When working with circuit design and creating printed circuit boards, many best practices can prevent having to continually alter and change the boards. Some of them are common knowledge while others might teach you something new that you can incorporate into your next PCBs. We want to focus on tips that will make a huge difference in your creation process and let you speed up your work.

Consider Orientation, Space, and Accessibility

One of the best tips we can offer you with circuit design is that all the components that you add to a board should be given a bit of space between each other. It might seem satisfying to place every part right next to another, but you also need room for wires to spread out. Keep in mind that components with fewer pins will need less space. Having extra space can also help with auto-routing since soldering will be simpler.

You also need to think about the orientation of parts when you place them. In general, the best tip here is that components should have the same orientation as each other. There’s a good reason for this practice. In most cases, the parts have a standard pin number system where pin one is found in the left upper corner. When orientation is the same between parts, it will prevent later mistakes in soldering and inspections.

Accessibility is also crucial, especially for nodes that are the most important in your build. Even when you have a great design and have gone through prototyping with products from a company like Advanced Circuits, you might do testing and see something isn’t working the way it should be. You’ll want to measure the signal in the PCB during the circuit design process. Be aware when designing the PCB about what points will be most important to troubleshoot and make them accessible. If this isn’t possible, make sure a test point is connected to them.

Check Component Sizes, Exchange Wiring Directions, and Select Line Widths

When you have an idea of how you want to lay out your components during circuit design, one option is to print out the layout. You can then take the parts and place them on top of the page to make sure they match. In some cases, this can save a ton of time since datasheets aren’t always 100% accurate. Another option is to use the free circuit board design software by Advanced Circuits to ensure your build is exactly the way it should be.

Assuming you are making a circuit with several layers, it’s best to swap the wiring directions as you go between the layers. For instance, one side of the layer might have horizontal traces while the other side uses vertical traces. This is an important tip since it helps facilitate the wiring or lines that need to pass over others. Alternate direction when using several layers for the best results.

PCB width will vary based on your project. A larger width is going to reduce the level of resistance, which means that it will also create less heat. It’s important to choose the width of lines you are sizing based on how much current is expected to flow through them. Several online calculators can help with this process. As you might guess, power lines should have more width than other lines since they will carry a larger amount of current.

Special Considerations for Power Circuits

When creating a power circuit, the number one tip is to ensure your power and control grounds remain separate. Large current spikes and high voltage can create interference in the control circuits, which aren’t designed to handle as much current and voltage. This is the main reason that the control ground and the power ground should be kept apart in any power supply stage. If they need to be tied together, it should be toward the end of the supply path.

For those who need circuits with several layers, it’s best to place the control ground somewhere in the middle layer during circuit design. The power traces can be placed on the top layers, while the bottom layer can handle the control traces. There’s a genuine reason to lay out your circuit in this manner. The middle layer will have a large ground path that helps prevent interference from the power circuits for better protection.

While this applies to any type of PCB, it is most important when designing and creating a power circuit. You want to ensure the width of the wire for the power supply is sized based on how much current will go through it. The reason this is essential is that a wire that is too small can generate additional heat and damage or destroy the wires.

Let Professionals Handle the Hard Work

Whether you are creating a prototype or the final PCB for a circuit design on a product you want to offer, there are many things that can go wrong. That’s precisely why working with professionals can be a great idea. Companies like Advanced Circuits have decades of experience and understand the ins and outs of PCBs. The company can manufacture PCBs of all sizes and levels of complexity to make your life a little easier.

As we mentioned earlier, Advanced Circuits provides software to design PCBs. They also have a FreeDFM file check, PCB Artist software, and more. The company has been leading the PCB industry for more than 25 years and has high-quality standards using the most innovative technology. Whether you need a small number of PCBs or tons of them for a major project, we can offer you a solution that meets your needs.

Prototype Challenges

The trouble is that a PCB prototype can be a costly endeavor, particularly when production issues are added to the equation. As an example, many manufacturers employ the following practices, which make PCB prototypes difficult to build.

• Lengthy production times – A cheap, fast production process is highly desirable where PCB prototypes are concerned. After all, it is key to product testing and design tweaks. Yet very few manufacturers offer a fast turnaround – such as one to five days – and it forces firms to rethink their options and skip a PCB prototype or product redesign.
• Order minimums – Too many PCB makers demand a minimum order quantity, which means the production of a number of the same PCB prototypes. This is a substantial waste of money and requires the company to find a use for – or flatly discard – a batch of PCB prototypes.
• Expensive design system – Hiring engineers and designers, investing in complicated and costly software, using printed films or evaluating digital files…these all cost a great deal but are typical steps in a standard PCB prototype design process.

The entire production process of any prototype PCB or standard PCB (from generating blueprints to making the substrate, printing the layers, UV hardening, copper removal, laminations, inspections, pressing, drilling, plating, imaging, etching, soldering, and silk screening stages and testing) will take a lot of time and generate a lot of expense. And yet, producers offering something like a one-day turnaround time are greeted with skepticism.

Considering the challenges of PCB prototype processes, that skepticism is wise, but there are producers capable of such feats. The team at Advanced Circuits, for instance, has a history of making the production of a PCB prototype, as well as full orders of PCBs, affordable, fast, and fail-proof.

How do they do this? They use unique tools and production methods that allow them to consistently rank at the top of the industry.

