circuit board layout

[NutmegCT]

Say I have a small electronics schematic (first example). I want to place the components onto a perf board (similar to second example) and solder, following the schematic.

Is there a way to figure out where to "place" each component onto the perf board, other than just guessing from the schematic? I can solder, but figuring out an efficient placement can drive me nuts. An online tutorial, an online "designer"?

Thanks.

Tom
hmmm - those beautiful snowflakes sure slow down adding a post on my 'puter ...

 

[sparkydave]

For a small circuit like that, you can usually lay out the parts as they appear on the schematic, but remember that the foil side where you solder on will be flipped. If the leads are long enough, you can usually bend them over to join with other leads, then just snip the excess off after it's soldered. If they aren't, I just use some short lengths of wire to join them. One thing I can tell you from experience is that the little foil circles on that perf board come off if you get them hot enough with the soldering iron. Don't forget some kind of strain relief (a dab of hot glue works too) for the battery connector; I've found the wires on those break off easily.

 

[weewillie]

hmmm - those beautiful snowflakes sure slow down adding a post on my 'puter ...

Tom, you know you are supposed to slow down in a snowstorm /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

I'll say: "Yeah, what Dave said."

Couple of transistors and some resistors & a cap. Plug 'em thru so the connections are convenient to solder up. With a 9V battery I'd be inclined to arrange a connector with a pigtail off the board, too.

 

[PC]

In the days before CAD systems, I used to make a lot of “paper dolls.”

The Xerox machine is your friend too. It allows you make multiple versions of things, scale them up and down and, using overhead transparency film, lets you “x-ray” images.

Be sure that any graphic cutout or perfboard image you make has markings that clearly indicate whether it’s a top (component) view or bottom (copper) view and never mix them on the same visual plane.

I also prefer boards with power buses and connected strips over the pad-per-hole style. They’re much easier to use.

PC.