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.

Use Software to Design the Circuit Boards

Modern software has helped to make it easier to design printed circuit boards. It has cut down on the amount of time it takes, not to mention the number of errors that would need to be fixed. Software, such as Advanced Circuits’ PCB Artist, will make it nice and easy to create just the board you need. The software will let you create your circuit boards virtually. You can add and remove components as needed and test them in the software to get a better sense of how they would work.

This is a nice benefit for designers. It allows for the creation of a range of interesting and new designs far faster than it would be with a breadboard. It’s possible to find problems and errors in the board even before it goes into prototyping. It becomes possible to save time and money, which is helpful for anyone whether working as a hobbyist or creating circuit boards for the latest and greatest electronic gadget.

If you want to have the best possible design for your circuit board, our PCB Artist software is an ideal solution. Even better, you will not have to pay anything for the software. It is available at no cost to those who need to use it. You can use it to create the files for your circuit boards, and then have them sent to us to be manufactured. We even provide a review of the files to ensure they are ready to be made. This cuts down on potential errors even further.

The software we offer is intuitive and easy to use. If you have any experience putting together circuits, even minimal experience, you should not have any trouble with it.

Always Use Good Design Protocols

One of the issues that some designers come to find when they are creating circuit boards is crowding. Boards today have the potential to do quite a bit. However, there is often the temptation — especially with new designers — to put too many components onto the PCB. While it might seem like a good idea to make the best use of space, too many components could be a problem. Typically, these problems will arise during the testing phase. Therefore, you will want to be sure that you do plenty of testing.

A better option is to think simpler. Consider what the circuit board needs to do and make sure it can do that with as few components as possible. It might mean needing an additional board or even redesigning the device. Still, finding the cleanest design possible tends to be the best option. It can reduce problems later.

Also, consider how the components are mounted on the board, along with your trace angles. It’s a good practice to use 45-degree trace angles. This can help to reduce the amount of overcrowding that you might have otherwise.

One of the main problems that can come from overcrowding a board is overheating. If there are too many components on the board trying to do too much, there is a good chance it will overheat. Even with the fans that might be in the device already, there is still a chance that it could overheat. It’s best to use the right design principles and protocols in the first place rather than trying to add more fans to keep things cool with your circuit boards.

Check Your Prototype

Once you believe that you have a great design, you will want to order a prototype. You should test this prototype (or several of them) in real-world situations with your device. See how they work in practice, not just in theory. This will give you a chance to see if there are any issues that weren’t discovered during design. It’s better to realize that you have a problem with overheating on your prototype before you order 5,000 units from the manufacturer.

If you notice there are issues, it’s time to head back to the drawing board and make some changes. However, don’t jump the gun and think that those changes were all you needed. It’s best to err on the side of caution and to continue with another prototype round. Test it again and put it through all of its paces to ensure it will work properly no matter what you put it through.

Choose a Quality Manufacturer

Ideally, you will have chosen a great company to make your prototypes that can also manufacture all of the circuit boards you need. This will be a better solution than trying to find two different companies. Fortunately, Advanced Circuits can provide you with what you need. You will be able to use the free software and take advantage of the engineering review. You can order some prototypes to see how it all works, and then you can place your main order.

You will be happy to know that we have some of the best and fastest service in this field. You can often get your orders within days of placing them. We strive to make it as easy as possible for you to get high-quality circuit boards quickly and easily, and at prices that you can afford. We work hard to ensure that you get the best possible service no matter the size of your order. To stress this, we don’t have an order minimum. Order as many or as few as you need. Get in touch 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!

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.

The Pros of Prototyping Board Design

Although the world of technology moves quickly, it also moves intelligently, or at least it should. This means that before a circuit board can be used in electronics, it should go through plenty of testing to ensure it does what it is supposed to do. The best way to do this it by prototyping the board design.

Going through a prototyping phase allows you to see whether there are any issues with the board that will arise when it is being used. You can note the errors and places where you can make improvements to the board before going into full manufacturing mode. Once you have your design created and sent to Advanced Circuits, for example, our engineers will test the design. This helps to ensure that everything is working as it should.

You will also find that prototyping the board design will help you to save time and money. If you find that there is a problem with the board early, it will be easier for you to make changes to get the board to where it needs to be. You won’t have to worry that your boards don’t work and that you will have to go back to the proverbial drawing board after you’ve ordered a few thousand of them.

You will also have more peace of mind knowing that your design works even before you place an order for one. This makes projects far easier to handle from the design perspective, as well as giving you confidence in your design.

