Working with high-speed PCB designs can add an extra layer (no pun intended) of complexity to your board. Foolproof techniques at low speeds can become unreliable with faster rise/fall times inherent to digital systems. However, these problems are not insurmountable: an experienced high-speed PCB manufacturer can navigate potential issues at the board level and throughout…
The global landscape of PCB manufacturing is changing. With tariffs increasing the cost of doing business overseas (and in general with more expensive materials), now is a good time for designers to review their options for optimal budget expenditures. Let’s review the state of PCB manufacturers in the USA for 2024. PCB Manufacturers in the…
Choosing which PCB manufacturer to partner with on production is the first step to realizing an electronic device. There are many aspects to weigh for manufacturing; most often, cost will be top-of-mind. However, manufacturing in the USA has significant benefits compared to overseas manufacturing: quality/build repeatability is higher, specific certifications (e.g., ITAR) are US exclusive…
Rigid-flex PCB applications are vast due to the numerous advantages of replacing bulky wire harnesses with flexible printed circuits.
Going from a design to a finished board is a complex process. Even with the sophistication of modern simulation tools, actual and expected performance can differ sharply. It’s essential not only for a board’s contents (i.e., components and circuitry) but also for its spatial orientation and material properties. While designers could safely omit the contributions…
Over the past decades, the demand for faster computing and higher data throughput has increased signal speeds by magnitudes. Unfortunately, faster speeds reveal performance issues with design, materials, and manufacturing that are trivial at relatively slower speeds. High-frequency PCB manufacturers can use several methods to navigate these issues while optimizing cost and performance. At VSE,…
Rigidity is not always a bad thing in the design world, but it can be limiting. Historically, rigid PCBs provided the requisite functionality for a wide range of electronic applications, but form always follows function. Flexible printed circuits can accommodate designs and operate where simpler rigid PCBs cannot. A flex circuit board assembly overlaps with…
Change is expected in electronics development, as new designs incorporate fresh ideas and necessary enhancements over previous products. However, continual modifications to correct problems can slow down, delay production, and cause development costs to escalate rapidly. For the most efficient design development, it is essential to streamline the approval process for engineering change orders (ECOs)…
Turnkey PCB assembly simplifies production logistics by combining a number of disparate electronic manufacturing services under one roof.
Although the prototype sits closer to the end of a manufacturable design than the outset, the unique challenges of navigating manufacturing revisions can frustrate budgets and timelines. Prototype designs are not yet set in stone (or rather, fiberglass and epoxy) – the shifting nature of the design means the BOM, schematic, or layout can fluctuate.…
For PCB design and manufacturing, don’t fix what isn’t broken. But for what is broken, an engineering change request helps client and manufacturer remain on the same page.
There are many ways to reduce PCB assembly costs. However, the best method without sacrificing production quality is to review the project design and documentation before sending them off to the manufacturer.
Design for manufacturability, or DFM, is a design process methodology that has been around for many years. When PCB layout designers were more isolated, pushing DFM problems down the line was common, typically in manufacturing. However, workflows like that have changed as technology has evolved and time to market has decreased. It has become imperative…
PCB prototype costs – while less costly than regular production in aggregate – can come as a sticker shock. See how an experienced CM gives you the best bang for your buck.
Don’t let electrostatic discharge (ESD) in electronic manufacturing come as a shock to your production – partner with an experienced contract manufacturer to improve device service life.
Does sustainable seem unattainable for your PCB design? See how a CM with experience in sustainable electronic manufacturing can guide production.
While searching for a PCB contract manufacturer to partner with for building your circuit boards, establishing a high level of communication and trust is tantamount to a successful final product. Whether a novice or experienced in design, some subtle layout choices can develop into major manufacturing problems further down the road if left unaddressed. To…
Preparing for aerospace PCB assembly requires a greater understanding of reliability and its impact on electronic devices. No one wants their electronic device to fail, but the cost and safety concerns of electronic failure with aerospace systems are unacceptable. Complicating this additional requirement is the greater range and extremes of environments that aerospace electronics must…
PCB design can quickly become complicated. When designers optimize thousands of component placements and routes, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. High-frequency PCB design (typically 1 GHz and up) introduces additional complications, as signal behavior changes dramatically and the transmission medium becomes more impactful to signal integrity. High-frequency PCB design guidelines help…
PCB layout can be challenging, but high-speed constraints and demands can transform challenging into demanding. Increasing signal speeds means standard design best practices must account for insignificant material characteristics at slower speeds. While some high-speed PCB design guidelines overlap with traditional layout methodology, designers must understand the differences and how they affect their layout strategy.…
Most designers cut their teeth designing rigid printed circuit boards due to their simplicity (this is relative). Because the design is static from a mechanical standpoint, the designer needs only indicate the component locations for assembly. A flex circuit offers numerous mechanical advantages over a rigid PCB but also requires additional considerations for materials, dynamic…
Designers can choose between different copper thickness values, but most boards utilize a standard value of 1 oz. for most applications.
We’re not shy about NPI. Learn all about NPI manufacturing and what design teams can do to prepare their devices for launch.
Dotting the “i”s and crossing the “t”s on a new design? An NPI checklist can help focus designers search for an appropriate manufacturer.
Some say PCB design is more art than science, and the proof is in the pudding of PCB artwork. See the importance and role of this critical manufacturing documentation.
Look ahead at the 2025 PCB supply chain state with an informational update and navigation guide.
Is PCB noise contributing to design rejection during EMC testing? Let your contract manufacturer cut through the noise with a short guide on EMC best practices.
PCB board prices can vary dramatically, but don’t let this surprise you: review this basic cost comparison and talk to us for a customized quote.
Designing the newest electronic devices can be challenging, but local PCB sourcing can alleviate many issues inherent to overseas manufacturing.
Before your Ethernet PCB layout comes down to the wire, see how your contract manufacturer can assist with your device reliability and performance.
Facing via reliability issues? Don’t fold like a cheap tent – see how via tenting can be cost-effective for PCBA reliability.
Don’t let price surprise you at the end of the design. This PCB manufacturing cost breakdown helps design teams estimate the relative cost of their boards.
Looking for a definition of solder mask-defined pads? Look no further: this blog covers the basics of SMD vs. NSMD pads and their use cases.
A four-layer PCB stackup is a common approach to today’s mixed-signal boards, offering excellent routability and signal integrity with interior planes.
A four-layer PCB stackup is a common approach to today’s mixed-signal boards, offering excellent routability and signal integrity with interior planes.
With the number of files associated with a PCB design, it is easy to get confused and lose track of which files are current and what they contain. It is important to develop a naming system that is easy to understand and use, especially with the image files, more commonly known as Gerber data to prevent any confusion. Here are some recommendations for Gerber file names that can help keep your manufacturing data clean and up-to-date.
The Gerber file is used to fabricate the raw circuit board. To help you to be better prepared, here’s a look at how Gerber files are explained and how they’re used in the manufacturing of your PCB.
If a high voltage develops between exposed metal on a PCB, electrostatic discharge can occur if the charge exceeds the threshold for dielectric breakdown; this material failure damages components and, in extreme cases, causes board conflagration. Creepage and clearance limits between exposed metal on your PCB are codified in critical industry standards for observation during…
No circuit operates without power; current can only flow through a closed loop, and some energy is necessary to power the electronics. Power supply design and the power distribution network (PDN) are critical to circuits, yet less thought goes into what happens to the PDN when circuit conditions fluctuate. Rarely does a circuit operate solely…
Despite the industry’s best efforts, a large gulf between PCB designers and manufacturers can exist. Often, most designers come from an academic background that provides broad electrical engineering knowledge that they must apply to the specific case of PCB design. On the other hand, manufacturers start from the specificity of equipment, processes, and regulations to…
As signal speeds increase on printed circuit boards, their potential for emitting or being victimized by noise and interference intensifies. Layout steps are necessary to clear the signal’s pathways, including arranging the board stackup in microstrip or stripline configurations to achieve the best signal integrity. This setup protects sensitive high-speed signals from much noise and…
During PCB layout, designers typically have to indicate the impedance of traces to ensure a proper balance of low-loss characteristics and power-handling capabilities. Before layout, the designer determines the trace width in some field solver software based on the desired impedance and other stackup factors like the surrounding substrates‘ dielectric constant(s) and the distance between…
Even small-lot PCB manufacturing relies on automated solder deposition processes to expedite the assembly process while providing greater consistency in solder application/joint reliability. Solder masking is necessary to prevent unintentional bridging of exposed copper and enhance the reliability of copper features that do not require atmospheric exposure. Using a carefully cut stencil, manufacturers apply an…
Electronics manufacturers must understand the difference between HASL vs. ENIG when specifying their PCB fabrication to meet their requirements.
High-density pinout components using a package-on-package (PoP) construction, most notably ball grid arrays (BGAs), feature pitch (pin-to-pin distances) much smaller than historical standards. Given their proliferation in modern electronics due to their broad functionality, designers and manufacturers have had to adapt processes to accommodate the tighter pitches. Fine-pitch PCB design focuses on how layout and…
AI is the new paradigm shift within businesses, offering an exciting level of automation and creation tools that are revolutionizing industries. As exciting as this development is, there’s been less concern about the changes in the data center infrastructure necessary to support these complex system architectures. AI server racks have additional considerations and concerns that…
PCB manufacturing is divisible into two primary stages: fabrication and assembly. The surface finish process inextricably links them together, ensuring sufficient bonding between the bare board and the components for continuous performance and extended reliability. PCB surface finishes come in many flavors, but HASL is the most prominent for non-consumer devices: as an extension of…
PCB drill hole tolerance bakes in some of the inherent variance of the fabrication process to ensure drilling matches design intent.
PCB drill hole tolerance bakes in some of the inherent variance of the fabrication process to ensure drilling matches design intent.
PCB drill hole tolerance bakes in some of the inherent variance of the fabrication process to ensure drilling matches design intent.
During the weather extremes, people apply coverings to their skin to prevent damage; think sunscreen during the summer and moisturizing lotion in the winter. This strategy of using a protective covering is not limited to skin care; it can also help protect electronics. Mission-critical circuit boards operating in extremely stressful and harsh environments have benefited…
In popular media, manufacturing often gets the short stick regarding inventions. How many stories have you seen where the genius idea becomes reality without so much as a montage? Now there’s certainly an egalitarian nature to an idea – anyone can have one after all – and some of the most engrossing stories are framed around an average person with that one-in-a-million proposal.
Designers looking for manufacturers with a quality management system (QMS) fit for aerospace manufacturing need look no further than AS9100. AS9100 broadly acts as an extension of ISO 9001; whereas ISO 9001 offers a general approach to QMS, AS9100 layers additional requirements unique to the aerospace industry. By definition, all AS9100 manufacturing fits the requirements…
PCB ECAD software is highly intelligent and customizable to meet the needs of modern electronic design and manufacturing. Perhaps the most helpful tool for designers is the robust electronic rule checks that actively determine whether users are violating the predefined parameters for manufacturability; instead of waiting for a design review or feedback from the manufacturer,…
The dielectric constant of materials has taken on an increasingly larger role in manufacturing, with tighter tolerances on controlled impedance transmission lines and greater losses at high-speed rise/fall times. While the dielectric constant is a material property, fabrication methods and the shape of laminates, sub-products, and other board materials can lead to a significant deviation…
Manufacturers require accurate documentation from the design team to translate the manufacturing files into the expected board dimensions, performance, and other critical characteristics. These files correspond to individual steps in the manufacturing process, like the XY-data for pick-and-place assembly, Gerber/ODB++ for etch-resist photoimaging, and the PCB drill chart for drill hit location. The placement of…
Embarking on production can become a harrowing ordeal for design teams unfamiliar with production quality or those previously burned by manufacturers without the necessary protocols. When time-to-market deadlines are tight, there can be significant pressure to find a manufacturer who meets cost, lot size, and production capabilities; however, all these factors are for naught if…
New designers and engineers may suffer from missing the forest for the trees. In this scenario, they become so laser-focused on solving a particular problem that they fail to account for how the solution fits into the overall design landscape. I recall a project where I spent ages pouring over datasheets for a pulse width…
All but the simplest boards today utilize multiple layers to accommodate increasingly dense interconnections or smaller board areas. Four-layer PCBs are exceedingly popular and pose little additional processing difficulties for manufacturers; further layer counts are also easily achievable. However, the presence of multiple conductor layers means manufacturers must be aware of these layers’ linear and…
In recent years, I’ve grown to love making stovetop popcorn. Cooking on the stovetop is not much more complicated than throwing it in the microwave, with one wrinkle: storage. Since I like to buy my popcorn kernels in bulk, I must be aware of their age and moisture content, as both affect the cooking time…
Printed circuit board fabrication and assembly relies on various metals for conduction, soldering, anti-corrosion, and other material properties that ensure high performance and reliability. The nature of these in-demand metals (not just exclusive to electronics manufacturing) makes them ripe for exploitation in some areas of the world. Many businesses have focused on internal and inter-organizational…
While designers place components and route circuits on multiple layers, manufacturers have to fuse the disparate layers of the board into a single, continuous product. High heat and pressure cause board laminate material to flow throughout the crevices of the design and encapsulate the board shape; this process is reversible (sometimes destructively so) under certain…
Printed circuit board designers must communicate the manufacturing intentions of a project so that there aren’t any problems in building the board. To do that, consider all ways to ensure that data in PCB design documentation is as straightforward as possible. In the layout, designers must balance the circuit’s optimal needs against the board’s constraints…
IEC 62474 is an international industry standard that facilitates transferring and organizing material declaration data between businesses.
