PCB Prototyping

PCB prototypes are the first samples of products that are built with the primary aim of testing the functionality of the design ideas.  Designers and engineers use different types of PCB prototypes to test various aspects of a selected design.

Advantages of PCB Prototyping

PCB prototypes help speed up the process of developing a PCB design through visual assistance, complete testing, and minimizing the amount of rework required. Prototyping gets rid of guesswork by allowing engineers to quickly and accurately identify problems.

Disadvantages of PCB Prototyping

While there are not many cons regarding PCB prototyping, it is fully dependent on how you choose to prototype the board design. Most challenges arise when using a breadboard. The breadboards often have limitations compared to using software to prototype. They are not a good option for those working on a design that requires a high voltage, or one that is very complicated. It becomes difficult to map what you are doing, which could lead to challenges along the road.

Full Spec Production

Once the engineering and design team are satisfied that the basic prototypes are working to their expectations, they can opt to make enhancements to the design to increase efficiency. Full spec production means that the team is making the actual board that will be used in your applications.

Advantages of Full-Spec Production

If there is already an existing design in place to work from and you have determined that it is okay for use, numerous preliminary tests are not needed. Instead, you can go ahead and use high-end materials to make the boards. This gives you numerous options to select from. You may also incorporate advanced features.

Disadvantages of Full Spec Production

The main demerit is that the process takes a bit longer. This is because the production team is tasked to work with more volume than when doing a small patch assembly job. Secondly, you may end up spending more money to eliminate potential errors.

The Bottom Line

Understanding the key differences between PCB prototyping and full spec production allows you to determine the process that will be the best fit for you at a particular time. At Advanced Circuits, we offer both PCB prototyping and full-spec production. To learn more about our services and products, contact us today.

Start with a Schematic

A schematic uses symbols to designate the components and shows the components used and how they connect in the circuit and is needed to design the PCB.

PCB Design

The PCB designer uses the schematic and specifications of the components to design the PCB manually or with a computer-aided design (CAD) program like the one offered free through Advanced Circuits.

TIP: To make your PCB look professional:

• Place the components on a 0.10 grid, horizontally (x-axis) or vertically (y-axis), not on angles.
• Place the components with polarity (anodes) facing the same direction in both axes.

The same with resistor stripes.

Inserting the Components on the PCB

The components are inserted manually or by a machine called an automatic insertion machine. This procedure is called PCB electromechanical assembly.

The component wire leads are soldered in place by hand or a wave solder. Some companies bend the wire leads on the solder side of the PCB to hold the components in place before soldering.

Before the Production Run

The making of a prototyping board before the production run is not only a common but wise procedure. By doing so, any errors in the circuitry or printed circuit board design are more likely to be detected.

TIP: Prototype PCBs often lack a solder mask. Make sure the traces are wide enough to handle the amperage with a solder mask.

Advanced Circuits Can Solve Your PCB Needs

If you are looking for a one-stop shop for your PCB needs, Advanced Circuits is your PCB solution. From the design of your PCB to making your boards to assembly.

Some of the services provided are:

• PCB Design Layout software
• Free PCB file checks
• Barebones PCBs
• PCB full spec prototyping
• PCB full spec production
• PCB assembly
• PCB stencils
• 0-10 layers PCB (standard)
• 0-40 layers PCB (custom)
• No minimum order
• DOD contracts ready
• Space & flight approved PCB supplier

Advanced Circuits is your market industry expert, whether you are a student, hobbyist, or a manufacturer of defense, aerospace, or medical equipment.

Contact us today for more information or to have a live chat with an expert.

Use the Right Software

One of the best things you can do to improve the quality of your PCB design is to use quality software for the creation. Of course, some might worry that software will be expensive or difficult to use. While this is certainly a potential problem with some pieces of software, it doesn’t have to be.

Advanced Circuits offers PCB Artist, a robust piece of software that can provide you with the guidance and tools you need for your PCB design regardless of how simple or complex it might be. It offers more than is found with most other pieces of software on the market that provide similar features. One of the best features of the software is the price. It is entirely free, so you will not have to worry about paying anything when you are getting started. Whether you are a hobbyist or working for a company, you will appreciate this benefit.

