Product Description
This blank Prototype PCB Board provides a durable and high-quality foundation for creating custom, permanent shield circuits that seamlessly integrate with your Arduino UNO R3 or similar-footprint boards (such as the Duemilanove or the MEGA 2560 on compatible pins).
Constructed from premium FR-4 glass fiber material, these boards offer excellent mechanical strength, electrical insulation, and flame-retardant properties, making them an industry standard for reliable electronic projects. The PCB features an innovative dual-pitch design to accommodate a wide range of components:
- Standard 2.54mm (0.1″) Pitch: The majority of the board uses this universal spacing, compatible with standard through-hole components, headers, and DIP (Dual Inline Package) ICs.
- Finer 2.00mm (0.079″) Pitch Area: A dedicated section (often within a white frame on the PCB) provides tighter spacing for more compact designs or specific components, offering design flexibility.
All holes are plated-through, ensuring robust electrical connections on both the top and bottom identical copper layers when soldering. The board’s dimensions precisely match the standard UNO R3 size, and it includes pre-drilled mounting holes for secure installation into a case or chassis.
This blank PCB is an essential component for hobbyists, engineers, and businesses looking to transition a successful breadboard prototype into a permanent, single-module solution ready for deployment or small-scale production.
Product Parameters
| Parameter |
Specification |
| Product Type |
Blank Prototype PCB Shield Board (requires soldering of pins/components) |
| Compatibility |
Arduino UNO R3, Duemilanove footprint |
| Material |
High-quality FR-4 Glass Fiber PCB |
| PCB Dimensions |
~68.58mm x 53.34mm (2.7″ x 2.1″) |
| PCB Thickness |
1.6mm |
| Pads Pitch (Main Area) |
2.54mm (0.1″), Hole Diameter ~0.9mm |
| Pads Pitch (Fine Area) |
2.00mm (0.079″), Hole Diameter ~0.8mm |
| Layers |
Double-sided identical copper layers |
| Mounting Holes |
3 or 4 standard screw holes provided |
| Flame Retardancy |
Yes, meets UL94V-0 standard (FR-4 designation) |
Usage
This Prototype PCB Board is intended for users who have finalized a circuit design and are ready to create a permanent, durable version:
- Preparation: Ensure your circuit design has been fully tested on a solderless breadboard.
- Component Placement: Plan your layout on the blank PCB. The pin labels on the silkscreen help align components with the corresponding Arduino I/O and power pins.
- Soldering Headers: Solder standard stackable headers (not included) onto the edges of the board. This allows the shield to plug directly into the Arduino UNO R3 and potentially have other shields stacked on top.
- Soldering Components: Solder your chosen through-hole or SMD components into the prototyping area. Use the 2.54mm pitch area for standard parts and the 2.00mm area for dense sections or specific components.
- Wiring: Use solid wire links or solder bridges on the bottom layer to connect the component pads to the appropriate Arduino I/O pins, power rails (5V, 3.3V, GND), and to other components.
- Integration: Plug the completed shield onto your Arduino UNO R3 to create a robust, custom-built module for your project.
Q: Are the header pins included in the package?
No, generally the header pins must be purchased separately. This allows you to choose between standard straight headers or stackable headers depending on your project needs.
Q: Is the board compatible with the official Arduino R3 footprint?
Yes, the PCB dimensions (68.58mm x 53.34mm) and pin spacing are designed to match the standard official Arduino UNO R3 footprint exactly.
Q: What is the purpose of having two different pitches (2.54mm and 2.00mm) on one board?
The dual pitch offers versatility. The standard 2.54mm (0.1″) pitch works with nearly all common through-hole components and ICs, while the smaller 2.00mm pitch area allows for higher density circuits or integration of components with a finer lead pitch (like some SMD breakouts).
Q: Can I use this board for high-frequency (GHz range) applications?
While the FR-4 material is durable and cost-effective, standard FR-4 has limitations at very high frequencies (above 1 GHz), leading to signal loss. For such specialized applications, a high-frequency laminate material might be more appropriate. For typical Arduino projects (up to 16 MHz), FR-4 is perfectly suitable.
Q: Is this product suitable for business purchasing or mass production?
This blank prototype PCB is ideal for developing a final, functional prototype before committing to a fully custom-designed and manufactured PCB. For mass production, businesses would typically send the validated circuit design files (Gerber files) to a professional PCB fabrication service to optimize costs and manufacturing processes.
