What Are Types of Electronic Component in PCB Manufacturing?

Some common problems in the life cycle management process arise due to a lack of sourcing information throughout the design process, lack of access to component model updates and obsolescence information, and a scattered documentation repository. Problems that fall into these three categories can seriously hamper the design process for circuit boards, as well as planning for manufacturing and sourcing. Keeping documentation in a consistent format with a consistent file structure allows design teams to easily track product updates and new capabilities as products are continuously innovated and modernized. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } PCBs comprise of numerous components including through-hole components and surface mount devices (SMD). Defects may arise due to several reasons during manufacturing, assembly, and shipping. There should be a focus on continuous improvement in the areas that are prone to failures. If you are going to learn more about causes of electronic component faults in PCB, please check and read the content for more information. What are the common components in PCB? Resistors – Control Energy Resistors are the foundations of current control—which is why they’re so often used in PCBs. These two-ended electrical pieces are fairly simple to understand and integrate into different projects. Resistance is often defined as the “ease” with which objects allow electricity to flow through them. Think of the difference between insulators and conductors; the former obviously possesses higher resistance than the latter. Resistors, on the other hand, allow users to precisely define an object’s level of resistance. They are designed to resist the flow of an electric current by converting the electrical energy into heat—heat that is then dissipated. Resistors can be made of a wide range of materials and come in many different styles. The most common (and highly recommended for beginners) would be resistors made of carbon film in the axial style. Axial style resistors have leads on both ends of the rod. Their body is marked with different colored rings that represent the resistor’s resistance value. Capacitors – Store Energy Outnumbered only by resistors, capacitors are electronic components you’ll definitely find on every PCB board. Whereas resistors control an electric charge, capacitors temporarily store it. Think of them as tiny batteries with even tinier storage space. They are capable of losing and gaining full charge in a split second. Because of this, capacitors are commonly used for “filtering:” a process where a backup source of energy takes over when the main source of power drops in order to not lose or reset data. In PCBs, capacitors electrostatically store energy to later release it to wherever power is needed in the circuit. It works by collecting opposing charges (positive and negative) on two conductive plates (typically metal) with some form of insulating material between them. There are different types of capacitors, often categorized by the conductive material of the plates or the insulating material that separates them. Most beginners and casual hobbyists use polyester capacitors, ceramic capacitors, or radial capacitors. You’ll notice that some capacitors resemble resistors. The most telling difference is that resistors have leads on opposite ends. Capacitors have two leads protruding from the same side. Transformers – Transfer Energy General transformers transfer power from one source to another through a process called “induction.” PCB transformers function the same way. They transfer electrical energy from different circuits—and convert them—by increasing or decreasing the voltage. As with resistors, they technically regulate current. The biggest difference is that they provide more electrical isolation than controlled resistance by “transforming” the voltage. What are electronic components used for? Microcomputers are small computers used to control a multitude of devices, such as power tools, remote controls, medical equipment and office machines. Batteries convert chemical energy to electrical energy. The two different cells of a battery are anode (+) and cathode (-). Fuses help preserve components from overloading with excessive current. A fuse consists of connection body, support, contacts and metal-fuse material such as Zinc or copper. As a protective device, a circuit breaker can be controlled with a remote switch. It is designed to protect the circuit from overloading or a short circuit. Switches interrupt current. The four types of switches are: single pole single throw (SPST), single pole double throw (SPDT), double pole single throw (DPST) and double pole double throw (DPDT). Relays are electromechanical switches that shut power on or off. A relay includes an electromagnet, an armature, a series of electrical contacts, and a spring. Motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Key components include a rotor, stator, bearings, conduit box, enclosure, and eye bolt. From watches, to home entertainment equipment, to vehicles; motors can power a wide array of devices.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/15/2022 10:02

What is Signal Integrity Analysis in PCB Design?