While the software will have a learning curve, like any piece of software, it tends to be easy to use. Those who have any experience with PCB design should not have a problem getting started with the intuitive software. When you use PCB Artist, you can create up to 28 layers on your PCB. It features Gerber format files, has design rule and check support, and a host of other helpful features.

The software does not take up too much computing power either. You will only need to have a Pentium processor that’s at least 1.8Ghz. You will also need 512MB of RAM and 1.26 GB of storage space on your hard drive. These small requirements should be achievable by just about any computer today. However, it does need to be a Windows computer because MAC and Linux are not supported currently.

The software can help to make the PCB design process faster and easier, but it’s important to realize that this is just a tool. You still need to understand the concepts of good design.

Streamline Your Circuit Design

One of the most important aspects of PCB design is keeping things functional, often through the simplicity of design. You don’t need to jam as many components as possible onto a single board. Instead, you want to be sure that you are creating a circuit that can perform the functions that you need without being too crowded. Think about what you need the circuit to do and design for that. Streamline the board, use good, basic design principles, and build from there.

Beware of trying to do too much on a single board. There is a chance for more to go wrong. There is also the worry that too many components could cause overheating if you don’t consider how it will be cooled.

The software can make circuit design easier and have a good representation of what it will look like and how it will work. You can often see issues that would come into play even before you prototype. Additionally, you can send the design for an engineering review. Advanced Circuits offers a free engineering review. This will give you a better idea of whether your PCB design will work or not.

Always Use a Prototype

Of course, the next step should be to prototype the board. Even if you have checked it virtually and the engineering review looks good, get a prototype. This will help to ensure that it is working properly in the real world. You can see how it fares in the case you have designed. You can see if there are overheating issues, if it doesn’t always trigger properly, etc. The testing will give you a better look at the board and the areas where you might need to make some changes.

In a perfect world, you will find that the prototype works without a problem. If that’s the case, you can move on with manufacturing. However, if there’s an issue, it is better to know now, so you can go back and fix it and then test again before unleashing your PCB design into the world.

Use Advanced Circuits for Your Manufacturing Needs

Advanced Circuits is one of the largest PCB manufacturers in the country. We have decades of experience and can provide you with everything you need from start to finish. Not only do we have the free PCB Artist software you can use for the PCB design and free engineering reviews before you go into manufacturing, but we also have quality manufacturing facilities. We can be the “one-stop-shop” for all of your PCB needs.

As the third-largest manufacturer of PCBs in the United States, we provide a fast turnaround time, so you can get your boards quickly once you place your order. You will be happy to know that there is no minimum order either. This will make it easier for you to get those prototypes you’ll want to use for testing.

Advanced Circuits is not a broker. All of the work is done in-house at our facilities. This includes the manufacturing and assembly of your PCBs. We have a fantastic shipping record, we’ve been around for years (so you can be sure we aren’t going to disappear overnight), and we strive to make the entire process as easy as possible for you. Contact us to learn more and to get a quote. We are looking forward to helping you with all of your PCB design needs.

The PCBs today are more complex than they were in the past, so designers need to be sure that the design is just right before moving on to full manufacturing. If you are responsible for creating the circuit boards for the next electronic gadget, you want them to work perfectly. You can’t leave anything to chance. That is why you need to prototype them first.

Prototyping Your Circuit Board Offers Many Benefits

The prototype is the step that comes after the design. Even if you have spent a lot of time and effort working with the PCB Artist software to create what you believe to be the ideal circuit board, there could still be some issues. You might not see them, and they might even slip through a review. The only way you will know if there are problems is to check the board in the real world.

Doing this will allow you to see how it works in practice when it is in one of your devices. Whether this is for a small, personal project or it is a large project for a commercial device, prototyping is needed.

Let’s look at one of the reasons why you’ll need to be sure that you have a prototype of your circuit boards. Let’s say you have a board that you have tested virtually, and it works without a problem. However, there are a lot of components and you haven’t thought about how small and tight the housing is for your device. There is a chance that the board could get too hot and start to overheat. This is not something that you want to discover after you’ve shipped thousands of the product to your customers.

The prototyping will provide your circuit boards with the testing that is needed. It is not a step you will want to skip, or you could come to regret that decision.