The Advanced Circuits PCB Prototype Production Process

The struggles of designing and producing a PCB prototype are even more complex than those points outlined earlier. For example, a PCB prototype runs the same risk of trouble if it runs beyond a single layer. There may be problems in the design that negate the functionality between layers, and this could render the PCB or PCB prototype unusable.

What can be done to facilitate an easier process? Advanced Circuits has created a PCB prototype process that overcomes most of the common concerns and hurdles. It includes:

• No minimums – With the ability to order a single, affordable PCB, the idea of quick prototype design is a reality. One-day turnarounds are an option, and this means that a company’s production or design processes are not significantly interrupted.
• Free software – One major concern for many companies is their need to invest in high-priced, high-tech design software. Advanced Circuits makes advanced options available entirely free of charge using their industry-recognized PCB Artist software. This software is available in an unrestricted format and comes with tutorials to speed up the learning curve. It also includes a discount when designs are run through the program – even a single PCB prototype order. Simply download the free software and use the program to create a prototype of up to 28 layers, using any of the half-million parts and components in the software’s built-in library.
• FreeDFM evaluation software – In addition to the advanced design software, there is a simple-to-use option that allows a client to upload Gerber files and have them analyzed and corrected. The software also generates a report indicating potential roadblocks.
• CAM engineer evaluations – All products are evaluated by one of the in-house engineers long before production begins, helping to eliminate costly mistakes.
• Software-based ordering – Running the design through the free software allows for immediate ordering. A PCB prototype can be generated within the software, go through the FreeDFM and CAM engineer reviews, and receive a discount just as easily as a full batch of PCBs can.
• Full tech support – Advanced Circuits offers 24-hour tech support that features direct access to a CAM engineer to help troubleshoot PCB prototype or standard design dilemmas.

After all these features are used, a PCB prototype is typically prepared for error-free production. Advanced Circuits then makes the product at the most rapid pace imaginable. As an industry leader with decades of experience making PCB prototypes (as well as huge production batches of PCBs), they are suited to companies of any size.

Advanced Circuits Offers Other Benefits for PCB Prototyping

Their immense facility provides production and assembly through a streamlined and cost-efficient process. In addition to their PCB prototype services, they also offer the following:

• Full support – Unlike many other manufacturers, their team works with you every step of the way. They begin with a quote based on initial design spec uploads and walk all clients through to the final production and assembly phases.
• Clear pricing – Also, unlike many other producers, they do not ask for stenciling fees, setup fees, and other sneaky, but ultimately unnecessary, charges.
• Quality – While many in the PCB industry approve of Advanced Circuits’ array of design resources, they also appreciate the inspection process beginning with a full CAM review before any manufacturing begins, as well as visual inspections of the final circuit boards produced.
• One-stop production – Everything takes place in the same place, from design tools, quality checks, design and production services, assembly, and anything else that’s needed to turn out a quality PCB prototype the first time.

A PCB prototype is just as important – if not more so – as the final PCB produced for a product line. Either way, the most affordable and hassle-free approach should be used, and a one-stop option like Advanced Circuits can be an invaluable partner in any company’s design and production process.

There are modern software solutions that can help to do that level of checking and bring the creation of useless printed circuit boards to an end. They guarantee your work is heading into production without errors, and they are often called Gerber file viewers.

Should You Run Printed Circuit Board Designs Through a Gerber File Viewer?

Standard PCB design uses Gerber files. Most involved in the industry know all about a Gerber file and how to read one. It enables standardization in design and eliminates glitches caused by any attempts at merging different kinds of files.

Are PCBs so complex? Printed circuit boards are found in and also contain electronic components. They may feature resistors and capacitors and run complex or simple operations. Circuits are mounted to the board, and the various elements within a board communicate through conducting materials like copper lines.

Gerber files detail these connections and components and will show the many layers that printed circuit boards may require to do their job. Gerber files, however, may also be used by PCB printing devices to make the boards. They may guide the production of a PCB directly from the design, depending upon the information within the files.

To date, there have been three generations of Gerber files:

• Standard Gerber, RS-274-D was the first generation
• Extended Gerber, RS0274X was the second generation
• Gerber X2 is the latest generation and also often includes metadata

A single Gerber file corresponds or details a single layer on printed circuit boards, one file for each layer, including inner layers, as well as top or bottom signal layers. Historically, manufacturers would work directly with designers and go over the Gerber files to ensure no issues. Today, things have changed, and a manufacturer may whip up a batch of printed circuit boards without evaluating or scrutinizing the Gerber files.

As many recognize, this can lead to a lot of trouble. Flawed layering, failed communications, and other issues may leave an entire batch of PCBs useless to the buyer. Fortunately, the use of a Gerber file viewer may save the day.

Using the Gerber File Viewer

Gerber file viewers were designed and created to address the issue of flawed PCB design. Today, there are many types of Gerber file viewers on the market that allow PCB designers to see how the various layers will operate as a physical PCB.

While there are many programs, Advanced Circuits makes an entirely free tool of this kind available to its customers. It requires a quick upload of Gerber files into the system and is free whether or not the user is a registered customer of the company.

