Importance of Design for Manufacturability for PCB manufacturing

PCB manufacturing

Printed Circuit Boards are the basis for many electronic devices. The working of the electrical appliances depends upon the manufacturing and connection of the printed circuit manufacturer. They are composed of conductive layers which are separated by a substrate or an insulating layer. Later they are laminated together to form a printed circuit boards.

Traditionally, the PCB was mainly used in the military and industrial appliances but today they are the basis of millions of components like hardware devices, televisions, radios, etc. Every electronic device, big or small, you will find a printed circuit board. It is usually green in color with copper-colored lines and dots. The entire designing of the PCB shows that the manufacturing cost would be higher and it is high because a small layer or mistake can spoil the complete electronic device. It can be harmful for the user. The PCB manufacturers use DFM for the production of the PCB because it helps reduce cost and bring out the right product.

It shows that DFM is important and leads to the smooth production of the PCB products. The benefits of the DFM on the products, manufacturers and users are the following:

·        Improves the reliability

The DFM solves the issue before the official manufacturing of the PCB so the final products come out to be of excellent quality. DFM already deal with the manufacturing defects before the final manufacturing so it helps to optimize the appearance of the products. Optimization of the design aspects leads to higher reliability and smooth running of the products.

·        Reduces the manufacturing cost

DFM is the step of the process before the final manufacturing starts so it is easy to avoid unnecessary manufacturing steps. The reduction in the manufacturing steps reduces the cost of productions. It happens because the manufacturing process becomes simple and it is easy to save some tool, equipment and labor from all. It also helps to reduce the time wastage in which the PCB manufacturers can use to produce some more units.

·        Helps to minimize cycle time

Production of every unit has to with the perfect cycle from the start to the end and then comes the final products. Due to early detection of the problems in every phase of manufacturing, it becomes easy to solve the hidden danger. The process runs smoothly and cycle time comes to be less which results in large and early manufacturing. The early entry of the products in the market leads to higher profit.  

The complete discussion on PCB manufacturing shows that it is important to have the products for the successful running of the electronics devices so the PCB manufacturers should follow certain useful processing steps to reduce the cost of production and increase the number of manufacturing units.

How to Select a PCB Manufacturing Company?

PCB Manufacturer

Printed circuit boards are used in all electronic products which mechanically support and electrically connect electronic component .It looks like a green chip at the center of an electronic item that comes with an infinite number of configurations.Today it's use spans just about every industry and continues to evolve into new industry and application. However, there are several advantages and disadvantages to using a Printed circuit Board.

PCB prototyping is a process in which a working model or prototype is developed for the purpose of testing the various designs features, ideas, viability, functionality, output and performance. Protyping help in quick feedback and essential element of the process designing. PCB prototyping is a process in which a working model or prototype is developed for the purpose of testing the various designs features, ideas, viability, functionality, output and performance. Protyping helps in quick feedback and Identifying essential element of the process designing where deficiencies or problems can be detected and corrected. There are different types of PCBs being manufactured like single side PCB, double-sided PCB, multilayer PCB, high tech PCB and high added value PCB. Single-sided PCB is widely used in many types of equipment whereas double-sided circuit boards are used in higher technology electronics.

China is the leading manufacturer of PCB and capable of producing quality PCBs. There is a huge domestic demand due to a thriving electronics market backed up by a low labor cost. PCBs are flexible and adaptable solutions for many applications across many industries. A good manufacturer can create a cost-effective and flexible PCB solution for any application. You need to work with a manufacturer to create prototype PCB manufacturers according to your needs and specifications. PCB manufacturer can produce a prototype for you before mass production. You should consider a few important factors before choosing a manufacturing company.

How to Choose a Manufacturing Company

1.  Range of expertise- Check what kind of services a company offers like flex and rigid circuits, single and multiplayer. Check the review online about the company and know about their clients. A PCB manufacturing company should be comfortable working with the telecommunication, aerospace and medical industries.

2.   Policies- Check whether the company provides project management from start to end and their policies concerning inventory management, warehousing and shipping. A company providing vast services will be able to create streamlined production operations.

3.   Quality control- select a company that handles an in house design and assembly process on its own which helps in fast delivery.

4.    Brokers- Beware of brokers because most of the time some so-called PCB manufacturers turn out to be a broker who might take an order and pass them onto another company. You should be careful of this practice because it may not be possible to guarantee the standards and requirements that might need to be placed on the board. It is always the best idea to work directly with the manufacturer.

In addition to this, you can narrow down your search to find a certified company that provides a reliable product.

Some Important Factors To Consider When Finding Prototype PCB Manufacturers!!!

prototype pcb manufacturers

It is not an easy task to find the right prototype PCB manufacturers. Hiring the wrong manufacturer can lead to a lot of complications. It always helps to keep a few pointers in mind which will help you make the right decision. 

