Small Prototype PCB Design
A practical PCB design service for simple low-voltage prototype boards, interface boards, breakout boards, and small repeated circuit designs.
Not every electronics project needs a full product development process. Sometimes you need a small custom board to connect devices together, test an idea, tidy up a prototype, or replace a messy breadboard or wiring loom with something more reliable.
The Small Prototype PCB Design service is intended for simple, clearly bounded PCB designs where the main circuit requirements are already understood, or where the circuit can be agreed during a short scoping stage.
This service is suitable for breakout boards, connector adapter boards, small sensor or interface boards, simple microcontroller support boards, RS485, UART, I2C, SPI, GPIO, relay, LED, MOSFET, or opto-isolated interface boards, repeated input/output channel boards, and simple test fixtures or bench-use prototype boards.
What this service helps with
Protoworks can help turn a small circuit idea into a manufacturable PCB design suitable for prototype production.
The aim is to create a practical prototype board, not a fully certified production-ready electronic product. The design can then be used for testing, proof-of-concept work, internal use, or as the starting point for a more developed product.
What is included
Schematic Capture
Schematic capture for the agreed circuit requirements.
PCB Layout & Routing
Layout design, typically 2-layer or 4-layer depending on the needs of the board.
Footprint Selection
Component footprint selection and library management for reliable placement.
DFM Verification
Basic design-for-manufacture checks based on standard board house capability limits.
Electrical Rule Checks
Basic electrical rule checks to verify pin connections and net continuity.
Bill of Materials
Preliminary bill of materials listing package styles and key components.
Gerber & Manufacturing Files
Industry-standard Gerber, drill, and fabrication files suitable for prototype production.
Design Revision
One design revision before the final fabrication files are packaged and released.
Short Design Notes
Brief documentation explaining the main design choices, interface assumptions, and layout constraints.
Typical scope
This service is intended for one small low-voltage PCB with one main function, or repeated copies of the same simple circuit block.
Examples might include a small RS485 interface board, a connector adapter, a sensor breakout, a MOSFET output board, a relay interface board, or a repeated 4-channel or 8-channel input/output board.
Boards with repeated channels may contain more components overall, but can still fit this service where the same simple circuit block is repeated. The exact scope will be agreed before work begins.
Not included
- ✕Firmware or embedded software development
- ✕Full product development
- ✕Enclosure or mechanical design
- ✕Formal CE, UKCA, FCC, EMC, or safety certification
- ✕Laboratory testing or mains-voltage design
- ✕Medical, automotive, or safety-critical applications
- ✕RF antenna or high-speed controlled-impedance design
- ✕Assembly, ordering, physical testing, or guaranteed first-spin success
Firmware, prototype assembly, testing, and further design iterations can be quoted separately where required.
Pricing & Investment
No VAT is currently charged.
Final pricing depends on the size, complexity, number of components, number of repeated channels, PCB layer count, component availability, and whether the circuit is already well defined. Very small connector, breakout, or layout-only jobs may be quoted separately.
Before confirming the price, Protoworks will carry out a short scoping conversation to understand what the board needs to do and whether it fits this service.
Small Prototype PCB Design
A practical PCB design service for simple low-voltage prototype boards, interface boards, breakout boards, and small repeated circuit designs.
Not every electronics project needs a full product development process. Sometimes you need a small custom board to connect devices together, test an idea, tidy up a prototype, or replace a messy breadboard or wiring loom with something more reliable.
The Small Prototype PCB Design service is intended for simple, clearly bounded PCB designs where the main circuit requirements are already understood, or where the circuit can be agreed during a short scoping stage.
This service is suitable for breakout boards, connector adapter boards, small sensor or interface boards, simple microcontroller support boards, RS485, UART, I2C, SPI, GPIO, relay, LED, MOSFET, or opto-isolated interface boards, repeated input/output channel boards, and simple test fixtures or bench-use prototype boards.
What this service helps with
Protoworks can help turn a small circuit idea into a manufacturable PCB design suitable for prototype production.
The aim is to create a practical prototype board, not a fully certified production-ready electronic product. The design can then be used for testing, proof-of-concept work, internal use, or as the starting point for a more developed product.
What is included
Schematic Capture
Schematic capture for the agreed circuit requirements.
PCB Layout & Routing
Layout design, typically 2-layer or 4-layer depending on the needs of the board.
Footprint Selection
Component footprint selection and library management for reliable placement.
DFM Verification
Basic design-for-manufacture checks based on standard board house capability limits.
Electrical Rule Checks
Basic electrical rule checks to verify pin connections and net continuity.
Bill of Materials
Preliminary bill of materials listing package styles and key components.
Gerber & Manufacturing Files
Industry-standard Gerber, drill, and fabrication files suitable for prototype production.
Design Revision
One design revision before the final fabrication files are packaged and released.
Short Design Notes
Brief documentation explaining the main design choices, interface assumptions, and layout constraints.
Typical scope
This service is intended for one small low-voltage PCB with one main function, or repeated copies of the same simple circuit block.
Examples might include a small RS485 interface board, a connector adapter, a sensor breakout, a MOSFET output board, a relay interface board, or a repeated 4-channel or 8-channel input/output board.
Boards with repeated channels may contain more components overall, but can still fit this service where the same simple circuit block is repeated. The exact scope will be agreed before work begins.
Not included
- ✕Firmware or embedded software development
- ✕Full product development
- ✕Enclosure or mechanical design
- ✕Formal CE, UKCA, FCC, EMC, or safety certification
- ✕Laboratory testing or mains-voltage design
- ✕Medical, automotive, or safety-critical applications
- ✕RF antenna or high-speed controlled-impedance design
- ✕Assembly, ordering, physical testing, or guaranteed first-spin success
Firmware, prototype assembly, testing, and further design iterations can be quoted separately where required.
Pricing & Investment
No VAT is currently charged.
Final pricing depends on the size, complexity, number of components, number of repeated channels, PCB layer count, component availability, and whether the circuit is already well defined. Very small connector, breakout, or layout-only jobs may be quoted separately.
Before confirming the price, Protoworks will carry out a short scoping conversation to understand what the board needs to do and whether it fits this service.