Managing supplier materials for electronics manufacturing can be challenging. Poor, incomplete, or absent material declarations can become significant roadblocks when sourcing compliant sub-products and components. Research and correspondence with suppliers can be slow-moving at times, and time is of the essence for designers on tight production schedules. The industry standard IPC-1752A helps to coordinate efforts between the disparate chemical, material, and sub-product manufacturers integral to PCBA production.
It’s important that PCB designers clearly communicate the manufacturing intentions of a project. Here are some ways to ensure the data in your PCB design documentation is as clear as possible.
Simulation is necessary to gauge system response and model performance when designing PCBs for manufacturing. However, real-world imperfections in manufacturing processes mean that component values differ from their nominal values; how much they differ depends on how tight the tolerancing is. Component tolerance is a vital aspect of board cost and performance as per-unit prices…
To get your project through production as quickly and smoothly as possible, here are some ideas on how to best create and manage your PCB manufacturing documentation.
Capacitors are elementary circuit components that can provide a vast range of functionality. At its most basic level, capacitors store charge up to a maximum capacity that they can then use to cover or smooth power demands when total circuit draw is high. However, their role in network analysis is more complex, as the current…
Modern expectations for many electronic devices are akin to a Swiss army knife: every reasonable feature that users may want should be available. Intuitively, this makes sense: if component costs are reasonable, it’s much easier to include additional features that may see less general use than to revise a design to include them after manufacturing.…
Improving the safety of electronics benefits users and the environment. With the rapid increase in electronic waste heading to landfills at the end of the 20th century, lawmakers introduced and adopted new regulatory mechanisms to reduce the prevalence of the most dangerous substances found in electronic devices. Manufacturers have had to grapple with continued research…
The design of PCBs for manufacturing is complex enough without worrying about the logistics of component and material acquisitions. The purchase volume can make it highly susceptible to market forces, and those without experience dealing with procurement may find themselves burning through budget or unable to meet production timelines while awaiting delivery. Instead, a trusted…
Renewable energy technology must make significant strides to meet aggressive decarbonization goals set by government agencies. At the heart of this transformation will be continued developments in the semiconductor industry to further efficiencies that have slowed down after decades of growth. Renewable energy semiconductor manufacturing has several hurdles to overcome soon to meet domestic and…
With all of the manufacturing for a project located under one roof, OEMs save time, money, and resources when using these PCB CMs. Let’s look closer at how these different electronic manufacturing services can help and what to look for when choosing an EMS partner.
PCB manufacturers face a dilemma: what’s the most effective way to prevent pollution with heavy metals and other toxic substances for disposable products? The answer is the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards, a European Union directive that addresses reducing the toxicity of electronics. For a circuit board to meet these requirements, specific materials and…
One might not have to look far to find PTFE in everyday life; a quick check of the stovetop or kitchen cabinet might do the trick. PTFE, short for polytetrafluoroethylene and more commonly known as Teflon, is a remarkable material due to its exceptionally low coefficient of friction that made “nonstick” pans a household name.…
Parasitics are a part of dealing with electronics: as much as engineers, designers, and manufacturers wish it were possible to work with ideal components, the real world has other plans. Mitigating these parasitic effects is the approach, and there’s a considerable effort at all stages of device DFM dedicated to tracking and compensating for parasitics…
Capacitors are ubiquitous throughout a design for many purposes. From charge storing, signal smoothing, filter applications, and more, these components are often the most populated element on a board. The capacitance and voltage rating (to handle the expected voltage and any spikes) are the primary factors when selecting capacitors. However, a lesser heralded metric can…
Most electronic systems default to copper wire as the transmission medium, and for good reason: it’s highly conductive, readily machinable, and cost-effective. While copper’s applications are nearly universal, its performance can suffer at microwave frequencies and speeds well into the GHz range, where the skin effect causes current to concentrate towards the surface of the…
Designing a PCB starts with the circuit, but the days when the substrate material is an afterthought are long gone. Performance rests on the design’s mechanical, electrical, and thermal considerations, and substrates lacking one or more of these areas are likely to exhibit poor quality and reliability over the device’s service life. FR4 is an…
An inherent risk when working with medical devices extends beyond general electronics concerns: defects and performance issues are more liable to cause personal injury. Given the possibility, medical manufacturing must strive for a higher standard than the general industry. ISO 13485 certification is the answer: by providing a foundation for exceeding competency goals while carefully…
Outside of video games, shortcuts and corner-cutting have a more negative connotation. We tend to view shortcuts as cheating, whether the person performs the action or the recipient. Typically, a shortcut invokes risk, which might momentarily solve a problem but lead to issues in developing knowledge or skills that can later undermine the shortcut user.…
The Association Connecting Electronics Industries (IPC) publishes the industry standard for PCB manufacturing—IPC-A-610. It is a comprehensive document that outlines the criteria and requirements for the acceptability of electronic assemblies, guiding manufacturers on quality assurance and inspection processes. The standard lists three classifications of PCB manufacturing requirements: Class 1, 2, and 3. Frequently, designers may…
Any electrical system with considerable speeds or sensitive/aggressive lines must keep EMI as a primary concern. Systems can experience poor or intermittent performance due to noise-induced signal distortion without carefully placing components, traces, and cables. While there are numerous methods to prevent EMI, one of the simplest and most efficient methods is twisted wire pairs…
For decades, Moore’s Law was a defining experimental rule defining the rate at which the customer demanded significant improvements in computing power and how fast manufacturers were able to furnish this request.
Design area is precious in PCB layout. Designers often must get creative towards the end of the layout when component placement on the outer layers and planes and signals on the inner layers occupy most of the routable area. Smaller components—when available—are a possibility but may be limited by either supply or package constraints. For…
For the safety of consumers during the service life and after disposal, material restrictions relating to electronics manufacturing help prevent the excessive buildup of environmental contaminants. While a necessary regulation, this legislation complicates an already intricate and challenging manufacturing process. Maintaining this compliance is important to prevent downstream issues like revisions or costly recalls, so…
I hate to admit it, but I admire jewel thieves as shown in movies. Now, don’t worry, I am not endorsing a life of crime or contemplating a career change. Rest assured that I fully understand that, in reality, there isn’t any such thing as a “gentleman” thief, and instead, it is all just robbery…
Trail construction, like roads or other similar pathing, has to contour to the features of the ground beneath it. These trails are usually built to minimize the impact of human activity, meaning the lay of the land takes precedence over ease of use (to a point). Trail designers avoid extended steep climbs, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. When there is the option, most trails will incorporate switchbacks, a longer but less taxing ascent than a direct route over the surface.
As high-density interconnect boards continue to proliferate to meet modern devices’ dual high-performance and functionality requirements, board real estate is becoming more precious. Couple this development with a general tendency for consumer electronics toward portability, and designers must face the all-too-common problem of doing more with less. Historically, one of the more intractable board features…
While most PCB drilling is for vias and through-hole components, some drilling does not encompass electrical connectivity. The board’s placement within the enclosure requires mechanical drilling for fasteners, and some large components, like connectors, may utilize support pins for additional vibration dampening. While simple features overall, PCB mounting hole sizes require a basic understanding of…
The increasing prevalence of electronics in automobiles is welcome to consumers for many reasons: improved features increase safety measures or add new functionality that would otherwise be unachievable. There is a drawback with increasing electronic automation of the vehicle, as issues with signal transmission can undermine or override these safety features. For signal integrity, circuits…
As the power demands of devices increase to keep pace with performance, the thermal capabilities of standard PCB materials cannot provide the requisite characteristics for reliable operations. Traditional active and passive cooling approaches can impede project goals and lead to sub-optimal solutions, especially constrained designs due to enclosure size, package weight, or power efficiency. Increasingly,…
Keep a cool head when tackling high-power circuit designs with a metal core PCB stackup.
Have you ever been deep in thought writing and transcribed the words you hear instead of what you intended to write? It was only late in my life that I realized how overloaded my brain becomes when trying to work silently and process spoken words simultaneously. Even if you haven’t experienced the exact phenomenon, the…
Defining the stackup early in the design helps constrain the layout and prevent downstream manufacturing issues. Primarily, a trace width based on the finest pitch component will act as an input to the impedance field solver software; this step ensures manufacturability and coordination with the characteristic impedance necessary for different transmission protocols. While most traces…
In the layout of printed circuit boards, width plays an important part, especially in the metal connections fabricated into the board called “traces.” Traces conduct signals to and from the pins of the components soldered to the board and carry varying amounts of current depending on the net. Additionally, the signal’s traces may have special…
Parasitic capacitance between high dv/dt devices (think transformers, transistors) and ground is a significant cause of common-mode EMI.
Few feelings are worse than performing a part buy and realizing the components aren’t suitable for the design as planned. Whether incorrect package styles or electrical parameters, the result is a delay in manufacturing while waiting for the next shipment. An even more ghastly possibility is the inclusion of components designated for obsolescence, which can…
PCB core vs. prepreg materials have differences (primarily, copper foil) but also many similarities due to the common prepreg.
Copper-clad laminate is the industry term for the PCB core material that combines copper foil with a prepreg dielectric material.
The medical device industry forecast for 2024 is strong domestically and globally and should exhibit continual future growth for the near term.
Designers can choose between different copper thickness values, but most boards utilize a standard value of 1 oz. for most applications.
Tracking these details can add an overwhelming amount of work to the already busy schedule of a PCB designer. Fortunately, though, there are resources available that can help you with these tasks, and those experts are component engineers. Let’s take a look at how the component engineers at your PCB contract manufacturer can help you through the complexities of electronic component lifecycle management.
A four-layer PCB stackup is a common approach to today’s mixed-signal boards, offering excellent routability and signal integrity with interior planes.
You should insist on working with a CM to build your industrial equipment that has the UL508a panel shop requirements your products need.
The PCB etch factor relates the width of the trace (at the top base, where it’s easily measured) to the depth of etching penetration.
Medical device contract manufacturing is becoming more commonplace as market forces dictate shorter production cycles without sacrificing quality.
PCB ground planes are usually one or more metal layers within the layer stackup of the circuit board, or in some cases, areas of metal on the external board layers. These layers are referred to by several names, including area fills, copper pours, and negative planes in addition to the standard “ground plane.” Not only do they supply the zero-reference voltage for the circuit board, but they also provide signal return paths for most of the circuitry in the design. That’s just the beginning, though, as there’s a lot more to understanding ground planes in PCB design yet to come.
We will be looking at PCB mouse bites dimensions to give you a better understanding of how circuit boards are manufactured.
Here’s a closer look at the IPC assembly standards your CM should be using to build your circuit board, and how the best CMs incorporate those standards into all aspects of their operations.
PCB etching is the process of creating the conductive features of the board from the copper-clad laminate used in the board’s construction.
When routing a trace on a printed circuit board, you can have some of the same difficulties. It can be challenging to figure out the best path for your routes through a multicolored maze of traces. Thankfully some of the tricks that we used to do with maps, like highlighting the route that we wanted to focus on, are also available to us when routing traces on a circuit board. Here we’re going to look at several PCB routing techniques that you can use to find the best course to your destination.
Microsectioning is an evaluative technique to peer inside boards and investigate the post-manufacturing structure for quality control
DFM issues in PCB production are best rooted out in the design phase; working in tandem with a manufacturer at this stage improves yield and performance.
PCB defects can frustrate manufacturing, but even worse are issues that escape the shop and affect the reliability of devices.
Coplanar waveguide design is a transmission line topology growing in popularity alongside millimeter-wave and MMIC technologies due to its high isolation.
As signal speeds continue to get faster and faster in circuit boards, designers must do more to ensure the best signal integrity in their layouts. One of those areas that require diligence in design is controlled impedance traces. High-speed transmission lines must have a carefully created trace structure to guide their path without differences in impedance that can distort the signal. Not only does this affect how the trace is routed, but also how the board layer structure is set up. Here is a brief look at impedance control in PCB design and how you can successfully set up your board for routing controlled impedance lines.