Signal Integrity (SI) signifies the signal’s ability to propagate without distortion. Signal integrity is nothing but the quality of the signal passing through a transmission line. It gives the measurement of the amount of signal degradation when the signal travels from the driver to the receiver. This problem is not a major concern at lower frequencies but is an important factor to consider when a PCB operates at a higher speed and a high-frequency (> 50MHz). In the high-frequency regime, both digital and analog aspects of the signal need to be taken care of. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } If you are curious about the signal integrity analysis in PCB design, please check and read the content for more information in this passage. What are the problems of signal integrity in PCB design? The effects of interference on the operation of electronic devices can be pretty dramatic. For years, flight attendants urged us to shut down our cell phones or we were annoyed with radios that produced static instead of clear audio. Some older computers even radiated so much EMI that they were eventually taken off the market. However, the majority of problems caused by poor signal integrity are usually more subtle than that—there might be the occasional glitch in performance, data might get dropped, or the device may even fail to operate in extreme cases. All of these issues can often be traced back to signal integrity problems. As signal speeds increase in our electronics, they are more susceptible to a variety of aggressive interferences. These can include signal reflections due to impedance mismatches, ground bounce, and crosstalk. If the circuit board is not specifically laid out to counter these problems, the signal degradation may continue until it no longer works as designed. Additionally, the circuit board must be designed so that it doesn’t create signal integrity problems for its own circuitry or nearby electronics. Before we look at how to design for these problems, let's first take a look at some critical signal integrity fundamentals. What are the issues of PCB signal integrity? PCB signal integrity issues mainly include signal reflection, crosstalk, signal delay, and timing errors. Reflection When the signal is transmitted on the transmission line, when the characteristic impedance of the transmission line on the high-speed PCB does not match the source impedance or load impedance of the signal, the signal will be reflected, causing the signal waveform to overshoot, undershoot and the ringing phenomenon caused by it. Overshoot refers to the first peak (or bottom) of the signal transition. It is an additional voltage effect above the power supply level or below the reference ground level. Undershoot refers to the signal jump change to the next valley (or peak). Excessive overshoot voltage often impacts the device for a long period of time, causing damage to the device. Undershoot will reduce the noise margin. Ringing increases the time required for signal stabilization, which affects system timing. Crosstalk In PCB, crosstalk refers to the undesired noise interference caused by the electromagnetic energy through the mutual capacitance and mutual inductance coupling to the adjacent transmission line when the signal propagates on the transmission line. It is caused by interaction of different structures of the electromagnetic field in the same area. Mutual capacitance causes coupling current, which is called capacitive crosstalk; while mutual inductance causes coupling voltage, which is called inductive crosstalk. On the PCB, crosstalk is related to trace length, signal line spacing, and the condition of the reference ground plane. Signal delay and timing error The signal is transmitted at a limited speed on the wires of the PCB, and the signal is sent from the driver to the receiver, with a transmission delay in between. Excessive signal delays or mismatched signal delays can lead to timing errors and disrupted logic device functionality. High-speed digital system design analysis based on signal integrity analysis can not only effectively improve product performance, but also shorten product development cycles and reduce development costs. With the development of digital systems toward high speed and high density, it is extremely urgent and necessary to master this design weapon. With the continuous improvement and improvement of signal integrity analysis models and calculation analysis algorithms, digital system design methods that use signal integrity for computer design and analysis will be widely and comprehensively applied. What are the applications of signal integrity in PCB layout? In the process of PCB design, a lot of design rules have been summarized based on signal integrity theory. With reference of these PCB design rules, signal integrity can be obtained better. In the process of PCB design, design information has to be known in detail, including: · Component layout position, whether there are special requirements on components with large power and heat dissipation on chip components. · Classification of signals, speed rate and transmission direction and impedance matching requirement. · Signal driving capacity, key signal and protection measures. · Types of power, ground, noise limit requirement of power and ground, setting of power plane and ground plane and division. · Type and speed rate of clock lines, source of clock lines, direction, delay requirement of clock and maximum routing requirement.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/15/2022 09:51

How to Process Medical Device PCB Design with 5 Effective Tips?

To ensure successful product launch, we offer design and engineering assistance to our medical device customers. This is particularly important because not only must we deliver the prototypes quickly, but they must be manufacturable in volume using the same processes that were used to manufacture the prototype. Those who are experienced with rigid PCBs, flex circuits and rigid-flex designs for medical devices understand that a change in processes or materials can cause a product launch delay due to having to resubmit paperwork or potentially even new samples. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } If you are going to learn more details about medical device PCB design, please check and read the content below in this passage for professional knowledge. What is QMS in medical devices? QMS is a quality management system that defines processes, policies, and procedures essential for the planning and execution of a particular product. It focuses on customer demands and enhances their satisfaction level. For medical devices, ISO has issued a standard 13485:2016. This standard includes the key business policies, processes, forms, and instructions. Additionally, it includes their sequence, interactions, and resources for conducting business with a medical device manufacturer. The DMAIC model Ideally, QMS follows a DMAIC model for any product. This model is the same for populated boards since it covers all the required aspects. Let’s explore this for medical devices: Define · Define the scope of risk management activities; explain the medical device and its proposed use. · Decide roles, responsibilities, and authorities. · Determine the phases involved in the life cycle. · Establish guidelines for risk management. · Assess risk acceptability and risk verification criteria. · Analyze the risk management activities related to the production and post-production process. Measure · Identifications of input and output of the process. · Determination of data, process map, data collection, etc. · Specification for devices. · Measurement of several parameters using scatter plots, pareto charts, etc. What are the standards of manufacturing medical device PCB? Medical gadgets and equipment go through more stringent rules and regulations than other electronics. This is because the failure of medical products to function appropriately can cause detrimental impacts, like loss of human life. Thus, each phase of healthcare electronic development undergoes mandatory regulatory oversight to guarantee the best quality and accuracy of the end products. Medical electronics go through a clear quality management system (QMS) to detect and remove any errors. Acquiescence with such standards is confirmed via various testing routines. The common medical electronic manufacturing standards include: · The FCC Title 47 rules: These guidelines are made and printed by the Government Printing Office (GPO). · The Food & Drug CFR Section 807: The FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) regulates companies producing, repackaging, re-labeling, and dealing with medical electronics in the US. · IEC 60601-1: This guideline outlines the standard aspects of medical electronics. · IEC 61010-1:It stipulates the standard safety guidelines for electrical equipment and related components. · IPC 6011: These are basic performance specifications for PCBs. · ISO 13485 Medical Equipment: This standard is meant for businesses and persons dealing with the design, manufacturing, installation, and servicing of healthcare equipment and gadgets. In addition, certification agencies can use it in their auditing practices. · ISO 14971:2007: This standard outlines the due process for medical electronic manufacturers to detect any hazard in medical devices. How to keep the safety of medical device PCB? This is a case where it pays to work with a PCB manufacturer familiar with high-reliability electronics design (aka Class 3, which we’ll discuss below). Your electronics contract manufacturer should be capable of helping you design to accommodate danger concerns. The other half of a great safety-first attitude focuses on cleanliness. Medical devices need to be easy to clean and disinfect. This may influence what kind of enclosure you use -- stainless steel is a natural solution for medical needs. For example, stainless steel is easy to clean, which is why it is used so often in medical devices. A similar-but-different option is conformal coating, which can protect against: · Contamination · Moisture · Corrosion · Dust · Salt spray Then there’s the downside of disinfecting. Some medical cleaning uses ozone exposure to kill pathogens. Some electronics can degrade in ozone, so component selection is very important here. One final consideration: Interaction with other medical devices, including noise emission, can be a design concern. You don't want interference with someone's pacemaker, for example.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/14/2022 09:42