Known as FreeDFM, it does a comprehensive evaluation of the design. It looks at all of the inner layers and evaluates such issues as spacing, trace width, annular ring, inner clearance, and thermal reduction. It also analyzes the outer layers’ similar areas, checking spacing, trace width, and annular ring. It looks at physical production issues like drilling and evaluates solder mask for undersized or missing clearances. It checks the silkscreen for line width.

After this comprehensive review, it generates an easy-to-understand report in a PDF format. It provides its full findings of the Gerber file review, and while it may make some basic repairs, it also identifies issues that a designer must address. For example, one of the more common design flaws is missing or incomplete data. FreeDFM will ensure that files have the required data.

One of the most significant benefits of the Gerber file viewer is its ability to correct common design issues automatically. It fixes small issues on-the-fly, cutting down on designer’s workloads and delays. The information taken from the evaluation also helps to generate an accurate quote for PCB production.

Additional Benefits

The free Gerber file viewer is an ideal tool for error-free production. Yet Advanced Circuits also offers an array of other services and resources, including:

• Fast service – Speedy turnaround time and fast shipping ensures that customers get their PCBs quickly.
• Custom orders – Custom orders are welcome for PCB prototypes or full batches.
• No tooling charges – When an order features Standard Specifications, tooling charges are waived and similar fees are canceled on reorders of Standard Spec as Custom Spec items.
• No minimum orders – There are no minimum lot requirements, meaning that clients are not forced to invest in huge orders with more PCBs than they might need or used.
• Not a broker – The company never subs out their work, but instead, relies on their top-of-the-line, 62,000-square-foot facility that guarantees the kind of quality and speed most customers want but don’t always get.
• 24-hour support – Customer service around-the-clock is great, but they also feature a live tech support team that allows design teams to speak directly with a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night.
• Best shipping record – Advance Circuits has the best on-time shipping record in the industry, and they are now shipping 50% of orders early! In fact, they say they “put our money where our mouth is . . . and we ship Standard Spec orders on time, or they’re FREE!”

Whether it is a new company seeking a maker of printed circuit boards or a long-standing firm eager to up the quality and experience with a PCB manufacturer, Advanced Circuits has the resources needed. With free evaluations through the Gerber file viewer, designs will be better than ever, and PCBs can be as innovative or as simple as needed and always reliable.

When they do custom PCB design work, they know that there are risks involved. The designs themselves might have tiny flaws that result in a batch of unworkable boards. There could be production delays and more. This is why so many look for the very best custom PCB design software and resources.

It Starts with PCB Design Software

PCB design software is an essential part of the custom PCB creation process. It often generates what are known as Gerber or IX274X files (they are one and the same). The very first phase in the production or manufacturing process, they are digital blueprints (though they can also be printed) for the board. Early in the industry’s history, the plans were printed on layers of transparent film that were color-coded to identify the different areas of the board and help to emphasize potential design flaws instantly.

This, clearly, was not an optimal approach because of the time and materials involved.

Modern computers and more advanced custom PCB design software have empowered designers to easily see the layers, make changes, and adjust the design. These designs are still similar in nature to plans used by architects and engineers. They look only at design and assembly processes, but they are unable to highlight errors or issues automatically.

Getting to the Heart of the Problem

What does this mean to the company in need of those custom PCBs? It means that even if using the very best custom PCB design software, there may be flaws in file types (including Gerber files) that result in unusable boards or lengthy and costly delays.

And this is particularly true in our modern age of outsourcing and production-only services.

As an example, a subcontracted manufacturer may handle the custom PCB Gerber files without recognizing a design glitch. Because they are a no-touch producer that just takes files and makes boards, it can often mean that the entire batch of custom PCBs is created, and only upon arrival will problems be recognized. Clearly, this will always create a financial, production, or scheduling dilemma.

This puts a lot of responsibility on firms using custom-printed circuit boards. It means they should find the optimal custom PCB design software and any resources available for avoiding major issues. It could be said that it also makes the company’s design team responsible for knowing where any flaws in their Gerber or other files might appear and how to best avoid such issues.

Does that sound like companies using PCBs have to find solutions even if they don’t yet know the problems? Yes, and it is vital to find manufacturers who support custom PCB design with risk-reduction solutions like evaluative tools and design resources.

Complimentary Custom PCB Design Software and Analytics

Advanced Circuits is among the most trusted and popular domestic producers of custom PCBs and prototypes. They provide full design-to-shipping services, as well as assembly.

More importantly, they are a company committed to ensuring their clients avoid expensive mistakes like those described earlier. They do this through an array of approaches, including an astonishing collection of free design tools and resources.

FreeDFM

Whether it is Gerber files or another design program, Advanced Circuits enables customers to export design files into the site’s free custom PCB file check software – FreeDFM. This runs a comprehensive analysis of the designs uploaded to the program. It sends the results to the specified contact person, including glitches fixed and issues left unaddressed but which warrant a red flag.

The program rapidly evaluates and repairs issues in the custom-printed circuit board design files, and tags “potential showstoppers,” or issues left uncorrected. This promises a waste-free process that eliminates delays or useless production runs. Running Gerber files before submission also provides a discount on a project.

PCB Artist

On top of evaluating plans, industry-best design software is also made available entirely free of charge. The custom PCB layout software, known as PCB Artist, is offered in its unrestricted format. It can be quickly and easily used to design custom PCBs with up to 28 layers, and each can feature elements from a library of more than 500,000 common parts and components. It is empowered with auto-routing design tools, digital schematics, and much more. This nearly eliminates any risks of a flawed design. These custom designs can also be sent through the file check to ensure error-free results and get a discount for the work.

