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.

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.

You’ve read about them everywhere and you may have even seen a few in the sky near your home. Drones are growing in popularity among average consumers, but for now their usage is limited to photography and videography and little more. However, these drones are also changing the way that wars are waged and everyday life in a combat zone is conducted thanks to increased functionality in printed circuit boards. Drones reduce the number of American soldiers that need to be sent into combat zones, according to an article on PCB007.com. In addition to surveillance, drones are used to fly missions at night or into areas where it is too risky to send soldiers. Armed drones are also accurate and air strikes result in fewer civilian casualties than in ground combat. As the military and aerospace industries begin to rely more on drones and robots to carry out objectives, PCB manufacturers must be ready and capable of producing circuit boards that perform flawlessly under pressure to avoid any missteps that can have potentially fatal consequences.

Ensuring Your Printed Circuit Boards Are Up to Standard

The last thing that you want to find when you are ordering printed circuit boards is that something is wrong with your design and you run into a delay. It is especially crucial to have not only a complete design and your files submitted to your PCB manufacturer during the ordering process, but also a design that will allow your application to exceed your expectations for quality and performance. Some of the most common Gerber file errors engineers run into include:

1. Missing Aperture List
2. Missing Drill File
3. Missing Tool List
4. Insufficient Annular Ring
5. Insufficient Inner Clearances

Quality Assurance Systems & Mil/Aero Certifications

At Advanced Circuits, you can count on our team’s broad-based technical expertise and the systems we have in place to provide our aerospace & defense customers with the PCB reliability and performance required for critical applications.  Our multiple state-of-the-art facilities are ITAR registered and have been certified to meet or exceed all major Mil/Aero requirements.

Capabilities for Highly Specialized Aerospace & Defense PCBs

Our advanced PCB technology allows us to meet the most rigorous requirements and PCB design criteria with the precision and performance our customers demand. Some of our capabilities include: up to 40 layer boards, via-in-pad, sequential lamination, laser drilled microvias, oversized boards, heavy copper up to 20 oz., laser direct imaging, cavity boards, and microwave/antenna boards.

An expert at Advanced Circuits can help you get your order sorted out so that you can get the PCBs you need on your deadline. Learn more by contacting a representative today.

Source

1. “American Troops Benefit from Drone Implementation,” PCB007, n.p., 10 October 2014, Web, 16 October 2014.

Printed circuit board innovations in the military and aerospace industries continue at a rapid pace. Thin glass is being examined as an alternative to epoxy resin and other materials for use in the high temperature applications. Laser drilling along with thin glass material could provide PCB manufacturers a new way to manufacture boards with properties that are desirable for aerospace applications:  low thermal expansion and high chemical stability. Read the press release Electronic Circuit Board Based on Thin Glass: Improved Functionality for Aerospace Technology to find out more.

Certifications for Manufacturers of Printed Circuit Boards

Makers of printed circuit boards continue to refine their manufacturing and assembly processes in order to meet the strictest requirements of the industry. Since the military electronics sector relies on the highest quality of PCBs in order to support defense measures it is critical that PCB companies hold and renew certifications. This way, defense contractors will know that the circuit boards ordered will perform as needed under high-pressure circumstances. In addition to being certified for defense applications, PCB manufacturers obtain certifications for using certain materials in production. Product designers and engineers may also need to order PCBs that meet specific industry standards for compliance reasons. Contact an expert at Advanced Circuits today to learn more about PCB certification.

The Role of Printed Circuit Boards in Military Technology

As equipment and weaponry continues to get more sophisticated it is important for the military and other governmental organizations to have the materials they need to keep up with the technology. Printed circuit boards play a role by allowing engineers to connect all of the components they need and know that everything will work as designed. This is why it is vital for PCB manufacturers to continue to refine techniques to produce the highest quality boards. With the latest in technology readily available, engineers will be able to easily order PCBs that will help revolutionize their products and bring game changers to not only their industry but to the general population as well. Contact an expert to learn more about the certifications that Advanced Circuits holds and how they affect the PCBs you order.