First prototype PCB. Any tips or pointers? (arduino giga hat)

[Piotr]

@arneko

So if there is space, make it as thick as possible, up to 2mm? (for main power)

It is my rule for VCC with currents up to say 200mA (for 300mA I used wider track). Have in mind that if you are after regulator any voltage drop is left not corrected, but if you are before regulator any voltage drop will be corrected by regulator. 12cm is not very long.

@arneko

And what about “zone filling” with ground?

You have already got my unswer:

@Piotr

• most PCBs gain if you use GND zone,

The best is if GND zone can be continuous over all PCB (no tracks making its shape with islands or peninsulas). Here is my example of such design:

Approaching PCB track routing for a newbie

Positioning for me is the main work in designing PCB. If each element is where it is needed than routing is simple. Till now all my PCBs are 2 layers and all of them have GND plane taking 100% of bottom layer. So except GND I design my PCBs as 1 layer. I use microcontrollers in QFP packages without thermal pad at bottom. This allows me to go with VCC under the microcontroller and go out through all corners and all VCC pins. That way GND and VCC don’t disturb my signal connections. At all digi…