The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing multilayer pcb design tips

There comes a day in nearly every engineer’s and buyer’s lives when they need a printed circuit board (PCB) for their company’s next electronic product. Whether you have a working knowledge of PCB layout design or are a newbie, it helps to grasp the start-to-finish journey a design makes.

For more information, please visit multilayer pcb design tips.

Here’s some helpful insight into what to expect with a PCB project -- from how you’ll design it, to the steps involved, to who you should be paying to do it.

PCB Layout Design

Printed circuit boards hold integrated circuits (ICs), transistors, and resistors -- and carry out the connections between them. A PCB lets you route power and signals between physical devices.

Connecting those boards and tiny components is solder. This miracle metal not only makes the electrical connections, it also serves as a strong mechanical adhesive. If your PCB is a slice of lasagna, the soldering is the sauce and ricotta cheese, while the boards are your layers of noodles.

Needless to say, PCBs are kind of important (though less tasty than lasagna). Whoever executes your design is going to need a robust program, especially if your layout is highly layered or otherwise complex.

Here are two programs we see come up often:

PCB Layout Software: Eagle (Free) Vs. Altium

This is a conversation that pops up frequently between electronics companies and their board suppliers. Typically, the buyer is all about the free software, usually Eagle, while electronic design manufacturers (like us) prefer Altium.

(Note: Having been bought by software giant Autodesk, Eagle now offers a paid subscription version of its PCB layout software)

The problem with free software is that it can only do so much.

For example, Altium has no limit on the number of layers you can design in. Eagle has a four-layer limit.

Another example: Altium has no limit on a design’s size. Eagle has a size limit of 160 sq cm (though size is unlimited in the premium version).

So, unless you want a bare-bones design, you’re better off paying for a high-end suite of tools.

The Design Process

Here’s how the design process should play out with a well-versed vendor:

1. You approach a vendor (assuming you’re outsourcing; more on that in a sec) with a design idea. The vendor’s engineering group sits down with your design team and get the rundown on how you want the product to work. The number of hours this step eats up depends on how much back and forth is involved in optimizing the design, plus the complexity of the part.

2. Your supplier makes a schematic and sends it for your review. Schematics ultimately control the project, so a vendor with proven thoroughness and accuracy is crucial.

3. The designer imports the schematic into a PCB layout program (i.e. Altium). He designs the PCB.

4. Once you approve the board, the designer generates a Gerber file, which is what he uses to generate the bare circuit board.

5. The boards head through the assembly process, where all the tiny parts are placed with utmost care.

6. Quality inspections occur. The intensity of these will depend on your product’s application and industry.

And there you have it: Your PCB baby is born.

Where to Get Your Work Done

Are you outsourcing your PCB layout design? For OEMs already outsourcing their manufacturing, seeking third-party help in the design phase could prevent a headache. Why?

• Input from experts and specialists

• More time freed up to focus on other priorities

• Cost efficiency (no designers permanently on payroll!)

Other than the obvious price factor, your choice of vendor will probably boil down to two words: capacity and capability.

For starters, what level of volume is your project? Some contract manufacturers will also accept low-to-mid-volume capacity jobs. Other, major companies want only the highest-capacity work.

Complexity also commonly separates one vendor from another. Some can handle complex, multilayer boards. Others stick to simple designs.

One-Stop Shops

Even more important: Most electronic contract manufacturers can’t do both in-house PCB design and assembly.

The few vendors that are one-stop shops can take your project from inception to finished product. What does this mean for the customer?

Well, if a design issue is noticed during the assembly process, a company with only assembly capabilities will struggle to resolve the problem. This is why it also helps to go to a company that offers extensive testing and prototyping services. It’s always better to make a mistake during these stages than discover one after your boards are already shipped.

Other benefits of using a single source of electronic manufacturing:

• Consolidates costs

• Prevents miscommunication moving from one vendor to the next

• Eliminates extra transportation lead time

Knowledge Is Power!

Hopefully you’re now wiser to the standards you should have when using PCB layout design. Choosing the right software, understanding the manufacturing process, and picking a vendor with appropriate capabilities will make your job easier.

For more tips on succeeding with electronic manufacturing, check out this article on the need for certain products to be intrinsically safe.