The Cons of Prototyping Board Design

There aren’t many cons when it comes to using prototypes. However, it will depend on how you prototype the board design. If you are using a breadboard, which is what many people do because it’s relatively simple and it is how many people learned, it can cause problems.

The problems stem from the fact that these breadboards tend to have limitations compared with prototyping a board using software. They tend not to be a good option if you are working with a design that has high voltage or that is extremely complicated. It can also be difficult to “map” exactly what you are doing, and this could lead to mistakes down the line. Software, on the other hand, can catch these issues and eliminate them before you have a test board manufactured and sent to you.

You will also find that breadboard prototypes have trouble dealing with higher and more precise frequencies. Since boards today utilize surface mount technology that thrives with higher frequencies, it might be difficult to make a viable prototype using a breadboard. The breadboard strips also typically have a high resistance and could cause stray capacitance that can cause problems with the prototype. You might end up with a board that should work but doesn’t, simply due to the limitations of the board.

Fortunately, you can use software that can help to mitigate the problems of the standard, traditional breadboard.

Prototyping Board Design Using Quality Software

There are many software options available today for designing printed circuit boards. While we might be biased, we believe that our option, PCB Artist, is the best. It helps make the prototyping and the design of boards much faster and easier. It allows you to test out different designs and components to ensure everything on the board works well together and it can provide the results you need.

While there are some expensive PCB software options available, this doesn’t mean that they are the right choice. Because we offer a full manufacturing facility, and we want to make sure our customers get exactly what they need, we provide our software free. You won’t have to pay anything to use PCB Artist.

Just because the software is free does not mean it lacks in features. We have more features than the paid software many people are using. This is a fully-featured piece of design software that offers free, live technical support.

It’s professional-grade software that is sure to provide you with a faster and easier method of designing your boards. Some of the features of the software include a controlled autorouter, component autoplace, individual colored nets options, ratsnest connections optimization, and multipage schematics.

Once you design your board, you can test it to make sure that it works. We even provide a free engineer review to ensure it will work. If you would like, you can then order a handful, or even just one of the boards. It can be sent to you so you can then put it through its paces and make any changes that could be needed to improve the board.

Our goal is to make the process of getting quality boards that work as simple and as fast as possible. You will never have to use another plastic breadboard again.

What’s Right for You?

Unless you are 100% certain that your boards are perfect and that there are no potential issues that could arise, you should consider getting a prototype. It allows you to look for any small details that you might have missed. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Take the time to check out Advanced Circuits to see everything that we have to offer in addition to the PCB Artist software. Our manufacturing facilities are state-of-the-art, and we can provide you with a fast turnaround no matter how many boards you might need to order once you are sure your prototype works. Learn more about our services and facilities to see why we might be the right solution for your needs.

You need to take your time to think about just what you need the board to do and the components that will be required. You also need to consider the benefits of having a prototyping board that you can use before you move on to manufacturing on a large scale. Even if you only plan to have a relatively small run of boards, using a prototyping board to ensure that everything is just right is essential.

Let’s look at some of the biggest benefits that a prototyping board can provide.

What Makes Using a Prototyping Board a Good Solution?

No matter how long you might have been designing PCBs, you know that there is always the risk of making a mistake during the design process. This is truer today than it was in the past because the PCBs have become so complex in recent years. Mistakes can do more than just be an embarrassing moment for a designer. They can cost a company a substantial amount of money. They can cause delays in manufacturing, damage to the electronics they are meant for, and more.

Prototyping boards is a way to reduce the risk of making these types of mistakes, whether they are large or small errors. Prototyping the board is made easier when you utilize quality software, such as PCB Artist from Advanced Circuits. This software is free and has a full range of features to make creating the board as simple as possible. There is a large component library, and it allows the designers to tweak the design until it is as perfect as it can be. They can then send it to Advanced Circuits for a free review from the engineers to see if there are any hidden issues.

Once they are satisfied that the board will work properly, they can then move on and order one or more physical boards. There is no minimum order through Advanced Circuits. This means that you can get just one or a handful of boards to test in real-life situations with the electronics. You can see if there might be hidden issues or if there are problems with overheating, speed, etc. After you are sure the board works well, you can move on from the prototyping board and order as many as you need.

While this might seem like it adds some steps to the process, consider the alternative. If you believe that you have a good board and order 4,000 PCBs for the electronic devices you plan to ship, what happens when they don’t work? What if they cause overheating issues? Your customers would be irate, naturally. Prototyping and testing help to reduce these types of expensive problems.