PCB beveling is a method of polishing depanelized board edges; the cleaned edges are necessary for creating PCB edge connector cards.
It’s more appropriate to term my interest in electronics a general interest in electricity – from the naturally occurring to the human-made, any field tangentially associated with the phenomenon garners my attention. A family friend and I once fell deep into a discussion on the topic before he revealed his past working on electrical towers…
Whether you need a small proof of concept design built, or a large run of full turnkey assemblies, finding the right PCB contract manufacturer to build your circuit boards is essential. There are many PCB CMs that can provide various services, and you need to know the exact capabilities of the assembly shop that you plan on using.
PCB laminates provide the basic mechanical structure of boards and printed circuits while imparting electrical, chemical, and thermal properties.
To ensure the best PCB design workflow, here are some essential points to consider when making a choice between the ODB++ vs Gerber artwork formats.
To ensure the best PCB design workflow, here are some essential points to consider when making a choice between the ODB++ vs Gerber artwork formats.
To ensure the best PCB design workflow, here are some essential points to consider when making a choice between the ODB++ vs Gerber artwork formats.
Vias are a fundamental component of PCB design, allowing designers to route vertically and connect layers of the board without any wiring or assembly. Inherent to this ability to tie points on multiple layers together, vias can also offer a highly flexible method of improving performance relating to EMI and current density that can be…
Feedback guides decision-making. Not only do we see this in circuit networks but in all aspects of electronics manufacturing. The best feedback arrives when designs are highly modular: the later feedback needs to be incorporated, the more disruptive (albeit necessary) the changes.
PCB production requires a host of manufacturing files that communicate the intricacies of the design straightforwardly. Part of this process involves the CAM designer or department that adjusts the copper layer as necessary to avoid defects or poor manufacturability. ODB++ is one of the two primary artwork file types – along with Gerber – that…
Although you’ve seen it on TV, there is no comparison to being part of a “wave” at a sporting event. Not only does the wave look really impressive as it makes its way around the stadium towards you, but you also end up feeling like you’ve contributed in a small way to a greater whole.…
Depending on who’s participating in the conversation, outsourcing can be a contentious topic in manufacturing. In some contexts, it means work and jobs moving thousands of miles away due to cheaper labor costs or a reduced final product quality due to less stringent oversight. But outsourcing doesn’t just mean moving work abroad; outsourcing can be…
I’ve been burned in the kitchen more times than I’d care to admit; while these once were painful lessons, they now serve as a constant reminder that kitchen work requires respect and undivided attention. When I was much younger, I marveled at the induction stovetop while visiting a friend, and while I had learned many…
To perform at the higher levels expected of each succeeding generation of electronic devices, the more those electronics have to function at greater operational levels. To do this, complex component packages with larger pin counts are used in increasingly denser circuitry requiring greater power. And while this PCB design technology produces the required results, it…
Buried discreetly inside of nearly every electronic device is a printed circuit board. Usually green in color, PCBs will have diverse electronic components soldered to them depending on their function. Circuit boards like this are at the core of the electronics industry today, but there is much more to them than what’s gleanable in a…
While modern electronic manufacturing and design are more conscious of the environmental impacts on biological systems for e-waste, medical devices have to operate while performing vital care safely. This heightened requirement can affect anything from material selection for components or the board to limits on circuit parameters. People rely on medical devices for everything from…
Halloween is a yearly celebration in the neighborhood. Front yards that typically hold beautiful flowers and shrubs transform into decorative graveyard scenes in keeping with the holiday theme. One of the more common items is little plastic tombstones with humorous epitaphs such as: “Here lies Johnny Yeast, pardon me for not rising.” Tombstones on a…
One of my first neighborhood jobs growing up was washing cars. With my dad’s trusted shammy, I would go around the block cleaning exteriors and vacuuming interiors to save a few bucks for video games. Part of my toolkit was wax – I didn’t understand its true purpose, but I could see the difference between…
I wrote a letter to a former teacher the other day, and given his impact on my career, I wanted to ensure I presented myself well. I used online tools to smooth over spelling and grammatical errors, but upon a reread, I realized I had used some imprecise (yet roughly synonymous) language. Most wouldn’t notice…
While smaller and more powerful electronics delight users, engineering these marvels can challenge the printed circuit board designer. Electronics used to contain multiple boards for digital processing, power supply, and analog functions, but that functionality typically packs into one dense PCB design in today’s devices. Analog circuitry takes sensory inputs and converts them into digital…
Making the best choice between the different surface finishes for printed circuit boards requires understanding the advantages and drawbacks of ENEPIG.
Many people look at gold purely for its monetary value, but engineers see things differently: gold is exceptional due to its remarkable corrosion resistance. This property is a lifeline for PCBAs with high-reliability requirements and those operating in demanding environments. In a perfect world, function and performance would trump expense, but the reality is that…
After completing the PCB layout, the next step for first-time designers will be determining how to choose a PCB manufacturer. Like most services, there’s a range of quality outcomes depending on the design requirements and allotted budget. A PCB production cobbled together across multiple manufacturing sites may save money upfront, but design stages may lack…
It always helps to start with an ingredient list before shopping. When the only options are multiple trips to the store or buying extra (and figuring out what to do with the excess), a more measured approach to taking inventory prevents purchasing too much or too little. Lest you want to end up with a…
Imagine trying to have a crucial discussion, but nearby people talk loud enough to interrupt. Not only is it annoying, but it might be so disruptive as to leave all participants confused. Speaking to someone in a rabble is a recipe for miscommunication similar to what occurs in a circuit with appreciable background noise. Circuits…
Here’s a look at how to prevent common manufacturing problems by working with your CM to follow good PCB via size guidelines.
Connectivity is at the heart of electronic function – without reliable physical connections to support electrical continuity, a PCBA is much closer to an expensive paperweight. The readily apparent traces on the board’s surface highlight connectivity within the plane, but what about inter-layer connection? The PCB via fills this role: it can tunnel through to…
Does PCB thermal management have your design feeling the heat? Learn DFM techniques that reduce thermal stress during manufacturing and operation to improve long-term reliability.
Before producing a prototype, every new product introduced on the market underwent multiple (sometimes dozens) iterations. Even after prototyping concludes, more revisions are necessary to assure manufacturability for a minimum viable product (MVP). Finally, with enough design iterations, the mass-produced version, as seen on store shelves and in marketing materials, becomes a reality. Developing a…
Designing a PCB that has RF circuitry on it can be a real shock to a layout engineer if they aren’t prepared for it. PCB shapes for RF may be odd-looking, and the design constraints may end up breaking the standard rules that you are used to. Here are some RF PCB design guidelines that can help.
The only cramming for this test will be the HDI design – learn how design for testability practices influence manufacturing outcomes.
Telecom industry PCBs must pass important testing to ensure they will function as expected. Here’s a closer look at the HALT and HASS test methodologies.
The only cramming for this test will be the HDI design – learn how design for testability practices influence manufacturing outcomes.
Curious about the via filling process? Let us fill you in.
Drill down (but not too far!) to the basics of via-in-pad design for HDI boards.
A test coupon saves fabricators money, but you won’t find this coupon in a newspaper.
Building a flex circuit prototype can check design feasibility and enclosure compatibility. This piece will discuss some major differences between flex and rigid DFM.
ESD Testing ensures device compliance and safe handling during charge buildup. This piece will discuss the value of ESD testing in terms of quality, reliability, and safety.
When you build a piece of medical equipment, traceability is critical—particularly when building a printed circuit board, as there several individual components and materials that go into the manufacturing of a PCB.
Inadequate inspection techniques leaving you cross? Learn how PCB cross-section analysis provides the most accurate view of manufacturing processes.
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are two sides of the same coin: circuit designers don’t want systems to influence other circuits or receive interference from them unintentionally. EMI prevention has become more troublesome within the last few decades for numerous reasons, including gains in switch performance and denser assemblies. Faster speeds and expanding…
Here are some signal integrity testing concerns PCB designers should be aware of to ensure your PCB works how you intended.
From fabrication to assembly, there are a lot of things that can happen to your circuit board. Your contract manufacturer should have the systems and procedures in place to prevent problems and ensure the best quality assembly for your design.
As PCB layout technology has evolved, the manufacturing of circuit boards has changed as well. Fortunately, there is yet another leap forward in the industry that has proven to be a great help: the selective soldering process.
Safety features are often overlooked when a well-designed system operates smoothly within acceptable ratings, as their need may never arise. However, it is crucial not to underestimate the importance of safety until a critical situation demands its utilization. Just like seatbelts and airbags in cars or bike helmets, safety features play a vital role in…
PCB manufacturing defects slow design schedules and cost time and money to rectify. Sidestep some common and not-so-common issues with DFM best practices.
PCB laser drilling is used to drastically reduce the size of interconnections between layers and facilitates HDI design with these microvia structures.
What electronics manufacturers need now is help with component sourcing and a new perspective and approach on how to stay clear of all of the supply chain wreckage. Fortunately, there are some effective methods that OEMs can use to avoid supply chain problems and keep their production on track. Here we’ll examine some of the supply chain problems facing manufacturers and an electronics supply chain strategy that can help.
Are manufacturability issues keeping your design in check? A PCB DFM checklist can set all stages of product development up for success.
Historically, the design and manufacture of PCBs were seen as secondary to the circuit design, but increasing digital speeds and complexity have elevated the need for board quality.
“It’s what’s on the inside that counts” is a message many of us are taught at a young age, and it is an important one. Why? Often, the inner workings of something (be that a person or object) is more important than anything external.
Working in the yard can be satisfying, but renovations can quickly become overwhelming. Last spring, I started renovating a small corner of my yard but expanding the renovation to the entire yard was unfeasible for one person
Most people are familiar with Benjamin Franklin’s famous kite experiment, but most may not know his early forays into electricity extended far beyond that. Franklin worked with early capacitor technology. He correctly hypothesized that electricity was not composed of two separate “electrical fluids” but a single “fluid” of a positive and a negative element.
Balance is a tricky thing. Athletes historically have been concerned with building their strength and endurance. However, balance has taken a backseat until recently, with activities like yoga becoming more popular. Balance helps prevent injury by promoting proper posture during other activities, helping strengthen lesser-utilized muscle groups, and curbing injury.
Going to the doctor can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many because it unlocks fears of the unknown. In extreme cases, this anxiety manifests as iatrophobia or fear of seeking medical care.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to fully appreciate how small electronic components have become. Even those with familiarity working with breadboards or hand-soldered electronics projects may have no idea that the packaging technology on display there may be several decades out-of-date from modern components.
You need to know what may be changing with your PCB’s components far enough in advance so that those changes can be effectively managed without hurting the production of your PCBAs. And in cases in which a component is no longer available, you need the engineering services of your CM for end-of-life (EOL) components to plan for component obsolescence.
Shoe shopping for backpacking trips is a semi-illuminating experience. While there was much discussion of the pros and cons of different features like style, ankle support, etc., a common pain point was the discrepancy in half sizes.
Here’s a closer look at the ISO 13485 certification key elements and how having that certification in place by your PCBA contract manufacturer will benefit you.
When faced with a daunting project, the recommendation I’ve received all my life from educators and professionals is “break it into smaller pieces.” From an approachability standpoint, this is excellent advice.
I love the solitude of being out in the mountains. When you’re miles away from civilization and thousands of feet above sea level, my mind stops racing, and I can simply admire the beauty of my surroundings. Unfortunately, this solitude comes at a price. Some of the most desirable backpacking spots in the U.S. severely restrict reservations to maintain this sense of seclusion.
Following checklists for flying is critical, as not doing so can result in disaster. The same is true while designing a printed circuit board. If you don’t already have one, here are some ideas on how to create a simple but effective PCB layout checklist for yourself.
I wouldn’t describe myself as athletic, but I do plenty to keep myself in shape between hiking, running, and cycling. Overconfident in my general fitness, I recently accepted an invitation to a friend’s yoga class, where I subsequently suffered in a calming silence for 90 minutes. It’s impressive how flexible the human body is, or conversely, how intractable it can seem when it’s not been properly trained.
The car I drove for most of my 20s had several peculiarities that only revealed themselves once it hit the freeway. I heard a strange high-pitched whistling sound that could never be replicated in the shop and noticed a window that would slowly begin falling at some elevated vibrational frequency.
I love cooking for large gatherings. Cooking for friends and loved ones is among the most meaningful expressions of warmth and gratitude. A few years back, at Thanksgiving, we were tasked with cooking dishes that adhered to multiple diets and allergies.
From its humble inception among computer hobbyists to burgeoning arcades and home console libraries in the 70s and 80s (pre- and post-market crash), much of the legal landscape of the video game industry was poorly equipped initially to grapple with subjects like emulation and third-party software.
