TEC1805 Electronic design and prototyping

This unit introduces you to the principles and practices of printed circuit board (PCB) design and fabrication, which are fundamental to modern electronics development. You will explore PCB types, materials, layout structures, electronic components, and packaging standards, while gaining an understanding of the complete PCB development workflow. Topics include schematic capture, netlist generation, PCB layout, and fabrication processes such as printing, etching, drilling, soldering, and component assembly. Emphasis is also placed on industry standards, documentation practices, and fabrication quality to ensure reliable and manufacturable PCB designs.

A strong practical focus is integrated throughout the unit through hands-on training with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools such as KiCad and Cadence. You will learn to create schematics, define design rules, manage component libraries, perform auto-routing, configure PCB layers, and generate Gerber files for manufacturing. Laboratory sessions and project-based activities provide opportunities to design and test PCBs for analog, sensor-based, and embedded system applications while applying verification techniques such as DRC and DFM. By the end of the unit, you will be able to design, fabricate, and evaluate functional, industry-ready PCB prototypes suitable for academic and commercial applications.