Cut Down on Common Custom PCB Problems

Just what sort of issues will such tools identify and/or erase from Gerber files? The most common include:

• Conflicting layers – Gerber files feature design specifications at every layer. The designer has to ensure that the specs function synchronously or there will be errors at every subsequent layer.
• Missing data –Incomplete data is as damaging as missing data. Using the free custom PCB design software and checking services will indicate when details don’t line up with specifications or when there is mismatched information. Eliminating such errors will save a lot of time, money, and headaches.
• Flawed file names – It is not at all unusual for Gerber files to use a flawed naming protocol. This causes confusion within the process and can only be detected by file checking or troubleshooting ahead of the game.
• Empty files – Designers frequently move, erase, or negate data, and this inserts empty files into the process, increasing the risk of problems with the fabrication process.

Custom PCB design should be as error-free as standard design. There are reasons that such issues can occur, but with the free resources that Advanced Circuits makes available, such risks, delays, and problems are avoidable.

Today, a lot of overseas outsourcing has eliminated the one-on-one meetings and factory tours. Does it mean that there are no longer manufacturers who will uphold the standards of the past? The good news is that there are still manufacturers who can offer premier PC board design processes and match flawless production levels of the past. Some even have rapid turnaround times that compete with overseas providers.

Enjoy Optimal Results with High-Quality PC Board Design Tools

Advanced Circuits is a company of that caliber and is one of the most trusted and top-rated companies within the entire PCB and prototype assembly industry. Offering PCB manufacturing (fabrication) and assembly, they are particularly trusted for their PC board design.

Why? It all has to do with the fact that they are a full-service company with decades of experience and an array of services that have been crafted to improve and support any PCB project. These services include free resources such as:

Free PCB File Check – The FreeDFM program enables clients to run a free and fast design assessment of their pre-existing Gerber files or other design files. The software works easily and simply. The PC board design files are uploaded, and then the program evaluates the files and analyzes all essential data, automatically fixing some issues, and generating an easy to read and use report that explains what was fixed and where there may be other problematic issues. Clients who put it to use also enjoy a discount if they run the designs in advance of submitting them.

Naturally, there are many already using industry-preferred file formats, like Gerber files, and the free file checking program available from Advanced Circuits requires exporting these files from the program, uploading via the free online tool, and submitting the email where results should be sent. It takes only minutes, and a quote, discount code, and link to the PDF of the results will appear.

Free PCB Layout Software: PCB Artist – Customers enjoy entirely free access to this advanced software. It is a comprehensive PCB design tool that clients access in an unrestricted format. It is capable of up to 28 layers and includes more than 500,000 parts, a controlled auto-router function, multi-page schematics, and more. Entirely free to use, it is also user-friendly and is frequently described by industry experts as the best PC board design tool. Clients of Advanced Circuits enjoy complimentary use of the program to save money and time while avoiding unnecessary flaws or mistakes. PCB Artist comes with printable tutorials and video options that walk users of every level through the traditionally complex process of PCB design and manufacturing. This means that any concerns about the time spent learning the software or similar issues can be set aside. Instead, a faster and more efficient process for design can be used, and PCBs can even be ordered directly through the software.

Every order the company receives also enjoys the benefits of a complementary engineering file review before the fabrication process is initiated. This ensures that customers never experience the kind of hassles and costly mistakes that so many others have experienced when working with “no-touch” services common to overseas and outsourced projects. In such instances, clients end up paying for unusable work that had correctable design flaws overlooked simply because the designs were unchecked prior to the fabrication processes.

Even More Motivation for Doing PC Board Design with Advanced Circuits

While the many free PCB design resources are more than enough to demonstrate why Advanced Circuits is a preferred provider, there are even further reasons to entrust the PC board design and fabrication process to them, including:

• No tooling charges – When an order features Standard Specifications, they are glad to waive tooling charges and always cancel out such fees on reorders of Standard Spec as Custom Spec items.
• No minimum orders – There are no minimum lot requirements, meaning that clients are not forced to invest in huge orders with more PCBs than they might need or used.
• Not a broker – The company never subs out their work but instead relies on their top-of-the-line, 62,000-square-foot facility that guarantees the kind of quality and speed most want don’t always receive.
• 24-hour support – Customer service around the clock is great, but they also feature a live tech support team that allows design teams to speak directly with a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night.
• Best shipping record – Advanced Circuits has the best on-time shipping record in the industry, and they are now shipping 50% of orders early! In fact, they say they “put our money where our mouth is . . . and we ship Standard Spec orders on time, or they’re FREE!”

So, is it possible to enjoy error-free PC board design using the no-touch approach? The answer is yes, and it is far easier than many think.

There are many reasons to choose Advanced Circuits. It isn’t just the free tools, the fast turnarounds, and the expert help. They also look to partner with their customers during the process of PCB design and manufacture. Offering tools to make everyone’s job easier and more effective, it makes good sense to get in touch with them now. Their instant quotes and easy order tracking guarantee that your firm can obtain top-quality PCBs designed flawlessly and to the most precise specifications – and the order will arrive on time, or it’s free!

