How it works
From a sentence to files a manufacturer accepts.
PCBSurf drafts and checks. You answer its questions, lock parts and approve changes.
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01 · Describe
Describe it.
- PCBSurf does
- Asks only what changes the design, then writes a brief you can check.
- You do
- Answer, and correct any assumption before anything is drawn.
Vague“A temperature sensor board”
Specific“…temperature and humidity over Wi-Fi, USB-C power, a Qwiic connector. Under 40 × 25 mm.”
Radio, power, connectors and size each change the circuit and the layout.
PCBSurf askedShould it also run from a battery? That changes the power circuit.
You answeredUSB only. → R3
Brief · 6 requirements · 4 assumptions
- R1MustMeasure temperature and relative humidityYou
- R2MustSend readings over 2.4 GHz Wi-FiYou
- R3MustPower from USB-C (5 V), USB onlyYour answer
- R4MustQwiic-compatible I²C connector for more sensorsYou
- R5Nice to haveStatus LEDYou
- R6MustOverall size ≤ 40 × 25 mm, antenna includedYou
- A1AssumptionTwo layers, 1.6 mm FR-4PCBSurf
- A2AssumptionProgram and power over the same USB-C portPCBSurf
- A3AssumptionKeep the sensor away from Wi-Fi module and regulator heat: slotted tongue, no copper plane beneathPCBSurf
- A4AssumptionWi-Fi antenna extends past the board edge at a corner, with no copper or board beneath itPCBSurf
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02 · Design
Get the design.
- PCBSurf does
- Chooses real parts with manufacturer part numbers, draws the schematic, then places and routes the board.
- You do
- Swap parts, move things or edit the schematic yourself.
Schematic · USB-C input blockWhole sheet - 16.6 × 13.2 mm
U1ESP32-C3-MINI-1-N4X
Espressif · Module
Why this part. A Wi-Fi module with the antenna built in, so the radio circuit comes ready-made.
Datasheet espressif.com (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- 1.5 × 1.5 mm
U4SHT40-AD1B-R2
Sensirion · DFN-4 1.5 × 1.5 mm
Why this part. Temperature and humidity in one 1.5 mm part, on the same I²C bus as the Qwiic connector.
Datasheet sensirion.com (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- 2.9 × 1.6 mm
U3AP2112K-3.3TRG1
Diodes Incorporated · SOT-23-5
Why this part. Turns USB’s 5 V into 3.3 V, with headroom for the module’s Wi-Fi current peaks.
Datasheet diodes.com (PDF, opens in a new tab)
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03 · Refine
Change it, keep your edits.
- PCBSurf does
- Turns each request into a proposed change you review, and never moves what you’ve locked.
- You do
- Lock what matters, ask for changes, and decide when there’s a trade-off.
Rev A · 40 × 25 mm · routedProposed change · 40 × 22 mm · not routed yetProposed change · 40 × 22 mm · routed, H1 removedProposed change · 40 × 24 mm · routed, H1 kept Rev B · 40 × 22 mm · routed, H1 removedRev B · 40 × 24 mm · routed, H1 kept
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Lock what must not move
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Ask for the change
Lock the connectors first, as you would before asking for a smaller board.
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Decide the trade-off
Needs your decision
H1 no longer fits at 40 × 22 mm. With the USB-C connector locked in place, the corner no longer has room for the hole and its clearance.
U2, H2 re-placed · routes redrawn · J1, J2 unchanged
Accepted as Rev B.
Trade-offs come back to you as a question, and every change waits for your approval.
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04 · Check & export
Check it. Download the files.
- PCBSurf does
- Runs checks in established EDA tools and reports every result, even what it couldn’t check.
- You do
- Review what’s flagged, then download standard Gerber, drill, BOM and placement files.
Checks · example project
This example is a drawing, so no tool has run on it yet. Each check names the tool that runs it.
Needs your reviewThe Wi-Fi antenna hangs past the board edge. Keep your enclosure clear around it: Espressif suggests 15 mm in every direction.
