Military grade circuit boards are the best possible options available for many different types of equipment, including those that aren’t a part of the military. This is because the specifications for these boards are so demanding.

In the military, it is expected that the applications that are created are highly durable and able to stand up to many different types of harsh conditions. In addition, they have a longer estimated lifetime than commercial products, in most cases. For many commercial products, the expected lifetime is about five years. For military applications, the lifetime will typically be up to 15 years.

High Expectations Require High Standards

It is no accident that military grade circuit boards are as good as they are. They are required to meet a certain set of standards and specifications in order to be considered military grade. These standards require that the products are able to perform at a high level and that they will not fail. Consider how and where military equipment is used. It’s often used in harsh and dangerous environments. It may also be used in extreme temperatures. Regardless, it must be able to function properly.

Before they go into production, military grade circuit boards need to undergo proper testing if they are going to be used in military equipment. Proper testing finds any areas that could be problematic in the design, so they can be worked out before they are produced and used. High-quality materials are always used in military-grade circuit boards. There are even tighter tolerances in regard to the components that are being used when compared with commercial products.

What is Required for a Military Grade Circuit Board?

The circuit boards have far more specifications that must be met when compared with commercial products. The board needs to be capable of handling a maximum current load easily, and it needs to be able to keep working even in bad conditions. These military-grade PCBs might be exposed to a range of different types of stresses and pressures when used in the field. The only way you can make sure that your PCB will be able to hold up is to learn more about the specifications required.

When creating these types of military grade circuit boards, it is important to understand the overall function and the design that you want, as you would with other boards. However, you have to take the specifications into account during each stage of the design. This includes the concept stage all the way through the testing stage.

When you are ready for a prototype, or you are ready to go into production, you will want to make sure that you are using the right PCB manufacturer.

Why is the Manufacturer so Important?

Even if you have what is a flawless design, things can still go wrong if you don’t have the right company to manufacture your PCBs. There are many companies out there today that can create your PCBs, but this does not mean that you can choose just any manufacturer. You have to make sure that you are choosing a company that knows and understands what you are trying to do with your boards. The company that you choose as a manufacturer needs to be able to produce printed circuit boards for Department of Defense (DOD) contracts. This means that they have the expertise to ensure that the boards are created properly.

This will also typically mean that the manufacturer is using the best quality materials that will match with the latest specifications. Keep in mind that the specs for military grade circuit boards can change over time. You need to make sure that not only are you keeping up with these changes for your designs but that your manufacturer intimately knows these changes.

In addition to the capabilities of the manufacturer to produce military grade circuit boards, make sure that they have other benefits that make them the right choice.

What to Look for in a PCB Manufacturing Company

Advanced Circuits is the third largest PCB company in the United States and offers a variety of services. We have a very fast turnaround time and are able to produce printed circuit boards for DOD contracts.

In addition, we have many high-quality materials for PCBs. These include halogen-free UL certified materials, Rogers 2929 Bondply, 3M ECM, and ROHACELL. We are also one of the only fabricators in the United States that is certified to offer Zeta Lam SE.

You will find a range of other reasons to make Advanced Circuits your choice when it comes to your PCBs. We are a reliable manufacturing company and not a broker. We keep work in-house at our manufacturing facility, and you will find that all of the orders will receive a free engineering file review. This will help to make sure that you get exactly what you need.

We offer round-the-clock tech support, and you will be able to receive instant quotes online 24/7. Customer service and keeping our clients happy are very important to us. Another benefit is that there are no minimum requirements when you use our service. If you need one, a few, or thousands of PCBs, we can help you.

If you have the need to create military grade circuit boards, we have the materials, experience, and knowledge to help you get exactly what you need.

It is important to note that not all of the PCB manufacturing companies out there are capable of meeting these mil grade PCB specifications. When you are searching for a manufacturer, if this is important to you, make sure that you check out their site. Ask if you have any questions about what they will be able to offer for your PCBs. In addition, it is helpful if you have some understanding of exactly what these mil grade PCB specifications actually mean and why they are important.

