What standard PCB notes should I use?

Question

I have seen wide varieties at previous companies, from too few to too many with boilerplate, old revisions of standards, etc. Can you suggest a middle of the road list? This is for regular PCB fabrication for production.

Answer 1

Identification:

• client's name,
• (project ID),
• unique PCB ID

PCB metrics:

• material,
• CTI (Comparative Tracking Index),
• thickness,
• color,
• number of layers,
• layer stacking: reference to Gerber filename for each layer,
• copper thickness,
• solder mask color,
• silkscreen color

Panelization

• Tooling for PCB edges: V-cut or milling,
• PCB outline drawing with tolerances. This may be as simple as a rectangle, but this board's outline consists of 52 line segments

Layout

• If there's room for it some shops like to add a quality logo (like UL) and/or a production date to the silkscreen. Tell them which area of the PCB they can use for this.

Answer 2

Here is one I found (free login required), but I don't know if it's good or complete. I don't see UL-94V, for example. Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference; Basics gives this example chapter.

Answer 3

• Board Name
• Company/personal name
• Copyright year
• Thickness
• Board material type
• Copper weight
• Panelization instructions
• Tolerances

Answer 4

To what's already been mentioned, I'd add

• Surface finish (HASL, gold-plated, or ...)
• Lead free requirements or lack thereof
• Serialization requirements
• Allowed deviations from the design files (i.e., remove silkscreen from areas not covered by solder mask, etc.)
• color of solder mask
• Any specifications for controlled impedance (i.e. "tracks drawn as 4.05 mil wide on top layer shall be 50 Ohm controlled impedance +/- 10%")
• Tolerances for board dimensions, drill registration, drill diameter.
• Fire safety rating (e.g. 94V-0), if required.