A two-minute beginner tour
Learn your board in 3D.
Start with the camera. Identify parts. Follow copper connections.
Explore test pads, board layers and the enclosure.
Reading the connections
One color, one electrical net. Copper lines, pads, vias and connected component outlines share that net's color. A part connected to multiple selected nets can have several colors.
Less clutter, more signal. The demo hides highlights for nets with more than 10 linked parts. The components stay visible. HDMI filters split the path into separate nets; selecting U7 and J4 shows each side.
More detail: watch the earlier Ethernet/HDMI walkthrough.
Read the video transcript
BEAGLEPLAY: YOUR PCB IN 3D
A PCB is a printed circuit board. Explore its parts and connections.
MOVE THE BOARD
Left-drag to rotate. Right-drag to move the board across the screen.
LOOK CLOSER
Wheel or + / −: zoom. Reset: return to the starting view.
FRONT AND BACK
Use Front and Back to inspect each side of the board.
PHOTO OR CAD
Photo shows the real board. Turn it off to see CAD component models.
HOVER TO IDENTIFY
Point at a part. Read its name, description and part number on the left.
CLICK TO TRACE
Click to keep its connections visible. Hovering alone shows only component information.
ONE COLOR = ONE ELECTRICAL NET
A net connects pins. Its copper and connected parts share one color.
ETHERNET AND HDMI
Select the Ethernet or HDMI chip to explore its direct electrical connections.
SEE THROUGH THE PCB
Hide the board material to reveal the copper beneath it.
KEEP BOTH SIDES VISIBLE
Both sides keep their components. Use the Components checkbox to hide or restore them.
BUSY NETS AND LOADING
The >10 filter hides busy nets. Uncheck it to include large power and ground nets.
YOU CAN STILL USE THE VIEWER
Copper takes time to prepare. Watch the progress, move the model, or cancel.
PADS: WHERE PARTS CONNECT
Pads connect components to copper. Toggle their colored highlights.
VIAS: BETWEEN LAYERS
Vias connect copper layers. Toggle their colored highlights.
PLANES: LARGE COPPER AREAS
Planes are broad copper areas. Toggle their translucent highlights.
TP = TEST POINT
Search TP2. Its card shows the net, board side and pad position.
JTAG DEBUG PADS
Select a JTAG pin, such as J19.2, to inspect its signal.
EXPLORE EIGHT COPPER LAYERS
Layers separates eight copper patterns. This spacing is illustrative.
ISOLATE ONE LAYER
Choose one layer to inspect it alone. All eight layers restores the stack.
OPEN THE ENCLOSURE
Assembly shows the case. Turn off the lid to see inside.
YOUR FIRST EXPLORATION
Hover to identify. Click to trace. Zoom to learn. Explore locally or on the web.