common pcb design mistakes – Advanced Circuits | PCB Manufacturing & PCB Assembly https://www.4pcb.com/blog Printed Circuit Boards and PCB Assembly Manufacturer Blog Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:57:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Better Printed Circuit Board Designs and Manufacturing /blog/better-printed-circuit-board-designs-and-manufacturing/ Fri, 18 Sep 2020 19:36:39 +0000 https://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=2242 Continue reading ]]> Printed circuit boards are a major part of everyday life. Even though people might not see the bare circuit boards on a regular basis, PCBs are responsible for a substantial amount of what people see, do, and enjoy. There are circuit boards in phones, tablets, computers, televisions, vehicles, and most other electronics. The boards might be simple, or they might be highly complex, but they are pervasive.

Those who work in the field know this and they are well aware of how important circuit boards are, and they are always looking for ways that they can improve on their own designs. Below, you will find some tips that can help with printed circuit board design.

Use PCB Design Software

In the past, designing printed circuit boards was more time-consuming and difficult than it is today. Now, it is possible to find and use design software created for printed circuit board design. The software allows designers to construct the software in a virtual space. They can add and remove components as needed and then test them in the digital space to see whether they would work properly in the real world.

This gives designers the freedom they need to create new and interesting designs while allowing for testing to weed out the errors and problems from the board. The software can be a huge time saver and money saver for companies, and for individuals who might be making their own boards as an amateur or hobbyist.

Best of all in this day and age, you can find great software and you won’t have to spend a dime on it. PCB Artist from Advanced Circuits is fully-featured software that will make it easy for you to create the boards you need and to test them. Once you have created the boards and have the files you need, you can send them out to be manufactured.

Proper Spacing on the Board

Many times, new designers will try to pack as many components onto a PCB as possible. They may think that it will provide them with the best use of space, but that is rarely the case. Often, it simply means there will be more problems down the line when the board is tested. When components are too plentiful or too tightly spaced, it can cause issues with heat and with the wiring and soldering processes. Instead, it makes sense to have a printed circuit board design that is as clean as possible. By orienting similar components in the same direction, it can help with proper routing, for example.

Working with software, as mentioned above, is a good way to let you “see” the design first. You can also make sure it will work with your current spacing before committing to the design.

Consider the Trace Angles

The angle of the traces will be important, too. Many people create 90-degree traces, but this is not an ideal option. In fact, this could cause problems. Many boards designed by professionals will instead have 45-degree traces. This is something that you should strive for with your printed circuit board designs. The 45-degree traces help to relieve overcrowding as discussed above, and it can also help to improve the transfer speeds.

Be Aware of Heating Issues

Heat is often a problem for printed circuit boards. Designs need to account for proper heat dissipation, which can vary depending on the device type. You will want to examine any components that might be considered problematic from a heat perspective. You might also want to add thermal reliefs to the design as a means to help keep it somewhat cooler. Other elements in the device can help to keep the board cool, such as fans. However, you should do what you can on the board to reduce heat issues in the first place.

Choose a Quality Manufacturer Offering Great Materials

You should consider not just the initial printed circuit board design, but also what happens once you have a design that is complete. You need to have a reputable manufacturer create the boards for you. Regardless of whether you are only printing a few of the boards or you need thousands, make sure you choose a manufacturer that can deliver.

You should look for a company that uses high-quality materials and that has been in the field for years. Learn about the company’s reputation, the certifications it has, assembly services, and the overall capabilities.

Having a great design is essential, but if you do not also have a great manufacturer that can deliver on your design, it will not matter. Do not neglect the importance of a great manufacturing company for your printed circuit boards.

Once you believe you have found a good manufacturer, it is a good idea to order a prototype or a small batch. This ensures you are not spending a large amount of money on your first order, and allows you to test out the boards to ensure they are of sufficient quality. You do not want to make the mistake of ordering 10,000 PCBs from a company that you have never worked with or tested before. You need to know what you are getting before you commit.

Get in Touch with Advanced Circuits

Above are just some of the things that you will want to keep in mind when you are creating printed circuit board designs. When you work with Advanced Circuits, you will find that we can make many parts of the process much easier for you. We offer free high-quality PCB software to help with your designs and testing. We run engineering tests on the designs before manufacturing and will make you aware of any issues that might be present. Advanced Circuits offers excellent customer service and ensures that you are getting what you need, when you need it. Our quick turnaround time means you will get your boards quickly. Over the decades we have been in this field, we have strived to provide the best service possible for all of our customers, large and small.

