DesignSpark recently collaborated with long-standing RS partner Mint-Tek to deliver the first PCB Design 101 session to electronics and electrical engineering students at the University of Galway. The students are part of the university’s IEEE Student Branch, which promotes electronics among peers.
The initiative was driven by PhD students and IEEE Student Branch committee members, Ethan Delaney and Timothy Hanley, who saw growing interest in PCB design and wanted to organise a workshop to promote its importance.
The idea gained momentum following a visit from RS key account manager Aideen Rooney and Siobhán ní Chofaigh, from Mint-Tek - a Galway-based hardware prototyping company that helps developers bring product ideas to life through services including PCB design, 3D printing, and electronic builds. Mint-Tek’s solutions can reduce prototyping costs and development time. Their close ties with RS include a feature within DesignSpark PCB that allows users to send completed designs directly to Mint-Tek for manufacturing quotes (Make my PCB)
Recognising the opportunity to support student learning, Mint-Tek proposed a workshop open to students across all year groups. The result was a remote session held on 8 October, showcasing the capabilities of DesignSpark PCB V13 —the latest version of the CAD software tool, sponsored by Würth Elektronik.
The session began with an introduction from Siobhán about Mint-Tek’s mission and services, followed by an RS overview from Aideen. Joy Choudhuri, Design Tools Experience Manager at DesignSpark then introduced an overview of the DesignSpark platform and its suite of design resources. The highlight was a live demonstration by DesignSpark Technical Expert Kevin Hobbs, who guided students through a beginner-friendly design process. He covered downloading and setting up the software, exploring its key features, and converting a basic circuit sketch into a manufacturable PCB layout, starting with a simple circuit and progressing to more complex layouts. He also shared practical tips from over a decade of experience, including how to navigate the tool, open projects, and use key features effectively. His insights were tailored to suit the varied experience levels of the audience.
Reflecting on the session, Ethan commented: “The DesignSpark tool does genuinely seem intuitive, and I would certainly feel more confident in giving a go at designing a PCB after the talk.”
Siobhán said: "To understand PCB design is a very important part of hardware design and prototype development. But starting is always the hardest step. Kevin's session on introducing DesignSpark PCB really helped to open the curtain, and I hope has kickstarted more designs."
Joy added: "This was a great initiative to engage students with Electronics design and how intuitive it can be. RS DesignSpark software allows users with minimal background in CAD to get hands-on quickly and turn their creative ideas into working prototypes."
The workshop below can be shared with other universities interested in exploring DesignSpark PCB. It’s a great example of how RS, working with key suppliers, continues to support education, innovation, and the next generation of engineers.
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