One of the reasons some people do not prototype and test their board after it’s been reviewed and undergone virtual testing is time. They worry that getting a prototype and testing it in the real-world will end up wasting a lot of time. When you order through Advanced Circuits, you can receive your prototype circuit boards quickly. However, even if you didn’t, it would still be in your best interest to test a prototype because it can still help you save time and money down the road.

If you don’t prototype and you send out a board that doesn’t work properly, it’s going to come back to haunt you. It would mean you might have to replace the boards that are in circulation and that you need to rework the board before you can manufacture and ship more. This would take up a lot of time and effort. It would also mean that your customers may not instill as much trust in you as they did in the past.

Prototyping and testing ensure you aren’t surprised by anything that happens with your circuit boards. While there could still be problems depending on how the end consumer uses those boards, you can be sure that they are designed correctly before they are “out in the wild,” so to speak.

You will find that it becomes easier to ensure a great circuit board design when you work with us at Advanced Circuits. We provide the PCB Artist software for creating the design and we can provide an engineering review. This helps to reduce the risk of having circuit boards that do not work properly. However, it doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t still benefit from ordering a prototype first.

Don’t Become Complacent

Ideally, when you receive your prototype, you will find that it works flawlessly. It means that you’ve done a great job with the design and now that you’ve put it through its paces, you are ready to put it into full production. You might create several subsequent designs in a row that have perfect prototypes, too. This is great news, but it doesn’t mean that you can forego prototypes on your future designs.

Each design is its own challenge, and this means that you need to prototype them all, no matter how much experience you have. It is the best and only way to ensure that everything is working properly. Even a relatively “small” problem could hurt the reputation of your company.

What If There There is a Problem?

When you test the circuit boards, you might find that there is a problem. If there are issues, you will want to rethink the design. Figure out where the problem stems from and what you might be able to do to rework your design to get it to work properly. Remake it in the software and get another prototype to ensure that the problem is fixed. It can take some time to get everything right, but it is worth putting in the extra effort. It will ensure a better end product.

Do not make the mistake of skipping the prototyping phase. When you work with Advanced Circuits, we can provide you with a board quickly, so you can test it before going into production We have a lot of experience in this field and are one of the largest PCB companies in the United States. We know and understand what it takes to create excellent boards that can work in even the most trying conditions. In addition to software and a review, we utilize quality materials. You will love our prices and our quick turnaround time. You can get in touch with us today to learn more.

Why Investing in a Prototype Board is Essential

Even for those who have a huge team of designers working on their circuits, tiny mistakes and unexpected problems can occur which create a threat to the final functionality of the product. Team engineers will likely use a prototype early on in the design phase to test all of the functions of the circuit board solutions.

Often, many prototypes will be used to test single functions or redesigns as things move into more complicated territory. Prototyping is a solution that lets people discover problems early and correct them so there is no need for more expensive solutions down the line.

Types of Prototypes Commonly Used

When we say prototype, what this means is that an early sample of the final product is made specifically to test the design to ensure it works. Most of the time, prototypes are used to test basic user functionality. However, engineers may need more robust prototypes to test the complete functionality of a design.

Many different types of prototypes can be used for specific parts of the design. In numerous cases, several of these will be used in the design process. Some of them include:

• Visual Models – These are used to make an illustration of the physical design of a circuit board. They will show the shape and structure of the components. Engineers will typically use these early in the process to communicate and review the design simply and inexpensively. PCB Artist software by Advanced Circuits lets them handle this as the software is already filled with thousands of parts.

• Proof of Concept Prototypes – This second type of prototype will focus on replicating the main function of a person’s circuit board but without bringing in every capability that the final product will have. The reason to use this sort of prototype is to determine the viability of the main functions. This can then be built off of for the final item.

• Working Prototypes – A working prototyping board is a functioning item that has all of the features and functions that should be included in the end product. These boards, also offered by Advanced Circuits, help people determine any weaknesses or issues in designs. However, they typically do not resemble what the final product will look like when complete.

• Functional Prototypes – This is the final type of prototyping board that will be used during design and testing. A designer will make this board resemble exactly what the final product will be like. This is the most accurate option for ensuring a product works precisely the way someone needs it to.