 

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Eliminate PCB Design Errors Up-Front /blog/eliminate-pcb-design-errors-up-front/ Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:13:33 +0000 https://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=2198 Continue reading ]]> In this modern era, printed circuit board design is an essential step in most electronics production processes. This is why PCB design software is also a must in almost any production process. And yet, many firms still want to cut costs through the use of a subcontracted or outsourced producer. This erases the opportunity to visit the production facility, discuss the overall design of the PCB, and puts quality control far outside of a buyer’s hands.

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.

 

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Tips to Simplify & Streamline the Circuit Board Design Process /blog/tips-to-simplify-streamline-the-circuit-board-design-process/ Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:17:55 +0000 https://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=2135 Continue reading ]]> Designing circuit boards requires an understanding of more than just circuit functionality. It also requires that you understand how the board will fit within the application, what the item will ultimately do, how heat will be dispersed within the board and throughout the environment, and a great deal more. Whether you are designing your very first PCB or you’ve been at it for some time, the tips below will help improve your circuit board design.

Make Troubleshooting Easy

There will come a time when you need to troubleshoot functionality within your board. Make sure that important nodes are accessible. This will require that you plan ahead – which points will be important to your troubleshooting? How accessible are they? Is there a test point connected to those parts? Looped test points are often the simplest to use, too, and can easily accommodate a test probe with a hook. However, there are numerous other types of test points that may be used depending on the probe type you want to use.

Loop Size

Speaking of loops, it’s important that you don’t go overboard when it comes to their size. Keeping them small helps ensure that you avoid some specific issues. The smaller the loop, the lower the resistance and inductance. You should also consider placing your loops over a ground plane to reduce inductance even more. Smaller loops will reduce high-frequency voltage spikes and the number of signals in the node.

Space

It’s tempting to cram as many components on the board as possible. However, one of the most important rules of circuit board design is this: leave ample space between components. There are several problems inherent with putting your components too close together. One of those is that you may inadvertently leave too little room for wiring. Each pin must be connected, so the more pins a component has, the more wiring it will need and the more space around it to accommodate those wires. You will also find that when you leave enough space between components, it’s simpler to solder in place, and auto-routing is also easier.

Orientation Matters

Soldering mistakes can quickly turn a simple project into a massive headache. One way to help eliminate those mistakes is to place your components with the same orientation. In most cases, pin 1 is located in the upper left corner. Keep this orientation throughout the entire circuit board and you’ll find that you experience fewer errors during the soldering process, and that it also makes inspecting your completed circuit board simpler, too.

Size Traces Appropriately

Copper is going to play a significant role in your circuit board design. However, what your software doesn’t really show you is the amount of resistance within those copper wires. Make sure that you size your traces appropriately to account for things like voltage drop, temperature increase, and power dissipation. To do that, you will need to factor in length, width, and thickness to control resistance. Because you cannot control the actual physical properties of the metal, you must size the metal (trace) to help combat resistance, heat buildup, and other challenges that might make your circuit board perform poorly. A PCB trace width calculator can help ensure that you’re creating traces that are wide and thick enough for the job.

Print It to Test It

Before doing anything else, complete your design and layout process and then print the board’s layout on paper. Then, use that paper to make sure that everything really does fit. The printout should fit within the housing of the item you’re creating, but you should also make sure that each of the components fits on the board within the design that you’ve created. This single step can save you an immense amount of stress down the road if the space for one component in the layout is just a little bit off.

Place Decouple Capacitors Correctly

Decoupling capacitors play a vital role in your circuit board design, but they need to be placed appropriately. Place them as close as you can to the power and ground pins of your integrated circuits. This will help to improve their efficiency and reduce inductance. Another tip that can reduce inductance is to use multiple vias from the capacitor pin to the ground plane.

Don’t Rely on Your Auto-Router

Your Auto-Router is a handy tool, and it can be a valuable asset that offers a lot of benefits. However, don’t rely on it too much. We offer one of the most robust Auto-Routers in PCB Artist, our free circuit board design software, but it is not a replacement for routing yourself. Only use your Auto-Router in some specific situations, including when you need ultra-precise placement, when you discover bottlenecks that need to be worked around, and when you cannot see where you need to route traces.

