Pre Fab

This page tells you how to layout your board so that it can be produced by Fritzing Fab. These are really just "best practice" suggestions -- if you're an advanced user, skip to the next step.

1. Lay out your PCB

Once you have created your circuit in Fritzing, go to "PCB" view to lay it out. If you are not familiar with this process, check out our tutorial pages.

2. Save money by adjusting the board dimensions

The larger the board, the more it costs. Moving some parts around could save you real money. Keep it tight, but make sure you leave some space around the edges.

3. Route all traces

If you have a simple layout, try the auto-routing feature by clicking the symbol on the bottom toolbar. If the auto-router says »Routing completed«, go to the next step. If it doesn't, route the remaining traces by hand.

4. Check the trace dimensions

Check if the traces are thick enough. Some parts like motors, relays, batteries, strong lights will need »thick« or »extra thick« traces.
Rule: A big and short trace is better than a long and thin one. You can also type in a custom trace width.

5. Clean up funky routing

Sometimes, the auto-router produces strange traces. You can optimize them manually by moving or even removing bendpoints (double-click or right-click a bendpoint).

Now you can continue with the next step: Fab!