Reasons to Work with a Prototyping Board

Designers use prototypes several times in the process of design to test functionality with any changes or additions. However, some people might wonder why they should use a prototyping board before a production run. While prototypes add costs and steps to the process, they also serve many essential functions. Below are a few of the advantages of using them.

• More Efficient Project Completion –When someone uses prototyping boards like the ones from Advanced Circuits, their team has a chance to notice problems quickly to identify any components that need to be adjusted. Without using prototyping, determining why performance is low or other issues are present can take a lot of time. This can result in having issues releasing their product when they wish to do so.

• Potential for Lower Costs – Another of the top reasons to use a prototyping board during the design phase relates somewhat to the previous one. We talked about how someone’s design team can find errors more quickly, which also means they can be resolved immediately. This means that all problems can be fixed before moving into the production run. This is far less expensive than having to completely reproduce a product later.

• Option to Individually Test Components – When someone is working on a product with a high degree of complexity, it’s essential to have the option to test every component. This and validation of the parts lets their team determine where potential issues might lie. Without testing each component individually, it can be challenging or even impossible to find certain problems.

• Higher Level of Reliability and Accuracy – Using a quality prototyping board will make it simpler to uncover issues while developing a product. The best circuit board prototypes will represent the functionality of a product accurately. These prototypes also let designers view and test the circuit board design, do conditional testing, apply functional testing, and try the final product design.

• Assistance with Manufacturing and Reviews – Using circuit board prototyping services lets individuals benefit from having new eyes on their product from someone who is a third party. This can help for many things including design rule check limitations, design blind spots, and excessive input. These types of issues can create inefficiencies, design flaws, and other problems that designers may not be able to see themselves when reviewing the product.

• A Reduced Timeline to Release – When creating a new circuit board design, engineers will go through several iterations, including testing, before the final design is made into a working product. This can take time but a prototyping board can help in several ways. It offers visual assistance so someone can easily communicate a design. It provides complete testing so issues can be easily resolved. It also minimizes the need for rework before full production.

Whether someone needs a single prototyping board for a facet of their design, a large number of them, or wants to invest in high-quality circuit boards when their design is complete, Advanced Circuits is here to help. We offer standard and custom orders for businesses of all sizes. We also provide free layout software and a file check to make the job easier!

Use Quality Software for the Design

Using PCB Artist or similar software will help to make the design process much easier. It will be easier to keep track of all of the different elements and components that you need for the design. The software makes it possible to see the design in a new light and to quickly make changes, rename elements, and test to see whether it will work. While the software won’t do all of the work for you, it will help to make the process smoother and faster.

Double Check Spacing

Many designers like the idea of making their circuits as small as possible. It will help to reduce space, but it’s not always the best solution. You still need to be sure that you have enough space between the components that it will be possible to solder and assemble the board. Quality software will often make it easier for you to virtually see where the components will be. Add enough space to work on the board if needed, but still keep it relatively small. SMT helps make it possible to reduce the size without the need to cram all of the components tightly together.

No Right Angle Traces

Another tip to keep in mind for your circuit designs is to beware of how you are placing traces. If they are placed at 90-degrees or right angles, it will often be hard for designers to ensure they are uniformly wide. Instead, it tends to be a better option to use 45-degree angles. These are a better width, and you’ll find that they won’t overcrowd the circuit design.

Make the Loops Small

Loops in your circuit design should always be as small as possible. This is particularly true when it comes to high-frequency loops. When you have smaller loops, it means that you have lower resistance and inductance. When you place the groups over a ground plan, it will help to reduce the inductance even more.

Smaller loops work well to reduce voltage spikes, prevent noise from being coupled into the circuit, and reduce signals that could cause problems with the overall design.

Placing Decoupling Capacitors

Another thing to keep in mind with circuit designs is where you’re placing decoupling capacitors. Typically, they should be as close to the power and ground pins of integrated circuits as possible. Doing this will help to improve the efficiency of the decoupling capacitor. When they are placed too far away, there’s a chance that it will add stray inductance.

Identify Heat Generating Areas

With many circuit designs, certain areas will produce a lot of heat. When a circuit has to handle a large amount of heat, there is the potential for that heat to damage the PCB. One of the easiest ways to help dissipate the heat is by adding heat sinks or coolers. This can help to keep the board cooler.

