Component Placement

Choosing your components isn’t easy, but placing them on the circuit board presents a whole new level of difficulty. The problem is that you want to put as little distance as possible between components, but you quickly run into issues with overheating, traces, resistance, and technological limits. You need to find the balance between saving space and still having functional parts.

Traces

Traces are the routes between components that send signals throughout the PCB; they’re very important. As a general rule, you want to keep these traces as short as possible and keep them separate to avoid noise interference.

Overheating

PCBs have a lot of problems with overheating; as the electricity flows through the PCB, the parts heat up and can cause lasting damage if the design is poor. You need to plan for this heat by factoring in component distance and leaving space for heat venting techniques.

Spacing

The biggest thing that every part of PCB design must account for is the spacing between parts. You need to leave enough space between traces and components, along with extra layers and other necessities for your PCB. You must do all of that while keeping the PCB a certain size to fit your device.

Prototyping

The best way to deal with these problems is to use careful planning and blueprinting to create your PCB. However, you can only get so far with the blueprint; eventually you’ll need to invest in an actual prototype PCB to test your designs. Luckily, you can talk to prototype printed circuit board manufacturers to create a small version of your PCB before you make a final version.

These are the top five things to know before designing a PCB if you want to make a successful PCB for your device. By following this guide, you’ll find yourself in a much better position to make the PCBs you need.

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Why You Need To Prototype

A prototype PCB is all about testing your design with minimal investment. If you merely make a design without testing it, you could lose all your invested money from simple errors. A prototype helps you find these flaws and adjust your designs before you commit to full production.

How a Prototype Is Different

A prototype is different from full production in many ways and it’s important you know the differences before you order a prototype.

Smaller Line

Most production companies will only make a few examples of the PCB when you order a prototype—somewhere from 1-100 PCBs that you can test. This means you don’t need to waste a lot of money on simple testing.

Faster Production

Because you only need a few PCBs for prototype runs, the production is usually much faster. It can take only a few business days to create all the prototypes you need for testing. This makes it easy to adjust any design flaws and test your new designs without wasting a lot of time.

Testing Materials

The last big difference between Prototype PCB production and regular production is the materials that make up the PCB. A lot of companies make your prototype PCBs with cheaper materials similar to the design specifications. This keeps the cost down for both you and the production company, but still lets you accurately test if your PCB will work.

After learning everything you need to know about prototype PCBs, you can see how necessary they are to PCB design. You might not need prototypes for small PCB production, but any big PCB line should use prototypes to inform their production process and design choices.

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High-Power PCBs

Recently, some PCBs can handle higher voltage amounts of up to 48V. This gives them more energy to work with and can allow for more components. They can even support longer battery life in certain devices because of the high voltage these PCBs can take.

Flexible PCBs

A newer trend in the PCB design world is the use of flexible PCBs in devices. There are many reasons that people have started to switch to flexible PCBs, like their higher durability or better space management. They can even help create some more unique devices that can interest customers.

Autoplacers and SMT Machines

Outside of the actual PCB material comes the advancements to the production of PCBs. Placing and attaching PCB components is one of the hardest things about making a quality PCB. The exact precision is difficult to achieve with human hands, and that’s why people now use Autoplacers or SMT machines. These devices help to automate and create more complex and useful PCBs, and you can even outsource your production to places with this technology that perform PCB fabrication services.

The Internet of Things

This isn’t directly a trend that affects PCB design, but is still very important to the PCB industry. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnectedness of all the world’s electronics to each other. Even simple devices such as modern toasters are linking up to this IoT. This is important to PCBs, which enable this connectivity, because of their increased demand, and is something you should take into account when making your PCB.

These are just the top production trends in PCB design that currently influence the industry. There are always new technologies that come out to improve upon what is currently around. So, it would be best if you also keep your eye on those advancements to stay current.

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Simple PCB Designs

There are many different styles of PCB designs, each with its own set of benefits. However, a less complex design doesn’t mean that it won’t accomplish the job you need it to do. One basic style is a through-hole PCB, where wires run through holes in the board to connect components. Another more popular style is SMT (surface-mounted technology) which allows for much more complex PCBs at higher production rates.

Two Aspects

Two major factors make up most PCB design decisions outside of component selection: component layout and layers.