The Benefits of High Standards

Why would you want to have your PCBs conform to the military’s specifications? If you aren’t creating circuit boards that are going to be used in military operations, you might not think that it should apply to you. In some cases, if you are a hobbyist or a student, then mil grade PCB specifications might not matter. However, when you are trying to create any type of high-quality circuit board that’s going to be used in an electronic device, you want it to work well. You want it to be able to stand up to whatever the user might encounter.

When you find a manufacturer that can adhere to mil grade PCB specifications, this is what you will get. These requirements help to make sure that PCBs are reliable, even when there are harsh conditions and difficult environments in which they need to work. The better quality your boards, the better quality the end product.

By using the best possible components and materials and using high-temperature laminates, the board will have the rugged durability that it needs. After all, PCBs that are created for military equipment are used in unforgiving environments, and they are often used in battle. The specifications are exacting because the military needs to rely on only the best. Anything less could be dangerous.

PCBs are used in a wide range of military equipment today. They are often used with targeting systems, and they are used with lighting systems and even radar. All of the items in the military that use circuit boards, whether it is for targeting an enemy or saving the life of someone who’s wounded, need to be high-quality.

The PCBs that you are creating may not be used in these types of dire circumstances. However, you will still want to have the highest quality for the people who are using your equipment, no matter what it might be. Adhering to mil grade PCB specifications during the initial creation of the circuit board, all the way through to its manufacture, can be a huge benefit.

Consider What You Need

When you are creating your circuit board, you need to consider many different factors. First, you have to know and understand exactly what you need the circuit board to do. You also need to make sure that you are familiar with the latest military specifications so that you can incorporate those into the design of the PCB. Knowing what the board needs to do and making sure it matches with the mil grade PCB specs is just the start.

It is also important to make sure that the design works properly and that it could pass the testing requirements for military-grade equipment. It might take some time to ensure that the design is as good as it can possibly be, but the effort that you put into it at this stage will be well worth it.

Finding a Quality Manufacturer for the PCB

Putting in all of the effort to create what you feel is a perfect circuit board will be all for nothing if you don’t have a great manufacturer. You can’t simply choose the first or the cheapest PCB manufacturer that you find and expect to have the quality that you need. Instead, you need to make sure you are working with a quality option that has the capacity to actually produce circuit boards that meet mil grade PCB specifications.

Advanced Circuits is the third largest PCB manufacturer in the United States. We’ve been in business for a number of years and have the ability to provide you with the highest quality PCBs that meet mil grade specifications. Over the years, we have served the medical field, commercial field, and the aerospace and defense industries. We are able to provide you with some of the best and most advanced options available today. We can help make your product the best it can possibly be.

There are many reasons to make Advanced Circuits your manufacturer of choice, in addition to our commitment to quality and ability to meet mil grade PCB specifications. We can provide a fast turnaround, whether you need a small number of PCBs, a large quantity, or even just a single board. We are reliable and have an excellent shipping record. In addition, there is round-the-clock tech support. Not only will you be able to reach a live person 24 hours a day, but you can be in touch with a CAM engineer if you need one.

We offer instant quotes, order tracking, and more. Use our free PCB design software and file check to go from concept to completion quickly and easily. It can help to make sure that the boards will work before you have any of them manufactured.

If you need to create circuit boards that meet mil grade PCB specifications, put your trust in Advanced Circuits. We are ready to help you with your PCB needs, whether they are large or small.

Therefore, these PCBs need to be military-grade circuit boards that meet or exceed the specifications and requirements put forth by the military. Depending on the type of use it will see there may be different specs for different boards. Certain design considerations will need to be kept in mind not only with the design of the circuit but all through the manufacturing process.

What to Consider When Designing Military Grade Circuit Boards

When going to the manufacturing stage of creating the military-grade circuit boards, it is important to ensure that all of the components that are being used are up to military specs. These components have tolerances that will range between 1% and 2%, whereas the commercial components are not required to fall within that tolerance range. The design of the PCB needs to handle the maximum current load easily, and it needs to be capable of standing up to harsh environments and a lot of use.