Additionally, when designing the board, it’s a good idea to move any of the crucial PCB elements away from heat sources. Keep in mind that the circuit might not be the only part of the device that’s generating heat. Consider where the circuit will be placed in the device and be sure that it’s not going to be too close to other heat-generating locations.

Remember the Importance of Prototyping

You might start your design by making a prototyping board or breadboard. This can be a good way to start, but even after you’ve completed your initial design, you need to make sure it will work in the real world. By using software like PCB Artist, mentioned above, and then getting an engineering file review, you’ll have a better idea of the viability of your circuit design.

However, you can’t — or at least you shouldn’t — start production quite yet. Instead, you’ll want to place a small order of PCBs that you can use as practical prototypes. These are boards that you can use on your devices to see how well they work in the real world. Sometimes, you’ll find that all of your work has paid off and it works well. Other times, you might notice some things that you can change to make the PCB even better.

Perhaps you can find a way to make the circuit design more effective and have less latency, for example. Maybe you find that you need to add a different component to meet the actual needs the device will face when it’s in use by one of your customers.

You might have to rework your circuit design, or you might find that it’s already in good shape. Once you feel it’s as good as it can be, you can then talk with Advanced Circuits about production.

These are just some of the ways to help improve your circuit designs. The more you learn about designing circuits, the easier it will become to create better and better PCBs.

Why Choose Advanced Circuits?

What makes us a good choice for your PCBs? We have a lot of experience in the field and are the third-largest PCB manufacturer in the country. Advanced Circuits prides itself on being able to meet the needs of customers and exceed their expectations. Whether you need only a small number of PCBs or you need to have thousands of them, we can help. We have a large facility that can provide for all your manufacturing needs, large or small.

We have a fast turnaround time, so you can get the PCBs you need in a matter of days. Whether you are looking to go into production or you just want some workable prototypes that you can test, it’s easy to get what you need with Advanced Circuits.

The boards have holes in them that let you add components to create your circuit. Depending on the type of board, you can attach them with or without solder. There are many different types of boards available including perfboards and breadboards. It’s important to have a basic understanding of what each of these is and when they might suit your needs.

Perfboards

These are thin sheets that have holes in them at the same interval that you would expect from a circuit board. Square pads cover the holes. Some of the lower-cost boards will only have pads on one side. Others, although they might be somewhat more expensive, will have the pads on both sides. Choosing from the better quality options for your prototyping board is always a good idea.

Once you have a plan for your circuit, you will then make a schematic that you will then use as a blueprint to build onto the perfboards. When creating the layout, be mindful of the spacing on the board and keep notes about what you’ll be placing and where they will go.

Once you have a good design drawn out, you can place the components onto the board and solder them. It’s a good idea to avoid using too many wires; otherwise, the design can look messy and be difficult to understand. If you’ll be presenting the perfboards to someone to examine, you’ll want them to be as clear as possible.

While perfboards can be helpful, these prototyping boards require solder, and they can only be used once. This can mean that mistakes could become more expensive than with a breadboard.

Breadboards

Breadboards are more popular than perfboards, and they are usually considered the go-to prototyping board option. These boards have holes similar to those on perfboards, and you’ll be using those holds to place your components. The modern breadboards are solderless, which is nice. The spacing on the board between holes is 0.1 inches, and the components can simply be placed onto them.

Since you aren’t using any solder, it means that they are reusable. It’s a good option for temporary prototypes to see if your design has merit. These tend to be quite popular with students and those who are just learning about designing circuits. However, they can be used by those who have a lot of experience with circuit design, as well. They are a helpful tool.

Although these prototyping boards can be helpful when determining the veracity of a design, many people want to use other means of determining how effective their design will be. They want to know that the design works in the real world in the devices that will ultimately hold the circuit.

Moving Beyond the Prototyping Boards

Although prototyping boards and breadboards may be a good way to start your design, you’ll soon want to move into the digital world and use software like PCB Artist to complete the printed circuit board design. Some people begin with software and no longer use the old-school prototyping boards. Ultimately, it’s up to you.

Using software like PCB Artist from Advanced Circuits is a good way to ensure that you have a design that will be easier to read and that will be viable. The software allows you to “see” and test the circuit to see how it works. You can quickly and easily make changes and adjustments to the digital version of the circuit as needed.