Writing them without errors, though, is easier than it may seem. Gerber files are digital blueprints for your PCB. They detail each layer and shape the fabrication process that will be used to make even the most innovative designs. Many producers demand Gerber files, even if they are an assembly-only part of the process. This is to ensure clarity on all of the physical attributes of a PCB.

This means that even a single mistake will lead to all kinds of delays, financial issues, production problems, and losses. If you are using a “no-touch” manufacturer or fabricator, it also means it is a “no review” production process. They don’t analyze your Gerber files or PCB design, and it makes it easier than ever for incomplete, flawed, or inaccurate Gerber files to make their way into production, resulting in a PCB that doesn’t work.

Is the Gerber file so wrought with potential disaster as to make it a problem? No, it is simply that there are common glitches that are easily overlooked.

Common Glitches to Consider When Working with Gerber Files

Many are unaware of the most common problems with Gerber files, but it is immensely useful to know about them when entering into the PCB design and production process. These problems include:

• Empty files – Any designer may unintentionally delete or negate file content, leaving a 0-byte file that offers no workable data for the production or fabrication team.
• Flawed file naming protocols – Among the most common concerns with Gerber files is the use of a flawed file naming protocol. Leading to confusion for others involved in the process, this also complicates file checking or troubleshooting.
• Incomplete or missing data – Empty files are one thing, but it is also possible for details or information to be lacking or mismatched against the specifications delivered to a manufacturer. It is crucial for Gerber files to be where they belong, accessible, and complete.
• Conflict between layers – Some software creates multiple Gerber files with design specs at every layer. Should those layers fail to be combined synchronously, it can lead to composite layer design errors outside of individual layer design specs.
• Aperture lists – When Gerber files are in use, it is best to have a single aperture list with details the fabricator or manufacturer will need, as well as specs relating to the tools necessary for each stage. Multiple lists can mean errors, and the format of the lists should be in sync with the Gerber file format, as well.

Those experienced in Gerber file creation may think of such mistakes as avoidable or inexcusable, but they are common events. They doom most projects to huge production costs, lengthy delays, and failure. Avoiding them requires attention to detail, the use of high-definition CAD programs, implementing the best quality assurance practices from start to finish, and using a Gerber file viewer.

Because problems are so common, the best PCB manufacturers and fabricators offer free resources to prevent such issues.

Advanced Circuits Offers Support for Flawless Gerber Files

Advanced Circuits is among the top names in the PCB and prototype assembly industries. With the ability to handle PCB manufacturing (fabrication) and assembly, it provides clients with services that help improve all projects, especially the quality of their Gerber files. This is done by making a range of free resources available that support the creation of projects from first phase to final product.

Advanced Circuits offers the following options:

• The Advanced Circuits website has free PCB file check software for those with complete Gerber files ready to enter production. Known as FreeDFM, it is a program that will rapidly evaluate printed circuit board design files, correct many issues, and send a full report that identifies any other issues that could present problems along the way. Those who use this tool get a discount for simply running the files through the program. It does require an import of Gerber files (via an online upload). However, the software is free to use, and it will utilize the registered email address to send all of the analysis (in a PDF report) as well as the discount code.
• PCB Artist As anyone familiar with PCB design and manufacturing knows, most customers rarely get to tour a fabricator’s facilities or work one-on-one to address issues or avoid common errors. Once a great way to prevent problems, the global nature of PCB production makes this impossible. This is why Advanced Circuits offers another resource – the free PCB Artist program. This has a long list of features that guarantee an error-free design process and includes unrestricted design capabilities with a 28-layer limit, a controlled auto-router function, multi-page schematics, and more. This is not the same as Gerber files but includes a full library of tutorials that help all users to create flawless files.
• Free Gerber file reviews, corrections, and reporting by an engineering expert.

Further Resources to Trust

While this array of design resources proves invaluable to many, Advanced Circuits also dedicates itself to client satisfaction and success in other ways. For example, work is never subcontracted, there are never tooling fees if an order sticks to standard specs, and there is 24-hour tech support provided by a CAM engineer. They make no minimum order requirements and have the best on-time shipping record in the industry, with many orders arriving ahead of schedule. They are so sure they can meet customer needs that Standard Spec orders are FREE if they fail to arrive on time.

Gerber files can be a major hassle, but the tools and services available via Advanced Circuits support only the best results. Avoiding costly errors and long production delays are a thing of the past when your files are created without errors or problems.

It also opens up the door to the risk of losses due to flaws in the PCB design. Even when top-tier PCB design software is used by a skilled expert, there can always be mistakes that a production team can recognize. The “no-touch” approach used by most subcontractors, though, allows for glitches because files are often received and run without evaluation.

The good news is that some domestic PCB manufacturers have the ability to offer one-stop production, including access to free, premium PCB design software, along with expert evaluative services.

PCB Design Software to Ensure Optimal Results

Advanced Circuits provides customers with PCB design software, and rates as one of the most well-known companies in the PCB and prototype assembly industries. We handle PCB manufacturing (fabrication) and assembly, but it is often our PCB design software and expert support that sets us far apart from the crowd.

A one-stop shop with more than two decades in the industry, we provide customers with exclusive services that support, facilitate, and improve any project. The resources available for the PCB design process include the following.

