Round PCB Board Design

Round PCB Board Design

The designing of a round PCB is more complex than the usual rectangular boards. Manufacturers can only shape the perimeter of this board with a straight line segment. When arranging the lines of the perimeter in a circular shape, you should place a circle on the silkscreen layer.

There are different software for designing a round circuit board. Break routing is the only separation method for a round PCB. Now, let us explore one of these software.

Using Eagle CAD to Make Round PCB

Eagle CAD is a popular software for designing the schematics and layouts of a circuit. A circuit’s schematic is an outline of how various electronic components connect. The designer then converts the schematic into a layout. The layout is the exact image of how the circuit will appear on the PCB. Most times, designers create a rectangular shape layout. However, Eagle CAD has a command that can change a rectangular layout into a circular one. This command is known as “MITER.”

Open the Eagle CAD software to proceed with your design. Click on the “File” and select “Open’ to open the layout file. Click “open” to open the layout file. If you haven’t created a layout file, create a new file. To do this, go to “file” and click on “New.” Name the file according to your choice.

You will need to adjust the board outline’s size according to the PCB’s size. Typically, the board outline will be a square. You can adjust the size by left clicking on either side of the outline and dragging to the right or left. Ensure the shape of the board remains square. This will prevent the shape from taking an oval shape when trying to convert it into a circle.

Make sure the sides of the square are equal to the circle’s diameter. Type “MITER 2” on top of the layout and click “Enter.” The icon will change into a + sign. Left-click on the square’s corner. The corner will become round. If the corner appears too small, use “MITER 3” or any greater number. You can do the same if the corner of the square appears too large. All you need to do is decrease the number of the MITER. Do this repeatedly to round all corners. 

Round Circuit Board Design Rules

There are design rules and strategies for round circuit boards. It is very important you draw out the board’s shape in the CAD tool. This is where the foundation for your board lies. If your round circuit board is for a high-speed device, you will have to design a multilayer board.

It is also important you define the power and ground planes in separate layers. Furthermore, you will need a polygon editor to define the shape of ground or power planes. Certain software will allow you to customize your power and ground planes to fit your round board.  For instance, Altium Designer is a software that helps you complete your design.

This software has the necessary tools to help you achieve a great design. The schematic capture of this software is very easy to learn.  However, it is powerful enough to create the most complex schematics. Some applications require the need for a round circuit board. Therefore, it is important to design your circuit board to match your devices’ form factor.

The available board space reduces when you use a rectangular board in a curved package. A circuit board will match the packaging’s contour when the designer works with curved designs. Round PCB design provides designers with more flexibility. Also, it can enable you to expand the design to incorporate new features later on. Great CAD and layout tools enable the designer to add pad shapes in circuit boards.  Round circuit boards require great panelization schemes for their design.

printed circuit boards are available in different shapes. There are octagonal boards, round boards, rectangular boards, and other odd shapes. However, the most common shapes are the square and rectangular PCB. Round PCBs are not as common as their rectangular counterparts. With the increasing development in the electronics industry, round PCBs are becoming popular.

Sometimes, there is a need for unconventional PCB shapes. This is because of the need to fit these PCBs into certain enclosures. The fact about PCB design is that a PCB must fit its intended application. Many people aren’t familiar with the round PCB. In this article, we will discuss important facts about round PCB.

What is a Round PCB?

As the name implies, a round PCB is a type of board with a round shape. A round PCB offers an electrical connection to a circuit. This type of PCB is available in consumer electronics, LED PCBA, and more. Round PCBs are ideal for both domestic and commercial devices. A round shaped PCB consumes more time during the routing process. Therefore, these boards may cost more.

PCB manufacturers fabricate round PCBs with extreme care and attention. The fabrication of this type of board is a complex one. A round PCB also features electronic components, traces, and widths. This PCB is available in wearable devices. A round shaped PCB can provide more board space for you. Therefore, this PCB gives you an edge over the rectangular ones.

A round PCB is also referred to as a circular PCB. This type of circuit board is the most difficult to work with. A round or circular PCB is available in tiny wearable devices and rigid-flex circuits.