Many designers like the freedom that software can provide. Since it’s virtual, it doesn’t require any solder or any actual components. PCB Artist has more than half a million components that can be added to the design. It’s easy to see how they work together, and you can even receive a file review from an engineer before going into production.

Order a Completed Prototype

However, even if the digital prototype passes muster and looks like it’s good to go, you might still want to order a prototyping board. Remember that the real-world use of a PCB may be different from what it would face in a simulation or even with a breadboard. Ordering a couple of prototyping boards that are essentially the actual PCBs that you’ll be using is important. You will want to do this before you move on with production.

When you have a design that you like and think will work, order a few prototypes from Advanced Circuits. Then, use these prototypes in the devices in the manner that you or the customers would use them. Put the PCBs through the paces to see whether they can stand up to the rigors of actual use. Take note of how they perform. You may find that you hit it out of the park with the design. However, you might also find some problems that you’ll want to address. Perhaps the board gets too hot, for example. Maybe a heatsink or rearranging the components could help.

Make the changes that you need, get another prototyping board, and test again. This may seem to take a bit longer, but it’s better to know if there are problems now rather than when your customers start to complain about failing devices.

Going into Production

When you are certain the design is as good as it can be, it’s time to move into production. Always entrust the manufacturing and assembly of the PCBs to a company with a good reputation like Advanced Circuits. We have been in business for a long time and have built a solid reputation. We have our own manufacturing facility, we have the best, quick turnaround time you’ll find, and we strive to ensure our customers are happy with the results.

Using the Right Software for the Design

One of the benefits of technology is that it has made many aspects of circuit design faster and easier. In the past, the design could take a long time simply because of the tools being used. However, quality software in recent decades has helped to streamline the process. This makes it possible for engineers and even amateur circuit designers to put together workable designs in a fraction of the time it used to take.

You always want to start with the right software, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on it. To make matters easier and more affordable for you, Advanced Circuits offers PCB Artist. This is design software that will make laying out and designing PCBs much easier.

The software contains a library with more than half a million parts. It also features native Eagle import, multi-page schematics, a controlled autorouter, and the ability to create circuits with up to 28 layers. The software is easy to use and contains a host of features to make the process of circuit design simple. Best of all, this software is entirely free. It can be downloaded and will run on most computers without issue.

When you use the software, you can create a design in less time and with less expense than you would with other pieces of software. You can also submit your design to Advanced Circuits for review. The engineers can see whether it has any issues and can fix them or point them out to you before you place an order.

Why You Need to Prototype

Too often, people and companies try to rush through the design process even though they know better. They want to get their products to market as soon as possible. However, this often backfires on them. They end up with a lackluster design that’s not as good as it could be. Yet, they’ve already moved on with manufacturing and now have thousands of those circuits they need to use.

All of this could have been avoided had they only taken more time with the design and ordered prototypes to see how they work when they are used in real scenarios. Once you have a design that you like, place an order for the prototype. When you order through Advanced Circuits, there is no minimum order. It makes it easy for you to get a couple of prototypes that you can test.

Take a moment to think about the problems that could arise if you don’t take the time and put in the effort to prototype. You could get PCBs that you believe are ready to go. You might add them to the devices you’re selling, package them, and ship them out to your customers. Everything might seem right on track for a month or so, and then the PCBs start to show design problems. While it’s always possible for a PCB to fail for one reason or another, there shouldn’t be mass problems across all of your devices. If this happens, how many more times do you think your customers will buy from you?

This could cost you a lot of money, all because you didn’t take the time to get the design right. It’s often better to slow down on the design process to ensure that the circuit design will work properly.

Get the Circuit Design Right

Make sure you have a circuit that is capable of doing exactly what you need it to do. Get your prototype and put it through the rigors of the real world, so you can see how it behaves. Make notes and see if there is anything else you might need to do to the circuit design to improve it.

If you find some elements you could fix, move back to the design stage, and then get another prototype. If you are certain the design is as perfect as it can be, however, you can move on to the manufacturing stage.

Advanced Circuits Offers Manufacturing

You’ll be happy to know that Advanced Circuits does more than just provide quality software, engineering review, and creation of your prototypes. We’re a full facility that can manufacture as many circuits as you might need. If you are a small company or an individual, just order what you need. If you have a larger company and you need to place an order for thousands or tens of thousands of PCBs, we can help with that, as well.

