Description

Day 01 of the PCB Design Workshop, organized by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE RAS) of the IEEE Student Branch University of Ruhuna, was successfully conducted as the first session of this two-day online educational program. The workshop attracted nearly 100 engineering students from various disciplines, all keen to gain hands-on knowledge of the schematic-to-PCB design process. Structuring the workshop over two days—with Day 01 dedicated to schematic design—allowed participants to build a strong conceptual foundation before advancing to PCB layout and fabrication in Day 02. The online format ensured accessibility for students across different locations, promoting inclusive and flexible learning. The session began with an overview of the complete PCB design workflow, highlighting the importance of schematic design and library management as the backbone of successful PCB development. Emphasizing the idea that “a good PCB starts with a good schematic,” instructors set the tone for the day’s learning objectives. A major focus of Day 01 was Creating Schematic and Footprint Libraries , where participants were guided through industry-standard practices for developing accurate and reusable component libraries. Students learned how proper library creation impacts design reliability and manufacturability, along with techniques for creating custom components not found in standard libraries. The second key session covered Drawing Schematics , focusing on professional documentation practices such as component placement, signal flow organization, annotations, and schematic-level design rule checks. Instructors demonstrated real-world design techniques that ensure schematics are both functionally correct and ready for seamless PCB layout. Interactive demonstrations and Q&A sessions throughout the day allowed participants to clarify doubts and receive personalized guidance. The day concluded with a preview of Day 02, building anticipation for PCB layout and fabrication file generation. By the end of Day 01, participants gained a solid understanding of schematic design and the confidence to apply their knowledge to real-world PCB projects.