printed circuit coards – 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 Key Printed Circuit Board Design Terminology /blog/key-printed-circuit-board-design-terminology/ Fri, 29 Mar 2019 22:38:50 +0000 https://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=1908 Continue reading ]]> Printed circuit boards are packed with different features and elements that make their design and functionality unique for their particular application.  In this post we list key printed circuit board design terms that are commonly used in the electronic design industry.  For a complete list of printed circuit board design and manufacturing terms, please visit our online Glossary.

Advanced Circuits offers many free tools and resources to help you understand the different PCB fabrication capabilities, tolerances, ordering process, and more.  Click the links below to find our PCB design resources:

PCB Design & Fabrication Terms

Annular Ring – That portion of conductive material completely surrounding a hole.

Array – A group of elements or circuits arranged in rows and columns on a base material.

DRC – The acronym in the circuit board design and fabrication industry stands for “Design Rule Check”.  Similar to DFM which stands for “Design For Manufacturing”.

Finger – A gold-plated terminal of a card-edge connector. (Derived from its shape.)

Mouse Bites – These are also known as perforated brake-away tabs in printed circuit boards and are an alternative to v-scoring.

Pad – The exposed metal on a printed circuit board design that is intended to connect a component.

Panel – Material (most commonly an epoxy- copper laminate known as FR-4) sized for fabrication of printed circuit boards. The standard size at Advanced Circuits is 18″ x 24″.

Paste Stencil – Stencils ensure the right amount of solder paste is applied to achieve optimal electrical connections. See why Advanced Circuits’ stencils can help you apply the exact amount of solder paste to your printed circuit boards.

Pick and Place – The machine used to automatically place components on a printed circuit board.  This process is also known as SMT which stands for “Surface Mount Technology”.  Review our full list of PCB assembly capabilities to learn more.

Plane – Also known as a copper pour.  Rather than copper in the form of a path or trace, a Plane is a continuous area of copper in a printed circuit board design.

Plated Thru Hole – A hole in a PWB with metal plating added after it is drilled. Its purpose is to serve either as a contact point for a through-hole component or as a via.

Silkscreen – The decals and reference designators in epoxy ink on a printed wiring board so called because of the method of application – the ink is “squeegeed” through a silk screen, the same technique used in the printed of T-shirts. Minimum line width at ACI for silkscreen is .008. Also called “silkscreen legend”.

Slot – Elongated holes in the circuit board that may be plated or non-plated.

Trace – A continuous path of copper on a printed circuit board that is the equivalent of a wire for conducting signals.

V-Score – A v-shaped groove cut into both the top and bottom of the boards for break-a-way.

To view our complete online glossary of printed circuit board design and fabrication terms, click here.

 

 

]]>
Advanced Circuits to Exhibit at MILCOM 2015 | Booth 828 /blog/advanced-circuits-to-exhibit-at-milcom-2015-booth-828/ Fri, 09 Oct 2015 22:47:06 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=980 Continue reading ]]>  

The MILCOM 2015 international conference and trade show for military communications will bring together government, military, industry, and academia leaders in Tampa, Florida on October 26 – 28th.

advanced circuits milcom 2015 post pcb manufacturing

Advanced Circuits will be exhibiting in booth number 828 to showcase the many options and capabilities offered for optimum PCB reliability and performance.   Our expanded PCB capabilities, along with an extensive material selection and cutting edge equipment, make us a premier PCB manufacturing and assembly company that the defense industry can depend on.

For more information on MILCOM 2015, please visit www.milcom.org


]]> Printed Circuit Board Use Rises in Military and Aerospace Markets /blog/printed-circuit-board-use-rises-in-military-and-aerospace-markets/ /blog/printed-circuit-board-use-rises-in-military-and-aerospace-markets/#respond Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:35:52 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=195 Continue reading ]]> Along with the industry growth for circuit boards overall manufacturers are seeing an increase in sales to the military and aerospace market, according to analysts at IPC. Although the budgets in the United States military and aerospace programs are being reduced, the amount of business done between manufacturers of PCBs are doing more business with these industries than other vertical markets. Printed circuit boards for these applications must meet rigorous quality and performance standards, which is why the team at Advanced Circuits is proud to obtain a variety of certifications for these fields. Circuit boards are needed for numerous pieces of equipment in the military, from communications gear to navigation systems to robotic scouts and more.

The Role of Printed Circuit Boards in Military Technology

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

]]>
/blog/printed-circuit-board-use-rises-in-military-and-aerospace-markets/feed/ 0
Understand the Process for Designing High-Quality Printed Circuit Boards /blog/understand-the-process-for-designing-high-quality-printed-circuit-boards/ /blog/understand-the-process-for-designing-high-quality-printed-circuit-boards/#respond Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:34:50 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=193 Continue reading ]]> As an electrical engineer, there will likely come a day where you find yourself needing to design a printed circuit board for use in a product or other application. When designing your printed circuit boards, there are basic needs that must be met to ensure that your printed circuit board design will work how you require. These include determining any features your PCB will have as well as its connectivity to other circuits, its placement in your design and the final dimensions of the circuit board. Basically, the process begins by identifying a need that you have for a PCB and ends when your design is tested and you get verification that it can meet your needs. Also, be sure to keep the full set of documents with your PCB design so you have all of the information needed when it is time to place your order. This includes your schematics, bill of materials, layout file, Gerber file set, component placement file and assembly instructions.