The Ultimate Guide to PCB Circuit Board you Need to Know

PCB circuit board is the foundation of almost all technology and electronics used globally. PCB is thin panels manufactured of insulating material. They consist of a metal coating either on one or both sides containing electrical pathways etched into it to allow current to pass through several components on the board.

A fully functional printed circuit board begins its manufacturing process from a blank PCB or an empty circuit board. This article provides detailed information about bare PCBs, creating bare PCBs and PCBs, among others.

(A fully functional PCB circuit board)

1. PCB Circuit Board Blank-Ultimate Free Advice and Guidance

1. What Is A Blank PCB circuit board?

A blank printed circuit board is an empty or unused board free from any physical contacts and devoid of pieces installed and used during the creation of an actual circuit board or a printed circuit board.

(A typical blank green PCB board)

2. Blank PCB Circuit Board Supplier

There are hundreds of blank PCB board suppliers in business ready to provide you with bare PCBs. However, to ensure that you get your PCBs on time, you may want to partner with an experienced supplier. Choose reputable suppliers with decades of experience.

3. Blank PCB Circuit Board: 5 Questions You Care About

3.1 How Thick Is The Copper On The Blank PCB Board?

The thickness of the copper on a blank PCB board will influence the board's functionality and performance. But the width of the copper depends on the requirements of your bare PCB. That’s what will determine the level of depth that suits you.

3.1.1 Uses of Thick Copper on Blank PCB Board

Thick copper on blank PCBs is commonly characterized by structures that contain copper thicknesses ranging from 105 to 400 μm. Thick copper PCBs find a lot of use in high current outputs and the optimization of thermal management.

3.1.2 Benefits of Using Thick (Heavy) Copper Circuit in a Blank PCB Board

There are plenty of benefits associated with using a dense copper circuit in a blank PCB. For instance, it brings about increased carrying capacity for the current, increased endurance in terms of thermal strain, and increased mechanical strength, especially at connector sites. Additionally, it leads to efficient heat transfer through the board.

3.2 How to Create a Blank PCB Board in Eagle

Creating a blank PCB board in Eagle can be a tedious task. But when done in the right way, then it’s quite simple.

3.2.1 Getting Started

First, you’ll have to download the Eagle software on your computer and install it. After installation, you’ll have access to the control panel of Eagle. Just click on the ‘control panel’ then select New Project. Choose a name for your project and then right-click on it. Select New Schematic.

3.2.2 Designing Your Blank PCB Board Schematic

After opening a New Schematic, it will open some Blank workspace from where you’ll draw your board’s schematics. Ensure that the grid size is 1 mm before adding anything to the PCB schematics. Select Add Option if you want to add components to the schema.

Now, connect all the components in the schematic editor by clicking on the Net option. Don’t forget to save the schematic file. Choose the parts that like and click OK. You can now go ahead and add every element needed to complete the circuit. Rename the file to a name that’s easy to understand.

3.2.3 Blank PCB Board Layout Design

Now proceed to design the PCB layout by clicking on the Switch to Board icon. You will see a new window consisting of a black space that dominates a significant part of the screen. You’ll also see a grey area on the left. The black room is your Board Area, while the screen is the printed circuit board Layout Editor. Move all the components from the grey part to the Blackboard and position them as desired.

By using the Route tool, make connections from one pin to the next. After you complete making the connections, check for errors. The board file will save as a .brd extension, and now, the computer-generated PCB board is ready for manufacturing.

3.3 How to Use Blank PCB Board

A blank PCB board serves as the foundation for the fundamental components that will make the actual functional PCB. It’s a blank slate used to place essential elements. A blank one is useless if it lacks all the components required. There are two main ways of doing this; Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through-Hole Technology.

3.3.1 Advantages

Some advantages of SMT include:

• Gives room for higher component density, meaning that many components can fit in a small area.
• It’s easy to place components on both sides of the board.
• Low production costs.
• Vibrations and shaking don’t hinder performance.
• Fast and consistent circuit production.

3.3.2 Disadvantages

• Unsuitable for high-voltage, high-power, and huge components.
• It’s prone to damage under harsh thermal conditions.
• It’s tasking to repair due to small-sized components.
• Unsuitable for components that require constant disconnecting and connecting.