Check Tool Result Electrical rules (ERC) KiCad ERC not run Design rules (DRC) KiCad DRC not run Schematic ↔ board match KiCad DRC, schematic parity not run Not checked automatically
- Wi-Fi range and antenna performance
- Sensor accuracy near warm parts
Test these on the assembled board.
Every result is one of passfailnot rununsupported and names the tool that produced it.
- climate-logger-F_Silkscreen.gbrLabels and outlines printed on top
- climate-logger-F_Mask.gbrSolder mask, open over the pads
- climate-logger-F_Cu.gbrTop copper: tracks and pads
- climate-logger-Edge_Cuts.gbrBoard outline and sensor slot, routed from 1.6 mm FR-4
- climate-logger-B_Cu.gbrBottom copper: ground plane
- climate-logger-PTH.drlPlated holes: vias, mounting holes, USB-C shell
Also in the package
- climate-logger.kicad_proProject settings and design rules
- climate-logger.kicad_schEditable schematic
- climate-logger.kicad_pcbEditable board
- climate-logger-bom.csvParts list for assembly
- climate-logger-pos.csvPick-and-place positions
Also generated, not drawn above: B_Mask.gbr (bottom solder mask), F_Paste.gbr (stencil) and NPTH.drl (the two unplated USB-C pegs).
Your work, kept
Every change,
on the record.
- Undo and redo survive a refresh.
- Restore any version. You review it first.
- Locks hold for everyone, AI included.
For every level
Explained for beginners, itemised for makers, constrained for engineers.
The same project and the same checks underneath. Pick the view that fits how you work.
Understand every choice
Plain-English reasons for every part, and a checklist before you order a board.
- Via
- A small plated hole that carries a connection between the top and bottom copper.
- Keepout
- An area kept free of copper. The Wi-Fi antenna needs one.
Why is the sensor on its own tongue? A slot keeps the module’s heat away.
Why does the antenna hang past the edge? Copper nearby would weaken the signal.
Parts you can buy, revisions you can trust
Real parts with part numbers, checked for stock. Every change is a revision you can restore.
- Rev A First layout, 40 × 25 mm overall
- Rev B 40 × 22 mm overall, connectors locked, H1 removed
| Ref | Part | Maker |
|---|---|---|
| U1 | ESP32-C3-MINI-1-N4X | Espressif |
| U2 | USBLC6-2SC6 | STMicroelectronics |
| U3 | AP2112K-3.3TRG1 | Diodes Incorporated |
| U4 | SHT40-AD1B-R2 | Sensirion |
Constraints, locks and exports you control
Your net classes and rules hold on every AI change. Locked parts never move.
Net classes
- Power
- up to 0.6 mm · VBUS, +3V3
- Signal
- 0.2 mm · 0.15 mm clearance
- USB
- D+ / D− routed as a pair
Locks
J1, J2 · position and rotation
Exports
.kicad_pro · .kicad_sch · .kicad_pcb · Gerber X2 · Excellon · BOM · pick-and-place
USB pair. D+ and D− run side by side, with ground stitching vias beside them.
3.3 V feed. 0.6 mm from regulator to module, the widest power class.
FAQ
Checks and files.
What a clean check means, and what you can take with you.
These answers describe PCBSurf as it's being built. See what exists today.
Does a clean design-rule check mean my board will work?
No, and we won't say it does. Design-rule checks confirm the layout can be manufactured: clearances, track widths, holes. Electrical-rule checks catch wiring mistakes. Neither proves the circuit does what you want. Every report lists what was checked and what wasn't, such as antenna performance or sensor accuracy, so you know what to test on the real board.
Can I leave with my files?
Yes, at any time, including after you cancel. Download native KiCad schematic and board files and the manufacturing outputs. Standard files outlive any tool, including ours.
Start with a sentence
What will you build?
Describe it. PCBSurf drafts the board, and you can edit every part of it.