you thinking of trying PCB design? It is a fun hobby which many have indulged in over the years. There’s plenty of material online for you to learn about PCB design from but there are still some things you might not have thought about. Here are some aspects of PCB design which you should always consider.
You Might Be Using the Wrong Software
Ever find that your designs take longer than you feel they should? Do you become exasperated when your design software does not behave the way you want it to? You could be using the wrong one. Switching to a new circuit designer software platform might be just the thing you need.
Each PCB design software on the market is very different from its competitors. What one designer might like, another might really struggle with. It is important that you think about all aspects of PCB design and try to determine which areas you are currently struggling with. You might be able to find a software which helps you tackle that area better.
You Could Make a Career Out of It
If you really enjoy PCB design and you would like to spend more time doing, why not think about a career change? There are industries everywhere looking for skilled PCB designers like you. It might be the career break you need and it could mean that you can wake up everyday to do something which you love.
Even if you do not want to do it professionally, there are still plenty of ways you can turn PCB design into your full-time career. Why not set up a small business selling circuit boards? If you are particularly gifted at design, you could offer your services as a freelance designer. It would be a fantastic one-person business to run in retirement or as a side-project.
You Could Branch Out into Manufacturing
Design is only one half of the PCB conundrum and there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved with manufacturing too. The equipment needed for the job is not that difficult to source and the actual process itself is simple chemical etching. You can then use a milling machine to remove any unwanted copper.
If you are thinking about how to take your love of PCBs to the next level, trying your hand at manufacturing might be an option. All you need is space to put the equipment and the time and money to put into sourcing it.
PCB design is multi-faceted and there are many different avenues which you can explore. If you are searching for ways to improve your engagement with this hobby, any one of the things listed here could be a brilliant option for you. Take a look at how you are currently approaching how you create your PCBs and see if there is any space for you to make improvements. You might even manage to revitalise your entire passion for their design!