• Layers: Every PCB can have multiple layers to give more space for wiring and other components. However, some PCB designs make extra layers very difficult, and they are only useful for PCBs that run complex devices.
• Component layout: This is the placement of your components on the board and the circuitry that connects them. Generally, you want direct wiring and only a few millimeters between components to come up with a good layout.

PCB Software

The actual act of designing a PCB can take a lot of resources if done by means of trial and error. It’s a much better idea to use PCB software that allows you to craft a blueprint of your PCB before you make it. Once you have a good blueprint, you can have a custom PCB prototype made to test your design.

By following this beginner’s guide on what you need to know about PCB design, you should have a general idea of which steps you need to take. While there might be other factors to creating a PCB, the steps we outlined above are the major steps you’ll need to take to make a good PCB.

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Learn

PCB technology is always advancing and improving, making smaller and more efficient boards without sacrificing functions. Keeping as current as possible with all these new techniques is how you find a design that works best for your needs.

Blueprint

The first step in actually creating a PCB manufacturing layout is the blueprint of PCB. There are many different free and paid software that can help you design your PCB. Outside of that, there are companies that will also help with the creation of blueprints.

Components

One of the important things you need to plan is your PCBs component locations. Start with the vital components that your PCB needs and branch out from there. Be careful of overcrowding and leave space between each component to prevent excessive heat.

Routing

The routing of your PCB is how electricity flows through the board into each component. You want clear paths that are short and direct while connecting all the pieces together. These routes, or traces, are usually made of copper wire and need to be wide enough not to cause overheating.

Layers

The first PCBs didn’t have the ability to use multiple layers, but nowadays, PCBs can have as many layers as necessary. This can give you a lot more room for components and allow for more complex PCBs overall.

Manufacture

Now, the actual manufacturing process of the PCBs is difficult to optimize without the assistance of automatic machinery. Luckily, technology has advanced enough to fully integrate with the PCB production process. There are machines that can use SMT (surface mounted technology), like the pick-and-place, to create the PCB that you need with only the blueprints you create. Finding a pick-and-place machine for sale is one of the best things you can do to speed up your PCB production.

By following this guide on how to optimize your PCB manufacturing layout, you should be able to create the PCB you need at rapid speeds and at low costs. Just focus on optimizing your PCB design to come up with a cost-effective PCB that you can then produce with automated machinery.

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What Is Controlled Impedance in PCB?

PCBs have the unique job of carrying electric signals between connecting parts. These electronic signals are necessary for a device to perform its function, and it won’t work without them. These signals travel through signal traces that run through the PCB. However, they don’t do so freely, as it takes time for them to travel along these transmission lines. That time delay can increase or decrease depending on several factors, such as materials. Controlled impedance is about controlling the resistance that a signal trace puts on a signal.

Why Is It Useful?

It might seem odd that PCB manufacturers design their PCBs to include impedance. So, what’s the purpose of controlled impedance? It’s a critical step in preserving signal integrity. As the signals flow across a PCB transmission line, they encounter resistance. However, the resistance is not naturally the same at all parts of the path. This unevenness can cause the signal to fail and stop the device from working. This is why controlled impedance is so important to a PCB. Without it, a lot of PCBs wouldn’t work. This becomes truer the smaller the PCB is because it requires more precision to send signals within them.

If you asked, “What is controlled impedance in PCB?” you now know the answer. When it comes to controlled impedance, multiple factors can affect resistance. From trace height to material resin content, each one of these elements is significant for a PCB. Therefore, you should use a short-run PCB service, which can help you figure out what design you need for your PCB.

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Physical Improvements

Although a multilayer PCB might seem like a large device, it is actually smaller than normal PCBs with the same functionality. This gives them an inherent advantage, as they can fit inside tighter spaces. They are also quite lightweight, which makes them very useful for powerful devices that need to worry about weight. Generally, a multilayer PCB boasts additional durability, as it must be capable of handling the heat and weight of its own manufacturing.

PCB Quality

A multilayer PCB has many physical benefits, but you might wonder whether it actually functions better. To put it simply, it does function better. The multilayer adds more connectivity and functions as a single component. This creates a powerful PCB that can handle more than other PCB designs. The only downside to this increase in function is the increase in planning needed to create a good PCB. It does require a good amount of prep and knowledge to make a quality PCB. That is why you need to use a prototype PCB assembly service to ensure you are making exactly what you need.