I naturally gravitate towards endurance exercise rather than high-intensity as I grow older. There’s something about keeping a steady pace for an extended period that I now find much more physically rewarding and mentally stimulating. Whether riding my bike or taking a backcountry trip, incorporating this constant and measured movement has become second nature.
I am fond of the boxy car bodies of the 80s and 90s. Call it nostalgia, but seeing one of those beauties rolling down the highway with its lack of aerodynamics puts a smile on my face. Beyond the aesthetic value, I’m terrible at working on cars, and the less complicated it is under the hood, the better I can troubleshoot any issues
I’ve never been much of an artist. Whether it’s a lack of creativity or poor fine motor skills, I’ve only rarely been able to produce drawings and paintings I felt satisfied with by the time the pieces were complete. One of the things that greatly impressed me when taking a few directed drawing classes was how the illustrator was able to explain how they were visualizing features that they were drawing: a “C” for an ear or a “?” rotated 180° for a nose.
There are countless examples throughout human history of how using the wrong tool for the job can make the job harder. A perfect example: most people have tried to use a slotted screwdriver in a Phillips head (or vice versa) at least once. However, this universal law extends far beyond hand tools; it can also be applied to building printed circuit boards.
I am fond of the boxy car bodies of the 80s and 90s. Call it nostalgia, but seeing one of those beauties rolling down the highway with its lack of aerodynamics puts a smile on my face. Beyond the aesthetic value, I’m terrible at working on cars, and the less complicated it is under the hood, the better I can troubleshoot any issues
I was tasked with putting together a bookshelf a few months ago. I thought it would be simple enough until I realized the documentation provided was for a completely different piece of furniture! Thankfully, most pieces were unique enough that I could slowly work through trial and error by referencing the images on the box.
During the testing stage, if you discover issues like unwanted signals interfering with the
device’s operation, components consuming more power, or overheating, there is likely some error in design. The late-stage discovery of these errors can mean an irreplaceable impact on manufacturing cost, product quality, and device performance.
As board materials pass through production, how does a manufacturer know whether a board is performing suitably and as expected? Depending on the techniques, materials, equipment, labor, and components, PCB manufacturing can incur high costs per panel. It is in a shop’s best interest to sniff out defects and failures early.
I used to check my physics equations by hand in college, despite powerful solvers available to me with a few clicks and keystrokes. It may have been an appreciation for the process work or plain stubbornness. Either way, whenever my solution didn’t match the author’s, I needed to know that my errors weren’t conceptual or algebraic.
At any given moment, our brains can unconsciously process complex data streams through different senses. To avoid maxing out our bandwidth, most of what we perceive passes through without notice – think of how distracted we would be if every sensation were registered.
Form factor is a driving force in electronics adoption, with the classic example being the invention of the microprocessor. Before the microprocessor, computers took up entire rooms due to the space requirements of vacuum tube technology.
Visual stimuli dominate most people’s modes of information acquisition, allowing the absorption and filtration of pertinent data from our environment in a highly rapid manner. So much of our communication is tied up with our sight that we have developed languages and methods to transfer nonverbal ideas.
Unlike consumer electronics which are highly fungible due to rapid advancements in technology and market forces, a PCB installation may be intended to last for several years, or even a decade depending on its role.
Unlike consumer electronics which are highly fungible due to rapid advancements in technology and market forces, a PCB installation may be intended to last for several years, or even a decade depending on its role. The stress/strain on any cables in the fixture can imperil long-term reliability and, ultimately, baseline functionality if not properly accounted for.
Modern society is saturated with printed circuit boards. Despite this, it can be difficult to explain such a technical field to those looking to gain entry or even just knowledge.
Most fictional sci-fi utopias (and sometimes, the set up to some dystopias) are attributed to a technological breakthrough whereby all work is handled by machines. Freed from responsibility, humanity can live a life of leisure and exploration, content to let their material needs be met by a continuously operating AI workforce.
It’s fun to look at the ads of bygone eras and reminisce (or maybe just laugh) before the centralization of the internet.
It’s fun to look at the ads of bygone eras and reminisce (or maybe just laugh) before the centralization of the internet.
It’s amazing to consider how far certain technologies have developed within a couple of decades. Though I only experienced it partially as a child, I still vividly recall the days of dial-up internet.
When was your first warning to be careful around high-power electricity? Was it playing near powerlines in your childhood, or perhaps attempting to insert something besides insulated prongs into an outlet?
What was your first experience having an electronic device spark, smoke, or otherwise indicate it was unsafe to continue using? As a child, I distinctly remember the time my brother plugged in a lamp that had its insulation wrap chewed by some mystery creature.
Have you ever finished a movie, novel, or another piece of rhetoric and immediately rushed online to see if you missed any deeper meaning? We can gain a greater appreciation for stories when we can put them in context or gain insight into themes, symbols, or other narrative devices.
At some point, we’ve all suffered anxiety from a dead phone battery when we’re out and about. Though its severity may affect some worse than others, the truth is for most people, it’s become our primary method of contact.
At some point, we’ve all suffered anxiety from a dead phone battery when we’re out and about. Though its severity may affect some worse than others, the truth is for most people, it’s become our primary method of contact.
Reliability is paramount to how electronic products and brands are perceived. For most people, electronics troubleshooting goes as far as swapping batteries or disconnecting/reconnecting power.
Planning a surprise party involves a lot of moving parts. Generally, one person heads up the invitations to avoid someone unintentionally spoiling the event. Logistics are important because anyone arriving too close to the celebrant will ruin the surprise
In chemical reactions that favor a total conversion of products to reactants, reactions proceed until one or more are consumed, based upon stoichiometric ratios. These reactants, known as limiting reagents, represent the upper limit of efficiency.
Both my physics and engineering college professors expressed a mentality of “do it right or do it twice” to instill course material and problem-solving methods into their student’s heads. They thought anyone in those courses could pass one of their notoriously difficult exams.
Both my physics and engineering college professors expressed a mentality of “do it right or do it twice” to instill course material and problem-solving methods into their student’s heads. They thought anyone in those courses could pass one of their notoriously difficult exams.
Whenever I’m planning how to design a circuit board, I’m reminded of the famous quote by Laozi, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Perhaps I’m being dramatic – layout design is not a thousand-mile journey.
“It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” Most of us have heard this in wildly different contexts than PCB design. Still, it’s true more generally: diving beyond the surface is likely to reveal the most critical features, attributes, or characteristics of many things, both esoteric and universal
When I was a kid, I remember leaving on video game consoles overnight when it was “lights out” because my siblings and I were at a point where we couldn’t save and exit the game. Faced with a loss of progress, we decided it was more beneficial to keep the hardware running and pick up where we left off later.
One of my favorite team-building activities from school was constructing a stable tower from marshmallows and dry pasta under a time limit. This brainstorming exercise challenged teams to construct the tallest structure without external support.
Years ago, I was remapping the functionality of an RC car for a school project. My team and I had to design, shop, build, test, and debug an analog circuit that added cruise control functionality and IR sensing.
Surely many people can relate to a phone charger that only works when the wire is placed in a certain position. Being a bit of a packrat, I have several frayed chargers within the same nightstand that I save for extra parts and replacements.
I tend to be overly cautious when planning my routes on new long-distance backpacking trips. I’ll start with detailed route reviews that pour over elevation maps. These reviews, combined with approximate pack weight, indicate how strenuous each hour of the trip will be and when to plan my breaks. With the wealth of geographical information available, it’s easy to determine how long I can expect to spend on a trail each day.
Like most, I’ve witnessed the loss of local businesses during the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it’s sad to see restaurants go, my region’s bike shops almost wholly disappeared. I once had multiple stops nearby for repairs, including national chains, all of which have moved or shuttered within the past two years.
I have a habit of reusing and repairing items that many would throw away or abandon in their garages. With a bit of work, there’s a treasure trove of items available to revive for all kinds of hobbies and interests. For me, this also extends to electronics – I’m particularly fond of restoring old NES and computer systems.
One of my favorite pastimes is following the development of game strategies. Especially in the realm of video games, slight tweaks or counterplay to the gameplay results in new discoveries without changing the underlying game. In other words, a finalized version of a release may evolve over time as the same physical product.
Classifications can get messy. When taking my CID course, I was overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge to keep track of in the industry and related disciplines. Most of it was beyond retention for all but the most seasoned veterans. Individual rules or mandates can be difficult to recall. Still, best practices provide an excellent foundation for the motivation behind some tasks, whether reliability, performance, or other essential characteristics.
Technical terminology is a necessary part of any industry. As a topic’s specificity increases, so do the need to quickly and accurately convey information without room for ambiguity. Conversations lacking in this specificity can result in misinterpretations during design and manufacturing, sometimes severe enough to warrant rework or scrapping.
Making a sandwich is a simple enough construction — assemble your bread, meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments in such a way that has both structural integrity and flavor. What varies in designing this famously simple meal is not only what you put in, but where, and how much. It’s a common misconception that different areas of the tongue correspond to different flavor sensations.
Packing a cooler is a time-honored tradition for beach trips, camping, and cookouts. I remember the first time I was on cooler duty. Typical of my thought process, I put a bed of ice in the cooler and placed all perishables on top. As you might have guessed, my family was not impressed with my record-breaking cooler pack.
“Measure twice, cut once” is the guiding mantra to prevent irreversible mistakes during any manufacturing process. However, no matter how many eyes check a document or process, some defect or error eventually sneaks through. Luckily, not all errors are equally disruptive, and focused efforts on the primary modes of failure or performance issues can prevent complete malfunction. Establishing and communicating clear design intent also helps prevent ambiguity from sneaking into production, reducing the possibility of issues arising.
Before starting any project, it’s necessary to determine which materials will compose the final product. Whether cooking, painting, or building electronics, it’s crucial to pick suitable materials that express th necessary characteristics of the finished piece.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned in my career in PCB design is realizing when I’ve gone too far. It’s easy to miss the forest for the trees when you’re in the weeds of placement, layout, routing, and other core tasks, but sometimes it’s necessary to take a moment to reflect on your work. Sometimes I’ll find I’ve overlooked some crucial element in the design documents or strayed from the engineer’s intent. In this case, saving the work I think is worthwhile, and undoing the rest with a backup file can seem like an easy fix.
I’m extremely prone to moments of forgetfulness. Whether I’m working at the house or out on backcountry trails, it’s very easy for my head to get lost in the literal or figurative clouds. Regardless if I’ve set my phone (or my keys, or my wallet) somewhere I can’t remember or I’ve wandered past a junction onto trails unknown, I’ve learned to accept and adapt: I’ve mastered the art of retracing my steps.
Several summers ago, I took up jogging to break up the monotony of my current cardio exercises. I love cycling, but jogging offered something more personal: an ability to explore the outdoors leisurely, without any tool or gear beyond clothing. I quickly discovered a favorite route and began to relish the feeling of the sun on my skin and breeze through my hair. Unfortunately, as I continued my daily routine, I failed to account for the intensifying weather of the season and was left with a nasty sunburn.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, I attempted to make pizza several times. It was fascinating how much thought went into the baking process itself. As I consider myself more of an intuitive cook than a baker, the science of yeasted dough was difficult.
When I’m packing for vacations, I tend to overpack. Especially when camping, I like to make sure I have any tool I could need. Unfortunately, I built up my gear by purchasing items that serve one purpose instead of a multi-use functionality. While I have the tools to perform the tasks I need, my bags can get heavy with so many single-use tools. Lately, I’ve learned to lighten my load with multi-use tools.
A competitive PCB software market benefits end-users, but getting started picking software may be daunting. As with most things in the consumer world, users are saturated with choice. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it deters beginners or startup companies looking to prepare their designs for manufacturing. Professional PCB software licenses are not cheap. These design suites are packed with more tools and functions than even the most expert designer will use, along with many features that appeal to a wide range of users.
When it comes to cooking and baking, one often hears the delineation: the former is an art, while the latter is a science. If that’s true, consider me a jazz musician in the kitchen – I work from mental fragments of recipes, adjusting the quantity based on what’s on hand and substituting items with impunity. This strategy allows for significant tinkering with cooking time, spices, and ingredients, allowing me to construct a dish as I see fit and as tastes evolve.
A board has passed through the final assembly process and culminated in a finalized, realized product that is likely months of combined design from engineering through manufacturing. While this stage represents a significant milestone, there is still apprehension about whether the board will pass through quality assurance. In reality, the board has already moved through some critical checkpoints to reach this stage. However, there are still numerous tests before a board is considered ready to ship.
Designing a board may be challenging, but even more so getting a product successfully to market. Competition is fierce in any field, and established companies can commit millions to firms that assuage consumers’ interest in features. In the event of competing releases, perhaps there is no more relevant adage than “the early bird gets the worm”: except for drastic performance or price differences, most customers will flock to what’s available when it’s available.