When you order through Advanced Circuits, you will also find that we have a very fast turnaround time. Whether you are placing a large order, or you just need one board, they can be delivered to you quickly. It’s the best solution. You will reduce issues and you could even reduce the manufacturing costs.

Why Choose Advanced Circuits?

We understand that you want to make sure that your boards are working properly and that you receive them quickly. Advanced Circuits is one of the top manufacturers in the country and we have a very fast turnaround time, regardless of how many boards you might be ordering. If you only want to order a couple of your initial boards as prototypes, so you can see how they work in practice, you can. You could even order just a single board if you would like, as there is no minimum.

Additionally, we utilize high-quality materials. You can rest easy knowing that only the best quality components will be going into the boards you design.

We Make It Easier with Great Software

Most circuit board designers today know that it is best to use software that can help to design the printed circuit board rather than trying to use a breadboard. However, that software can be hit or miss. Sometimes, it can be extremely expensive.

Fortunately, we have a solution that’s available for you, as mentioned. Best of all, you won’t have to pay anything for the fully-featured software. Our software, PCB Artist, has features that you won’t find even with some of the expensive options.

We have a large library that you can use for designing the prototype. It features more than half a million parts. With the software, you can create up to 28 layers, which should be more than enough for most designs. It utilizes Gerber format files, and it is easy for you to check your work to make sure the board is working properly.

It is an easy-to-use piece of software that can change the way you work, and it can even speed up the process. If you don’t have a powerful computer, you don’t have to worry. Even a relatively modest computer should not have any trouble running the software, and you only need half a gig of RAM. Most people who have even a passing familiarity with this type of software will be up and running in no time.

Prototyping Boards Make Your Life Easier

Ultimately, you want to prototype your boards to make the process as simple as possible. Advanced Circuits can help you with each step along the way. You have the idea, and then you can design it with our software. Our engineers can check the design and you can move forward with the manufacturing once you are certain the board is what you need. Whether you need to order a large number of the boards, or you only need a few for a special project you are doing, we make it nice and easy. Get in touch with us today to see what we can do for you.

Know Your Goals with the Printed Circuit Board

Before you start to design the PCB and long before it can go through the circuit board assembly process, you need to be sure that you know what the board needs to accomplish. Different types of boards may have different functions. Some might be relatively simple, while others may need to handle more functions. Those who have complex needs from their boards will likely need to use multilayer PCBs. This will allow for more functionality in less space.

Take the time to determine what the goals are for the board before beginning the design. Designers will find that having a solid plan in place even before heading to the software will help to keep them on the right track.

Sometimes, the design that you create will not work as intended. It’s always better to find this out in the early planning and designing phase rather than when the boards are being printed. Take the time needed to perfect the design. A good plan and the right software will help with this.

Use Quality Software

When designing the boards, you will want to be sure that you are using quality software that is made specifically for PCBs. Good software can help to make the process of designing easier, and some programs will even offer the ability to check the files before they move to the circuit board assembly process. They can find errors, and some software can fix certain errors to make your work easier.

If there are potential problems with the design, you can go back into the software and make the needed adjustments before you move to the process of circuit board assembly. This helps you save time since you won’t have ordered a prototype that doesn’t work and then try to figure out why. Once you are certain that your board is in good shape, you can then get a prototype or have a large number of the boards manufactured.

Generally, you will want to have prototypes done first. Order just a single board, or a few, and test them out. See how they work, how they stand up to different situations, etc. This will let you know if you need to do any further design work before moving into the manufacture and circuit board assembly phase.

Of course, many will worry that prototypes will be difficult to get because some manufacturers do not want small orders. When you work with Advanced Circuits, you will not have to worry about this since there are no minimum orders. We also provide an engineering check to ensure it will work, and you can use our free software to design the boards.

Hire a Professional for Manufacturing and Assembly

After you are certain that you have a circuit board with a good and usable design, it is time to assemble the boards. However, you may not want to attempt this on your own. Consider just how much time and space it will take to perform circuit board assembly, even for a few hundred boards. If you have thousands, it will be next to impossible for you to do on your own unless you already have a facility dedicated to production.

This is not the case with most designers, so it makes more sense from a logistical and financial perspective to work with professionals like Advanced Circuits. If you were to try to set up an assembly facility of your own, you would need to have additional space and likely additional employees. Also, there would not be a guarantee that the circuits were working properly.

You need to have a manufacturer that has the space, expertise, and tools available to manufacture the circuit boards. Outsourcing the circuit board assembly is typically the best option. Of course, you can’t entrust your boards to just any manufacturer.