There are some other challenges in creating a multilayer PCB, such as cost or finding a service to make it. However, you can overcome these obstacles with good planning and careful consideration of all the factors of making a PCB. That is why understanding the advantages of multilayer PCBs is so important.

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Components

There are tons of different components that each PCB can utilize. However, their placement in the PCB can slow down the circuit. That is why it is important to come up with a design that minimizes these bad placements. The power supply of the PCB is a good place to start, as proper placement and techniques will increase speed and limit adverse effects. Properly placing inputs and outputs will help to reduce any chance of slower performance from your PCB.

Design

Now, there are many techniques and newer technologies that you can use to speed up a PCB. These design choices all aim at reducing negative impacts on speed. By avoiding and ridding the PCB of parasitics (which slow down the PCB) and signal interference (which you can prevent with good routing and shielding), the PCB is able to work faster. The materials are also very important for the speed of the PCB, along with the trace construction. You want to make sure you keep the design of the tracing and routing smaller to maximize speed. Limit the use of long traces where you can and separate signal traces to prevent interference.

It is important when designing your PCB to use detailed plans and to record these plans clearly with as much detail as possible. This will come in handy when sending off your PCB for manufacturing to a PCB fabrication service. Once you have fully utilized all the PCB design considerations for high-speed digital circuits, it is time to get a second opinion on your plans. A second set of eyes will help to ensure your design is functioning as you want.

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1.  Pick the right type of construction: There are three major types of printed circuit board construction: single-sided, double-sided, and multi-layered. Either of these three different types of construction will be the most useful for different application styles; make sure you select the right one for your prototype PCB.

2. Watch for heat dispersion: Certain components on your circuit board will generate additional heat. Make sure you take this into account and layout your PCB appropriately, so you can maximize efficiency and avoid overheating your components. Keep any components that are sensitive to heat away from other components that generate excess heat, in order to extend the life of the circuit board.

3. Reduce loop sizes: When designing your prototype PCB layout, try to keep any loops as small as possible. This will help to reduce resistance and high-frequency voltage spikes. Smaller loops create higher efficiency with fewer problems for the overall system in the long-term.

4. Understand your layers: If you’re using a multi-layered construction, make sure you understand how the multiple layers interact. This type of construction has a bit more to consider than single-sided or double-sided construction. Make sure you take into account how you’re routing signal layers, how you’re distributing power and ground, and so on.

Designing your printed circuit board can be tricky, and it’s difficult to get it right on the first try. That’s why it’s important to print a prototype PCB before moving on to final manufacturing. If you’re looking to get prototype printed circuit boards for your tech needs, contact PCB Unlimited today. PCB Unlimited specializes in prototype circuit boards and we can help you get your prototype PCBs set up, so you can take comfort in knowing that you’ve got the ideal layout for your PCB.
 

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However, it can be quite confusing to know what to incorporate when you are setting up the layout of your prototype PCBs. So, to make things less complex, here are some details to ensure you will have a highly functioning board from the beginning.

1. The different types of vias
   Simply put, the vias are what enable different connections between the layers of the boards. Since different boards will be different thickness — some are only one-sided, some can have 10 layers — you’ll need different vias for your project depending on your needs. Your options to choose from include Blind, Through the Hole, Buried, and Micro.
2. Your trace thickness
   A circuit board’s trace thickness is measured in ounces of copper. Typically, most PCB designers use one or two ounces of copper, but if needed, some PCB manufacturers can provide up to six ounces of thickness. Remember: the wrong trace thickness will cause lamination and soldering problems.
3. How the PCB will be stacked
   Creating a simple guide on how to stack your PCB is crucial in figuring out even the basic details of your board. The amount of levels in the PCB will then be able to help you determine what raw materials are needed and how long it will take to fabricate, which in turn will dictate the cost.
4. The design limitations
   As always, you will need to set forth rules for the PCB fabrication because this is what will ensure your board is created with your needs in mind. Some details to include in your list are the placement of components, layer allocation, time of flight analysis, and the length of time for engineering.
5. Signal quality
   Make sure to consider the signal rise and fall times, impedances, lengths of the track, and the drive strength. Remember to test this both pre- and post-layout to determine if your desired outcome is effective.

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of the layout in circuit board prototyping, please contact our professionals today.

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