Pcb Spare
Top Five PCB Design Tips
PCB design requires meticulous attention to detail and strict adherence to established procedures. If you skip steps and cut corners, your printed circuit board will eventually fail. Keep reading for some tips and tricks that will help in designing quality printed circuit boards.
1. Use a Dedicated PCB Design Software Package:
You'll find that you can lay out a PCB with just about all CAD programs, but using a program developed for PCBs will certainly make life easier. You should be able to find a handful of these programs that won't cost you a thing. Programs like PCBArtist have many functions that make designing PCBs fast and easy, like a library of components that can be included manually or automatically, and also a check-up that will show any board errors. A good software package will also allow for extensive customization while remaining easy to use, even by someone with limited knowledge of PCB fabrication.
2. Double and Triple Check:
The worst thing that can happen to a PCB order is a CAM hold, in which the PCB supplier's computer-aided manufacturing software detects a fault in the PCB design and halts the manufacturing process. CAM holds can delay orders for days or weeks on end. This can be avoided simply by using the many tools used to identify these problems, such as the PCB design software and other tools offered by the manufacturer. Advanced Circuits, for example, offers a free analysis tool called FreeDFM to which designers can submit PCB files and receive a comprehensive report detailing any problems.
3. Space All Components Properly:
When the design is complete, print out a copy of the PCB layout and place the components on top of the paper. To prevent any shorts, make sure the components are not touching and they are at least 0.007" apart.
4. Make Sure Narrow Traces Have Obtuse Angles:
If the design calls for traces that are less than 0.012" in width, you will need to use a couple forty-five degree angles and not a single ninety degree angle to aid in etching the board.
5. Pay Attention to Where Components Are Placed:
A short will probably occur if a metal component is placed on a trace. By setting each component on a print-out of the design, you can be sure that no components and traces are making contact.
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