If there are any low-frequency components used, it needs to be possible to differentiate them from the high-frequency components. They do not always work well together, and there is the possibility that the waveforms from the high-frequency components will degrade the quality of the signal. This interference should never be present in any PCB that is supposed to be designed as military-grade circuit boards.

The clock signals used in the PCB should be lean and shielded. Also, using heat resistant materials is important since the equipment could be used in extremely hot environments. The use of thermal compounds can help to provide heat dissipation. If there are components that are producing a lot of heat, they will need to have more clearance space than other components.

It is important to check MIL-PRF-50884, MIL-PRF-31031, and MIL-PRF-55110 standards to ensure that the PCBs that are being created fall in line with the specs.

How Are Military Grade Circuit Boards Used Today?

Circuit boards are used in a wide range of applications by the military today. The military has welcomed and adopted various tech, and they have often helped to make improvements thanks to the rigorous testing and standards that they employ. It is important for those who want to design in this field to keep up with any changes to the specs. As technology changes and improves, the specs will likely change.

Some of the applications where high-quality PCBs are used today include unmanned vehicles, robotic systems, defense navigation systems, communication systems, computers used in the field, mortars and artillery, satellite subsystems, and in security equipment. These are just some of the different ways that military-grade circuit boards are being used and making a difference in the military. Given the work that these pieces of technology are doing, it is easy to understand why they need to have a higher grade of circuit board than is found in a typical commercial system. The military does not have the luxury of waiting during downtime to have a replacement or a repair made. They need to be sure the equipment they are using is working properly all the time.

A Solid Design Needs a Great PCB Manufacturer

The design of the military-grade circuit boards starts with the idea and software design for the PCB. It is essential to adhere to the specs put out by the military at each step of the process. Before bringing a prototype design to be manufactured, it is important to view the Gerber files through a Gerber file viewer to ensure that they are correct and that the basics of the circuit will work properly. Some circuit board manufacturers offer a free viewer on their websites so that users can upload files for any PCBs they are creating.

Once the user is sure that the PCB design is solid, they can then move on to the manufacturing stage. It is important that the chosen manufacturer has a great reputation for providing high-quality PCBs according to specific military specifications. Quality options will have regular contracts with the Department of Defense and can ensure that they have what it takes to comply with military specs for PCBs.

Those who are creating PCBs that are considered military-grade, regardless of how they are eventually going to be used, will want to trust a manufacturer who has a higher level of experience. We have our facilities, and all of the work is done in-house. We can provide high-quality PCB fabrication and can offer advanced services and tech support to those who have questions. In addition to great PCBs and reliability, we also pride ourselves on the speed in which we can turn around orders. Those who need to have their PCBs quickly will find that the manufacturing and shipping process is extremely fast.

Buyers can quickly get a quote on the PCBs that you will need to have manufactured, and they can make your order as small as is needed. There is typically no minimum from a manufacturer, so there will not be a worry about needing to order PCBs that are not needed and stretching out costs.

Learn More About PCB Options for the Military

Those who require military-grade circuit boards will also be pleased that many high quality manufacturers offer a range of specialized components and materials that can be used. Interested individuals or companies can get in touch with a trusted PCB manufacturer today to learn more about the options available and the various service options that they offer. Whether standard or custom PCBs are needed, the right manufacturer can provide what is needed at a reasonable cost. Regardless of whether standard or custom specs are chosen, all of the files will receive a full review to ensure they are viable for military-specific needs.

Understand the Mil Grade PCB Specifications

Those who would like to create circuit boards that can meet military specifications will need to make it a point to familiarize themselves with the current specs and standards. They will also need to create a plan that will ensure they are met before they begin designing the circuit. It will help for the designers to be familiar with the performance criteria that will need to be met, and to have a quality assurance plan to ensure they are adhering to the standards each step along the way.

Users are also going to want to learn the testing requirement and then create a testing regimen that checks those requirements. They will need to make sure that the circuit design is perfect and then continue to test it to look for any errors or weaknesses that might need to be addressed. Once the design is as perfect as it can be, and it meets the mil grade PCB specifications, it is possible to connect with a manufacturer.