1. PCB quality. Quality should be the main determinant when choosing the right prototype PCB manufacturers. Quality here means that the board must not have any flaws and must be as per your specification. The quality of the manufactured PCBs should be consistently high and the quality must not decline below the set standard once the order has been secured. 

2. Ability to meet the needs. You must ascertain whether or not the prototype PCB manufacturers you are evaluating can work as per your specifications. Will they be able to produce PCBs as per the requirements? This can be in terms of the number of layers, tolerances, type of PCB material, specific requests, and more. 

3. PCB manufacturing cost. Cost is a major factor that requires your consideration. Minimizing the cost makes manufacturing a product successful; however, you must beware of those prototype PCB manufacturers who ask for very low fees. Invariably low price could mean issues in quality. You must try to balance quality and cost for optimum results. 

4. Deadline. Most companies that assemble PCBs require that the boards should be delivered to them by a fixed date. Making sure that this deadline is always met should be a major factor worth considering when selecting prototype PCB manufacturers.

5. Working in an alliance. Another major factor worth considering is the ability of the manufacturer to cooperate and forge good relations. Essentially, if a PCB manufacturer can keep up with the pace of PCB assembly and design, then it can be highly beneficial and this should be a significant factor when evaluating whether or not you should hire a particular manufacturer. Having cordial terms enables quick remediation of issues and benefits both the parties to a contract.

6. Sourcing of materials. Another major factor that many companies consider when finding prototype PCB manufacturers is the source from which the materials are procured. Some of them procure them from the cheapest sources and the result of this is that boards may vary in performance from one batch to another. Typically, the PCBs must be UL approved and meet other additional standards as well. 

You must steer clear of the brokers who take orders from companies and pass them to the prototype PCB manufacturers. They unnecessarily increase the cost and might also provide you with substandard boards that do not match the quality that you require. You must directly communicate with the manufacturers to ensure a hassle-free experience. Even if you have to pay some extra time on finding the right PCB manufacturer it will be worth the while if you get a good quality of output.

Different Popular Substrates For PCB Designing

pcb manufacturer 

The fundamental attributes of PCBs considerably depend on the performance of the substrate material. Thus, if you want to improve the performance of your printed circuit board, first you have to optimize the substrate’s performance. Till now, so many materials have been developed and employed in different applications so that they can cooperate with advanced technologies and market trends.

Past few years have witnessed a substantial transformation in the market of printed circuit boards as the focus shifted from traditional hardware products such as desktop computer system to wireless communications such as server and mobile terminal. Mobile communication devices like smartphones have greatly fueled the progress of PCBs design in terms of density, lightness and multiple functions.

A PCB manufacturer with in-depth knowledge and rich experience knows this very well that printed circuit technology can never be achieved without substrate material as its technological requirements are closely related to the performance of the PCB. Therefore, the selection of substrate material plays a vital role in enhancing the quality and reliability of PCBs and also the end products in which PCBs will be installed. So, the question is -how to determine substrate material for your PCBs? Let’s find out the answer.

In the modern era, there is a trend of thin, miniature, compact and affordable electronic devices which further leads to the advent of different types of PCBs. An experienced PCB manufacturer can help you select the most suitable material for the particular PCB you need. But, for your general reference, there are some popular materials which are often used for designing PCBs.

FR-4

This material is counted amongst the most popular materials. It is a glass fabric-reinforced laminates which are bonded with flame resistant epoxy resin. In actual, it is not a material but a grade designated by NEMA, National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Here, the FR acronym stands for flame retardant and denotes that this material complies with UL94 V0.  

The advantage of using FR-4 is that it is cost-effective and very versatile. It offers electrical insulation with high dielectric strength and high strength-to-weight ratio. Other major attributes of FR-4 are that it is lightweight, moisture resistant and relative temperature resistant.

CEM-1

It is a cheaper substitute of FR-4 and stands for composite epoxy material. Just like CEM-1, it is also a classification by NEMA. It is made from paper and two layers of woven glass epoxy and phenol compounds. However, there is a restriction to its use. It is suitable for only single-sided printed circuit boards as laminates are incompatible with the process of metallization in holes. While dielectric properties are quite like FR-4 but its mechanical endurance is not good enough. It comes with a flammable rating of UL94 V0.

CEM-3

Unlike CEM-1, CEM-3 can be used for double-sided PCBs with plated holes. It also costs less than its counterpart FR-4. Depending upon its properties and applications, it can be categorized into the following subclasses:

·      1. Standard, with or without UV blocking

·      2. Compatible with lead-free reflow technology

·      3.  Halogen free, without antimony and phosphorus, non-toxic substance

·      4. With normalized index of CTI greater than or equal to 600.