Free PCB Layout Software – PCB Artist – Whether novice or expert designers, customers are often delighted by the entirely complimentary access they receive to this innovative PCB design software. Unrestricted, it is capable of up to 28 layers and includes more than 500k parts, a controlled auto-router function, multi-page schematics, and more. Easy to use, it is a noted printed circuit board design tool throughout the industry.

Free PCB File Check – Whether or not the free PCB Artist software is used, there is also the FreeDFM program that enables clients to run a free and fast design assessment. The software uses PCB design software files uploaded into the system and then evaluates them fully. The program ensures files feature all essential data, automatically corrects some issues, and provides an easy-to-read and use report. Clients using it also enjoy a discount when they run the designs in advance of submitting them to the team.

If a customer is using Gerber format files, the PCB design software and File Check program can still be put to use. There are free uploading tools, and it takes only the submission of a client email to obtain the full evaluative report. It takes only minutes, and a quote, discount code, and link to the PDF of the results will appear.

End Problems Using PCB Design Software

Worried that you are going to have to relearn the use of PCB design software to enjoy the free tools and resources…as well as enjoy all of those benefits? Don’t be! The PCB Artist software comes with printable tutorials and video options that take even the extreme beginner through the complex process of PCB design and manufacturing. And there are experts on-call 24 hours a day to help.

Additionally, on top of the free file review software, every single order receives a free engineering file review before the fabrication process is initiated. What is this? An actual engineer examines the file and guarantees that customers never experience the kind of financially harmful outcomes they might have received via the more common no-touch services from outsourced work. Rather than an easily correctable design flaw allowed to go through and ruin a batch, the trained eye will detect issues and correct them before a project begins.

And, while the free PCB design resources made available on our website is enough to demonstrate why we are a preferred provider, there are many additional reasons to use and order through the PCB design software, including:

• No tooling charges – When an order features Standard Specifications, we’re always glad to eliminate tooling charges and cancel out such fees on reorders of Standard Spec as Custom Spec items.
• We are NOT a broker – Advanced Circuits never subcontracts work. Instead, we rely on our top-of-the-line, 62,000-square-foot facility that guarantees the kind of quality and speed most want but don’t always receive.
• 24-hour support – Customer service around-the-clock is great, but we also feature a live tech support team that allows design teams to speak directly with a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night and get answers about the free PCB design software or PCBs, in general.
• No minimum orders – There are no minimum lot requirements, meaning that clients are not forced to invest in huge orders with more PCBs than they might need or use.
• Best shipping record – Advanced Circuits has the best on-time shipping record in the industry.

Partner with Advanced Circuits for Error-Free PCB Design

Don’t spend a moment worrying about learning curves and other similar struggles for our free design tools. They are easy to use and include tutorials. Instead, get ready for a far more efficient design process, simple ordering, and discounted pricing. There are so many reasons to choose Advanced Circuits, and as you have seen, we go well beyond the free PCB design software. We ensure that any designs (whether received as Gerber files or another format) are without easily correctable mistakes. This saves time and money while keeping your firm on schedule. The free evaluation resources available include engineering reviews, and we make engineers available around-the-clock to help with any issues or questions.

It is difficult to beat this approach to PCB design and production, and with guarantees that orders arrive when scheduled (or they are free), it makes good sense to get in touch with Advanced Circuits and get your project started today.

There are many tools and resources used in the PCB layout, design, and manufacturing processes, and this leaves a lot of room for error and waste. One small glitch and production delays may occur, or entire batches of PCBs end up tossed into the trash. Thus, it is best to start with the best design and layout, and this is where software and experts can save the day.

Advanced Circuits offers an astonishing range of PCB layout and design tools that can almost guarantee a simple and flawless process. It all starts with the right file types…

Gerber Files and PCB Layout

IX274X files (typically called Gerber files) are the most commonly used for PCB layout and design. They are what we might call the first step in production and are often described as digital or physical blueprints for the printed circuit boards to be manufactured.

Typically, designers or engineers would print layers of transparent films or overlays that were color-coded to show the PCB layout and to support design evaluations. In other words, the layers could be looked at individually or all at once to detect glitches or shortcomings.

The creation of PCB layout software and programs gave designers and manufacturers the ability to eliminate the printed films and to begin to adjust the layers with greater ease. Though they might still be described as blueprints, Gerber files may still have design or function flaws.

Even if an expert uses the best PCB layout tools, there could be problems in the file, and it could cause a production delay or result in a batch of useless PCBs. This is particularly true if the PCBs are being made by a no-touch resource or outsourced producer. For instance, the overall appearance of a Gerber file or PCB layout may look acceptable to the untrained eye. A subcontracted producer may not even review the files but simply use them to make the entire batch of PCBs without any troubleshooting or evaluation. This can easily result in a long list of problems if there is a flaw in the design, including scheduling, production, and financial issues.

Use Optimal PCB Layout and Design Tools

This is why it is so valuable to find producers of PCBs able to offer services and resources that avoid such issues. For example, a tool that can evaluate a Gerber file and detect or even correct errors can be a lifesaver. At Advanced Circuits, clients can count on tools meant to ensure that PCB layout and design are exactly as needed, even correcting some errors, generating reports, and offering discounts along the way.

Here are a few of the tools Advanced Circuits offers to clients.