What Is IPC Standard for PCB and What Are the Applications?

The IPC component spacing guidelines are a third check on these potential physical problems. As long as designers follow the spacing guidelines, there should not be physical overlaps of components except in special circumstances that require additional engineering and development. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } If you are curious about the knowledge of IPC for PCB, please check and read the passage for more about the information. Please follow us and get your useful information in this passage. Why IPC is important for PCB manufacturing? IPC is a member-driven organization and has more than 3,000 member companies around the world. Its members include companies in all aspects of the global electronics industry, including designers, suppliers, board manufacturers, assembly companies and original equipment manufacturers. The organization got its start in 1957 as the Institute for Printed Circuits. It later changed its name to the Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits due to the expansion to packaging and electronic assemblies from bare boards. In 1999, it adopted the name IPC, with the tagline Association Connecting Electronics Industries. IPC has its headquarters in Bannockburn, Illinois, and has other offices around the United States and the world, including in India, China, Sweden and Russia. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has accredited IPC as a standard-developing organization. What are the IPC standards? They are the most widely recognized acceptability codes in the electronics industry. The organization publishes standards for nearly every phase of the electronic product development cycle, including design, purchasing, assembly, packaging and more. IPC currently has more than 300 active standards and more than 1,000 standards in its resource library. Electronic designers all around the world use these standards for everything from generic reference designs to more customized blueprints. Committees of volunteers from across the electronics industry draft, edit and vote on IPC standards. More than 3,000 industry professionals across the globe participate in this process. Committees can include people from around the world, as members can participate via in-person meetings, teleconference and email. The association provides validation services programs, including a standards gap analysis that helps organizations address manufacturing issues and determine what they need to do to reach compliance with standards. It maintains a qualified manufacturers list and qualified products to help you determine if a product complies with IPC electrical standards. What are the applications of IPC for PCB? IPC, itself, is an international industry association consisting of more than 4,000 member companies that make, use, specify, and design PCBs and assemblies, including: · Advanced microelectronics · Aerospace and military · Automotive · Computer · Industrial equipment · Medical equipment and devices · Telecommunications industry What is the purpose of IPC component spacing? The IPC component spacing guidelines are a third check on these potential physical problems. As long as designers follow the spacing guidelines, there should not be physical overlaps of components except in special circumstances that require additional engineering and development. Component spacing guidelines also manage negative space—the places where components are not present. Negative space on a PCB can be just as important as the regions where components exist, and this space is particularly important when preventing electrical interference. If conductive traces or circuits are too close together, unintentional connections may form between them as electrons jump between circuits. These unexpected connections reduce the strength of signals traveling through some regions of the PCB and can increase the amount of power flowing through other areas. Reductions in power can cause shorts or failures, while surges in power can cause physical damage or overloads. Which IPC standard should be used for PCB design? IPC-2221 Throughout the years, the IPC has established various standards that ensure design reliability and manufacturability. For PCB designers, the must-read IPC standard is the IPC-2221. The IPC-2221 is the generic standard that covers almost every aspect of PCB design. The standard details how electrical considerations such as PDN bus layouts, conductor clearance, and impedance control should be implemented on a PCB. You’ll also find pages in the standard that focus on thermal design considerations for the PCB. The standard explores various methods of dissipating heat in PCBs and explains how to implement them in actual designs. PCB design and manufacturing are inseparable sides of the same coin. Some sections of the IPC-2221 helps designers ensure the PCB is optimized for PCB manufacturing. For example, section 9 touches on holes and interconnections, which contain guidance on drill size, land pattern, and conductor spacing on a PCB. IPC-2223 The IPC-2221, however, does not cover guidelines related to flex PCB design. If you’re working on one, you’ll need to refer to the IPC-2223, which exclusively focuses on flex PCB structure design. It covers important design considerations such as pad/via placement, bend radius, coverlays, and structural specifications for flex PCBs. IPC-2222 Meanwhile, the IPC-2222 is a standard that dives deeper into the requirements for a rigid organic printed board design. This standard goes into detail on factors that enhance the manufacturability of a rigid PCB, including material selection, hole size, interconnects, and mechanical properties.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/14/2022 09:39

What Is BOM Stand for in the PCB Manufacturing Industry?

