Details
Circuit & PCB Layouts
This project recreates the essential hardware of an Arduino-compatible board around the ATmega328P microcontroller. A 7805 regulator supplies a stable 5 volts, while a 16 MHz crystal oscillator and supporting capacitors provide the clock required for reliable operation.
We developed the schematic and PCB layout with accessible, parallel header pins and practical component spacing. The copper pattern was transferred to a board, chemically etched, drilled, populated, and soldered by hand before the connections were inspected and tested.
Building the controller from individual components provided hands-on experience in schematic interpretation, PCB routing, fabrication, soldering, and troubleshooting. It also showed how the familiar Arduino platform works at the circuit level rather than treating it as a ready-made development board.