Anticipate Issues with Printed Circuit Boards to Cut Production Time

By taking more time during the process of designing your printed circuit boards you can lower your risk of having your order placed in a CAM hold. Make sure that your design keeps the layout of components in mind and use the materials that are going to give you the performance you need. This includes being mindful of thermal operating risks and the tolerances and capabilities of your components. For help with your design and ordering processes, contact a PCB expert at Advanced Circuits.

]]>
/blog/understand-the-process-for-designing-high-quality-printed-circuit-boards/feed/ 0
Printed Circuit Boards Take Products into a New Age /blog/printed-circuit-boards-take-products-into-a-new-age/ /blog/printed-circuit-boards-take-products-into-a-new-age/#respond Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:33:58 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=191 Continue reading ]]> Over the years we have seen advances in technology that have shaped not only the corporate world, but also consumer products as a whole. From more affordable television sets to abundant features in cars and smaller and faster cell phones, printed circuit boards continue to change the way we interact with the world around us. In the next few years what new products will hit the market? A sure bet is that whatever researchers develop, PCBs will be there to make everything run efficiently. As you work on your next project, whether you do it in school, as a hobby or for your business, think of ways to integrate all of your components into the most effective way possible. This will not only leave you with a powerful result but will go a long way toward building your relationship with consumers.

Advanced Circuits Prepares for Future of Printed Circuit Boards

With countless developments being made in the industry each year, Advanced Circuits continues to invest in the future of printed circuit boards. Earlier this year, Advanced Circuits expanded its facility in Aurora, Colo. to add staff and production room as the PCB industry grows. For its work, Advanced Circuits was recently named the “Diversity Corporation of the Year” in the state of Colorado and the “Business of the Year” by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. The experts at Advanced Circuits strive to produce PCBs for your applications that meet rigorous industry standards for quality and performance so that no product designer is left with circuit boards that are unfit for the job at hand. Contact a representative today to get started with your PCB order.

]]>
/blog/printed-circuit-boards-take-products-into-a-new-age/feed/ 0
The Right Printed Circuit Boards Prepare You For Your Robotics Competition /blog/the-right-printed-circuit-boards-prepare-you-for-your-robotics-competition/ /blog/the-right-printed-circuit-boards-prepare-you-for-your-robotics-competition/#respond Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:32:53 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=189 Continue reading ]]> One of the most enjoyable and challenging parts of the year for engineering students is entering and competing in a robotics competition. A year or more of work all leads up to one competition that can help a team achieve success and notoriety while winning awards for their school. During the design and planning stages it is important to get both the hardware and software you will need to be successful. With high quality printed circuit boards you won’t be limited by technology and can design the robot that will help you wipe the floor with your competition. The key is to design the PCBs you need with your requirements in hand so that your finished boards will support all of your components.

Printed Circuit Boards and Sponsorship Help from Advanced Circuits

As a student it can be cost prohibitive at times to get all of the parts you need to thoroughly prepare for your competition. Advanced Circuits, however, has a wide range of student specials that allow you to get discounted prices on printed circuit boards, as well as free design and file check systems. As one of the top manufacturers of PCBs in North America, Advanced Circuits is interested in sponsoring your next robotic and/or solar car or boat competition. You will also be able to work with an engineering expert to get the exact PCBs you need in any quantity. To learn more about the sponsorship process and everything it entails, get in contact with a representative today

]]>
/blog/the-right-printed-circuit-boards-prepare-you-for-your-robotics-competition/feed/ 0
Role of Printed Circuit Boards in the Evolution of Cell Phones /blog/role-of-printed-circuit-boards-in-the-evolution-of-cell-phones/ /blog/role-of-printed-circuit-boards-in-the-evolution-of-cell-phones/#respond Tue, 16 Jul 2013 21:32:05 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=187 Continue reading ]]> Over the years, technology has given the world significant advances in communication. From the first mobile cellular phone in the 1970s to the latest smartphones available on the market today, researchers and engineers are constantly developing new ways to make our phones smaller, faster and more efficient. Due to the increase in capabilities of printed circuit boards, PCBs have gotten smaller in size and more powerful. This lets manufacturers put more components in a smaller amount of space to deliver all of the features we have come to expect, such as touch screens, Wi-Fi connections and cameras. As we move toward the future, PCBs are changing the way our mobile phones, tablets and even vehicles interact with the world around us.

High Quality Printed Circuit Boards for Your Application

When purchasing printed circuit boards for any project, from building your own computer at home to producing mass quantities of the latest smartphones, you want to make sure that you get the highest quality available. PCBs are the lifeblood of your device and are responsible for getting power to all of your components, which is why it is important to have PCBs that will be supportive and reliable for your system. Be sure to do your research to know just how you need your circuit boards to perform. When you are ready, you can design your own PCBs using free PCB Artist software and upload your files to place your order with Advanced Circuits.