The Bill of Materials (BOM) could be considered the "shopping list" of any given electronic product manufacturer in a complete layperson's terms. It should contain everything necessary to make sure that you get the parts you need for your product. There can be many types of information in a PCB BOM, but the parts must have a core set of elements to start with. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } If you are going to learn more about BOM list in the PCB, please check and read the content below in this passage for professional knowledge. What are the 3 main types of BOM? It also contains individual information on each of the parts that require complex assembly and, if there is any relation to another component from the list. The MBOM is then shared and applied in the manufacturing approach, where sometimes Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required, or in some cases even a Manufacturing Execution System (MES). The Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM) is defining the parts included in the assembly that are designed by the engineering departments. It is showing the perspective of the structure, and often, EBOM is visualized as a technical or mechanical drawing of the end design. Sales Bill of Materials (SBOM) is where the sales stage takes place. Here the finished product assembly process is defined through the sales lense managed as a sales item instead of an inventory item. The SBOM is structuring the sales stage by listing products by their market order document. It is important to understand that each different bill of materials contains different levels of detail called structure. For instance, an EBOM lists parts for the assembly of a Rigid circuit board related to a specific end design. This way, engineers will be able to use the BOM as a guide to manufacturing it without any misconceptions. For instance, a PCB assembly BOM can be generated with specific software instead of editing by hand, which is complicated. What is a BOM used for? In SMT manufacturer, the bill of materials is the link for contact and communication with different people and departments. It is used in various departments and systems, and specific data is obtained from BOM. For example: Design department – The designer of the BOM and is also the user of the BOM. It needs to obtain the information of all parts and the structure information from the BOM. Process technology department – Generates each component’s manufacturing process and the assembly process according to the BOM. They also process and manufacture tools, jigs, and molds used in the PCB assembly. SMT department – Mounts the components on PCB according to the BOM. The warehouse distributes the components according to the BOM. Financial and purchasing department – Determinesthe cost of the final product according to the cost of each self-made or purchased part in the BOM. The QC department – Ensuresthe correct products are produced based on BOM. What are the best practices of PCB BOM Inventory management? The first step in establishing good practices for BOM inventory management in PCB CAD libraries is to develop a well-defined library process: · Part requests: To build a new CAD part for PCB design should require a formalized request process. This request should be routed through component engineering to verify the application and availability of the requested part and confirm that the part conforms to company standards and policies. · Manufacturing specifications: The parts’ datasheets should be kept on file within the design department and preferably within a product data management (PDM) system for access throughout design and manufacturing. This data will be used for the construction and the validation of the completed CAD models. · Verification: The new part needs to be verified that it has been built correctly and satisfies the needs of all the key stakeholders (design, manufacturing, etc.). The verification sign-off should also be kept on file with the part request. · Database updates: Once completed, the part needs to be installed in the library, and new part notifications published to the design team. The next step of inventory management for PCB design teams is to establish the processes and procedures mentioned above for part updates and verifications in new designs. CAD library parts need to be confirmed in new designs as being the latest versions and available from the company’s supply chain. There also needs to be procedures in place to run the automated part checks through the CAD system on completed designs before they are sent out for manufacturing. How to create a BOM? There are three questions you need to be asking yourself when creating a BOM for your next project: The "when," the "what," and the "how." After discussing these topics with your selected staff and the client who has assigned the project to your organization, you can then proceed with your project. It would help if you thought of an electrical product project like the head chef of a restaurant feels when preparing their restaurant. There are more similarities between the two than you think. Most restaurants need to answer these three questions quickly, accurately, and in the right order. If they do not (and most do not), they usually face dire consequences down the road. It is what happens with smaller-scale restaurants. They approach these questions in an air of panic, not knowing what question to answer first and getting less than complete information on answering these questions. The larger chain restaurants have an established system of answering these questions.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/13/2022 10:09

How to Design Your PCB for Low EMI?