You won’t have to wait long to get your boards, either. We’re the third-largest PCB manufacturer in the United States, and this means that we can provide you with a fast turnaround no matter how many PCBs you order. We can take care of the manufacturing and assembly of all of your printed circuit boards and ship them right to your door.

We pride ourselves on being a reliable company and providing our customers with the best service possible. This is why we provide free quality software for circuit design. Buyers will also be happy to know that we aren’t a broker. We don’t farm the assembly and manufacturing process out to others. We do everything right in our own facility.

Advanced Circuits has the best on-time PCB shipping record, so you can be sure you’ll get your PCBs when needed. And, because we’ve been around for many years, we’re financially stable. You won’t have to worry about us disappearing in the middle of an order. Get in touch for a quote today to see what we can do for you.

A lot of people talk about using a prototyping board to help them figure out their designs and requirements and to see whether their ideas will function in practice. Unfortunately, some people are misled into thinking that this means there is only one prototype. The process of designing and creating circuit boards, including printed circuit boards (PCBs), involves multiple stages and at least three or four different prototypes before a final design is sent to production. It’s this kind of testing and planning that can save a small fortune and a lot of stress.

The Hierarchy of Prototyping

Every project starts with a concept or idea. There is no guarantee that even the best ideas will function in the real world, which is why they need to be tested. It can be tempting to just build something and put it out there, but that’s not reliable or effective. At best, people will luck into only having a few minor issues and not losing a fortune in quality control. At worst, well, companies have gone belly up just from hitting the market without appropriate testing and prototyping.

This is why every stage of the process has its own prototype, from the visual design to the functional end product. The visual prototype serves to provide an impression of what the PCB will look like in the physical sense. It shows dimensions and spatial requirements and allows engineers and designers to look at the finer details of how they can actually put the board together so that it is functional, efficient, and does the work that it needs to do.

Once the visual design has been nailed down, the project will move onto the concept phase. This is when the general idea or concept of the board will be tested. For example, if the primary function of the PCB is to provide data storage, the data storage abilities will be tested, while other features and functions won’t be activated until later. It also probably won’t resemble the final design just yet, but it’s getting closer. This process is just about making sure that the concept of the board works.

Circuit boards that have been approved for visual design and concept will then move onto the functional or working prototype phase. This is where they will create a prototype that functions similarly to the end product, but without all the finishing touches. Essentially, the testing of the major functions is done at this point and there may still be final adjustments to come.

The Final Design

Now, and only now, will projects be turned into a final prototype that is essentially a replica of the end product, in all aspects of function and design. This ensures that the PCB can be tested as a fully functional product before being mass-produced. The great thing about PCBs is that when surface-mount technology is used, they become very easy to replicate, which makes automation an affordable, efficient solution.

However, if designers are not testing their final designs before sending them to production, they’re still risking a significant amount of money because of potential quality control issues. Not to mention that their reputation could be at stake if things go too seriously wrong. It’s simple, affordable, and fairly quick to create a prototype for testing to save all the hassle and expense of putting out an untested product.

Even once the product has been put into a “final prototype,” it can still be tweaked, changed, or scrapped entirely if it turns out that it doesn’t deliver after all. There have been many projects that have made it to this point passing the various tests, but once all the elements came together, it just didn’t work out. Being able to print and test a single prototyping board will save a lot of hassle and money for everyone.

Using Surface Mount Technology

The best modern circuit designs include surface mount technology. This technology is designed to allow components to be soldered directly to the surface of the board, rather than having to drill through-holes. This allows for more components in a smaller space, as well as the use of both sides of the board. For prototyping, it becomes even easier to develop concepts and prototypes to be tested before projects are sent for final production.

Surface mount technology has been in use for decades, but it is only now becoming commonplace in mass production and the manufacture of electronics on a scale that is affordable beyond the large corporations and global brands. Today, every company has access to PCBs with surface mount technology, and with the team at Advanced Circuits on your side, you can order single prototypes for every stage of your projects to ensure that designs are flawless before production.