3.3.3 Through-Hole Technology

The through-hole technology is another mounting technology involving the drilling of holes in the blank PCB. It includes inserting leads on the board and soldering the tips to the pads on the other side of the PCB.

3.3.4 Advantages

• It’s an ideal choice for large circuits where higher power and mechanical stress are typical.
• Reliable compared to SMT as components tend to bond on the board strongly.
• Perfect for systems that need high heat tolerance.
• Suitable for aerospace and military applications.

3.3.5 Disadvantages

• High production costs.
• The assembly process is somewhat complicated.
• Slow speeds of production.

3.4 How to Connect Components to a Blank PCB Board

A lot of people know that the process of connecting components to a PCB goes by the name mounting. However, the method in itself is known as soldering.

3.3.4 Soldering

Soldering is the process of joining two or more items to one another by melting solder or a filler material between them. Soldering is a perfect solution for joining electrical parts as they won’t be damaged. Regular soldering irons are ideal for easy projects. However, industrial production requires complex machines that produce high-quality connections.

3.4.2 Desoldering

Desoldering involves the detachment of components/parts from a PCB. Desoldering is all about getting rid of the solder material, solder connections, and other elements from a PCB. All this is done either for repair, salvage, or replacement.

3.5 Where to Buy a Blank PCB Board

To be honest, the process of designing a blank PCB is a tedious task better left to experts in the field. Our advice is that if you can’t make one on your own, then there’s no harm in purchasing one from experienced manufacturers.

3.5.1 How to Find a Reliable Supplier

Looking around today, you’ll notice that there are hundreds of blank PCB suppliers in the market. Unfortunately, not all of them are who they say they are. Some of them deliver poor-quality bare PCBs that don’t meet the required specifications. To be on the safe side, you need to keep the following at the back of your mind.

3.5.2 Company Brand and Experience

Company brand and experience matters when it comes to selecting a blank PCB supplier. What are other people saying about the supplier of your choice? How long have they been supplying bare PCBs? Are their reviews positive? Ensure that you deal with reputable brands with decades of experience.

3.5.3 Manufacturing capacity

It would be highly disadvantageous on your end if you work with a supplier who can’t meet your specific needs. You need to ensure if your supplier is outsourcing part of the manufacturing processes. In case there’s some outsourcing, then scrutinize the firm to ensure that they can meet your needs.

3.5.4 Cost and Quote Reference

Manufacturing costs are crucial when looking for a blank PCB supplier matters a lot. Low-quotes are signs of low-quality standards of production. But again, huge quotes would be disastrous if the boards fail to correspond with customers’ design specifications.

3.5.5 Excellent after-sales services

The actual quality of a stellar PCB supplier is in their after-sales services. A reputable supplier is one with procedures aimed at assisting customers once they’ve purchased a product. Go for suppliers with informed and polite customer care attendants ready to help you in case you run into some problems.

3.5.6 Expert Tips to Consider When Buying

When purchasing blank PCBs, ensure that you only purchase from reputable suppliers known for high-quality deliveries. Also, ensure that your supplier complies with iso9001, UI, and RoHS standards. Don’t forget to check whether your supplier has a healthy working relationship with component distributors too. Lastly, don’t always go to a one-size-fits-all supplier. Shop around to find the best in the market.

3.5.7 Where to Get Quality Blank PCB Board

You may find several companies supplying blank PCB boards if you want to get high-quality bare PCB. In that case, you can choose PCB companies with more than ten years of production experience and believe that they can deliver high-quality PCB boards that meet industry standards.

(close up image of a bare PCB)

2. Standard PCB Panel Size-What You Need To Know

Are you new to the PCB world? If so, then there are a few things that you need to know. In this section, you’ll learn essential elements such as the PCB's panel size, the standard size of the board, and fabrication panel size, among others. Here are a few things to note:

1. PCB Panel Size

Every PCB has got a reason for their making. Because of this, you’ll find that there will be different sizes of such boards in the market. Various methods of penalization exist. To come up with the desired function and size, manufacturers use other methods. Also, the size of the panel matters as boards with large panels may cost more to manufacture.

2. Standard PCB Panel Size

When talking about the stand PCB panel size, discussions about the circuit board's thickness often come up. If the width isn’t measured correctly, then the PCB won’t function as