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Manufacturing a printed circuit board is a complicated process. From fabrication through assembly, there are many different points during manufacturing that must be verified before the board can pass to the next step. This validation can be done in several ways, from manual inspections to advanced X-ray analysis. Another standard validation method is the different automated optical inspection (AOI) systems used to examine PCBs.

Many variables can affect how much it will cost to have a raw circuit board fab built, and those prices can also change depending on which vendor you use. We’re going to look at some of these variables and how you can control PCB fabrication methods to reduce supply chain costs.

To help designers create functional and manufacturable circuit boards, the PCB design software creators will include a variety of design rules and constraints in their tools. The appearance and use of these constraints will vary quite a bit from tool to tool, but their purpose is always the same, to help you to design a better circuit board. Here are some ideas on how to set up and work with these rules.

Over the past several years, our confidence in the quality of the parts used has been violated by counterfeit parts’ proliferation on the market. The flood of counterfeits has required extra diligence in sourcing electronic components to ensure that what is purchased is the real McCoy and will work as expected when installed on a PCB. Here are some tips on how to ensure the components you are working with are genuine.

A circuit board can be the recipient of EMI unless preventative measures are taken in its design. The PCB you design can also create EMI with other electronics if you don’t take the same precautions. This article will look at some of these precautions and how to avoid electromagnetic interference in PCB designs.

The circuit boards we design also require extra effort when laying them out for high-speed circuitry. Sensitive nets must be routed according to specific high-speed rules and many other high-speed design requirements that must be followed. These include everything from how the schematic is organized to the placement of the components. We will look at all of this as we discuss the high-speed routing techniques to help you cross the finish line with your next PCB design.