Some components will produce EMI no matter what design rules you follow — especially small, high-speed parts. Fortunately, shielding and filtering can keep this EMI’s effects to a minimum. Some shielding and filtering options include the following: There are EMI/EMC regulations and standards you have to pass before your product can go to market. Let’s dive into the common techniques you can employ to reduce EMI in your PCB designs. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } Do you know what EMI in PCB is? If you are curious about the basic knowledge about EMI in PCB, please check and read the content below for more information. What are the challenges of EMI in PCB? The general effects of electromagnetic interference between electronic devices are noticeable. Wireless communication systems are interrupted by unexpected broadcasts, automotive systems may malfunction, and advanced sensors used in medical or other applications may not transmit the complete or correct data. Flight attendants still make a similar request before the takeoff and landing of commercial flights. Even back in CB radios’ days, we learned to avoid revving our cars’ engines to reduce the engine noise from our transmissions. But EMI prevention goes much further than that, and there are many different design standards in place to specify how much interference is or isn’t allowed: · IEC 60601-1-2 is a series of standards that define medical equipment’s essential performance and safety expectations when confronted with EMI. · CISPR 12 is a regulatory requirement to ensure that automobiles’ internal combustion engines do not interfere with wireless communication when the vehicle is near residences or businesses. · CISPR 25 ensures the performance of radios and other communication equipment mounted in vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines. What are PCB design rules for checking tools? PCB design is so complicated that numerous layers and lines are concerned in it. For engineers, it's quite difficult and boring to manually check the routing of each EMI/EMC key network. Automated tools are capable of extracting PCB design from CAD files and reporting positions violating design rules to users. Generally speaking, these software tools can allow users to predetermine design rules as limiting condition and can even create new rules under the condition of available PCB technologies and speed. PCB rule checkers can be repeatedly applied during the period of PCB design in order to ensure the design without violating important EMC rules. If PCB is only examined in the final design step, modification in accordance with rules will possibly take much time and even can't be implemented. The examination of multilayer PCB design during the period of design results in the avoidance of large-scale modification based on EMC rules following. PCB design rule checker runs at a very large speed and examines the design rules of each PCB. Nevertheless, these tools just simply provide some hint for users and fail to provide instructions according to the order of severity concerning rules breaking. Some newly-presented PCB software checking tools are capable of associating phenomena of rules breaking and reflecting the information about data rate of signals and degree of rules breaking, which is beneficial for designers to eliminate specific occurrence of rules breaking. How to design PCB with low EMI? There are two types of electromagnetic emission; conducted and radiated emission. Conducted emission enters the system through power input lines and cables. While, the radiated emission happens due to electromagnetic waves from power and communication lines, switching devices, and electrostatic discharges. It propagates through the air from electronic devices and traces, to interfere with other electronic systems. Examples are mobile and laptops interfering with aircraft electronics. Conducted interference can be mitigated by introducing line filters connected close to the power input or near the connectors. Another effective method for reducing conducted interference is using a ferrite core/ferrite ring. Ferrite core employs high-frequency current dissipation in a ferrite ceramic to build high-frequency noise suppression devices. How to design a board with low or absolutely zero electromagnetic interference? Well, it isn’t impossible. The below design practices will make sure you do not create antennas, which will emit electromagnetic energy. These best design practices will reduce the length and area of the potential signal return paths that may increase unwanted EM emissions. The multi-layers stack-up will play a critical role, particularly in high-power and digital applications. Signal traces from components to the processor should be properly routed to avoid any return path, which could lead to common-mode signal generation. The use of surface-mount devices (SMD) instead of leaded devices will further reduce EMI/EMC issues. Surface-mount devices (SMD) offer lower inductances in comparison with RF energy. Additionally, SMDs offer higher density due to closer component placements. This is particularly critical in a two-layer or four-layer circuit boards. However, the rising complexity in the PCB design will create more problems associated with line spacing or trace spacing. The dense physical dimensions of SMDs will offer more effective noise-control. Collect more information on surface-mount devices in this article The Advantages and Disadvantages of Surface Mount Technology (SMT). Leaded components with higher inductances will generate a resonant frequency of more than 100MHz. Therefore, the adoption of a large number of through-hole components is not recommended as they generate excessive noise. There are no hard and fast rules for PCB design. Some design rules apply to a certain type of board but not feasible for other types. Nonetheless, at Sierra Circuits, we have curated some general PCB design rules, common to all board types.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/13/2022 10:04

What is Solder Mask Used for PCB Manufacturing Process?