Why You Should Work with Advanced Circuits

You now have a better understanding of why you will want to work with professionals and why you need to have a quality design to start. It is time that you connected with Advanced Circuits. Our company is the third-largest printed circuit board manufacturer in the United States.

On our site, you can download our free software for designing your printed circuit boards. This helps to make the process of designing faster and easier. This is not just some simple software, either. You will find that it is a professional-grade software that has more features than many paid programs. It is easy to use and it includes a free online file check that lets you look for any manufacturing issues that might be present before going into production.

Advanced Circuits is known for being reliable and providing quality PCB fabrication. Additionally, we are financially stable, which means you will not have to worry about the company going out of business.

We are known for using quality materials, providing reliable PCBs, and having a fast turnaround time. Our experience helps to ensure that the boards are made and assembled correctly and that they reach you quickly. We also have around-the-clock tech support, so you can always talk to an actual human when needed.

If you need professional printed circuit board assembly, it is time that you got in touch with us. We have the means and the expertise to help you get what you need quickly and easily. Check out the software, get a quote, and get your boards faster than you might believe.

PCB designers today can create impressive boards that have a lot of capabilities. Whether you are a designer looking to create a board for a personal project or you are a designer on a team creating the next great gadget, it is important to ensure the design is right before moving ahead with manufacturing. A huge part of that process is getting a prototype PCB.

What is a PCB Prototype?

A prototype is the initial realization of your design once it is complete. After you or your engineers have created a PCB in the design software, it is still theoretical if it has not been tested. While some of the software options available, such as PCB Artist from Advanced Circuits, can virtually test the PCB and locate and fix errors, it is still done virtually. Even with a check of the files by engineers, you will still want to have a prototype.

This will give you a real-world example of your board, which you can put to use. This allows you to see how it handles its job when it is applied. For example, the design might work in theory, but you might discover that the housing for the electronic device you are creating does not provide enough ventilation and the board overheats. You want to see how the board works, and the prototype allows this.

Do You Really Need a PCB Prototype?

You might be thinking that you could get away without getting a prototype. After all, you want to get to production as soon as possible. However, this is not a step you will want to skip. Imagine how much money you could lose if you were to buy 5,000 boards all with the same flaw that you could have detected with a prototype. Even though it might take a few days extra to get the prototype and to test it, you will find that it is well worth it. You do not want any unwelcome mistakes making it into production.

When you are creating PCBs, it is important to work with a company that can provide you with small runs of boards without it costing you an arm and a leg. Check to see the minimum number of units you can order. If they do not allow you to order small batches or just a single unit, you will want to look for a different company.

Benefits of the PCB Prototype

When you have a prototype, you will likely be going through several different versions of the board before finding the solution that works the best. Prototyping helps to ensure how these work in real-time, and they will take the guesswork out of production. You will see whether they need to be changed or not, which helps to minimize the number of revisions you will ultimately need. This will reduce your timeline, which means you could still get to production faster since there will be fewer problems. The prototyping allows you to perfect your design, and if there are errors, it will often be easier to see where those errors are located and how to fix them.

Additionally, when you use a service like Advanced Circuits, you will find that there are helpful reviews along the way that can reduce the risk of errors in the first place. The software can catch many of the errors and fix them, and so can the engineering check. This means that it is likely that the prototype will work perfectly when you get it, so you can then move on to production. However, likely does not mean always.

What If the PCB Prototype Does Not Work?

There is always the possibility that the prototype will not work properly for one reason or another. If you get a prototype that does not work and that matches your design, it is not the end of the world. In fact, it means that you have avoided a costly mistake. Finding the errors now ensures that they do not make it through to production. Prototyping will reduce the cost of production because you will not have those errors.

Maybe the prototype gets too warm in the housing you are using, as mentioned. Perhaps you realize that you aren’t getting the power you need. Finding out all of these issues so you can make changes now during the prototyping phase is important. Look at any errors with your prototypes as ways to learn and improve your design. You will find that the more you design PCBs, the better they become, and the fewer errors are made in the early stages.

Let Advanced Circuits Provide Your PCB Prototype

Now that you have a better understanding of why having a prototype is important, it is time to move forward with your project. You should always make sure to work with a quality company like Advanced Circuits for your prototypes and for your full production of PCBs. We have decades of experience in the field, we are the third-largest PCB company in the United States, and we can provide you with quality boards quickly. You will find that it is hard to beat our quick-turn PCBs. In some cases, we can have items shipped out the same day that they are submitted to us.

Choosing a quality company like Advanced Circuits helps to ensure your boards are perfect, which means whatever you are making with them will be top-quality!