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PCB Design (PCB Editor)

Route traces, check design rules (DRC), export a 1:1 PDF and Gerber files to manufacture a real board.

Enabling PCB Layout and Reading the Board for the First Time

Requirement: the project already has components + wires saved in the Diagram tab (if not, the PCB Editor will show "You need to add and save components in the Diagram before viewing the PCB").

Steps

  1. Go to the PCB tab. If you've never enabled it before, you'll see the message "Enable 'PCB Layout Support' to design the PCB layout..." and a status label showing Disabled.
  2. Check the PCB Layout Support checkbox at the top of the page.
  3. The system saves the state and shows a confirmation toast; the label changes to Enabled.

Result: The board appears with a board outline, a silkscreen layer (component outlines), pads/drill holes, mounting holes in all 4 corners, and, most importantly, the ratsnest layer — thin straight lines (virtual lines, not yet real copper traces) connecting pairs of pads according to each net already present in the Diagram. Each net that hasn't been routed = 1 ratsnest line.

ESP32 + DHT22 board right after enabling PCB layout, showing the ratsnest

Note

The PCB has only 1 copper layer (single-layer, suited to making it yourself at home) — this is why 2 traces crossing on the board is a real error here, unlike a multi-layer industrial PCB.

Example

After enabling PCB layout for the "Room Temperature & Humidity Monitoring Station," the board shows 3 thin ratsnest lines connecting the ESP32 and DHT22 (matching the 3 VCC/GND/DATA wires already connected in the Diagram) — no real copper traces yet, this is the preparation step before routing.