ProtoPulse includes two physical layout views that sit between your schematic and your manufactured board: the Breadboard View for prototyping visualization and the PCB Layout View for production PCB design. Both views read from the same schematic, so component instances and net connectivity stay synchronized.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/wtyler2505/ProtoPulse/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Breadboard View
The Breadboard View renders a visual representation of your circuit as it would appear on a standard solderless breadboard. It is useful for:- Validating physical component placement before committing to PCB layout
- Creating assembly instructions or build guides
- Teaching electronics — showing how schematic symbols map to real components
Placing and wiring components
Drag components from the left panel onto the breadboard grid. Wires snap to breadboard tie-points (rows). The connectivity follows the schematic — the Breadboard View enforces the same nets you defined in the schematic, flagging any missing or extra connections.PCB Layout View
The PCB Layout View is where you place components and route copper traces for a physical printed circuit board. It reads footprints from each schematic component instance and displays the unrouted connections as a ratsnest — thin lines showing which pads need to be connected.Layer management
ProtoPulse supports the standard PCB layer stack:| Layer | Purpose |
|---|---|
| F.Cu (Top copper) | Signal traces and pads on the top side |
| B.Cu (Bottom copper) | Signal traces and pads on the bottom side |
| F.Mask / B.Mask | Solder mask openings (exposes copper pads) |
| F.Silkscreen / B.Silkscreen | Component labels and reference designators |
| F.Paste / B.Paste | Solder paste apertures for SMT reflow |
| Edge.Cuts | Board outline / mechanical boundary |
Routing traces
Select the Route Traces tool
Click the route tool in the PCB toolbar or press X. The cursor changes to a crosshair.
Click a pad to start routing
Click on any unrouted pad. A trace begins on the active layer, following the ratsnest line to its destination pad.
Click the destination pad to finish
Route to the destination pad and click to complete the trace. The ratsnest line disappears, indicating the connection is routed.
Trace width presets
ProtoPulse provides trace width presets for common signal classes:| Preset | Width | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | 0.25 mm | Low-current digital and analog signals |
| Power | 0.5 mm | Supply rails carrying moderate current |
| High Current | 1.0 mm+ | Motor drives, battery feeds, USB power |
Ratsnest overlay
The ratsnest shows all unrouted connections as thin lines connecting pad centers. As you route each connection, its ratsnest line disappears. When the ratsnest is empty, your board is fully routed.Auto-route
ProtoPulse includes a basic auto-router accessible from the PCB toolbar. Trigger it via the Auto-Route button or ask the AI assistant:“Auto-route my PCB keeping power traces at least 0.5 mm wide.”Auto-route results should be reviewed — hand-routing critical signal paths (differential pairs, high-frequency traces) is still recommended.
From PCB to Gerber
Once routing is complete, run DRC to validate clearances and drill sizes, then export your Gerbers from the Output view. The export bundles copper layers, solder mask, silkscreen, and drill files into a manufacturing-ready ZIP.ProtoPulse’s PCB layout view is designed for 2-layer boards. Multi-layer inner layer support is on the roadmap.
Design Validation
Run DRC before exporting to catch spacing and drill errors.
Export Formats
Generate Gerber, drill, and pick-and-place files for manufacturing.
Schematic Capture
Review the schematic that drives PCB connectivity.
Component Editor
Define PCB footprints for custom components.