How to do: Single layer PCB auto-routing on (Proteus ARES)

[lloydi12345]

I've been using Proteus software since I've started making PCBs. Since I haven't seen a way how to do auto-routing in single sided PCB in E-Lab, I would be happy to share what I've watched on youtube (This is not my video). This would be helpful for people who are not giving much importance on time to design their PCBs since they have their own priorities in doing their projects.

Instructions are there on the video.



I've listed some advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:
-Useful for beginners
-Good looking PCB design
-Saves your time
-No need to use dual sided PCBs
-No more jumpers to make and to solder
-Can guide you in case you would make manual routing PCB designs

Disadvantages:
-there are some instances that some lines are not connected so you have to do it manually
-applicable only in Proteus ARES (not sure with the others)
-sizes of routes are limited
-wont develop your PCB designing skills

You can add more disadvantages and advantages. Feel free to leave some of your comments.

[amadjo01]

wow galing, lagi kasing double sided kapag nag a-auto route ako eh... thanks

plus 1 point

[ronelex]

nice share, +1 point ka jan bozz

[lloydi12345]

Thanks

[insomartin]

I've listed some advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:
-Useful for beginners  NO THIS IS NOT USEFUL AT ALL. Manual ROUTE dapat. no room for excuses here!
-Good looking PCB design  WHAT?! NO WAY THIS WOULD LOOK GOOD AT ALL! (all caps)
-Saves your time  but not on the long run!  TRUST ME!
-No need to use dual sided PCBs  TRUST ME this will make more bad looking jumpers at final design
-No more jumpers to make and to solder  NO ABSOLUTE WAY.
-Can guide you in case you would make manual routing PCB designs  natawa na lang ako sa grammar.

Disadvantages:
-there are some instances that some lines are not connected so you have to do it manually ... so.....
-applicable only in Proteus ARES (not sure with the others)  ano ba talaga?
-sizes of routes are limited 
-wont develop your PCB designing skills ( FINALLY TAMA DIN! )


my point is wag madali. just don't use the autorouter. may command line mode na pwede mag "auto route" but only per trace. then again even this makes more messy routes.
madaming techniques na madedevelop kung early stages pa lang nang learning curve mo is sanay at gamay mo mag manual routing.
matagal na ako nag dedesign sa proteus. honestly. i rarely use it sa lahat nang route.

* instead of jumpers use a 0 ohm resistor sa design.
* smt, smt and SMT! no excuses here. (big pill to swallow pero "madali lang pala")
* by heart kung alam mo yung route mo. even after a month alam mo pa din kung anong route yun. with autorouter... who hells know what route does.
* FINALLY. hindi optimized ang autorouter for single sided board. (sadly).

[amadjo01]

nice objection

[insomartin]

nice objection

i don't think so... batas yan eh.

[tiktak]

a must read article : PCB Design Tutorial by Dave Jones

[insomartin]

^ classic.
Page 20 "autorouters"

[tiktak]

“Real PCB designers don’t auto route!”

[lloydi12345]

yup dapat tlga kung professional na ndi na magaautoroute

[insomartin]

^ classic.
Page 20 "autorouters"

[tiktak]

pero sa 6 layers and up mag autoroute ako

[rdpzycho]

best part

Signature
Like any work of art, no board is complete without adding your name or signature to it!
The signature can take any form your like. Some people put their name, initials, or a fancy symbol. Whatever it
is, just make sure you add something.
A signature can be placed on any of the copper layers, or on the component overlay.

sa industry ginagamit din naman 'yung autoroute, pero ilang traces lang. 'yung mga sensitive traces, manual route pa rin. auto place ang taboo.

[Engr. Dacuycoy]

Where auto-routing is always useful is in testing component layout. Run the autorouter (not necessarily until it has finished trying)
and look at the failed routes. Congested area, mis-alignments, long traces on critical signals should all become apparent and
suggest how the layout could be improved. A few times round this loop generally finds a better layout whether auto or manually
routing the final PCB.

[Kaizer03]

maganda rin ipractice sa PCB design ang parallel/star grounding..

most of the time nagkakandalokoloko ang signals lines mo because of this(masyadong malaki ang iniikutan ng ground line mo)...(adding up of unwanted inductance sa PCB), lalo na kung switching at higher freq yun

at syempre for double sided iwas magkaparallel ang plane ng positive supply to ground, for capacitance...


--


even gumagamit ka ng autoroute, you must bear the design rules in your mind pa rin =)

[rdpzycho]

Kung power at ground ang magkapatong ok lang yun, in the first place, lagi naman silang coupled ng capacitor.

Kung properly bypassed/decoupled yung board at components, virtually the same lang para sa high frequency signal yung ground at power plane dahil shorted na yung caps na nagko-connect sa kanila.

[motion55]

Where auto-routing is always useful is in testing component layout. Run the autorouter (not necessarily until it has finished trying)
and look at the failed routes. Congested area, mis-alignments, long traces on critical signals should all become apparent and
suggest how the layout could be improved. A few times round this loop generally finds a better layout whether auto or manually
routing the final PCB.

Agree ako dito. Don't feel guilty to use the autorouter.

[insomartin]

my point is wag madali. just don't use the autorouter. may command line mode na pwede mag "auto route" but only per trace. then again even this makes more messy routes.
madaming techniques na madedevelop kung early stages pa lang nang learning curve mo is sanay at gamay mo mag manual routing.
matagal na ako nag dedesign sa proteus. honestly. i rarely use it sa lahat nang route.