When packing a bag for a backcountry trip, I juggle numerous essentials necessary to survive, prepare, and avoid overload. It’s impossible to balance a “perfect” solution – overpack and I’m miserable, pack too restrictive, and I’m flirting with life-or-death situations. It turns out that the best method comes from making reasonable trade-offs, such as researching the weather to determine how necessary rain or low-temperature gear might be.
When prepping for a backpacking trip, list-making is the first tool I turn to for organization. By running through and ensuring that every item is present and gear has been checked and functioning as intended, I can relax rather than worry. After all, there’s nothing quite like being 10,000 feet above sea level and several miles from civilization (or even the next closest human) to realize you overlooked something.
No device represents the next big thing better than the self-driving car for consumer technology. It was conceived as an end to the monotony of the work commute and sold as a revolutionary product that is quickly making gains with advances in computer vision. Computer vision is driven by harnessing data from onboard sensors. While devices have become more sophisticated, the core to solving the problem (and many similar issues across a bevy of industries) relies on enhanced communication.
Having a house painted usually involves more work than homeowners expect. Often there is siding to replace, gutters that need maintenance, and other unexpected problems that require attention. You can coordinate the various contractors necessary to do these tasks or do them yourself
It’s hard to imagine now, but seat belts weren’t required in cars at one-time. However, the lap and shoulder-harness seat belt became the industry and cultural standard in most places after many injuries. Now you can’t drive too far down the freeway without seeing a “Click It or Ticket” sign posted alongside the road.
Designing and manufacturing PCBs is so complex that it’s easy to forget what happens to a fully-functioning and regulated board once it leaves the shop. After a hopefully long and uneventful service life, the board will naturally reach the end of its use or become obsolete due to the presence of a revision, upgrade, or entirely new product. The business world refers to this situation as an externality: an unintended consequence of industry.
For longevity and the best performance of the circuit board, it must be handled with the greatest of care. Here, we will look at some potential problems associated with rough treatment and the rules for handling printed circuit boards to avoid these undesirable consequences.
The question on everyone’s mind now is how long these shortages will continue. OEMs want to return to full production of their products, manufacturers want to supply customers’ demand, and end-users want access to the latest products. Here we’ll look at the electronics parts shortage, how it is affecting the printed circuit board industry and some ways that designers can work around these problems.
The implementation of RoHS has greatly reduced the presence of dangerous metals and chemicals that may eventually escape their packaging and be a downstream health concern to local fauna and flora. However, the industry is multitudinous enough in its applications that a RoHS compliant PCB is not always the best solution. In cases where RoHS materials would directly impact human health and safety, it is far more important to support the reliability and operational stability of the device.
Just as the ABCs are the basics of English language skills, other skills also rely on basic principles or ABCs. One of these is circuit board design and layout. Although PCB design encompasses various board types and design technologies, some basic ABCs still apply. Here is a list of the ABCs of PCB design basics that can help engineers avoid problems and create successful designs.
PCB repair functions much in the same way: given a large enough production lot or a long field life, a board will inevitably need maintenance. Rework before field usage is also critical, and some amount during manufacturing is always expected. In either case, technicians should be able to identify some of the common modes of failure for PCBs to more quickly and effectively reduce downtime for boards and return them to operation.
The RoHS requirements restricted the use of certain toxic materials during manufacturing, forcing changes in processes, materials, and components used in building electronics. Although this was a difficult change to incorporate, it has since been accomplished successfully by many PCB contract manufacturers. Here, we’ll look at the RoHS PCB manufacturing requirements in place today and how PCB CMs work with these regulations in producing circuit boards.
Quality management systems (QMS) and other PCB certifications will provide customers and partners with the faith that an operation complies with current industry standards and grants operations the knowledge and training to reduce scrap and rework and save on costs.
High current PCB practices need to be employed to keep a board in operation but functioning in lockstep with its design intent to avoid any issues during prototyping or field use.
For those of us that spend most of our time working on schematics and layouts within the virtual world of CAD tools, soldering gives us a chance to interact with the actual hardware of our designs. However, soldering components on a circuit board must be done correctly to avoid problems that could affect the performance of the board or outright damage it. Here is a basic guide of best practices that engineers should know for through-hole soldering.
Heat is the expected by-product of a normal functioning circuit board. But if heat isn’t carefully planned for during its design, the PCB may have problems during its manufacturing and operational performance. Here we’ll take a look at PCB thermal resistance and conductivity and see how good thermal management is ultimately essential to the success of the circuit board.
PCB thermal conductivity influences all design aspects, beginning with stack-up and material choices and continuing through the layout. External heatsinks can be included in the design further to reduce heat buildup on or within the board.
Here, we’ll look at some of the problems to avoid during soldering and some of the best practice PCB soldering techniques that can help.
When it comes to the best PCB materials, it is of utmost importance to first consider the function of the underpinning physics driving the final product’s function.
Everything from diagnostic equipment to blood analysis systems relies on electronics that must function perfectly every time. This level of reliability requires absolute precision and quality in the design and manufacturing of PCBs for medical devices, which we will examine in greater detail here.
Process work must be done to prepare the boards to be separated mechanically. This work is done through two methods: V-Scoring and tab routing. Both panelization methods find use depending on different design elements of the board. Below, it will be explored in greater detail and comparison-contrast.
EMI/EMC is pervasive throughout the design and taking into consideration the many ways in which it can be accounted for, represents an opportunity for a discerning layout engineer to potentially limit EMI without the need for additional shielding. However, the balancing act of particular layout jobs may require that EMI/EMC is addressed via shielding materials after the finished board is prepared for a final inspection.
The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of global supply lines has created a backlog that many industries are still mitigating. The best way to sidestep the international manufacturing gridlock is by onshoring supply chains. While a top-to-bottom restructuring of global industries does not happen overnight, there are still multitudes of solutions and benefits for national businesses that can be realized today.
PCB CMs understand both the fabrication and assembly side of manufacturing a circuit board, and they can choose the best PCB fabrication shop to work with to produce a high-quality board. Here’s how.
Flying probes have seen wide adoption over the past three-plus decades, especially in the realm of prototyping and other low-volume production runs. However, the advantages provided by a PCB flying probe test quickly erode when scaling for larger productions. An explanation of the PCB flying probe test, its benefits, drawbacks, and alternatives to the test are offered below.
PCBs also need to be tested, which require test points to be strategically designed into the board along with placing the components and routing the connections. Bare board continuity testing, in-circuit test, and flying probe testing all require the presence of test points on the board to facilitate their processes. Here we will look at the top seven PCB test points layout strategies that designers need to understand to build a fully testable circuit board.
Efforts are underway to reshoring semiconductor manufacturing, but the time it takes to design, build, furnish, and staff a foundry means these efforts will not bear fruit for several years. Stateside printed circuit board manufacturing possesses numerous advantages over traditional global fabrication and assembly chains, and some of the reasons are outlined below.
Thankfully, electronic CAD tools have numerous standard features to create redundancies that minimize errors during all stages of PCB design. These integrated suites help streamline design flow from schematic capture to documentation to fabrication and assembly through many clever and common functions. The following features will form part of the indispensable aid that electronic CAD applications offer designers to ensure designs meet their intended specifications at the outset.
Successfully navigating the semiconductor chip supply chain shortage requires a different set of skills than what PCB design groups have traditionally had to wield. Here are some ideas that your design group may want to consider to work around these supply chain difficulties.
Carelessness in part placement can have a disastrous effect on the final product’s manufacturability, performance, and overall quality. Here we will look at surface mount components of a PCB and some of the more common SMT placement issues.
Building a printed circuit board requires a lot of data and information for your manufacturers. A circuit board is first fabricated, where the layers of dielectric material and metal interconnects are laminated together and then assembled where the components are soldered into place. Finally, the board will be fully tested before being shipped back to the customer who ordered it.
When creating an effective parts placement, many concerns have to be considered, including signal performance, power integrity, accessibility, and manufacturability. And although you may have to make compromises between these different requirements, some rules must be followed, especially when placing surface mount parts. Here are some SMT component placement guidelines that can help.
Where’s your first stop when you enter the store to shop? If you’re anything like me, you’re a bargain hunter, and it’s straight to the clearance rack. Even when grocery bills aren’t soaring, I appreciate the simple surprise of trying a new product I’d otherwise pass over or stocking up on a favorite. This shopping mentality presupposes that the items you pick are more or less equivalent.
As with any manufactured object, circuit boards can also be plagued with unexpected defects. OEMs can trace PCB defects back to many causes, which is why it is so important to detect these problems early on before they become unmanageable. Fortunately, there are many methods available to designers and manufacturers for PCB defect detection, and we will look at some of these methods here.
Designing on paper certainly has a nostalgic charm, and many of us learned circuit design using simple drafting tools. However, circuit board design has become more complex since the good old days of using a drafting board. If you are still using pen and paper, you miss out on some beneficial functionality available in even the most simple schematic drawing software tools. Let’s compare pen and paper schematics with CAD schematic capture systems and see some of these differences.
Have you ever had a meal dining out that you were sure you could make better at home? I don’t consider myself a great cook. Still, there are the rare disappointing occasions at the restaurant when I realize I could’ve just stayed home and cooked something probably healthier and cheaper.
It is crucial to take basic steps to ensure design integrity before converting the schematic to a PCB layout.
PCB layout best practices incorporate a wide set of guidelines, mostly regarding manufacturability, signal integrity, and reliability.
Design teams need to ensure that their library data is up-to-date and ready to avoid costly and time-consuming delays. Let’s look at some good CAD library management practices and ideas to guarantee that your PCB libraries won’t let you down.
Industrial circuit boards are typically used in applications that require high power levels to drive motors or other heavy-duty equipment. Because of these power requirements, the layout rules and constraints are different than what would be used to layout a low-power IoT device. Here we’ll look at some of the differences with this type of circuit board layout technology and what designers need to understand about industrial PCB design rules.
Thankfully, most people do understand the importance of PCBs and their uses, but very few understand the design and manufacturing processes required to build them. To help, we have put together a PCB flow chart that describes the design and assembly processes and how the two interact with each other. For clarity, we have omitted the fabrication process—other than to note the procurement of raw PCB fabs; otherwise, the following should help to simplify the overall process.
This component availability problem can be traced back to several reasons. In some cases, it is due to inadequate planning, while others are due to CAD library management issues that designers need to understand better. Here we will examine these potential problem areas and some good PCB design BOM inventory management practices.
The chip shortage and the global supply chain problems are big news these days, but do you realize how much the chip shortages impact supply chain resiliency? When one semiconductor chip is unavailable, it affects the next chip in line like dominos. Similarly, this process continues until an entire row of semiconductors is knocked over. Let’s look at this problem, its results, and how original equipment manufacturers guard against these problems to protect the production of their valuable electronics.
To keep production on track, original equipment manufacturers must avoid supply chain disruptions in PCB assembly. Here we’ll look at the electronic component supply chain problem and how you can avoid its potential disruptions to your circuit board manufacturing.
When it comes to circuit board fabrication and assembly, having multiple sources available becomes even more critical. Here we’ll examine the importance of creating alternate sources for PCB manufacturing and how those sources can keep your electronics production on track.
Together, Silicon Valley’s diverse companies provide over 600,000 technology jobs, with many focused on developing new and innovative electronics. The designers in these companies rely on PCB contract manufacturers that can build their circuit boards and related hardware quickly and to their exact specifications for the highest quality. Here we’ll look at the benefits that PCB assembly services in the Bay Area provide and how an experienced PCB contract manufacturer can help develop your next electronics project.
Many additional and essential production benefits aren’t available with low-cost PCB manufacturing. Without these benefits, design teams will end up spending more money in the long run. Here we will look at how working with bargain manufacturers can cost more and how the benefits of an established PCB contract manufacturer can save time and expense.
Circuit board assembly relies on advanced industrial-grade equipment, including pick and place machines, solder reflow ovens, and automated optical inspection systems. This equipment requires meticulous care in its setup, and its productivity must be monitored to ensure the efficient throughput of circuit boards throughout the factory. The responsibility for overseeing this production belongs to PCB manufacturing engineers, whose skills are highly sought after by PCB manufacturers, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. If building the next generation of advanced electronics sounds like a rewarding career to you, keep reading to learn more.
Once surface-mount technology became the preferred package type in circuit board design and manufacturing, the downfall of older through-hole parts was all but certain. But just like 007, these parts refuse to go quietly into the night and continue to serve a vital need in circuit board assemblies. Here are some of the advantages of through-hole technology and why these components are still an essential part of the electronics industry.
Manufacturers test printed circuit board assemblies to validate the assembly process and verify their ability to run as designed. PCB contract manufacturers have different tests that they can run, but sometimes their ability to test the completed circuit boards is hampered by design errors or other problems. Here we’ll look at some common printed circuit board problems with testing and how you can avoid them with good PCB design and layout tactics.
