Printed Circuit Boards - Design Mistakes to Avoid

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are needed for most electronic devices and applications and the fabrication process is important for creating a PCB that will work best in the specific application.  But how should you approach PCB design to lower the cost of production and make for an easier assembly process?  The best way is through design for manufacturability, or DFM.  Designing a PCB according to DFM guidelines takes the processes and capabilities of PCB manufacturing into account to ensure that you create the most efficient PCBs for your application at a lower cost.

PCB Design Mistakes to Avoid

Submitting a Design Without Discussing your Application with the Manufacturer

A variety of materials are used to manufacture PCBs and the different materials can better suit specific needs.  It is beneficial to discuss the application you have in mind with your PCB manufacturer to determine which materials will be the most effective.  Different materials can be used for flex, high speed, RF, high temp, and RoHS circuit boards and certain materials may have a lead time of a couple weeks.  Talking to your manufacturer will help you determine which materials are the most available.

 Submitting a Design Without Knowing the Impedance Information from the Manufacturer

Every PCB fabricator builds PCBs at different tolerances which will affect the target impedance or stack-up in different ways.  It is important to establish your impedance requirements with the manufacturer before the fabrication because if the PCB is not built to your requirements, it may require adjustments before it can be used.  Making sure the manufacturer knows your impedance requirements before fabrication will help you avoid the need to make further adjustments which will save you lead time and money.

PCB Design with EI Connect

Regardless of the application, communication with your PCB fabricator before your PCBs are built will help you create and submit a PCB design that will best suit your needs.   Making sure the PCB design follows DFM guidelines will help ensure that your PCB is built to handle your specific application without the need for further adjustments.  If you have PCB designs to submit for fabrication, contact Electronic Interconnect.  We provide instant quotes for a variety of PCB types including zoom, multi-part, metal core, and bare bones PCBs.