2/2/2026 8:07 PM - Parts Researching and Planning

I spent 30 minutes to research parts, proper cautions need to be taken , planned the schematics in my head, and looked for available symbols And footprints online. Almost everything were available.

2/2/2026 8:43 PM - First Wirings

After researching I have started wiring some parts of the schematics. I have wired a little of USB - A and the IC's. Im still planning the wirings for other components. Im planning on making it USB 3.0

2/4/2026 8:10 PM - Routing downstream ports

As I have decided to have x2 USB A and x2 USB C downstream ports I'll have to wire them up.(duh!!). So i spent some time looking at datasheets and wire them. (Im new to wiring this so i had to get help from datasheets). I figured out alot stuff on my own and used Ai (gemini) to confirm the wirings!.

2/4/2026 8:23 PM - Routing the upstream USB C

So to actually connect the Hub to and PC you need to connect it via a port. So thats the upstream port. So I have wired the upstream port as well. Its mostly similar to the wiring of downstream ports. But have to modify some stuff. For example dividing the voltage sent to the USB_VBUS pin on TUSB8041.

2/4/2026 8:47 PM - Wiring the Crystal and the reset circuit

So last thing to wire to the chip is the Crystal and Reset circuit and some other feature disabling stuff.

Basically the empty pins have different features you can enable or disable.

2/4/2026 9 PM - Wiring the 3.3v and 1.2v power regulators

The output we get from the upstream USB C is 5v. Some pins require 3.3v and 1.1v as well. So we have to step-down the 5v to 3.3v and 1.2v. (it can handle 1.2v according to datasheets).

2/5/2026 7 PM - Fixing the remaining port pins and some organization.

As I mentioned I have few pins on the USB ports open / floating as I dont know how to complete those. I learned a little about USB shield and casings. After ports are wired I did some organization to make it look pretty:?

2/5/2026 8 PM - Assigning Footprint

This is in my opinion the worst part of the PCB as they are most tedious, time-consuming, and critical parts of PCB design. I had to go through all possible footprints just to see if it will work. It took me a lot of time. This took me more time than making the schematics. Im planning on using JLC Assembly Service to solder some stuff as I dont have a heating station.

2/6/2026 8 PM - Assigning 3D models and correcting Schematics

Well, Im a guy of perfection so i had to find 3D Models to every component of the board.Most of em were easy to find. Also y I realized the decoupling capacitor wiring is VERY wrong. So fixed those as well :) (Thanks to @Rudy on Slack)

2/6/2026 10 PM - Routing the Ports and Decoupling Capacitors

I have started PCB and started soft-routing the Ports and Decoupling Capacitors. I have made sure to route high speed port traces in differential pairs. This route wont be the final. This is is to organize the components. I will have also make it as compact as possible for portability.

2/7/2026 5 PM - Routing Part 2

Have made some progress with the routing around the main IC . Did some footprint changing and stuff. Still planning on soldering most of them by hand.

2/7/2026 6 PM - Routing Problem (RESET)

It seems that im running into multiple routing issues. Its very hard to route everything in a packed tight PCB. Especially only 2 Layers. So i'll have to reroute everything from beginning. Possibly change the layout as well. :<

2/8/2026 - Component placement completed

Before routing the PCB. I have placed the components in proper places and allocate space for routes in advance but still might face problems. but now the placements are completed.

2/9/2026 - High Speed Differential Pair routing completed.

As data lines from USB ports should transfer data fast we have to prioritize them before everything.I have completed all 4 usb ports data lines. Took some time to make both of them point accurate.

2/11/2026 - Final Routing

I have completed the full routing of the USB Hub. It took alot of time to adjust the traces so others could fit it in. I had to restart few routing repeatedly to get it right. I also have used filled zones for GND pins.

2/15/2026 - Almost forgot this

I have exported everything and now ready to source the parts like the capacitors which i'll be hand soldering. Capacitors are mostly available in SriLanka so lets see. For now I have did a sanity check on everything and and gerber files ready. I'll be setting up the components for like jlc pcb now