A PCB trace is the conductive copper track that connects components on the board. For an electronic device to work properly, the traces must be designed according to the voltage, current and heat produced by the circuit. Improperly designed traces may result in poor connections between electronic components. Additionally, the device may break down quickly or never work at all. Before you etch copper traces or send your PCB design to a manufacturer, design your traces according to PCB design best practices. Instructions 1 Launch your PCB or graphic design software. 2 Make the grid visible and set the layout to snap to grid. This allows you to create neat circuit designs and easily measure the spaces between components. These functions may be under the "View" menu and be labeled "Show Grid" and "Snap to Grid." 3 Set the widths of the copper traces by setting the thicknesses of the lines or wires in the software. The function may be labeled "Stroke Width" or "Track Width." The width depends on the amount of current flowing through the circuit. The higher the current, the wider the traces. A general guideline for low-current traces is to use a width of 0.01 inch. If you're etching the board yourself, you may want to use a thicker width of 0.014 inch to allow for errors during the etching process. 4 Draw the shortest lines or wires possible between components to connect them, but leave enough space between components so that their pads and traces don't overlap or touch. Leave at least 0.01 inch between separate traces and pads if possible. You may need more space if you're etching the board yourself. 5 Place traces on one side of the board if you're etching the board at home. Creating a double-sided board or vias may be difficult without professional equipment. 6 Compare your PCB design to your schematic to check for errors. Double-checking reduces the chances of errors occurring.
