Step 2PCB design

The first task is to design your layout.

There is one constrain when using this method. The components, or more accurately the leads of the components, must be strictly placed on a 0.1" grid. This is because we'll be using a veroboard as a template and if your design won't fit on a veroboard then this method won't work for you.

One would typically design from a top down perspective. You will have to mirror your design. If you're designing with a CAD software then its a piece of cake. If you're designing with pen and paper then there's a multitude of ways to mirror it. For example, hold the paper up against a light source with the design facing away from you, or place it in front of a mirror and copy the image.

I used EAGLE to design the layout. Some may argue that for such a simple design, pen and paper would suffice. I personally like how I can move the components around in EAGLE and reroute as I see fit. Note that for this prototyping method, I set the main grid size to 0.1" instead of the default 0.05". You can leave the alternate grid size at 0.025 for finer routing adjustments.

Use the permanent marker or any other writing/drawing tool to copy your mirrored design onto the veroboard. It doesn't matter which side you draw it on, but I personally think the non-copper side is a better idea. The most important thing here is the locations of the component pads.