The BuildPCB course,
from idea to factory.
Six short videos that teach you to use BuildPCB the right way: a simple first prompt, the electronics basics that matter, working with the AI, what every factory file is, and how to order your boards. Free, no sign-up.
How BuildPCB works
Describe your board in plain words and the AI designs all of it: schematic, placement, routing, checks and factory files. A quick tour of the studio.
- The chat: plain words, no jargon
- Five automatic stages, live
- The tabs: Schematic, Board, 3D, Bench, Factory
- One honest rule: review before you order
Your first prompt: keep it short
Your first prompt doesn't need to be long, technical or perfect. One sentence is enough, and the AI decides the rest.
- Say what it does and how it's powered
- Add the size only if it must fit somewhere
- No pin lists or part values needed
- It asks if something essential is missing
- Refine later in plain words · one board per project
Electronics basics that matter
Five simple ideas that help you ask for the right board and understand what you get.
- Power: USB-C 5 V, battery 3.7 V, chips 3.3 V
- Current: power-hungry parts need wider copper
- Size: your measurements are kept fixed
- Edges: connectors and antennas go on the edge
- Real in-stock parts, 0-error checks and the Bench
Working with the AI
How to ask for changes, send files for review and keep your credits under control.
- Ask for changes in plain words
- Send files with the paperclip: photos, PDF datasheets, parts lists, schematics and board designs (up to 20 MB each)
- Ask it to review your files
- Smart habits: one change at a time, Sonnet and Standard depth by default
Your factory files, explained
What every file in the Factory tab is, and which ones you actually need.
- Gerber zip: one drawing per layer, plus the drill files
- BOM: every part with its LCSC number
- CPL: where each part sits and how it's rotated
- Schematic PDF, netlist and your project backup
- Bare boards: Gerber zip · assembled: + BOM + CPL
Order your boards
From the zip to a real board: uploading your files to a manufacturer like JLCPCB or PCBWay.
- Download the zip and get it reviewed
- Add Gerber file: size and layers are read for you
- Standard options and the board color
- Assembly: upload the BOM and CPL, check parts and placement
- Review and place the order
Plans & AI credits
Which plan fits you, how many credits each AI model uses, and how to top up when you need more.
- Starter, Maker and Pro: what each plan is for
- Credits per AI step for every model
- On Starter, use Sonnet rather than Fable
- Top up anytime with packs or any amount
Ready for your first board?
Describe it in one sentence: what it does and how it's powered. The studio designs the schematic, picks real in-stock parts, places and routes the board, runs every check and prepares the factory files.
Start designing