There are different types of colors available for PCB boards. The standard color of printed circuit boards is the green solder mask. However, with the advent of much innovation and technological advancement, the color of PCBs is now changing. In recent years the use of other colors instead of green PCBs is on the increase was driven by most of the assemblers. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } In this passage, you can get everything about the information of solder mask usages. If you are interested in the uses of solder mask, please check and read the content below for more knowledge. What are main types of PCB solder mask? Top and bottom side masks These are typically used by engineers to identify openings in the green solder mask, already applied on the PCB. This particular layer of solder mask is added through epoxy or film methods. Next, the component pins are soldered to the board utilizing the openings that have been registered using the masks. The traces on the top-side of the board are called top traces and the corresponding solder mask used is called a top-side mask. Identical to the top-side mask, the bottom mask is used for the bottom side of the board. Epoxy liquid solder masks The most cost-effective option among solder masks is epoxy. It is a polymer that is silkscreened on the PCB. Silkscreening refers to a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support ink-blocking patterns. The mesh enables the open areas to be identified for the process of ink transfer. This step is then followed by thermal curing. Liquid photoimageable (LPI) solder masks LPI solder masks are actually a mix of two distinct liquids. These liquids are kept separately and mixed right before the application of the mask layer to enable longer shelf life. LPI is also one of the more cost-effective options among various other types. LPI is employed for curtain coat, screen printing, and spray applications. This mask is a blend of various polymers and solvents. A thin coating can be formed using this mask that can stick to the target area surface. After using this mask, the PCB will generally not require any final surface finish that is currently available. What the solder mask should be used? An appropriate solder mask depends upon the physical dimensions of the board, components, holes, and conductors, the surface layout, as well as the final application for your product. You will need a photoimageable solder resist for most modern PCB designs. The surface topography will depend on whether to use a liquid or dry application. And a dry application is that lay down a uniform thickness across the entire surface. But it will be the best for dry mask adheres of your PCB surface is very flat. And if there are complex surface features, you’d better select with a liquid (LPISM) so that there will be a better contact with the copper of your traces and the laminate. What are the differences of PCB solder mask colors? If you are up for selecting the printed boards, some parameters require to be taken into consideration. One of them is choosing the color of the PCB solder mask. Though green is the most traditional color being used, other colors like yellow, white, and black, which are also available, do not require any extra charges. As there is a wide range of colors available for the PCB solder mask, the problem is which color needs to be selected. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to choosing any color other than green? Given below is the small guide which is going to help you in choosing different solder mask color other than the standard green color: Green Green PCB board can relieve fatigue regarding visuals. As green does not require enhanced efforts in inspection, workers prefer to use them. Less review of green printed circuit boards leads to a less tiring job. Also, it is reported that human eye sensors are sensitive to green color. It is mentioned prior that the PCB color of green has a higher contrast, making it suitable for identifying the board traces and residues quickly. It has also been seen that the green solder mask is superior to other solder mask colors. The green solder mask consists of different excellent properties compared to additional solder masking colors. This color produces good results with solder mask dams and plays its role in manufacturing integrated circuits. Red The red solder mask color tends to be bold and professional. The contrast present between planes, spaces, and traces is quite good. On the contrary to the green printed circuit board, the contrast is lower. Any magnification is used for inspecting the board traces in case of defects. It is to be noted that silkscreen is known to stand against red background well as it cleans up the flux residues. Though red looks attractive, eye-catching and bold, green is still considered the best. Blue PCB color blue for the solder mask resembles the same Arduino blue color. Compared to red and green printed circuit boards, the contrast between empty spaces, planes, and traces is shallow. In blue solder mask color, magnification is considered necessary and is mandatory for inspecting manufacturing defects. However, it is to be noted that the contrast between the solder mask and silkscreen is relatively high that is the plus point for using blue color. So, if you are using a board with the label – heavy, then the right choice, in this case, might be blue for you. Remember that blue seems to be an excellent choice if you want to match the solder mask color with your Arduino, and you do not care about showing off-board traces. Black THE Black PCB color is tough to handle. The contrast between empty spaces, planes, and traces is lower than other solder mask colors, but it is non – existent. Very powerful magnification is required for the inspection of this board. Inspecting it is nothing more than a nightmare as it needs a tilted angle for casting a shadow to find traces. Another problem with black PCB color is its heat absorption during the process of reflow. As far as cleanliness is concerned, the black solder mask needs hard efforts because the flux stains tend to be harder on the board and eventually require steps to get removed. One of the advantages of a black solder mask is that it works well with the contrast of silkscreen. The difference between silkscreen and pads is pretty much okay. You do not need any lighting or optics to see the distinction as it is visible. Currently, only gloss black is available. Matte black solder mask color is still to be designed for prototypes. White If you think that a black solder mask is the hardest to handle, you have not seen white yet. Experiments show that there is nothing good about a white solder mask. White PCB color exhibits contrast that is even lowest as compared to black. When it comes to inspecting, even tilting it to light does not help in its traces' appearance. Cleaning the white printed circuit board is too hard as hints are hard to be seen. However, the silkscreen contrasts in white solder masks are the same as those found in black color, which implies that they work very well. Keeping in view other parameters, we don't recommend the white solder mask.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/13/2022 09:48

What is PTH and NPTH in PCB with Basic Information ?