Modern PCB testing processes use different systems depending on the type and technology of the circuit board. Systems like in-circuit tests are designed to quickly validate the high volumes of circuit boards for production builds of electronic products. However, even with the level of automation used in these systems, test technicians are still needed to prepare the equipment for operation, run the tests, and report on the results. Here we’ll look at what it means to be a PCB test technician and how you can become one.
Often, design for manufacturability (DFM) problems originate during PCB layout but aren’t given the attention they deserve. When this happens, it falls on the manufacturer to find the errors, return the design for corrections, or make the alterations themselves. This circumstance could turn into an expensive and time-consuming process that could be avoided if design teams were better prepared in the early stages. To help identify these potential issues and ensure PCB designs are production-ready before they are sent out, here are some common printed circuit board problems in the assembly that you should know.
A good CSR resolves their client’s problems while providing them with a sense of confidence in the work that’s being done for them. This ability is essential in the circuit board manufacturing business, where there are many moving parts in building high-quality electronics in the shortest amount of time possible. Does this sound interesting to you? Then read on, and we’ll detail the need and importance of printed circuit boards customer service representatives in PCB manufacturing.
The production of a high-quality bare fab circuit board is essential to the successful assembly of the final product. We’re going to start with some of the differences you can expect between different circuit board fabrication shops and how to choose between them. Then we will explore some of the more common circuit board problems with fabrication and what you can do to ensure the highest quality in your next PCB project.
“Ground” can serve many purposes in electronic design, including a physical connection to the earth, a reference point in a circuit for measuring voltages, and a common return path for signals and power. In PCB layout, the way ground is conducted through the board is critical for power and signal integrity. Designers must follow some specific guidelines to ensure the best performance of the completed board. To help, here is a guide to PCB grounding techniques for your next circuit board design.
This next part of the series will examine the problems surrounding the selection and use of components in PCB designs. Not only do designers need to carefully select the parts that will best serve the needs of the design, but there are also a host of supply chain issues to keep in mind. By examining these issues, you will be more equipped to resolve some of the common circuit board problems involving components.
Through the years, there have been many attempts to enhance circuit board signal integrity by altering the ground planes, but that often isn’t the best solution. This article will look at the problems with different ground plane configurations and some of the better alternatives. We will also list some recommendations to help with the layout of PCB grounding in mixed-signal designs.
In this first of a multi-article series on circuit board problems, we will look at some of the common issues associated with a PCB design. Later articles will explore the different issues related to printed circuit boards in various aspects of their manufacturing. However, a circuit board begins with its design and layout. Therefore, here are some common printed circuit board problems in design to know to avoid manufacturing delays.
One area of the circuit board design that engineers need to pay close attention to is the layout of the integrated power supply circuitry. If not laid out correctly, the power will not be managed, creating severe problems for the board. Here we will look at some of the requirements and tactics for mixed-signal power supply design that will be helpful in your next PCB layout.
To keep all of the various parts of the manufacturing process running smoothly and successfully requires the unique talents of a PCB program manager. These individuals are responsible for ensuring that the electronics ordered by the customer are built to the highest levels of quality and ready for delivery when expected. This article will look at why program managers in the PCB industry are highly valued and what it takes to perform this job.
While sales positions in retail have their rewards and benefits, another type of electronics sales can put you solely into the heart of high-technology electronics design and manufacturing. That lucrative sales position is a bay area sales representative for printed circuit board and electronics systems manufacturing.
RF designs begin with the laminates for board fabrication and may require material characteristics that exceed standard FR-4. From there, the designer will need to be aware of the RF-specific rules that may affect how the board is laid out. We will look at some of these rules and guidelines to prepare designers for their next RF design.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind that can help DfMA, to design your product for manufacturability and high quality.
Many of the systems that use circuit boards also need to be built by skilled technicians. There is a lot of electronics work that requires a specific set of mechanical assembly skills and abilities, which we will examine in greater detail here.
Many technology companies are moving beyond software development and into smart devices with a hardware-centric component. Still, they may not have the experience required to take electronics to market at scale. This article will look at the importance of PCBs in developing technology and their role in electronics product development.
In a perfect layout, we wouldn’t ever mix digital and analog signals. However, the majority of circuit boards require both sections of circuitry. The analog section prepares signals for digitizing, and the digital section converts those signals into digital forms to be acted on by the rest of the board’s circuitry. To accommodate this mixture means designing layouts to avoid the signal integrity problems that mixed-signal boards can create. Here are some considerations for partitioning and layout of a mixed-signal PCB that can help get the best performance out of both the analog and digital sections of the board.
Most PCB designers understand the need for design for manufacturability (DFM) rules. But do designers understand the importance of full system design? If the PCBs we design doesn’t work with the rest of the system, it can be expensive to correct them. In this article, we will look further into DFMA and reducing manufacturing overhead costs.
It’s a fact that experts can make our lives a lot easier if we choose to use their services. Take a printed circuit board contract manufacturer, for instance. Not only do these companies excel in building circuit boards, but they have a great deal of expertise when it comes to sourcing parts and materials for PCBs. Here is some information about PCB contract manufacturing company supply chain expertise.
Cell phones are only one example of how circuit board design and manufacturing advancements support the latest in new technologies. In domestic and industrial applications, the demand for next-generation features and functionality requires more circuit board designers than ever before. Let’s take a look at some of the applications where the importance of PCBs in developing technology is crucial and how PCB designers can best meet these new challenges.
One of the main causes of disorganization is the multiple files that any CAD system will generate. Without an organized file system in place that is used consistently, CAD files can quickly become overwhelming piles of lost treasures. To help, here are some best practices for organizing your CAD system that I’ve used over the years to keep myself out of trouble.
Many of these new tools require advanced electronics to drive their functionality. These circuit boards usually have to be developed quickly to meet a new and pressing need while maintaining the highest level of quality to ensure safe and reliable treatment. Achieving these goals requires adherence to an elaborate array of electronic requirements for medical devices, including industry standards of conformity and manufacturability. Here are some of the requirements that contract manufacturers have to meet to build electronics for medical devices.
Overseas production and shipping have been affected by the pandemic, disrupting normally stable supply chains and manufacturing and delivery schedules. Designers worldwide wonder who to call to get their circuit boards built correctly and promptly. Before you make that call, here are some of the capabilities to look for in a PCB circuit board assembly partner.
Proper materials management is essential in all aspects of our lives, from cooking ingredients to choosing the right paint colors for a house. It’s also crucial in manufacturing printed circuit boards, especially when those PCBs are operating at high frequencies. Here are some PCB material management for high-frequency considerations to keep in mind for your next design.
There are many different tests and inspections that a circuit board will go through during manufacturing. Some of these tests are designed to catch specific problems or conditions, while others are more general. All testing culminates with the final functional test to ensure that the board is ready to operate. This article will examine these different tests and explore the benefits of PCB functional testing methods.
Help is available for quality control through automated optical inspection systems (AOI). Here are more details on how PCB fault detection using image processing will assist with printed circuit board inspections.
In PCB design, it isn’t uncommon for junior designers to quickly throw components into a layout to move to the “fun” part of routing the traces. With PCB design, as with bridges, all the work can be wasted effort if the substrate isn’t designed correctly. Therefore, it is essential first to configure the layer stackup of the board to support the needs of the design. Here are some more details about the importance of PCB stackup design and what to be aware of before going into the layout.
Circuit boards have an analysis process they can go through when they suffer a failure. Although a PCB failure doesn’t command the same amount of attention as an accident, it is still essential to understanding the error and preventing it from happening again. Here is a closer look at failure analysis in circuit board systems to better understand this aspect of PCB design and development.
The PCB designer career field is projected to continue growing for the foreseeable future, and designers earn far above the average annual income in the United States. If this sounds like a career field that you would be interested in, keep reading. There’s a lot more to tell about becoming a PCB designer.
While your PCB layout will never be completely rid of parasitics, you can reduce parasitic capacitance in a PCB layout or take some steps to limit its effects on signal and power integrity. Whether you’re engaging with a PCB service bureau or creating the layout yourself, follow some guidelines to ensure parasitic capacitance does not cause your design to fail.
Electronic devices and systems rely on the clear and uninterrupted high-speed transmission of data within their circuitry. However, the signal transmission integrity can be degraded by both internal and external sources of electronic interference. It is vital to lay out the PCB to mitigate such degrading effects and ensuring the signal’s clear delivery. Here are some rules and techniques for signal integrity in PCB design that can help.
The resonance of a vibrating quartz crystal is often used in electronics to determine the oscillation frequency for timing signals in a circuit board. While there are different ways to create this timing, quartz crystals are well known for their effectiveness and stability. Like many other high-speed circuit board design aspects, the oscillator circuitry needs to be laid out with care to avoid signal integrity issues. Here are some crystal oscillator PCB layout guidelines that can help.
Personal computing devices, IoT, and many other embedded systems now require a diverse amount of electronics built onto one circuit board. These systems usually combine digital and analog circuitry running at high frequencies, creating many problems for circuit board designers if they aren’t prepared. Controlling signal and power integrity in a design is essential to avoid EMI problems that can ruin the device’s performance and cause it to fail its validation tests. Here are some PCB design rules for high-frequency layouts that can help.
Redesigning a PCB to accommodate an updated part can be time-consuming and costly, especially considering all of the validation that some electronics require. Here are some ideas to help you manage electronic component obsolescence so that you aren’t left stuck in the dark.
Many initially hoped that this shortage would pass quickly, but several issues have converged, making the situation worse. The global pandemic introduced new problems into the supply chain and exacerbated the pre-existing. The important thing now is to focus on repairing the damage to move forward. Here are some updates on the electronic component supply shortage and what to expect next.
When autorouters were first introduced, they were often difficult to use and delivered questionable results. Because of this, auto-routing was quickly labeled as “black-box magic,” and many designers hesitated to use it. Instead, they would choose to work long hours manually routing their designs. Today’s autorouters, however, are vastly improved from their predecessors and deserve a second chance. As you will see, they can exponentially increase your productivity as a PCB designer.
PCB manufacturing requires raw materials for circuit board fabrication and electronic components for final assembly. Currently, the industry is experiencing shortages in both materials and components, and these shortages have a significant effect on the production of printed circuit boards. Here is a closer examination of the ongoing electronics material shortage in PCB assembly and what you can do to protect yourself.
Electronics innovators and OEMs are scrambling to find the components they need to build their products, forcing them to find new sources for parts. We’ll look at some of the reasons electronics manufacturers are in this situation and how you can search for new electronic components in the supply chain.
This shortage has become a hot topic lately, especially for design engineers creating new electronic equipment, and two critical questions are being raised. Why is there a semiconductor shortage, and how can we work around it? We’re going to look at this problem in greater detail and give you some suggestions on preparing for it, so your next PCB design doesn’t come up short on parts.
It would be ideal if electronic components never failed, never became obsolete, or were never too expensive or unavailable. Sadly, that is not the case. Any or all of those conditions can cause PCB design’s parts to need replacing. Since this problem is unavoidable, here are some different ways to find replacement electronic components and simplify that process.
There’s a lot of concern right now about the electronic component supply shortages stemming from the global pandemic of 2020. The automobile industry is already feeling the effects of the semiconductor shortage, and many other industries are beginning to report problems. The questions on everyone’s mind now are: What is the status of component availability in production for the parts I need? How can I guard against being adversely affected by this shortage? We’ll look at these questions and address how you can keep the production of your circuit boards running without any delays.
Taken by themselves, the tooling holes in a circuit board would seem commonplace as they are regular-looking thru-holes drilled in the board. But a closer look at their purpose will reveal their importance. Some are used for attaching hardware on a circuit board, while others are designed to help with the board’s fabrication and assembly. We will examine these different holes in greater detail as we discuss PCB tooling holes and the design guidelines that accompany them.
Electronic components’ makers face some severe supply chain issues as the demand for semiconductors is spiking worldwide. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of this global electronic component shortage and how you can guard yourself against the effects.
Most original equipment manufacturers of electronics do not have their own printed circuit board fabrication and assembly facilities. To get their boards built and, in some cases, designed, they rely on the services of circuit board contract manufacturers for PCB development.
A printed circuit board’s manufacturing requirements change during the board’s life-cycle. Boards planned for long-term production will increase from their initial low-volume prototyping manufacturing requirements to high-volume builds. PCB designers need to prepare for this growth and work with an assembly vendor with scalable PCB manufacturing services. Here are some more details on what that means.
PCB manufacturing is by nature a customized process as each design is usually unique in its size, configuration, and purpose. But there are some aspects of building a board that can affect the cost more than others. Here we will take a look at some of the factors that can impact the cost of custom PCB assembly so that you will know what to expect on your next design.