Free PCB Design Software and Analytics: As one of the most trusted domestic producers of PCBs and prototypes, Advanced Circuits provides full design to shipping services. There are also full assembly services that can all be put to use to ensure clients avoid costly errors. Using free design and evaluative tools, customers (whether using Gerber files or another design program) can export design files into the company’s free PCB file check software known as FreeDFM. They then receive a comprehensive analysis of the layout and design.

Then, the free software quickly evaluates and repairs problematic issues in the PCB layout and design files and generates a report of any questionable issues left uncorrected. Labeling them as problems, it ensures that a customer cannot waste time or resources on flawed or unusable batches of PCBs. And even more exciting is that those who run the Gerber files before submission enjoy a discount on the project.

PCB Artist: This unrestricted version of the leading PCB layout and design software is provided to all clients. It can be used to design PCBs of up to 28 layers and features a library of more than 500k common parts and components. This is in addition to the troubleshooting software and comes with such functions as controlled auto-routing design tools, digital schematics, and much more. It helps reduce risks of a flawed layout or design, and the files from this are also capable of the same evaluation and analysis.

Common PCB Layout and Design Issues

 What types of problems will the software evaluate and/or correct? The most common include:

Empty files: Designers frequently move, erase, or negate data, and this inserts zero data files into the process, which runs the risk of causing issues in the design and fabrication process.

Missing data: While an empty file is bad enough, a file with incomplete data is worse. Using free PCB layout software and checking services indicates when data cannot align with job specifications or when information is mismatched. Gerber files must not be without key data, so any opportunity to eliminate problems of this kind will save a lot of time, money, and headaches

Flawed file name: It is not at all unusual for Gerber files to be created via a flawed naming protocol. This causes confusion within the process and can only be detected by file checking or troubleshooting ahead of the game.

Conflicting layers: Gerber files feature design specifications at every layer. The designer must ensure that the specs function synchronously, or there will be errors at every subsequent layer.

There is no real reason for any glitches to occur in the layout and design processes, but there are many reasons for such mistakes to occur at other times. Accessing free resources like those from Advanced Circuits erases almost all risks and helps customers to ensure that their layout, design, fabrication, and manufacturing processes are moving smoothly and result in the PCBs needed for production.

• Far more functionality in the device – Surface-mount technology reduces the total weight of almost all PCBs. And yet, producing them is less demanding where labor is concerned, because it eliminates drilling and soldering to a great degree. This means lighter, smaller PCBs with less risk of malfunction.
• Compact and functional – SMT means smaller devices that work better and cost less.
• Automation – Using surface-mount technology allows any producer to leverage the benefits of mass-produced PCBs, resulting in higher-quality, better-performing PCBs.
• Lower costs and shorter production times – By eliminating several standard production steps, it makes surface-mount technology faster and less costly.

Can all PCB makers offer surface-mount technologies? Sadly, no, and that makes it important for any device makers or designers to spend time seeking out options for integrating SMT into their designing, manufacturing, and assembly processes.

At Advanced Circuits, all clients can access the long list of benefits that come from surface-mount technologies. While that alone is a good enough reason to explore our options, we also have a long list of complimentary tools and resources that allow buyers to make the very most of the technology.

Make the Most of SMT and Advanced Circuits’ Resources

As a leading name in PCB and prototyping, Advanced Circuits is also noted for its many free tools that empower SMT to the greatest degree possible. For instance, for the DIY, one-off, or by-hand SMT designers, there are SMT Solder Paste Stencils available. While not free, they are a unique option few others make available.

For those eager to use SMT tools and resources in their PCB designs, we have advanced design tools that enable easy integration of surface-mount technologies. It all starts with Gerber files. This is the most familiar and common file type used in the PCB production process, and whether or not a Gerber file is used often impacts whether the designs are left untested when sent in for production.

In fact, the process known as no-touch production is just that – the maker takes the files and produces them without any sort of engineering review. Buyers who work with brokered or outsourced systems encounter this issue regularly and face the financial risks of flawed designs.

An optimal producer should make an engineering review mandatory prior to beginning fabrication as it will identify any potential issues that might lead to delays or wasted resources. Advanced Circuits offers free tools for surface-mount technology designs that overcome these typical hurdles.

Free Tools for SMT Design

PCB Artist – Producers get 100% free access to a fully unrestricted version of this PCB design software. Its capabilities include management of up to 28 layers, a library of more than 500,000 parts, an auto-router function, multi-page schematics, and SMT support. This means it will meet even the most advanced demands. This software is consistently recognized as an industry-best PCB design tool.

FreeDFM– In addition to nearly fail-proof design software, clients can also use this free rapid design assessment software. Amazingly intuitive and easy to use, it ensures that all essential data is available; it can also provide corrections to common design issues. It generates a full report of its findings and can manage complex surface-mount technology designs as well as standard designs with soldering and drilling. Once it completes reviewing the design, it promises an error-free product, and this is why those who use it get a discount if the design is submitted through the software. It can do a full conversion to Gerber format in only a few minutes, provide a quote, and extend the discount code.

Standard Services – Those who use Advanced Circuits to produce PCBs also have free use of the traditional client services. This means that every SMT order receives a full CAM engineer review, ensuring your design of any level of complexity receives a full and expert evaluation and any adjustments needed.

