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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Time to up my game with EasyEDA
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| PhenixRising Guru  Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1937 |
I really need to up my game because the Picomite has given me too many ideas. I plan to start designing whatever can be produced (assembled) by JLCPCB. When I need a particular device, I ask Gemini to recommend one that JLCPCB/LCSC stocks. Mick, I remember you having issues(?) getting to grips with EasyEDA but I have forgotten what they were. Just starting on the YouTube tutorials and wouldn't you know it, they even have one for the Teardrops  AI is of the opinion that EasyEDA will soon have it's own AI. Just keeps getting more and more exciting  Anyone else, besides Pete, using EasyEDA? |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3765 |
I've done dozens of EasyEDA designs. I'd love to see vibe easyEDA PCB capability, but don't quite see how it would handle things like placement. I've never tried autorouting. PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8877 |
I quite simply never gave EasyEDA a fair chance. :) For the stuff I've designed to date I've generally just used modules as building blocks and, TBH, I think SL6 is probably as good as anything else for that. EasyEDA would be *far* better if I was building from discrete components rather than modules. The package I really had problems with, and which put me off PCB design for years, was KiCad. Unfortunately, building completely from components means surface mounting stuff like the RP2350B, which I don't think I'm capable of doing. I can't afford to have JLCPCB do the SMD work. The alternative approach is to use a mix of the more difficult bits on modules and discrete bits, and that's the direction I'm starting to head in. It does lead to the problem that there is no definitive RP2350B module at all; until Raspberry Pi produce one I have no standard to design around. At the moment I'm preferring the PGA2350 because it's often easier to lay out than anything else, especially if you want access to the USB port. For most efficient power usage you have to disable the onboard regulator and power it at 3V3 from a separate switcher though. Ultimately I want my designs simple enough to be built by almost anyone capable of wielding a soldering iron. If they have to have them assembled by robots in a factory, like any other consumer electronics, then they aren't going to learn anything about electronics as a hobby, will never get that lovely "I made this!" feeling and I've failed. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| jvanderberg Regular Member  Joined: 06/05/2026 Location: United StatesPosts: 47 |
I used EasyEDA for a good bit, and I can definitely recommend it as the best starting point for JLCPCB for hobbiests. I do have a YouTube tutorial series on building your first PCB using EasyEDA - I won't spam it without you asking for it. It focuses on using AI for part picking and to assist more 'beginner' users. It's pretty honest about not trusting everything AI says, showing some examples of where it failed. I've since moved on to Kicad, just because it's easier to share designs and there's more collective community knowledge around kicad, even for beginners. |
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boznz Newbie  Joined: 09/01/2026 Location: New ZealandPosts: 6 |
I would not trust vibe auto-routing (yet) on a part like the RP2350, too many gotchas in the design guidelines which could make the board unreliable or unusable. Vibe-auto-routing will probably work eventually, but let somebody else beta-test it. I actually finished a design of a new RP2350B board in EasyEDA last week for a home project; I too did not use the internal 1.1V switched regulator for vCore, it was far simpler to use a 300mW 1.2V LDO linear reg, which costs less than the specified inductor, allows for more reliable over-clocking and easier routing. Unfortunately I have been reluctant to push the JLPCB Buy now button as the cost is US$118 for 2 assembled boards, and once I add in the courier charges to NZ and the US$ exchange rate it gets a bit expensive  Files here if anyone interested: EasyEDA project zip and circuit image As a side note I remember getting a nice email in 2014 from the owner of EasyEDA saying I was the first customer to order a PCB from them, and how they spent ages re-checking it as they were paranoid of making an error. |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3765 |
Could you provide a pic? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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| PhenixRising Guru Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1937 |
@lizby Ah, that's what you meant by "vibe" (never heard of it) I have been looking at Flux AI but knowing my luck, I'll go ahead and subscribe and then EasyEDA comes up with a free option. I really have no problem with $20/month though.  |
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| boznz Newbie Joined: 09/01/2026 Location: New ZealandPosts: 6 |
Sorry, schematic was in the linked zip file, but here's the images for those without EasyEDA accounts. I doubt you could auto-route this easily in 2 layers, it is not a difficult design to manually route though, and the Raspberry Pi design guide is quite helpful. The only thing different on this board from the usual ones is the inclusion of an I2S amplifier and a logic latch to automatically switch the USB port between the hub and the USB3 port. I will get around to pushing the buy button eventually   Edited 2026-05-19 06:03 by boznz |
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