NPTH (Non Plating Through Hole) refers to a hole without copper in the borehole wall. It is generally used as the positioning hole and screw hole of PCB. The hole diameter is usually larger than PTH. PTH (Plating Through Hole), the borehole wall has a layer of copper, the PTH holes on PCB has two purposes: Used as component hole for welding DIP components, the hole diameter must be larger than the pin of the component, so that the component can be inserted in the PTH. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } Another relatively small PTH (Plating Through Hole), also known as “Via”, can be used to connect and conduct wiring between different layers in PCB. Are you a beginner of PCB world? If you are going to learn the details about c, please check and read the content below in this passage. How a hole is considered a PTH? It’s simple and straightforward. The pad’s copper along with the solder stop mask should overlay and be larger than the hole/slot with minimum 6 mil in width. Here are some examples for PTHs. If you are drawing a footprint for a part in the library editor, you can add a pad with a ‘long’ shape in the desired size, then insert the milling slot in layer 46. Otherwise, you can add the slot to an existing part’s pad, also in layer 46, using the layout editor. Keep in mind that you can draw irregular shapes using the polygon tool in layer 17, but be careful to add solder stop mask (in the top and bottom layer: tStop/bStop) to the generated shape. There is no need to do so in the case of adding a regular pad using Eagle’s pad tool since the solder stop mask is added automatically. How a hole is considered as a NPTH? In general, any hole/slot with properties that don’t meet the previous PTH conditions will be considered an NPTH. To be more specific, a set of conditions can be defined: Pad’s copper size is smaller than the hole, or even no copper at all. Pad’s copper overlays and is larger than the hole but there is a 6 mil space of clearance between the copper and the hole. How to process PTH in PCB? TH or Plated-Through-Hole PCBs are ones in which the leads (or legs) of electronics components are inserted into designated ‘holes’ in the printed circuit board. These are soldered into place using a number of soldering techniques such as using a hand solder, selective soldering, wave solder, or intrusive reflow process. This entire process is called conventional assembly. Soldering forms very strong joints as the component are soldered completely through the PCB and not just onto the surface of the PCB like Surface Mount Technology (SMT) components. The components inserted in a PTH PCB are done through these automated processes: · Radial insertion (electrolytic capacitors), · Axial insertion (resistors and diodes), · Odd form insertion (connectors, transformers, etc.) or · Manually (by hand.) PTH Vs. NPTH PCB pads are the exposed metals on the substrate where the component lead is soldered. Multiple pads are used synchronously to create a land pattern (component footprint) on the PCB. Pads can be through-hole ones or surface mount pads. A hole is considered PTH if its pad has copper along with the solder stop mask. This should be larger than the hole/slot with a minimum of 6 mils in width and be overlaid. Holes in which the pad’s copper size is smaller than the hole or if there is no copper at all are NPTH. Also, even if the pad’s copper is overlaid or larger than the hole, there will be a six mil space of clearance between the copper and the hole. The manufacturing process of NPTH is simpler, hence quicker. They are most used (but not always) as Tooling/Mounting holes to fix the PCB to its operational location. Land Patterns and Component Footprints The most important part of printed circuit boards is their circuits that interconnect electronic components. Most of the time, components are soldered to PCBs, but soldering can only be done under conducive conditions in order to be effective. The leads of a component must have a consistent electrical and mechanical connection to the etched copper traces. Also, each component must have a footprint or land pattern. This footprint is how the pads are arranged in through-hole technology or surface-mount technology and are used to attach and electrically connect components to the PCB physically. The component’s land pattern is the etched copper features that matches the leads of the component. These land patterns are normally made slightly larger than component leads to allow soldering space. Since most PCBs are double sided, or multi-layered, it requires plating of the Through Holes are plated, so that components can connect with each other and with required layers in the board.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/12/2022 10:42

How to Open PCB Gerber Files in Layout?

A Gerber, or Gerber Extended File, is a standard file format used in the electronics industry to store and communicate design blueprints. They're often used to convey information regarding manufacturing specifications of printed circuit boards. At their core, Gerber files are like PDFs for electronics manufacturing industry. Have you ever gone through an X-ray inspection in a hospital when you suffered from a fracture of bones? You can totally imagine a Gerber file as an X-ray image of a real PCB. An X-ray image just tells how your bones are organized while a Gerber file indicates how circuits are led in a PCB. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } Are you a beginner of PCB layout? If you are going to learn the methods of create Gerber files, please check and read the content below for more in this passage. How to open Gerber files in PCB layout? The Best Gerber Viewer to Open the File When it comes to opening the Gerber file or, GBR file extension, you will first need the file viewer tool for it. Luckily, you will see various Gerber file viewer out on the internet, and most of them are free too for usage. These software supports viewing of the measurement of the Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and also supports printing of the board from the tool. While some tools support only the viewing of the circuit board design, some come with extensive applications. However, some these are Gerber file editor. So, you can use them to view the structure and change the PCB design too. Some of the most reliable Gerber viewer tools are listed below: ViewMate GerbMagic GerberLogix CAMtastic Gerber Viewer ZofzPCB Also, there are multiple options for Gerber viewer software that you may choose according to your preference. You can open Gerber files with a number of programs, most of which are free. These free Gerber viewers include GraphiCode GC-Prevue, PentaLogix ViewMate, and Gerbv. A few of them support printing and viewing the measurements. You could also use Altium Designer to open the Gerber file but it isn't free. Another way to view GBR files is online. The makers of the format, Ucamco, have the free Reference Gerber Viewer that lets you upload the file online to view it in your browser. GIMP Brush files are used with GIMP, which works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If your GBR file is in the Game Boy Tileset format, you can open it with Game Boy Tile Designer (GBTD). What are the features of generating Gerber files in PCB layout? · Configuration factors · Macro and aperture measurements · Draw and flash command codes · XY Coordinate settings. Again, there is a Gerber file for every drill span and image layer of the PCB found in a single template. Sometimes, you can send over eight documents for a two-layered board to your PCB manufacturer. They may comprise: · A picture of the copper layer to be placed on the lower part of the board. · A picture of the copper layer to be placed on the upper part of the board. There would be two templates for the solder mask and silkscreen pictures for your manufacturer to include on the circuit board's lower and upper parts. Besides, there will be templates containing different drill holes, their position, and use. How to generate Gerber files in PCB layout? PCB design engineers should never be too lazy to generate their own Gerber files for the following two reasons. You are hardly able to make sure the PCB design software you're using is the same as that is being used by your PCB manufacturer. If your PCB manufacturer uses different PCB design software, you have to generate Gerber files by yourself, further conversation and confirmation will definitely cause more time and delay the production process accordingly. Altium Designer With your .pcb file opened with Altium Designer software, click File>>Fabrication Outputs>>Gerber Files sequently. Then, Gerber Setup dialogue window will come out, in which five items are available for engineers to set corresponding parameters in their Gerber files: General, Layers, Drilling Drawing, Apertures and Advanced.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/12/2022 10:38