There’s a lot the designer should understand when building a PCB prototype to be prepared. In addition to the board’s build’s purpose and requirements, it’s also essential to know fabrication and assembly processes that will impact design. This article will discuss the process of custom circuit boards manufacturing prototypes and how the right PCB contract manufacturer can help guide you through your next prototype design.
I’ve never been much of an artist. Whether it’s a lack of creativity or poor fine motor skills, I’ve only rarely been able to produce drawings and paintings I felt satisfied with by the time the pieces were complete
For a long time, home electronics consisted mostly of entertainment devices such as televisions and sound systems or house-hold appliances like ovens and washing machines. However, with personal computers and gaming systems, home electronics expanded to the next level. Now, these systems and smart devices can all be linked within a home network.
Circuit boards are full of holes and are often referred to as being “swiss cheesed.” While some of the holes are necessary for mounting devices onto the board, most will be used to interconnect the electrical nets between the multiple layers of the PCB. Every one of these holes will have to be drilled for fabrication on the board. A more in-depth look at this PCB drilling process will provide a comprehensive understanding of the process of building a circuit board
While automobile makers have been the ones to deal with this problem, there is also the possibility of the global chip shortage affecting other industries. For this reason, it is essential to understand the chip shortage and how its effects could spread. Fortunately, there are several ways that electronic manufacturers can avoid the microchip shortage from 2020.
With the need to transmit data to get a printed circuit board built, there is always the chance that the sensitive data included in the PCB design could be at risk. Worse yet is when design data or actual hardware is copied or reverse engineered to steal intellectual property. Let’s look at some tips for protecting your PCB intellectual property and keeping valuable designs safe.
With all of its activity, a circuit board can be a hostile environment for sensitive digital and analog signals. It is critical for the overall performance of the board to provide functional partitioning in the PCB design. Here are some ideas on how this can be done in your next circuit board layout.
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.
Counterfeiting problems in electronics go far beyond batteries, extending all across the industry. Not only do these pseudo parts potentially damage the quality of the products that they are used in, but they are also a severe drain on the legitimate component industry. The best defense against a problem like this is to expose it and discover ways to prevent its spread. Here is information on counterfeit electronic components and what you can do to protect yourself.
Printed circuit boards are also coated or plated for their protection, and often this is done with a surface finish of solder or some other material. Not only does this help to protect the exposed metal on the board from corrosion, but it helps with component soldering. These aren’t the only plating processes used to fabricate a circuit board. Here is a more in-depth look at the different PCB plating processes used during circuit board manufacturing.
Design engineers expect to partner with their manufacturers to ask questions and work through changes, a challenging process when dealing with offshore vendors. In addition to the lack of personal service, shipping costs and time delays can impact an electronic project’s development schedule. Let’s take a closer look at these hindrances and how a US-based PCB manufacturer can resolve them.
You can lower the cost of a PCB if you design it as a double-sided board, but you may strangle its performance by doing so. Using multiple board layers can increase electrical performance to outweigh the differences in cost. Here are some of the advantages of multilayer PCBs and how you can best benefit from them.
When manufacturing printed circuit boards a defect can occur when the metal from two different nets inadvertently gets shorted or bridged together with solder. This particular defect can be small and difficult to find, but the short circuit it creates causes big problems. These can include intermittent connections, false test results, or traces and component leads that burn through. We’re going to take a closer look at this problem and discuss some PCB design methods on how to prevent solder bridging.
One of the primary goals of manufacturing is to build a quality product, but there is more to quality than what you see on the production floor. Quality also means planning to avoid those problems and defects that can derail the delivery of a dependable final product.
When a printed circuit board is built, it’s also beneficial to have added assurance, except in that case we’re looking for problems in manufacturing. Not that we expect to find any defects, but we want to ensure that if a problem does come up we can find and correct it efficiently. This PCB defect detection process takes place with both the bare boards after they are fabricated and the fully assembled circuit boards, both of which we will examine in greater detail below.
Getting a PCB prototyped with speed and precision is an intricate process to manage because the design must also be prepared for eventual long-term production. Balancing the electrical performance and the manufacturability needs of the board requires a lot from both the PCB designer and the manufacturer during the prototype phase. Here are some of the requirements that you should be familiar with so your board can progress successfully through the rapid PCB prototyping phase of its development.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the need for rapid medical device product development has been dramatically highlighted. We all marveled at how quickly heavy equipment manufacturers switched production over to building urgently needed medical supplies such as respirators and personal protective equipment. The droves of people who stepped up with home-made protective face masks—often funding a good cause—have been positively inspiring. But for the development of new medical products, this ingenuity needs to be taken to the next level. Medical device innovators need to partner with electronics manufacturers that are equipped to handle these six challenges in the development of their products.
To avoid designing a circuit board that isn’t manufacturable, minimum standards for component spacing must be adhered to in the design layout. Of course, there are many other factors to consider as well, including the electrical and thermal performance of the board, but designing for manufacturability (DFM) is just as important. There are industry standards that offer some assistance with this, however, and here we’ll look at how IPC component spacing guidelines can help as you design.
If PCB edge clearances aren’t respected by their designers, there could be a lot of problems ahead when it comes time to manufacture the board. Let’s take a look at some of the potential problems if PCB component to edge clearances are not observed, and what you as a PCB designer can do to ensure error-free manufacturing.
While we may think in terms of an individual printed circuit board when designing them, the reality is that circuit boards are often laid out in a panel to help lower production costs. Let’s take a look at what a PCB panel is, and then the eight PCB panelization guidelines that you should know for circuit board design.
In the first three parts of this series we have looked at the schematic capture process, placing components in the physical layout of the board, and finally routing the net connections of the layout. Now it is time to get the board ready to be manufactured, but before we do that there is one critical step that has to be done; running the design rule checks.
In the manufacturing of circuit boards, there are also many opportunities for defects to sneak in and as with everything else, it is important to prevent them from happening. One area that can be prone to defects is when components are soldered onto the board. We’re going to take a look at some of the more common types of soldering defects here in this article and explore some design recommendations that can prevent them from happening in the first place.
The goal of PCB design is to create a fully functional circuit board. However, the first goal-post during PCB layout is to get the board 100% routed. A layout begins first by setting up the design parameters and then placing the components to satisfy their electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing requirements. The only thing left after that is to connect all of the nets with traces. That sounds like it should be pretty easy, doesn’t it? Well sometimes it is, but most of the time it’s much more complex than people realize.
Although it may look like the components on a circuit board are arranged haphazardly, there really is order and intent in their layout. They have to be located to not only provide the best performance of the circuits but also so that the board can be manufactured as easily as possible without any errors. Here in this second of four parts on circuit board design, we will look at some of the PCB layout best practices to help engineers create a superior design.
Before a circuit board is manufactured, it goes through a very involved design process. This includes creating an electronic schematic, setting up and placing component footprints in the physical PCB layout, routing the nets in the layout, and then finally preparing and sending out the layout data for manufacturing. In this first of a four-part series, we are going to give you an overview of the entire PCB design process and discuss some of the PCB design best practices for creating an electronic schematic.
Regardless of the PCBA design, it always seems there is a sense of urgency attached to the board development process. That is, bringing the design to the production phase as soon as possible is always the goal. However, this must be done with a view towards avoidance of common PCB quality issues that may result in extended time for bring up, redesigns, and additional manufacturing costs. And although successfully reaching and executing board production is a primary objective, it is not the final one.
Current is a vital part of the operation of any circuit board, but as the current in a fast-moving river, it can also be unforgiving if not treated with the care that it deserves. When you are working with high current applications, you need to exercise an even greater amount of caution in your design. Let’s take a look at some via stitching guidelines and other tactics that are helpful in designing high current printed circuit boards.
Designers, builders and suppliers of electrical and electronic products bear the responsibility of minimizing the probability of these fears manifesting and posing a threat to anyone’s safety. For circuit boards, that means following good design tips for high current and when incorporating high voltage PCB design considerations that will aid your CM in building safe, reliable boards and avoiding potential dangers. Before laying out the essential considerations to include, let’s define a high voltage PCB and the potential threats laying in wait that you want to avoid.
Electronics innovators like you need a PCB CM who can help you to develop and manufacture your designs. These seven benefits are critical in producing a high-quality product quickly and efficiently in order to meet your schedule requirements. Let’s take a closer look at these benefits of local manufacturing, and how they are going to help you to achieve your business goals.
Having an unorganized schematic doesn’t just affect its readability however, it can also create problems for how the circuit board is designed and manufactured. To avoid these problems and create a clean and readable schematic, here are some tips on PCB schematic design capture to help.
If the parts on the board aren’t placed accurately, there will usually be problems in how the board is assembled. There are many factors that can contribute to this including whether the physical parts themselves are within their manufacturer’s tolerances, and how they are used on the circuit board. Let’s look at some of these issues, and some recommendations on how you can design for better SMT component placement accuracy.
For a successful assembly of a circuit board, the components must be the correct size and shape and placed in the right locations. Not only does this mean that the design of the board must adhere to tolerances governing the creation of the SMT footprints and their placement, but the physical parts must be correct before assembly can even begin. We’re going to look at these SMT component placement tolerances here, and how those tolerances impact the way a PCB is designed.
Working with high power circuits does involve some different PCB design techniques, such as the width and weight of the copper that is used on the board. Let’s take a look here at some of the most important high current PCB design tips that you should know about to avoid any unnecessary drama.
Each circuit board that you see being produced by a PCB contract manufacturer first started its life as a schematic. Someone placed the symbols on the schematic and connected nets to the symbol pins in order to create the design data that would drive the layout of the PCB. Let’s take a closer look at what PCB schematic capture is, and some of the do’s and don’ts that you need to be aware of as you design your printed circuit boards.
The advantage of using the PCB contract manufacturer for the box build is that they are already equipped to handle this level of project management and documentation support. Not only are they used to working with multiple outside resources for parts and materials acquisition, but they also have the engineering and manufacturing staff to handle the mechanical design and build as well. This gives them another advantage over using multiple vendors, which is that all aspects of the box build will be controlled in one location.
Circuit boards can get out of whack too, and when that happens they can bend and twist in ways that are not good for the board. This effect happens when some areas of the board have more copper than others. To prevent this, it is a good idea to even out the amount of copper fill used between the different open areas of the board. Here is some more information on why this problem occurs, and what you should do to ensure that your circuit board has good PCB copper balance.
EMI can be generated in a number of different ways on a PCB, with one of the biggest problems coming from the onboard power supply circuitry. Let’s take a closer look at this problem and some design ideas for reducing EMI in switching power supplies.
In order to make sure that your new product introduction is a success, you need to look at a manufacturer’s quality, their reputation, and what their capabilities are. Without fully looking into a manufacturer first, you may find out that your costs end up being much more than you initially bargained for. Here are some ideas on how you can find the best high mix low volume contract manufacturing for your electronics new product introduction.
Merriam-Webster reports that a “via” is either, “by way of,” or “by means of.” Come to think of it, that describes the purpose of a via in a PCB pretty well. An electrical signal is conducted by way of and by means of this small hole called a via. Let’s drill down a little deeper into this subject and find out more about what vias are, and answer the question of just how are PCB vias plated.
Just as the design of a boat will determine its use for water sports, how electronics are designed will also determine if they can be used in medical applications. Specifically, there are standards for electromagnetic interference (EMI) that have to be tested for in order to meet the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements of the medical devices. It is very important that medical equipment not be disrupted from the operation of other electronics like cell phones, and these standards ensure that.
Choosing the right electronics manufacturer to build your new product introduction (NPI) will be the key to mitigating potential problems on your product’s journey from prototype to production. Here are some of the problems that can plague your NPI process.
New product development is common in those industries that seek the benefits of newer electronics that continually increase their capabilities in smaller form factors. Each successive computer, game system, or mobile device boasts more speed, power, and functionality than its predecessor.
For years, electronic components have been soldered onto printed circuit boards using solder with a lead base. To protect the environment from exposure to lead and other harmful substances, regulations are now in place for certain areas to restrict their use. Here’s more information on what lead free PCB manufacturing is, and why it is important.
Component shortages can happen for a number of reasons, and while some of those can be planned for, others often sneak up behind us when we aren’t expecting them. Here are some of the reasons why the parts you need may be in short supply.
To keep these electronics from being affected by external electromagnetic interference (EMI), or affecting each other, automotive electronics today have to meet specific electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements. To do this, electronics designers for automotive products have to understand what those requirements are, and how best to design for them. Here is a little more information on how you can be prepared for designing to the EMI/EMC standards for automotive electronic components.
In the world of PCB design and manufacturing, the third party contract manufacturer serves an important role. Electronics manufacturers usually have the engineering expertise to design the printed circuit boards, the technical skills to assemble their final products, and the sales and marketing team to sell them. What they don’t have though is the skill, experience, and facilities to manufacture the circuit boards. By using a PCB CM for this task, they can avoid the overhead of PCB manufacturing, allowing them to focus on their core competencies such as engineering and marketing of their products.
