Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Software

2024-09-11 | By Don Wilcher

Autodesk, a well-known name in computer-aided design tools for engineers and makers, provides two online platforms for developing, testing, and creating virtual and physical electronic circuit prototypes. Tinkercad Circuits is a web-based circuit simulator that allows you to design and test electronic circuits online without any physical components. The tool is ideal for beginners to learn electronic circuit fundamentals.

For experienced hobbyists and engineers, Tinkercad Circuits provides a prototyping environment for the development and testing of electronic circuits and devices before building them in real life. Autodesk Fusion allows 2D models to be converted into 3D objects, thereby allowing a perspective view of aesthetics and functionality to be observed in a virtual design environment. In this post, we will go over an approach to converting a 2D electronic circuit model to a 3D PCB.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation The Tinkercad Circuits Virtual Bench.

Key Features of Tinkercad Circuits

Tinkercad Circuits' friendly User Interface (UI) allows a rapid approach to building virtual electronic circuits and device prototypes easily. Listed below are some key features of Tinkercad Circuits:

Ease of Use: Tinkercad Circuits uses a drag-and-drop interface that makes building circuits easy. Electronic components are selected from a library. With the use of a solderless breadboard and virtual wires, electronic circuits are wired together on the screen.
Variety of Components: Tinkercad Circuits offers a comprehensive library of electronic components, including resistors, capacitors, LEDs, transistors, integrated circuits, and even an emulation of a lemon as a power source! This allows you to experiment with a wide variety of circuits and electronic designs.
Simulation: Tinkercad Circuits allows electronic circuit behavior to be observed through simulation. The simulator feature provides instant feedback on the operation of the circuit using motion, sound, and light indicators embedded within the virtual design. Such audible and visual indicators ensure proper operation before building the physical circuit or device using real electronic components.
Arduino and Micro:bit support: Tinkercad circuits provide seamless integration with an Arduino and Micro:bit. Tinkercad Circuits allow the design and testing of electronic circuits and devices that use these boards in physical projects. Software such as blockly code, C++, or MicroPython can be tested and debugged in the virtual lab environment before deploying the code to the real microcontroller device.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation A partial display of Tinkercad Circuits electronic components.

To illustrate the use of Tinkercad Circuits as a user-friendly, virtual design tool, a simple AC-DC power supply will be demonstrated.

A Tinkercad Circuits AC-DC Power Supply

The AC-DC Power Supply will be built using a halfwave rectifier circuit within the virtual environment. The halfwave rectifier circuit uses a silicon diode to produce a rectified AC voltage or waveform at its output terminals. Besides the silicon diode, a bleeder resistor, a toggle switch, and an electrolytic capacitor are the additional electronic components required for the AC-DC power supply build. An arbitrary waveform or function generator will provide the input AC voltage to the halfwave rectifier. An oscilloscope will measure and display the unfiltered and filtered output waveform and voltages of the power supply circuit. The toggle switch (S1) will allow the filtered output waveform produced by the 100uFD (C1) capacitor to be displayed on the oscilloscope. The complete Bill of Materials (BOM), along with the schematic diagram, can be found here: Scheme Diagram

Halfwave Rectifier Electronic Circuit Schematic Diagram.

The selection of the electronic components from the Tinkercad Circuits’ library is the initial step in building the virtual power supply.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Selection of the halfwave rectifier electronic components in Tinkercad Circuits.

With the electronic components selected, the placement and wiring of the power supply is the next step of the virtual prototype build. The electronic measurement equipment is attached to the appropriate points of the circuit. The schematic diagram is referenced during this phase of the project. Proper orientation of the 100uFD electrolytic capacitor will ensure the correct operation of the power supply’s output voltage filtering feature.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Virtual AC-DC Power Supply completed.

The next step in the virtual power supply build is testing. Select the START SIMULATION button. The play button is located at the top right side above the Components Basic selection dropdown list. With the electronic components properly wired and orientated correctly, an unfiltered waveform will be displayed on the right-side oscilloscope. The input signal applied to the AC-DC power supply circuit is displayed on the oscilloscope located at the top of the solderless breadboard.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation The unfiltered AC-rectified waveform.

Toggling the Single Pole, Double Throw (SPDT) switch on the breadboard will provide a filtered output waveform/ DC voltage.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation The filtered DC voltage waveform.

Now that the virtual power supply is working correctly, the next phase of the project is to export the geometry data to Autodesk Fusion.

Importing the Schematic Diagram to Autodesk Fusion

Autodesk Fusion is a computer-aided design (CAD) environment where a variety of 3D objects can be created. Traditionally, CAD software was used to design and simulate mechanical and electromechanical components like brackets, hinges, metal assemblies, and motors. The PCB feature has been incorporated into Fusion to allow engineering design teams to create a holistic approach to product development. Besides creating metal and plastic enclosures for electronic products, PCBs can be produced within the online CAD environment.

Exporting the Tinkercad Circuits’ electronic circuit (the geometry data) is accomplished by clicking the SENDTO button. A window will appear with various options. Click the FUSION button. A confirmation window will appear asking for permission to send the diagram data. With a Fusion account, it will take several minutes to send the electronic circuit to the online CAD environment.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Importing the halfwave rectifier electronic circuit geometry data to Autodesk Fusion.

With geometry data available, a 2D PCB will be displayed on the screen. The lines attached to each electronic component footprint represent a copper trace. The electronic components will need to be arranged to provide an appealing-looking PCB layout. The placement of the electronic components on the PCB is to maximize the use of the board space and ensure proper soldering without soldering bridges.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Imported Tinkercad Circuits halfwave rectifier circuit geometry data.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Arrangement of the electronic component footprints on the PCB.

The next step is to auto-route the copper traces onto the PCB. To auto-route the copper traces click the ROUTE button. There are various auto-routing options to select. Since this design is simple, use the default auto-routing method.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Auto-routing feature selected.

Once the routing variants have been completed, click the END JOB button. The copper trace routing is now completed. The next step is to push the 2D PCB to display a 3D image of the PCB.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation PCB auto-routing completed.

Click the SWITCH button. A dropdown list will provide various options. Click the PUSH TO 3D option to create a three-dimensional PCB. Select the appropriate 3D Geometry features to include on the 3D PCB.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Push to 3D option selected.

The final 3D PCB design will be displayed on the screen.

Creating 3D Printed Circuit Board Designs Using 2D Simulation Final 3D halfwave rectifier power supply PCB design.

Conclusion

A 2D virtual simulated electronic design can be transformed into a 3D manufacturable product. The seamless approach to creating a simple DC power supply circuit was accomplished using online design tools. These online tools allow engineers and makers to create a variety of electronic subcircuit assemblies and devices by minimizing manufacturing errors. Further refinement of the PCB design can be achieved by selecting the RENDERING option under the SWITCH button.