Last Updated: 2019-08-16
VBB supports exporting PCB's ready for manufacture directly from ‘VZ' family templates. The PCB is exported in the industry standard Gerber export format which suitable for uploading to popular PCB service providers.
What you'll build
In this codelab, you're going to use Virtual Breadboard to create a makeable Shield PCB with 4 LED's and 4 buttons. Here's a preview.
What you'll learn
- How to create a makeable circuit with a VZ-Shield
- How to test your circuit
- How to export your PCB
What you'll need
- Virtual Breadboard App
In Virtual Breadboard the VZ family of Breadboard style templates are makeable in that they can automatically generate a PCB from the Breadboard layout bypassing the traditional schematic and pcb layout process. VZ templates are constrained to the through-hole components in the Breadboard format but are nevertheless very useful for many applications.
VZ Shield
The VZ Shield is an Arduino UNO compatible template that can be used to create Shields, Arduino compatible boards or other freestyle circuits in the Shield shape
To create a VZ Shield based circuit :
- Create a new VBB Project
- Switch to the Toolbox
- From the Free Toolbox group locate the VZ Shield component
- Place the VZ Shield component as the base for the circuit
Create your circuit using the VZ Shield
Create your circuit by placing components and wires on the VZ Shield template.
It's often useful to test your circuit before manufacturing your PCB.
To test the circuit:
- Click Power On
- Visually interact with your circuit
The generation and exporting of the PCB is an automatic process. The conversion service is an online service so an internet connection is required.
To export a PCB :
- From the Menu option select Export PCB
PCB Preview
The Export PCB menu shows the PCB Preview popup.
To save the gerbers files:
- Click the Export Gerber button to save the gerber zip file to your desktop
There are a large number of self-serve manufacturing services that can accept the Gerber export format output from VBB.
Which you choose often depends on your location which determines your shipping and import duties costs.
Some popular PCB prototype manufacturers are:
OSHPark (USA) - www.oshpark.com
Drag and Drop the Gerber.zip file directly on their front page to analyse, preview and quote.
Aisler (Europe) www.aisler.net
Drag and Drop the Gerber.zip file directly on their front page to analyse, preview and quote.
JLCPCB(China) https://jlcpcb.com/quote
Drag and Drop the Gerber.zip file directly on their quote page to analyse, preview and quote.
Eurocircuits (Europe) https://www.eurocircuits.com/
Upload using their analyse data page and preview in the analyser page.
Congratulations, you've successfully built, tested, exported and optionally manufactured your first Virtual Breadboard based PCB! !