So, whenever you need to PCBs for your application or project, contact a reputed PCB manufacturer who can provide right suggestions to ensure that PCBs produced at the end will be of high quality.

Major factors to consider when searching for the right PCB manufacturer

pcb manufacturer 

Gone are the days when prototype boards were made by the designers on their own. Not to say, the PCB manufacturing process has evolved considerably over the course of the past few decades. Due to the enhancement of technology and lower costs, designers have begun to rely on PCB manufacturers. However, with so many service providers out there, how do you pick the one that best matches your requirements? Do not worry; we have mentioned a few noteworthy factors that you can consider when evaluating your options for PCB manufacturers.

1. Quality. The first and foremost criteria to assess when choosing a PCB manufacturer should be that of quality. There should be absolutely no errors in the printed prototype and the materials chosen for the same should also be free from defects. Their service quality will impact the functionality of the prototype and to assess the same, you must speak with their customer care executives. This will give you an idea about their knowledge of the prototype service. A good manufacturing company will have dedicated staff with good knowledge and customer care service.

2. Minimum order quantity (MOQ). The second most important factor worth considering when choosing a PCB manufacturer should be that of the minimum order quantity (MOQ) that they require you to purchase. Prototypes may require amendments in certain instances and if you are asked to order an exceptionally high MOQ, it will unnecessarily raise your budget. You must assess different PCB manufacturers in this regard and choose the one that best matches your requirements and budget.

3.  Cost. It is very easy to compare the rates of different PCB manufacturers with easy access to the internet. What you need to keep in mind is that price and quality do not go hand in hand. PCB manufacturers that use better technology and high-quality materials will never offer you prototypes at dirt cheap rates. The best would be to prioritise quality instead of going for the lowest price of PCB.

4. Turnaround time. There would be no use of ordering a PCB prototype if it will take forever to reach you. Since prototype projects usually have very strict deadlines, you would do good to go with a PCB manufacturer who is reputed for rendering quick services.

5. Customized solutions. Before getting a final output, there can be a need to make a few amendments in the prototype. These changes may be in size, components, shape, or more. Not all manufacturers offer customization during or after the final printing of the prototype. This is why you must choose that manufacturer who has the right tools to give you exactly what you require.

6. Experience. If yours is a complicated project, the best thing to do would be to find a PCB manufacturer who has sufficient experience in this line of business. Furthermore, you must also see to it that they have the expertise and experience to deliver the kind of prototype that you require them to make.

These are a few important factors that you need to consider when evaluating your o[ptions for PCB manufacturers. Apart from these factors, you must find a PCB manufacturer who ensures safe packaging and shipping of the manufactured prototypes. You can ask your industry colleagues for their recommendations or search online to find the right PCB manufacturer.  

How to Choose a Good PCB Manufacturing Company?

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are the boards made up of fiberglass, composite, epoxy or laminate material used in most electronic devices including computers, TVs, radio, network interface card, digital cameras and expansion card. They are the most important components of any powered device because they supply power and send signals between the components of a device that allows the proper functioning of that device. Generally, these components are connected to the motherboard i.e. a printed circuit board which is thinner and contains finer circuitry.

Most PCB manufacturing companies first agree with their clients to produce a prototype before proceeding to mass production. Later, they carry out all the stages of PCB fabrication and testing under quality control protocols to get the final product. Therefore, hiring right Prototype PCB manufacturers is required to get the right prototype before full production to avoid costly errors.

Here are a few tips for you to help you find a good prototype PCB manufacturing company.

Tips for Choosing Prototype PCB Manufacturers

1. Check different manufacturers’ websites to know about their reputation and clients. Find out whether the chosen company has relevant experience or if it is certified with IPC-6012& IPC-A600G. A PCB prototype manufacturing company should be able to design flexible and efficient PCBs to meet consumers’ demand. Low-cost assembly below specified standards is easy to design but comes with possible risk factors that could lead to board malfunction.

2. If you get references, it is important to call them and ask for the feedback and experience with the company. Discuss the quality of the boards to check whether they are of right dimensions and all holes are perfectly drilled and accurately positioned in the PCBs. A right manufacturing company never compromises with the quality.

3. The total amount of time, different companies need to complete your order varies depending on the type of technology they use. Most of the prototype projects run on tight deadlines. Usually, a manufacturer quotes 5 days or higher to ship the prototype from the order acceptance date.

4. Check the PCB Company’s policies regarding inventory management, warehousing and shipping and PCB prototype assembly. You should check the prototype before a company starts production as you do not want to stress yourself later in making another prototype because the first one did not meet your expectations.

In addition to this, finding a certified and experienced prototype PCB manufacturer is not as easy as it sounds. Most of the well-reputed manufacturers offer instant quotes available on the websites. So, you will be able to find all details including their work, packing and shipping.