Lesson 10 – From PCB Design to Fabrication: Turning Your Layout into a Real Circuit Board

You’ve designed and built circuits by hand… now it’s time to go pro. In this final lesson of Month 2, you’ll learn how to export your PCB design from software and send it off to a real manufacturer to create your own custom circuit board. We’ll walk you through the Gerber file process, help you choose a manufacturer, and introduce your final project for the month: exporting your own PCB design for the Arduboy-style game shield!

🧠 What You’ll Learn

How to choose a PCB manufacturer based on price, quality, and speed

Learn about top manufacturers like JLCPCB, PCBWay, and OSH Park, and how to pick the one that best fits your project’s needs—whether you’re looking for fast shipping, custom features, or U.S.-based service.

How to export Gerber files for your circuit design

Gerber files are the digital blueprint used by manufacturers to fabricate your board. You’ll learn what each file does (from copper traces to silkscreen layers), and how to export a complete Gerber package from EasyEDA with just a few clicks.

How to prepare your design for real-world production

Learn how to run a Design Rule Check (DRC), double-check for overlapping traces or unreadable labels, and make sure your holes and outlines are ready for fabrication.

🔧 Hands-On Practice

This lesson walks you through every step to prepare your game shield for professional fabrication:

Open your EasyEDA design and click Fabrication Output
Export your Gerber files as a zipped package
Use the preview tool to confirm everything looks correct
Run a DRC to catch common issues before manufacturing
Choose a PCB vendor and upload your files for a quote (optional)

You’ll also complete the final project for the month:

Export and submit your Gerber files for your game shield
Share a screenshot of your PCB layout in the Discord Final Project chat
Optionally, order your board and show your progress to the community

📦 Tips for Ordering Your First PCB

Minimum quantities vary (some offer 5 boards per order, some 3)
Custom features like purple boards, gold finishes, or cutouts are optional
Shipping may take 1–3 weeks depending on the vendor
Ordering is not required, but it’s a huge milestone if you do!

🔄 Reflect and Review

Did your DRC report come back clean?
Are your trace widths and drill holes appropriate?
Are all component labels clear and correctly placed?

📚 Homework Assignment

Export and verify your Gerber files
Post a screenshot of your final PCB layout in Discord
Research one PCB manufacturer to understand options and cost