What Is PCB Design?

PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design translates an electronic schematic into a manufacturable physical board. It involves component placement, copper trace routing, stackup definition, impedance control, thermal management, and DFM optimization. A typical 4-layer industrial board uses FR-4, 1 oz copper, 0.062 thickness. High-speed designs require controlled impedance: 50-ohm single-ended, 90-ohm differential for USB, 100-ohm for Ethernet.

Key Takeaways

• Real-world engineering considerations from 10+ years of STM32 development
• Practical tradeoffs between performance, cost, and time-to-market
• Direct experience across industrial, energy, and IoT deployments

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does PCB design cost?

Simple 2-layer: $500-2,000. Complex 8+ layer with impedance control: $5,000-20,000+. See our Cost Guide for detailed breakdowns.

How long does a PCB design take?

Simple 2-layer: 1-2 weeks. 4-layer moderate: 3-4 weeks. Complex 8+ layer: 6-10 weeks.

Starting a new PCB design? We can review your schematic and stackup. Get in touch with our engineering team for a free consultation.

Learn more: STM32 Development Services | Our Engineering Capabilities