Avoid 90-Degree Trace Angles

It might seem like creating 90-degree trace angles is unavoidable. The truth is, you can do better. A 90-degree trace angle can actually be problematic for a number of reasons. One of those is that the outside corner is often going to be narrower than your standard trace width. There is also the possibility of having multiple angles that are only partially traced, leading to shorting and other problems. Instead of 90-degree angles, shoot for 45-degree angles. This ensures that you’re easily able to etch fully and avoid shorting.

PCB Artist Provides the Design Capabilities You Need

Ultimately, circuit board design requires time, patience, and a firm understanding of basic design principles. Our free circuit board design software, PCB Artist, helps ensure that you have the capabilities you need. At Advanced Circuits, we also offer full manufacturing capabilities to bring your boards to life. No matter what the purpose of your boards, we help ensure that you’re able to reach your goals. Contact us today to learn more, or download PCB Artist free of charge.

 

 

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Common PCB Design Mistakes /blog/common-pcb-design-mistakes/ Fri, 05 Aug 2016 23:51:33 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=1143 Continue reading ]]> Innovative design tools and manufacturing techniques have driven the cost of creating and producing printed circuit boards (PCBs) down considerably in the past few years. But what really adds to the cost of PCB production are errors in the actual design of boards from the beginning. There are a number of common mistakes in designing PCBs that not only newcomers and hobbyists need to be aware of, but experienced designers can learn from and avoid, as well.

Avoiding these common mistakes will result in reduced cost through avoiding rework and fabrication delays, while also producing a higher quality end product.

  • Not bringing the anticipated fabricator into the design early in the development stage. Most manufacturers have their own proprietary manufacturing processes that streamline production and maximize the efficiency of their particular equipment and workforce. If PCB design specifications are not aligned with their processes it could result in manufacturing delays, special setups that will increase costs, or even a board that they’re unable to produce. This can mean wasted time in finding another fabricator or a redesign of the board. Manufacturer’s input to the design may help design engineers create a more cost-effective PCB that is easier and faster to produce.
  • Get a second (or third) opinion. Designers are often focused on a specific purpose and result and working under a tight deadline for PCB production. This can lead to missed errors or design flaws that are simply overlooked in the effort to complete the design and develop a prototype. Having another technician or engineer review the design can be extremely beneficial in avoiding mistakes that may not surface until late in the process, resulting in higher cost to the project. As with many technical endeavors, the later in the cycle mistakes are discovered, the more expensive they become.
  • Layout – component placement – shrinking footprints for PCBs in today’s devices such as thinner televisions, smartphones, and weight-sensitive products require smaller and thinner PCBs. This challenges designers to layout components efficiently and more closely. Layout techniques utilized in the PCB design phase will become more and more critical to create reliability and manufacturability. Layout mistakes can turn into rework and failed prototypes.
  • Testing – thorough testing is essential to avoid issues once prototypes have been created. Not only must the initial functional requirements of the design be met, but any environmental circumstances that could potentially affect reliability or stability of the board should be vetted to ensure performance under a wide range of circumstances. PCBs that work as prototypes could otherwise fail when integrated into a final product.
  • Lack of applying tools – every designer should take full advantage of the design tools available. Some are structured for specific needs while others provide a broader range of flexibility for many types of PCBs. Sophisticated software aids in the design of PCBs including component placement, scanning designs for errors, and development of prototypes. Best of all, many such tools are extremely cost-effective or even free to use and web-enabled. Ignoring these high-quality and useful tools is certainly a critical mistake a PCB designer can make.
  • Not considering the manufacturing process. A complex and advanced design that works beautifully in theory is of little value if the PCB cannot be fabricated within budget, if at all. The importance of working closely with suppliers of the end product is a factor engineers need to keep in sight throughout the design process.

Avoiding Common PCB Design Mistakes

There are numerous methods available to avoid most of these common PCB design mistakes, from following best practices in methodology that include design reviews and collaboration with suppliers, to utilizing technology in design and prototyping.

Put design tools to work to minimize problems and provide specification files that are ready for fabrication. This contributes to project success with boards that are designed right the first time and produce the expected results. Providing all the necessary files to suppliers for fabrication ensures accurate information and a PCB that meets the designer’s requirements.

Utilize Design for Manufacturing (DFM) tools that analyze finished designs for manufacturability. Multiple questions and issues exchanged between designer and fabricator stretch the time to completion and add considerable cost to the final working product. FreeDFM is one such tool that will assist designers in avoiding critical mistakes.

 

 

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