Partnering for Success

In addition to all of this complimentary expertise, further benefits of a partnership with Advanced Circuits include:

• No tooling charges – When an order features Standard Specifications, we are glad to waive tooling charges and always cancel such fees on reorders of Standard Spec and Custom Spec items.
• 24-hour support – Customer service around-the-clock features live tech support that allows design teams to speak directly with a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night.
• Best shipping record – Advanced Circuits has the BEST ON-TIME SHIPPING RECORD in the industry. We’re now shipping 50% of orders early! In fact, we say we “put our money where our mouth is . . . and we ship Standard Spec orders on time or they’re FREE!”
• Not a broker – We never sub out our work but instead count on our top-of-the-line, 62,000-square-foot facility to guarantee the kind of quality and speed many want but don’t always receive.
• No minimum orders – There are no minimum lot requirements. Clients are not forced to invest in huge orders with more PCBs than might be needed. Prototyping is an option, even with SMT features.
• Custom and private client pages – Look through past orders, see the specs and details, look at quotes from other jobs, and even review hold notices, test certifications, and a long list of other helpful reports.
• Stability – With more than two decades of work in this industry, a healthy bottom line, and many dedicated clients, we are among the most stable of providers, guaranteed to be around for years after your projects are completed.

One More Plus

The production plant also has to be seen as a benefit because it allows 100% in-house design, production, and assembly. Not only is this efficient, but it promises the level of familiarity and attention to detail that few SMT producers provide.

Incorporating surface-mount technology into your PCB design is a practical and innovative way to get the most out of any design. It used to be a premium element and demanded a bit of risk. Advanced Circuits gives you the tools and resources you need to create high-quality PCBs every time.

However, if you do not make use of a quality Gerber file viewer, you may find some issues. Even after you have spent a long time making sure that the board has been designed perfectly, it is still possible for errors to exist in the Gerber files. It is very frustrating to have this happen.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to find and handle these problems before they take control. In addition to having a quality design from the start, using a Gerber file viewer to locate issues is very important. Even if you are creating a relatively simple circuit board, you will find that having a file viewer can help to cut down on errors. Even the best designers and engineers can make mistakes. Viewing the Gerber files can help to ensure those mistakes do not persist and cause further problems.

What Are Gerber Files?

Before delving into how a file viewer can help, it is a good idea to have an understanding of what Gerber files are and why they are important. The files are considered the industry standard for printed circuit boards, which means they are what everyone knows and uses.

It has become the industry standard because Gerber is robust and able to describe a range of different circumstances regarding the board that everyone who is familiar with the file system can understand. It also makes it easier to send files out to a manufacturer because everyone is working from the same base. The Gerber file format should be used to ensure there are guidelines for the manufacturer. It describes the components of the PCB image, communicating the information to the manufacturer in a way they will understand.

Over the years, there have been several generations of Gerber files. These include the first generation, RS-274-D, which is also often called Standard Gerber. Extended Gerber, RS0274X is the second generation. The most recent Gerber file format is called Gerber X2.

Easily Check Your Gerber Files

Creating high-quality designs does not always mean you haven’t made any errors. There could still be issues that a Gerber file viewer can help to find so you can fix them. At Advanced Circuits, we offer a PCB file viewer, which makes it easy for you to add your files and view them. You can quickly and easily find out if there are any problems with the files before you move forward. One of the best features of our file viewer is that it can correct some types of problems automatically. This helps to speed up the process even further.

Our free file viewer software is very simple to use. Once you have exported files from the software program you are using to design the PCB, all you need to do is load them onto our site’s file viewer. It is a free system, and you can get your results very quickly. Just add your email address, so the results of the check can be sent to your email.

If there are issues with the design, you will be alerted in the results that are emailed to you. The report that you receive is graphical and very easy to understand. If there are remaining problems, you will know exactly what you need to address. As mentioned, it is sometimes possible for the software to fix certain issues automatically. In the results, you will find out if any issues were automatically corrected.

One of the other benefits of using Advanced Circuits is that we also provide free PCB Artist software. This is an ideal solution for those who need a quality, reliable program to create their printed circuit boards from the ground up.

If there are issues that were not corrected automatically, you will at least know where they are located. This allows you to go back to the proverbial drawing board, so you can then fix the issue or issues on your own.

Being able to check the files helps to eliminate the risk of trying to send through files for production that have errors in them. For anyone who is working in the field and even those who might be making a few prototypes for personal projects, errors cause delays. When projects are delayed, they can cost money, not to mention a substantial amount of frustration. Using a high-quality Gerber file viewer helps to cut down on these issues substantially.

How Else Will Advanced Circuits Help You?

As mentioned, Advanced Circuits also provides PCB Artist software, which makes it faster and easier to create a high-quality PCB design. It is powerful and easy-to-use software that is entirely free for those who want to use it. There are other benefits to working with us that you will discover.

We can provide a speedy turnaround time for those who are looking to have their PCBs manufactured. Not only are we able to manufacture quickly, but you will find that we are also able to ship quickly. We have been in the field for years and have become not only one of the largest companies in the industry but also one of the most trusted. There are no minimum orders when working with us, either. Whether you need one or two boards or you need 10,000, we can provide you with the help you need throughout the project.

Regardless of where you are in your design for a printed circuit board, it is time to check out all that Advanced Circuits can offer. From design software to a Gerber file viewing, manufacturing, and more, we have what you need. Get in touch and make sure that your board is error-free and ready for printing.