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Extra eyes for PDB schematic and layout?

frankcohen
Hi 14-ers, this is my first post to the forums. I hope it's not too strange of a question. I am excited to be working on a new open-source platform (hardware and software) for making mobile storytelling experiences. (https://github.com/frankcohen/ReflectionsOS). I hired a freelance PCB designer to take my breadboard and create the schematic and layout. I will be taking the design to a board assembly company to build prototypes - along the path to manufacturing. I am new to the PCB designer community. Is it acceptable practice to ask other PCB designers here to review the schematic and layout? Is Element14 forums the right place? Should I hire someone to be a reviewer? I'm thinking the more eyes on it the better it will be. -Frank

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  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    Well, for a start, I am a complete noob on PCB design. And you're a Jedi master (according to your profile photo/avatar) hehe.

    I expect the Reflections project will be available on kiCAD, Autodesk, and a bunch of others. Still, I chose to do the first version in EasyEDA for the tie-in with JLPCB for parts and manufacturers (here in the US and Asia) who do manufacturing and assembly. I'm building this to answer a need I hear from the Arduino community often, there's no end-to-end open software/hardware architecture for building distributed mobile applications. This will be an open-source project. It needs to be easily adopted by engineers and EasyEDA at the moment appears easier to my noob eyes than the other EDA solutions.

    -Frank

  • in reply to frankcohen

    in my humble opinion KiCAD is easier. if you need a lib look at https://componentsearchengine.com/library/kicad?gclid=CjwKCAiA55mPBhBOEiwANmzoQpXpShTIAry47xyqGrn2gSiOZcd8LUDfg2VnVBLQAX2O_0tDYDq-5BoCa-IQAvD_BwE

    and its free! 

    and there are great tutorials on the E14 and the web. 

  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    I second this. I've only had one circuit printed so far, it was a super simple circuit, but I gave kiCAD a try because it was free. Its pretty simple and straightforward. I'm a complete noob as well and never used any kind of cad before. Its pretty intuitive and there is lots of support and YouTube tutorials. I recommend also because of the huge sense of achievement in making a circuit. Also it spits out all the files most PCB manufacturers need.  Again I am completely green and easily found everything I needed. 

    PS I also used JLPCB and kiCAD works for them. It also is "A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite" so a lot of people that work on open source projects are familiar with it.