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Step 18Finally, rearrange
All being well, you should now have a vector drawing of all the tracks, with symbols added. The wonderful thing about vectors is that you can move them around, and this is how you are going to turn what is still really a picture of the tracks on the board, into a schematic.
Chances are the circuit board layout bears at least some relationship to the original schematic, so bear this in mind as you move things around.
Start by moving obvious groups of components into areas with a bit of space around them. Optionally, replace the lines you traced with zigzag lines. These are composed exclusively of vertical and horizontal sections, and are ideal for this purpose.
If you are used to circuit diagrams having a dot to represent connections, you have the choice of putting in extra lines to accommodate these, or using the more modern style of not using them. In this case, crossed lines are only crossed, not connected. If a connection is represented, they are offset.
Arrange the components in each group so it looks more like a sensible schematic.
Work your way through the drawing, pulling out components and replacing lines as you go.
Arrange on a more general scale so that most of the connections between groups are in "sane" positions - ie, not too much crossing over, not too many going from one side of the drawing to the other.
When you are happy with the positions of everything, remove the excess points from each line, and sharpen the corners.
Study the power routing through the circuit to check the sanity of assumed vcc (or vdd) connections. Compare to the actual circuit board with a multimeter to check. Check any "probable" inner layer tracks.
Don't forget, some of the tracks which were connected on both sides of the board, may also be connected to a plane or track sandwiched inside the board. If there are obvious peculiarities in the circuit, it may be because such a connection is hidden from you, and therefore missed.
Chances are the circuit board layout bears at least some relationship to the original schematic, so bear this in mind as you move things around.
Start by moving obvious groups of components into areas with a bit of space around them. Optionally, replace the lines you traced with zigzag lines. These are composed exclusively of vertical and horizontal sections, and are ideal for this purpose.
If you are used to circuit diagrams having a dot to represent connections, you have the choice of putting in extra lines to accommodate these, or using the more modern style of not using them. In this case, crossed lines are only crossed, not connected. If a connection is represented, they are offset.
Arrange the components in each group so it looks more like a sensible schematic.
Work your way through the drawing, pulling out components and replacing lines as you go.
Arrange on a more general scale so that most of the connections between groups are in "sane" positions - ie, not too much crossing over, not too many going from one side of the drawing to the other.
When you are happy with the positions of everything, remove the excess points from each line, and sharpen the corners.
Study the power routing through the circuit to check the sanity of assumed vcc (or vdd) connections. Compare to the actual circuit board with a multimeter to check. Check any "probable" inner layer tracks.
Don't forget, some of the tracks which were connected on both sides of the board, may also be connected to a plane or track sandwiched inside the board. If there are obvious peculiarities in the circuit, it may be because such a connection is hidden from you, and therefore missed.
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Jan 22, 2012. 11:24 AMmoomooplatter
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Absolutely brilliant. Thank you for this, I cannot place a finite number on the possibilities this opens to me.
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