How to Make PCB Stencil of Guidelines?

Before you can go into production, solder paste is printed onto the component pads of the PCB. How can you make sure you apply the solder paste with precision exactly where it needs to go? Stencils, or formally surface mount technology stencils, are the answer. Stencils are the medium used to transfer that solder paste onto the PCB. PCB Instant Quote .my-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 50px; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; background-color: blue; color: #fffff0; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease; } .my-button:hover { background-color: #C23C30; transform: scale(1.05); } If you are going to learn more about the methods of making PCB stencil, please check and read the content below in this passage. What is the basic definition of PCB stencil? The sole purpose of an SMT stencil is to transfer solder paste to a bare circuit board. A stainless steel foil is laser cut creating an opening for every surface mount device on the board. Once the stencil is properly aligned on top of the board, solder paste is applied over the openings (making a single pass, using a metal squeegee blade). When the stainless steel foil is separated from the board, solder paste will remain, ready for placement of the SMD. This process, as opposed to hand soldering methods, ensures consistency and saves time. What is the standard thickness of PCB stencil? This is important to ensure there is good release of solder paste from the apertures and to obtain the correct volume of solder paste to achieve the desired solder joint. Typically the stencil thickness would be between 4 thou and 8 thou thick. If the stencil is too thick for the size of apertures then it can lead to the paste being held by surface tension to the inner walls of the aperture. What are the types of PCB stencil? The PCB stencil is utilized to store bind glue on assigned spots on an uncovered PCB board so that parts can be appropriately set and be entirely adjusted on the board. The fundamental feature and purpose of a PCB stencil are to precisely store the perfect measure of solder paste on SMT cushions for the weld joint between the cushion and the part to be appropriately structured concerning the electrical connection and mechanical strength. Utilizing a PCB Stencil to put solder paste makes the PCB Assembly process quicker and more efficient. · Hybrid PCB Stencils · Prototype or Photo PCB Stencils · Frameless/ Reusable PCB Stencils · Framed / Framework PCB Stencils · Chemical-etch PCB Stencils · Laser-cut PCB Stencils What are the considerations of PCB stencil? SMD-Stencils are precision tools which have to comply with high requirements, as they take a key role in the SMT (surface mount technology) process. We offer following SMD-Stencils: Solder paste stencils are used to apply solder depots on printed circuit boards with a screen printing technique. SMD components (SMD = surface mounted device) are placed within these depots subsequently and soldered with a following reflow- or vapor phase process. Stencils for adhesives are primarily used for mixed assembly, as substitution for a dispenser, and are necessary before component mounting and wave soldering. Our lasered SMD-Stencils (made of stainless steel) allow a precise placement and strenght-of-shape of the solder- / adhesive- depots on the PCB and therefore accomodate the small track-widths and spacings as well as the hightech multipin components. Our SMD-Stencils are perfectly suited for finepitch and BGA assembly. What are the requirements of PCB stencil? The quality of the finished assembly is influenced by the SMD-Stencil used. The size of the apertures (openings), and thickness of the stencil determine the amount and shape of the applied paste. The purpose of the SMD-Stencil is: · Precise application of the needed material (solder paste, glue) · Creation of depots defined in shape and size · Reproducibility of the print · Effective cleaning of the pads · Economy To ensure an optimum result for the production of your SMD-Stencils, please note the following design hints. What is the data of PCB stencil? Data Format Regardless of the SMT stencil fabrication method used, Gerber data is the preferred data format. There are two standard Gerber formats available: · RS-274D – requires a data file listing the X-Y coordinates on the SMD stencil where apertures are to be placed and formed, and a separate Gerber aperture list that describes the size and shape of the various Gerber apertures used to prepare the image. · RS-274X – in this format the Gerber aperture list is embedded in the data file.

PCB Knowledge ⋅ 04/12/2022 10:14