Dates
Jan 13, 2025 – Feb 24, 2025
6 Weeks
Class Days
Mondays and Thursdays
Meeting Times
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
18 Hours
Course Description
This course will introduce participants to the foundational principles of PCB design, focusing on the practical application of concepts through hands-on learning. Over six weeks, students will explore key topics, including an overview of PCB materials, construction techniques, and component selection. Participants will learn how to create schematic diagrams, design PCB layouts, perform design rule checks, and generate essential files for manufacturing using KiCad, an open-source PCB design tool.
The course will also cover the creation of a Bill of Materials (BOM) and provide an introduction to the fundamentals of PCB assembly and testing. Each session combines 45 minutes of lecture with 45 minutes of hands-on practice, ensuring that students not only understand the theoretical aspects but also gain practical experience in developing their own PCBs, progressing from initial concept to final design. Interactive sessions are designed to provide immediate feedback and guidance from a PCB design expert. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to undertake their own PCB design projects, culminating in the completion of a custom PCB project that showcases their newly acquired abilities.
Please ensure that the latest version of KiCad is installed before the first session, as it is essential for the interactive portions of the course.
Please Note: There will be no class on Monday, 1/20 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
Course Perquisites
No Prior Hardware Experience Required
Target Audience
DoD, Government or Government Affiliated employees only. You must register with your organizational email and will be notified within one week of the course start day.
Registration
Registration is open!
Shane Smith
Course Instructor
Dr. Shane Smith (Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University) is a Research Scientist at the Ohio State University ElectroscienceLab and President and co-founder of SenseICs Corporation. Shane has worked for more than 20 years designing, producing, and maintaining electronic systems used in integrated circuit research, high energy physics experiments (CERN, Stanford linear accelerator, etc.), and other applications. Shane’s broad expertise covers a range of electrical engineering activities including the design and development of radiation hard mixed signal ASICs, FPGA based data acquisition systems, medical imaging electronics, chemical vapor deposition diamond detectors, and high voltage power supply systems. Additionally, his academic publications, which include more than 80 peer-reviewed conference papers and journal articles, have been cited more than 20,000 times.