Getting Started: Step by Step creating a PCB with Fusion 360
1)Create an Account. Autodesk Fusion 360 is free for one year for any student with a valid
NDSU email.
2) [Link]
360/education?AID=10282382&PID=100357191&SID=tuid%3A2982E00743266CAE26CCF2
6B47266A54&mktvar002=afc_us_deeplink&cjevent=909e6a5fa63211ed8367bd120a1c0e0
b&affname=100357191_10282382
This PowerPoint was created to give you a step by step tutorial of how to create a
printed circuit board from start to finish. It only shows the highlights of the process
as you will have to find some information on your own as needed.
Fusion 360 has a higher learning curve than some other PCB design programs but it
does have it’s advantages and is used in Industry. It also is a program that let’s you do
3D modeling creating files necessary for .stl and .obj files which are used for 3D
printing.
#1 )To begin with Fusion360 is a free CAD program to all students at NDSU with a
ndsu email address
#2) Copy this link or go to [Link] and follow instructions to setup a new
account. It is good for one year and can easily be updated for another year still free to
the user.
Here is a list of 11 best PCB Design Software:
Altium $330 per month
CircuitMaker Free
Eagle -Free
PCB Web Designer
Dip Trace
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Solidworks PCB
Kicad
Easy EDA
Fusion 360 Free one year
PCB Artist- Digi-key- Advanced Circuits
Is Altium better than EAGLE?
Comparing these two software's, Eagle has better options when comes to integrated
design or team collaboration. Better options are available in Eagle in case of hardware
based project whereas on the other hand, the user interface of Altium is more
reliable and powerful.
Altium Circuit Maker is a free PCB design tool. EAGLE offers a free version for
personal use. This limited version includes 2 schematic sheets, 2 signal layers, and an
80 cm2 board area. Regular pricing for EAGLE/Fusion 360 is $1,555 (paid every 3
years), $545 annually, or $70 per month.
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Another note from Autodesk about Fusion360…
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AUTODESK FUSION360
Fusion360 Schematic Design Tutorial
[Link]
Fusion360 PCB Design Tutorial
[Link]
or
[Link]
8UlL80Xm8Gxz98YNum3I9GInr A to Z by George Garcia
Fusion 360 is more advanced than Upverter, with the extra and more advanced libraries it has a
higher level of complexity.
Without watching the getting started Tutorials it will be difficult to create a Schematic and then
the PCB design.
There are many more videos on Youtube such as
[Link]
As Fusion360 is more advanced than other programs such as Upverter, due to the
complexity you must look at these design tutorials to get started and for further
questions. Fusion360 answers most all questions via a short YouTube video.
Highlighted in Blue is the Schematic Design tutorial, highlighted in green is the PCB
design tutorial. You need to create a schematic design before you create a PCB
design.
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One account/ one active session at a time
Just a note on this: One active account at a time, if you should forget to logout on a
computer at home or school and try to use another, this usually pops up. It is OK to
suspend it, you will not lose any information. Just hit Continue
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What does it take to make a PCB? Four steps
1) Schematic- After Breadboarding is finished and with the benefit of Circuit Lab schematic
Create a schematic diagram
2) Parts list- Libraries- Create your own library (excel works) for complex schematics or it
will develop a library for you as your Schematic is created by the parts you choose from
within the Fusion 360 parts libraries. Because there are so many type of package designs
Creating a known Parts file is imperative
3) PCB Design- Convert your Schematic to PCB Design
4) Create Gerber files for manufacturing- Drill and Cam files- as in a zip folder- labeled with
your SD project #
These are four requirements to make a PCB….. Create a schematic, need a parts list,
Create the PCB Design, Create the Gerber's for manufacturing
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[Link] by George Garcia
Getting started: FUSION 360; after downloading Fusion 360(Education License) from Autodesk, this
page should appear. Since Fusion 360 does a wide array of things such as 3D CAD drawings, the first
items is the need to change to Schematic and PCB Design
Go to File (Top Left corner of page) and click New Electronics Design
To get started and after logging , this page should show up, take a note where the
arrows go. As it says, first step is to change to Schematic and PCB Design… click New
Electronics Design
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Fusion 360 has tutorials to answer every question
Click the ? Mark, This is the Learning panel
Self paced learning
Learning and Documentation
Quick Setup
Community Forums
Support and Diagnostics
Clicking the ? Will help answer many question. Click on this to bring you to Learning
and Documentation, or quick setup
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This page opens up to start a schematic
Work in millimeters
I
or inches?
