Designing your own PCB feels intimidating until you've shipped one. This guide walks you through every step using KiCad (free, open-source) and EasyEDA (browser-based, free). We'll design a simple DHT22 + LED breakout, then send it to JLCPCB to come back as a real board.
Pick a small first project
Resist the urge to design your dream board on attempt #1. Pick something with ≤ 5 components, 2 layers, no high-speed signals, no controlled impedance. A DHT22 breakout with a power LED, a pull-up resistor, and a 4-pin header is perfect.
Draw the schematic
Install KiCad 8 from kicad.org. Open the schematic editor. Place: DHT22 symbol, 10kΩ resistor, 220Ω resistor, LED, 1× 4-pin pin header. Wire them: VCC → DHT22 pin 1, DHT22 pin 2 → header pin 'DATA' AND through 10kΩ to VCC, LED + 220Ω from VCC to DATA for visual feedback. Run Tools → Annotate Schematic, then Inspect → Electrical Rules Check. Fix any errors before moving on.
Assign footprints
Tools → Assign Footprints. Pick through-hole footprints for everything for your first board (you can hand-solder TH; SMD requires more practice). DHT22 → Sensor_AM2302; resistors → R_THT_Axial_DIN0207; LED → LED_THT_D5.0mm; header → PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical.
Lay out the board
Tools → Switch to PCB Editor. Import the netlist. Drag the parts into a roughly 30 × 30 mm rectangle. Set design rules: 0.3 mm trace width, 0.2 mm clearance, 1.6 mm board thickness. Route the traces (manually, autoroute makes ugly boards on your first try). Add a copper pour on the bottom layer connected to GND. Define the board outline by drawing a closed rectangle on the Edge.Cuts layer.
Run DRC and export gerbers
Tools → DRC (Design Rule Check). Fix any errors. File → Plot, choose Gerber format, select all the standard layers (F.Cu, B.Cu, F.Mask, B.Mask, F.Silkscreen, B.Silkscreen, Edge.Cuts). Also generate the drill file. Zip all the gerbers together, that's your manufacturing package.
Order from JLCPCB
Upload the zip to JLCPCB.com. 5 boards in green soldermask, 2 layers, 1.6 mm thick = about $5 + shipping. Shipping to Zimbabwe via DHL is roughly $20-30 and arrives in 7-14 working days.
BlitzTech consolidates shipments for clients in Zimbabwe, we order in batches monthly and split shipping costs. Contact us if you want to piggyback on our next run.