]]>
/blog/role-of-printed-circuit-boards-in-the-evolution-of-cell-phones/feed/ 0
Thorough Electrical Testing for Your Printed Circuit Boards /blog/thorough-electrical-testing-for-your-printed-circuit-boards/ /blog/thorough-electrical-testing-for-your-printed-circuit-boards/#respond Sun, 07 Jul 2013 21:30:46 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=185 Continue reading ]]> When you are working on a project and need PCBs produced, you want to be able to get circuit boards that are going to work exactly as needed. One of the most important parts of the production and assembly process is electrical testing for your printed circuit boards. Advanced Circuits employs two different types of testing equipment to check for opens and shorts: Everett Charles ATG test machines that are flying probe, fixtureless testers and universal grid testers. Your bare PCBs will undergo testing using CAD/CAM data for all test programs while meeting Class 2 requirements. Tests will measure capacitance and resistance in order to check that each PCB is up to your standards. All testing follows IPC 9252 specification guidelines, meaning that 100% of the networks on the board are checked for continuity and isolation using a test program from your Gerber data.

Understanding Capacitance and Resistance Tests for Printed Circuit Boards

Both capacitance and resistance tests are used on your printed circuit boards to test their quality before being shipped to you for use. Capacitance testing for bare boards involves charging a net or plane before probing each net to measure the induced capacity. Inaccuracies do occur with this method due to inherent variability in producing PCBs. Resistance testing measures the resistance found in the net, which is proportional to length and inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of a conductor. A good conductor will have a low resistance. To learn more about the electrical testing of your PCBs during production contact an expert at Advanced Circuits.

]]>
/blog/thorough-electrical-testing-for-your-printed-circuit-boards/feed/ 0
Printed Circuit Boards and Other Components Needed to Build a PC /blog/printed-circuit-boards-and-other-components-needed-to-build-a-pc/ /blog/printed-circuit-boards-and-other-components-needed-to-build-a-pc/#respond Wed, 03 Jul 2013 22:28:02 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=180 Continue reading ]]> One of the most satisfying projects for hobbyists and aspiring engineers is to build your own personal computer from scratch. Rather than being restricted to the components and features that are available in computers on the market you can start from square one and get the parts that are truly vital to you, often for less money. To do this, however, you will need to learn about which components are necessary to get your computer running so you can explore your upgrade options later on. First of all, you will need a processor. Also called the CPU, the processor is the brain of your computer and is responsible for carrying out the tasks you need. Your motherboard, one of the key printed circuit boards in your setup, is the physical base that connects all of your components together. This includes various ports and your video and sound cards. Other vital components include your RAM, hard drive, optical drive and power source. You will also need a case, or tower, to house all of your hardware.

Customizing Printed Circuit Boards to Maximize Efficiency

When building your own computer you have the option of getting higher end components in order to boost power, productivity and efficiency. Upgrading your RAM, for example, helps your computer run programs faster. In order to get the results you want, you will need to use printed circuit boards for your motherboard and processor that are designed to support all of your components. If you need assistance with designing the PCBs you need to get the job done, be sure to contact an expert for assistance. With all of your questions answered you will be able to build your perfect machine.

]]>
/blog/printed-circuit-boards-and-other-components-needed-to-build-a-pc/feed/ 0
Advanced Circuits Discusses Effects of Smaller is Better Mentality /blog/advanced-circuits-discusses-effects-of-smaller-is-better-mentality/ /blog/advanced-circuits-discusses-effects-of-smaller-is-better-mentality/#respond Sun, 30 Jun 2013 22:26:33 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=178 Continue reading ]]> Around the turn of the century, the first fine-pitch ball grid array devices became popular. This was due to the fact that designers wanted to pack as much power and efficiency into as small a space as possible. As such, the mechanical drilling world was revolutionized in that it was impacted by available drill bit sizes, aspect ratios and plating methodologies. This “smaller is better” mentality as truly let to new innovations in engineering and the development of scores of consumer products that were not possible with the technology of a few years before. Advanced Circuits understands this and continues to expand its capabilities to meet the needs of the increasingly complex industry. In order to get the printed circuit boards you need for your applications, you will have to make decisions on details such as the fill choice for via-in-pad structures in order to get the efficiency you are after.

Quick Turnaround When You Need It Most from Advanced Circuits

Advanced Circuits knows that you depend on high quality PCBs in order to make your projects run correctly. As such, getting the finalized boards into your hands will help you get from the concept stage to production that much faster. Contact a representative at Advanced Circuits in order to learn more about quick production turnarounds, as well as weekend quickturns, so that you do not have to wait around for your printed circuit boards to arrive. By working with one of the top manufacturers in the United States, you will be able to get the quality you need on your timetable.

]]>
/blog/advanced-circuits-discusses-effects-of-smaller-is-better-mentality/feed/ 0