Printed circuit boards are the beating heart of essentially any electronic
product, and prototyping your control board prior to full production can
save money and time.
Prototyping offers several advantages. For one, it gives you the ability
to test various configurations for maximum efficiency.
And when you work with a company that provides in-house prototyping, you
cut down on the time it takes to create prototypes.
As you build your PCB prototype, it’s important to keep in mind the
fabrication specifications of your product. These design requirements
include:
Dimensions
Remember that the cost of your PCB scales with surface area, so take care
to only use the space that you need so that you’ll keep costs down. And
you will likely spend more on PCB designs that use an irregular shape – as
opposed to a rectangle – as these will produce waste materials during
fabrication.
Layers
The more layers a PCB has, the greater the complexity. Each layer offers
more ways to route electrical connections between components.
Materials
Most multilayer PCBs consist of copper-covered boards, fused together. PCB
material is typically a glass epoxy, or – in some cases – polyimide,
Teflon, and PEEK.
Board thickness
A key mechanical specification for PCBs. The industry standard is usually
1.6 mm thickness.
Plating
This is a technique in which the copper surfaces of a printed circuit
board are covered with another metallic material to improve soldering
during the assembly.
Impedance control
This will be an issue for PCB’s equipped with radios. Controlled impedance
is crucial for maximizing the performance of wireless antennae.
Minimum spacing and width
This refers to the width of the copper traces on your PCB and the space
between them. The spacing requirement on your PCB should adhere to the
manufacturer’s minimum specification.
Hole sizes
How big are the holes on your board? How large are the vias that make the
connections between copper layers? Small holes and vias can save space –
and cost – but also make it harder to manufacture your PCB.
Solder mask
This refers to a layer of polymer applied to the PCB’s copper traces,
which helps prevent short circuits.
Silkscreen
Also known as “legend printing,” this final step involves applying text
and graphics to your board.
If you need to create a prototype for your next PCB, contact Mars
International. Mars International offers surface mount printed circuit
board assembly from our facility in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Our engineering team can design the circuits, lay out the boards and offer
guidance with the final product specifications. And, our assembly line is
RoHS compliant and all assemblies will meet IPC-A-610, Class II Quality
Standards as a minimum.
Get in touch with us today to let us assist you with your next project.