Surface mount technology makes products more reliable, increases the efficiency in manufacturing, improves quality control and ease of replication, and so much more. It just makes sense to take advantage of this technology to create even more effective PCBs that can perform better and be produced more efficiently, because everybody wins.

Let Advanced Circuits Help

Whether this is your first project or just your latest, let Advanced Circuits work with you to plan and prototype your PCBs throughout your design process. Our team of experts will be able to help you come up with the best designs and most effective solutions, no matter what electronics or components you are trying to create. We have experience with all types of prototypes and PCB projects and can help you get started.

Of course, before you dive into full production, you want to ensure that the PCB functions properly and that it is designed in the best and most efficient way possible. All the drawings and plans in the world can only tell you so much, which is why prototyping is such an important part of the process. If a board fails after production, it’s going to be an expensive fix. If you catch the problem ahead of time, it can save a lot of money, stress, and time for everyone.

Why Do Prototypes Matter?

It doesn’t matter if the best person on the team designed the PCB because small mistakes and invisible problems almost always come up at some point. Having a prototype is a way to identify these problems right away in the process and get them resolved before full production. In many cases, there may need to be more than one prototype until the PCB is perfected. Some people worry that this can get expensive, but when you work with the right companies, the prototyping process can be affordable and easy.

This is why Advanced Circuits offers the option of single prototype boards. These runs allow users to test functions and make sure that boards are in their best working order before moving on to the final design or adding other features. It can also allow them to see where features do need to be added or removed, saving hassles after production or even avoiding serious component failures.

Why prototype? Because it saves time, money, and effort.

Avoid Simple Errors and Mistakes

Even the best set of eyes can overlook something simple. Even the best tests can miss a bug that wasn’t visible. There are so many different things that can go wrong with technology. For, as great as it is, it is also fickle and can become a serious hurdle for many companies in the production process. With the ability to create prototypes, companies no longer have the stress of an entire production run on their hands when something does go wrong. Plus, it gives the prototype the chance to see more eyes and hands so that it gets more comprehensive testing all around.

Test Out New Features and Functions

One of the biggest benefits of PCB prototyping is that it gives companies the ability to test out various functions and features that they may want to implement. After all, most ideas sound good, but you never know how well they will translate until you implement them. Something that seemed like a great addition might turn out to be a bust after all. Something that didn’t seem like it would work could be a great idea. It’s all about trying it out. That’s where the value of the prototype can truly be appreciated.

Different Types of Prototypes

Another thing to consider is the style of prototypes that are available to test various aspects of a project. Engineers and design teams will use any number of prototypes to inspect and test their designs before implementation. There is the most commonly known functional prototype, which is the closest to the finished product to provide the most accurate design. This, however, doesn’t usually come up until late in the development process.

The visual models are what people see first. These are designed simply to show the shape and structure of the components and PCBs and are used to help come up with an affordable, simple design that works. Once the visual aspect is handled, they will move on to a proof-of-concept prototype. This is one that focuses on being able to show the function of the PCB without having all of the capabilities or components in place.

Essentially, the proof-of-concept is about making sure that the idea and primary function are on point so that further development can continue. After development is finished, a working prototype will then be developed. This includes all of the planned features and functions of the PCB, as well as everything that users will expect to see and use in the final product. This helps to identify problems or weak spots in designs to improve upon for the final product.

It’s all about testing. The more affordable and straightforward the testing process, the easier it will be for companies to produce efficient, affordable PCBs that deliver results without major quality control issues.

The Perks of Prototyping

When you prototype a PCB, a lot of hassle and effort are saved on production. It also helps reduce the timeline for production and overall implementation, because so much can be done through the testing phases to eliminate issues later on. It also gives a more accurate, reliable sample to test to ensure that the part is up to par and delivers the performance that people need. It gives everyone in the organization more time to review the products and come up with better solutions or identify potential issues, too. Essentially, it just makes sense to prototype, no matter what kind of PCBs are being built.

At Advanced Circuits, we’re dedicated to helping everyone get more from their prototyping, from concept to final production, and at every step along the way. We’re familiar with all of the different types of prototypes out there and can help you with everything from single runs to small batches for testing, and more. Contact us now to discuss your projects and partner with our team of experts to get even more efficient, affordable PCBs and prototypes for your needs, no matter what types of components you have in mind.