There are always events that will have an effect on the PCB component supply chain. Since much of the supply chain depends on overseas manufacturers, it can easily be disrupted by national holidays, political unrest, materials shortages, or problems with shipping. With the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, however, a new set of problems compounded the already complex nature of the supply chain.
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) has been a problem that electronic design has grappled with for as long as printed circuit boards have been built. Depending on the function and design of the electronics, a PCB may produce or fall victim to radiated electromagnetic energy. The goal is to design PCBs so that they will not interfere with each other and have good electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). This means paying attention to five key areas on your design.
When it comes to having your printed circuit boards manufactured, the quality of the finished product will be one of your chief concerns. To achieve the highest levels of manufacturing quality, it is important to find a contract manufacturer that follows established PCB quality control methods. Here are six areas of quality control that you should be looking for in a PCB CM.
Before your next shipment of finished PCBs arrives at your office or warehouse, you’ll need assurance that it will comply with important industry safety standards and is fully functional. An experienced CM with the right facilities can perform these tests and much more during fabrication.
Ramping up production on any new product typically takes time, and during a pandemic that has shuttered many businesses, this could be difficult. But there are some manufacturers that are uniquely qualified to take on this task. Here’s how the role of manufacturing technology in pandemic containment is well suited to your local printed circuit board contract manufacturer.
Surface mount technology components, or SMTs, have a lot of advantages over traditional thru-hole components. There are, however, some disadvantages that you should be aware of too. Let’s take a closer look at some of these surface mount technology advantages and disadvantages.
As we have seen with the need to rapidly design and deploy new medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, there is more pressure now to hasten medical equipment development. At the same time, there is still the need to satisfy the testing, documentation, and regulatory requirements of manufacturing medical electronics.
when it comes to sourcing parts for your printed circuit board, there is a difference between who you buy from there as well. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between domestic sourcing vs international sourcing in the components you need for your PCB builds.
If you work with a reputable and experienced manufacturer, you’ll have access to a broader range of standard PCB sizes than 1.57 mm. If you need a customized board thickness with precisely controlled laminate thickness for controlled impedance, a reputable manufacturer can give you access to a range of laminate options for your custom stackup.
Each of these areas must be carefully managed in order to assure that the parts needed for building your board are there when the board goes into manufacturing. Let’s take a closer look at these five areas of concern for supply chain management in the electronics industry.
Some materials and components will more stringent shelf-life specifications than others. If those specifications aren’t followed, it could result in a lot of problems with the production of the board. Here is some more information on the shelf life of printed circuit boards as well as their building materials and components, and how your contract manufacturer should be working with them.
My father always used to say, you can fix most problems with bungee cords and duct tape. Unless you plan on duct taping your components to your PCB, your boards will have to go through a manual or automated soldering process. This is where it is important to understand the factors that affect PCB solder joint strength.
Electronics manufacturers have the option of using locally based circuit board production facilities instead of relying on offshore assembly plants. There are also a lot of other benefits that locally based PCB assemblers can offer aside from the current worldwide health crisis. Let’s explore some of the offshore manufacturing pros and cons here, and how you can realize some extraordinary benefits from using PCB assembly services that are close by.
The key to getting your medical equipment certified by all of the required regulatory standards in order to get your product to market is to use a PCB contract manufacturer (CM) who understands and works with these standards. Here is how the medical equipment standards and regulations affect PCB manufacturing for medical devices, and what you need to know when working with your PCB CM.
Let’s examine some of the benefits of both overseas and local manufacturing, as well as the problems that electronics manufacturers faced during this crisis. Then we can see how the benefits of manufacturing in the U.S. can help during a crisis.
During times of uncertainty, such as the recent Coronavirus outbreak, there are many different competing and confusing voices clamoring for your attention. Trying to discern which of these voices to listen to can be difficult, especially when it comes to making business decisions about your electronics manufacturing. Here is where partnering with a local printed circuit board manufacturer can be very helpful.
When you’re ready to move your design to the manufacturing and assembly stage, there are several important pieces of documentation you’ll need to prepare for your manufacturer. Perhaps the most important is your bill of materials.
While the upfront costs can be considerable, the return on investment is considerable and is proportional to volume and product complexity. If you implement some simple design for testability steps, you can ensure your next board will operate as intended.
How your PCB components are placed and routed can have a large influence on how difficult any rework will be after the board is assembled. In fact, we have three big PCB layout tips and tricks we often recommend to our clients to help ease the rework process:
In PCB design, we are also looking for ways that we can streamline the design process to make it more efficient and the boards easier to manufacture. Here are some ways a high-quality CM can help you to streamline your PCB design process steps.
Too often, a simple parts list is submitted to the PCB contract assembler instead of a finalized bill of materials. Without complete and correct information, it can cause confusion as to what is actually needed to build the board.
Design review takes some time, especially for a high-layer-count, high-net-count PCB. Anytime design problems are spotted, your manufacturer must engage in back-and-forth communication with you, the customer, to fix these design problems. The key to ensuring quick turnaround PCB assembly time is to anticipate these potential problems through early communication.
In PCB design, we have rules to follow as well that are intended to protect us from creating PCB designs that can’t be assembled. Here’s a look at some of those PCB trace design rules and how by using them, you can help yourself design a better board.
Here, we’re going to take a look at the IPC through hole soldering standards, and just how a high-quality CM will apply them to working on your printed circuit board assembly.
Your contract manufacturer also must be fully prepared when they manufacture your printed circuit boards with surface mount components. Of course, there’s a lot more to this preparation than just picking up a few extra paint brushes. The raw boards must be prepared for assembly, and the automated placement machines must be set up with parts before the board can go through the production line. Let’s take a moment to look more closely at the SMT PCB assembly process and how that might affect some of your PCB design decisions.
If those pins are the leads of a thru-hole device, then soldering or un-soldering those pins can be very difficult with all of the metal in the planes they connect to. This is where the thermal relief comes in, and there are some PCB thermal relief guidelines that you should know more about.
Here are the details of the wire harness manufacturing process that your contract manufacturer should go through when building your assemblies.
PCB power supply guidelines can help create a design that provides the rest of the circuitry with clean, uninterrupted power and that is manufacturable.
Here’s a look at what the design rules and PCB layout constraints can do for your design and how best to use them to optimize assembly.
When components aren’t aligned correctly, it affects assembly. Here are some guidelines to ensure you have correct component orientation on PCB designs.
It is tempting to try to squeeze together your PCB pad-to-pad spacing, but that can lead to some serious manufacturing problems down the road.
In the final episode of the four-part series, “Engineering Big Ideas,” presented by Mouser Electronics, Grant Imahara explores how VSE’s low-volume, high-mix manufacturing enables engineering innovators to get their products to market quicker and with greater efficiency.
Here are some considerations you should be aware of when working with a contract manufacturer to have a wire harness and cable assembly built.
Some assembly houses specialize in building boxes, chassis, and enclosures for electronics. Here’s a look closer at the box build assembly process.
To succeed as a map for PCB assembly, it is essential that silkscreen receive the same level of attention from PCB designers as the rest of the design. Here are some PCB silkscreen guidelines that can help.
The PCB first article inspection process is an important step in the assembly of your circuit board, as the CM will inspect it very closely for accuracy and any potential problems.
Your CM must ensure your circuit board can be built according to the data you have provided. This is called the PCB design review process.
Let’s look at some ways that you can make sure that your bill of materials for electronic components is clean and ready for production before you send out your board to the CM.
Just as digital circuitry has specific guidelines for layout, analog circuitry does, too. Here are some of those analog PCB layout guidelines that designers should know.
The footprint must be built to exacting standards for the correct assembly of the PCB. To build the right-size footprints for your next PCB design, here are some PCB footprint creation ideas to help.
How we define the pads used in the footprints of our printed circuit board designs can make or break the board when it comes to assembling it. Here are some PCB pad design guidelines that can help you to create pad shapes that will contribute to success when it comes time to manufacture your PCB.
When it comes to the layer stackup of a printed circuit board and its impact on assembly and manufacturing, yu need to make sure that you have all of the needs of the board met without unnecessarily increasing the complexity and cost of manufacturing. Here are some guidelines that can help.
While the majority of PCBs will end up with a mixture of both types, it’s worth discussing the differences between SMT vs through hole components.
To truly prove the capabilities of a prototype, the PCBA should be built by your contract manufacturer along with the system enclosure. Here’s what to expect from your CM when it comes to electronics box build assemblies.
Medical industry electronics require a skilled contract manufacturer to provide reliable prototypes.
Here are some attributes that you should keep in mind as you choose an automotive prototype manufacturer to build your PCBs.
Here’s a closer look at the in-circuit test vs. flying probe test systems so you will have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each.
An ISO 13485 contract manufacturer will have the experience required to navigate the ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 standards on quality management
Knowing what to look for and which questions to ask when choosing a partner for your PCB manufacturing is important. Here are some recommendations for your PCB vendor qualification process.
The wrong parts can cause problems for a PCB. Here are some electronic component selection guidelines that can help you in the manufacturing of your PCB.
To prevent everything from intermittent problems to complete board failures, you need your PCB built by a CM that utilizes thorough PCB testing techniques.
Understanding the steps of PCB component assembly that occur at a quality CM can help you when it comes time to make component placement decisions.
The selective soldering system gives PCB assemblers the right tool they need to resolve some of the problems that wave soldering isn’t able to. Here’s a look here selective soldering vs. wave soldering in the assembly of your printed circuit board.
The CM you partner with to assemble your circuit boards should be skilled in the different soldering processes and help ensure that common soldering problems don’t occur.
An AOI system can quickly evaluate the thousands of details on a PCB that are too small for the human eye to catch and report any detected problems back to the operator.
Here are some of the best practices for your PCB assembly BOM to help streamline component management and optimize your low-volume build.
To ensure your final design can be manufactured without difficulty, you need to understand what the PCB trace width tolerances are before you start.
How do you balance performance and assembly on your PCB? By paying close attention to the PCB component-to-component spacing.
IC manufacturers follow a process method called “copy exactly.” Here is a look at copy exact manufacturing and how it pertains to PCB contract manufacturers.
Too often, PCB design for assembly practices are viewed as simple checks the manufacturer makes after they receive the PCB design data. Instead, these guidelines are critical for the PCB designer to observe during layout.
Here’s a look at how to avoid some of the most common PCB layout mistakes, as well as insight into how your PCB contract manufacturer should help along the way.
There will still be times when the assembly of a PCB will require the human touch. Here are some examples of how both the automated and manual assembly processes have importance in the manufacturing of your PCBA.
To avoid PCB component failures, your CM should have a strict policy and adequate techniques in place for inspection and testing.
There are a lot of steps and processes going on during PCB assembly. Here are the PCB DFM checks your CM should perform to ensure your PCBA is manufactured correctly.
Without processes performed by your contract manufacturer to ensure critical printed circuit board inspection criteria are met, you wouldn’t have the assurance that your board was built to the highest levels of quality.
You’re finally finished with your latest printed circuit board design. Here you are, ready to go, and yet you are faced with a very important question: Are you giving the right PCB file format to your CM?
Your contract manufacturer should have processes in place for inspection and cleanup of assembled boards. Let’s take a moment to talk about why you should expect full attention to printed circuit board assembly cleanliness specifications from your CM.
In the same way that you can’t pound a puzzle piece into the wrong place, following some basic PCB component placement guidelines will help ensure the success of your layout.
Without the rigid processes in place to meet NRTL electrical certification requirements, these CMs aren’t able to provide the necessary assurance that the finished PCB can be used in your final product. This may result in a lot of extra expense and time to work around this problem to get the circuit board certified as required.
To keep up with the needs of today’s technologies, PCB assemblers are constantly looking for new and better ways to improve their manufacturing techniques. We’ll take a look here at some of the basics of automation in PCB manufacturing, and then ahead to what is coming next.
Making sure to partner with a CM that will make the right choice for your PCB prototype fabrication is extremely important to the success of your project. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you go through this process.
The key with PCB testing is to make sure that your CM goes beyond the PCB functional test, fully testing your board so you can have assurance that it will function as expected.
There are several points to consider when designing your PCB prototype. Let’s take a look at some of these and what these requirements to build a PCB prototype mean for you as the designer.
Once you’re ready to move from design to manufacturing, you’ll need to consider how your contract medical PCB manufacturer meets or exceeds critical quality and reliability standards. Your CM should also be able to deliver quality products on time without breaking the bank.
When you’re innovating in Silicon Valley, you need a reliable CM to manage your NPI runs. Here’s a closer look at the potential PCB manufacturer advantages and disadvantages that come with partnering with a local CM.
Need a hand with a current or future PCBA project? Find out what a difference VSE’s experts can make.