Re: Beginner of PCB layout
Hi,
Depending on your needs you can decide. But, first thing is to find the shape and area coverage of your board according to the needs. Then, you must place (preferably manually, not with autoplacer) the components that must be in spacific places, like connectors or power transistors who need heatsinks etc.
After this, you can deside if you can affort autoplacement of the rest of the components or place them manually again. Manual is always better.
There are programs that do not offer autoplacement.
Finally you draw the tracks. This can be done with the aid of autorouter or you can draw them manually of a mixture of both.
Personally I run the autorouter first, usually the results are not suttisfying my needs hence I make modifications in an autorouted board. If result is far away from what I expected then I reject and manually route everything.