However, not just any manufacturer will do. Even though someone might have a great design for a PCB, they have to be sure the manufacturer has the skills and tools to execute properly. This means they should always choose to work with a company that has worked on military contracts and have the ability to realize the design.

The mil grade PCB specifications will need to be matched exactly for anyone who is trying to create a genuinely military-grade board. Failure to adhere to any of the specifications will result in the circuit board not being usable. Even though it might still be viable, it would not be considered usable by the military because it fails to meet the specs, wasting time and energy in the process.

Why Are Military Grade PCBs Held to a High Standard?

The military requires PCBs that will provide them with high reliability and durability even when they are being used under challenging conditions in extreme environments. By creating boards that have high-temperature laminates, high-quality aluminum, and the best components, it will help to ensure that they can stand up to use in harsh locations and in machines, equipment, and vehicles that might be in a war zone.

Whether it is radar, lighting systems, targeting systems, or another use entirely, the military requires the best because there are often no second chances. If a PCB were to fail in the field, it would mean the loss of a mission or even a loss of life. Strict adherence to the military grade PCB specifications is essential.

Even those who are creating circuits that will not be used in any military capacity will want to consider creating according to the mil grade PCB specifications. This will help to ensure better quality, highly reliable PCB. The cost of these boards will typically be somewhat higher depending on the exact specs that are used, but most will find that the added cost will be well worth it. Regardless of what type of circuit is being created, ensuring that it is the best quality possible is always a good idea.

Why Put Your Trust in a Third-Party PCB Manufacturer?

When choosing a company to manufacture PCBs that need to meet mil grade PCB specifications, it makes sense to work with a company that can produce printed circuit boards for the Department of Defense Contracts. Even if individuals are not creating PCBs that are for the military, knowing that they are working with a manufacturer that is trusted by the military can provide greater peace of mind.

Those interested should contact a trusted manufacturer in the field that provides state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to meet whatever design criteria is set forth. These high-quality options can provide buried chip resistors, stacked microvias, laser-drilled microvias, direct laser imaging, blind and buried vias, up to 40 layers, air pockets between the layers, heavy copper, multilayer RF designs, oversized boards, and more to meet specific needs.

They will also have new materials that can be used for a range of designs. These include halogen-free UL certified materials, high-speed/ultra-low DK, new RF products, Rogers 2929 bondply, 3M ECM, ROHACELL, and Zeta Lam SE.

It is important to choose a leader in producing PCBs for commercial use as well as for aerospace, the medical field, and other markets. Regardless of what it is you need for the PCB, users should be able to trust the manufacturer’s commitment to providing the best in quality, performance, and reliability in the industry.

Learn More About Mil Grade PCBs and Other Services

Those interested in having their PCBs manufactured through a manufacturer can learn more about what the company offers and then get in touch. In addition to the fast turnaround time, they should provide reliable manufacturing and assembly of the PCBs that are needed. All of the orders received will have a free engineering file review before they head to fabrication. This helps to ensure that buyers are not wasting your time and money with a circuit that does not work properly.

A good company has around the clock tech support for those who may have questions that can’t wait to get answered. It is also helpful if they don’t require a minimum amount when placing a PCB order. This allows customers to only have to buy what they need so they do not need to worry about having a hundred extra PCBs lying around.

Manufacturers may provide a free Gerber file viewer online, can give an instant quote, and can work with customers to create exactly what is needed. The sooner an interested buyer gets in touch, the sooner they can have your PCBs in hand thanks to fast manufacturing and shipping processes.

The MILCOM 2015 international conference and trade show for military communications will bring together government, military, industry, and academia leaders in Tampa, Florida on October 26 – 28th.

Advanced Circuits will be exhibiting in booth number 828 to showcase the many options and capabilities offered for optimum PCB reliability and performance.   Our expanded PCB capabilities, along with an extensive material selection and cutting edge equipment, make us a premier PCB manufacturing and assembly company that the defense industry can depend on.

For more information on MILCOM 2015, please visit www.milcom.org

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