Make sure to use
a mouse
Take the time to
watch the tutorials
To create a
schematic
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. To setup parameters such as working in mm or inches(mils) click the ? mark, click
quick setup, this shows the 1) default units , 2) it asks are you ..New to Cad? And
how to setup your mouse. “Note” Using Fusion 360 without a mouse is NOT a good
idea! 3) Learn by Doing is also very helpful and has guided tutorials. Click and
choose Electronics Design (back to the fundamentals) or ECAD Design , … Finally
click on Schematic Icon to create a new schematic . Under Common you click the
schematic Icon, later anything you put in the schematic can be seen by clicking the
green Icon.
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Note1) grid settings/ leave at 0.1” or
change to 100 mils as this is universal
breadboard pitch
After clicking the Schematic Icon a blank screen shows up. Note 1) Users preference
for dots, lines or no display,
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To add parts, click place
Note
the
Library
ICON
Click the Place under Library tab to add parts, Components and libraries listing
shows. Here is where you access all the parts libraries in Fusion360
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[Link]
Getting started by George Garcia of Fusion 360
A) Open Library Manager
B) Library Manager shows- use the filters.
Libraries in Blue are already open
After clicking the library icon, all the libraries available to you open up, those in use
are blue and already available, if you cannot find what you need you need to search
for them. Due to the extensive library this can become challenging, but once found it
will save them in a library called “In this Design”
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A) Choose place component
B) Type in 555
C) Choose DIP for Dual
Inline Package
In this case we will create a circuit using a Timer IC (555 Timer) , note the different
Variants under this library, choose a thru hole component, select , drag onto screen
and drop
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A) Will change to DIP package
B) Select drag and Drop on
screen
A) Then B) ……… Drag and drop into the middle of your screen. Typically inputs are
on the left, outputs on the right.
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A) Add resistors in your
circuit- Type Resistors
Add resistors to your circuit- do not be concerned about the value of the resistor, just
the variant(size and pitch spacing)- type in resistor
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A) Type in resistors
B) Choose Style- Value is not
important at this time
Note where “Resistors” was typed in, the screen will look like this… Choose next
slide
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A)Choose Resistor
B) Under filter you can choose between Variants
C)Variant is size & pitch, through hole or SMD
choose Axial-7.2mm
Type “Resistor” in the top and this should show up, under Component -choose “R-
US “ , then choose what is required, in ECE401 only through hole components are
allowed, make sure the pitch and size is correct. Recommend AXIAL- 7.2MM- Pitch
due to size constraints
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Never Delete these- always need three
A)Select and insert Resistors wherever required
Move Command
Change Value
Command
B) Double right click to rotate components
Easily change the value of components
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B) Connect your NETS
A) Add Power and Gnd
Symbols
Add power and ground symbols; use the “Connect” icon line to connect
components, these are called NETS, or Airwires, NETS tell the computer program
where to add the copper traces from point A to B
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Once Schematic completed switch to PCB Design
PCB Layout Tutorial Walkthrough – YouTube 0:32/ 4:38
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A) Open DATA panel
B) Data shows up showing
four items
Open Data panel if you forgot where you saved everything to or forgot to save your
design. This is your “Back up”
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PCB Layout Tutorial Walkthrough – YouTube 0:04/4:38
Switch to Design mode PCB
List of
components in
Design
2D Sim of
components in
design
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Part 2 Creating Circuit Board Layout
[Link]
PCB Layout Tutorial Walkthrough – YouTube 0:04/4:38
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2D sim Components have been dragged into the Black square this is your PCB out line
To change dimension of your board take note of the origin 0,0, pcb design is pos x,y
Grab the top and sides of design to change the dimension of the PCB
PCB Layout Tutorial Walkthrough – YouTube 0:42/4:38
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To route traces manually and then automatically
Route Manually
PCB Layout Tutorial Walkthrough – YouTube 2:32 mark
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Traces Top to bottom of board require a via start a trace, then hit space bar,
left click to place it and continue routing
[Link] 2:55/4:38
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Routing the traces manually vs auto
To route your traces
automatically you may rip up
your manual ones first.
Then click auto router
[Link] 3:39/4:38
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Two layer boards only top and bottom will be selected to
auto route
Change the effort to
high to get a better
selection of solutions
[Link]
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After choosing the solution with the least amount vias, the PCB is complete
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PCB Manufacturing- Creating Gerber Files
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Once clicked the CAM Export File list will
be created, click OK
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Creating Gerber RS_274X files
Click to Gerber
Click off
Process Job- Gerber's
created
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Files are complete
CAM Files are now Gerber files
Change File name to SD403_S23_XX_Flasher and
Email to [Link]@[Link] for verification and
ordering
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EXTRAS: FUSION 360 has a Design documentation for every level of expertise
[Link]
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Fusion 360 Help | Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) support | Autodesk
Creating Gerber files
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