About the manufacturing of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards).
12
votes
12answers
2k views
Recommended PCB houses / Assemblers
Can anyone recommend a good place to go making PCB's? I'm particularly interested in places that also offer assembly, because this makes SMD parts an option.
GoldPhoenix is an option, but not the ...
1
vote
1answer
202 views
How to export Slots in Altium?
I made my first PCB with slots, and Altium is generation two .txt files...one for the drills, and one for the slots...how do I combine them to send it to the manufacture?
-2
votes
0answers
47 views
pcb assembly already preroute [closed]
i have a problem with altium designer, i search to create a project with only one pcb and one sheet which brings together pcbs already preroute.
I already create several project and now I want to ...
55
votes
7answers
7k views
Best One-Off DIY PCB Creation Technique
I have finally built up a lab to design electronics in. I have quite a few designs I would like to test. I have tried the printer toner/iron technique a few times but have found that I cannot create ...
1
vote
2answers
141 views
What would be the best approach to align a photomask onto a PCB panel?
Issue: Alignment of photomask to reference holes drilled
When making PCB in panel form, the reference holes are usually drilled at 4 corners of panel to allow alignment of photomask to the PCB board. ...
3
votes
1answer
263 views
How do I get an Excellon Drill file with 2.4 precision and trailing zero suppression out of EAGLE?
I'm trying to output CAM data from EAGLE 6.2.0 to get some PCBs made at Advanced Circuits. Their preferred NC drill format (particularly the one used by their online FreeDFM tool) is
Excellon ...
27
votes
15answers
14k views
How do you cut PCB?
I just spent about 20 minutes trying to cut through a PCB with a hacksaw. These things are really tough.
What is the correct tool to cut PCB material, and get a nice straight line?
I saw something ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
What standard PCB notes should I use?
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 ...
6
votes
5answers
279 views
Home made PCB etching problem
I just tried to make my first PCB at home, but it did not work. I don't know what went wrong, so I'd appreciate some advice.
I was using the photoresist method, so I printed my circuit on a ...
-2
votes
4answers
177 views
Software to design a 2-sided PCB with discrete components [duplicate]
I'm quite new to PCB Fabrication. I have a circuit with discrete components on a breadboard. I would like to fabricate this circuit into a 2-sided PCB containing discrete components. Something like ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
PCB vias impact in cost
Often times I read comments/recommendations about placing lots of vias for GND in 4-layer designs, as well as a line-up of vias surrounding the board to protect from EMI, etc. I was always under the ...
4
votes
1answer
161 views
Heat Sink for SOT223
I am designing PCB a in which I am placing a BSP296 N-channel MOSFET, for switching solenoids:
MOSFET supply voltage is 24V
MOSFET max power dissipation is 1.8W
Max operating temperature is 150°C.
...
-2
votes
1answer
71 views
PCB Fab House Options [closed]
I'm ramping up to have some boards fabricated in bulk. On small runs, OSH Park definitely seems to be the best I've seen but for the final product I need more customization than any of the "shared ...
6
votes
1answer
164 views
How are these pcb pads made?
We want to design a pcb module that should be soldered directly onto customer pcbs (exactly like ICs ect.)
I found a module which does exactly that, please see pdf.
...
10
votes
2answers
213 views
How paint an electronic circuit?
I want to make a electronic circuit more hidden. So, I want to make it all black. The easy way is get a spray ink and use it. But will it work? Which ink or paint I can use?
-2
votes
2answers
200 views
Where can I order flexible PCBs? [closed]
Question
Where can I order flexible PCBs online?
Does such a service exist form which I can order complete flexible PCBs with components already soldered down? Where?
Background
I'm in the ...
2
votes
0answers
162 views
How to cut PCB? [closed]
This is actually an answer to a thread that was recently "protected" before this answer could be posted. I've tried various saw blades on FR-4 but it dulls them too quickly. A hacksaw works but I ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Eagle 6 : Problem Importing Custom Parts
Recently started working on a new PCB board for a dev kit. I ran in an issue where I had made a custom part for the M50-3501042 2x10 male header with 0.05'' (1.27mm) pitch.
Note also that this is a ...
18
votes
1answer
545 views
Why is “silkscreen” called that way?
Why is the set of white labels on a PCB called the "silkscreen"?
8
votes
7answers
703 views
Custom PCBs… what can go wrong?
I'm anxiously awaiting the delivery of my second set of custom designed PCBs from BatchPCB.
The first board I designed was pretty darn simple and didn't have any problems.
This second set includes a ...
1
vote
0answers
48 views
Gerber file edits
I'm making my own PCBs at home and I'm using KiCAD to layout the boards and create the Gerber files. From the files I'm making my template which I transfer to my boards and then finish the etching ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Home made PCBs - chemical temp questions
I'm trying my hand at making my own PCBs. Using the positive photo development method and ammonium persulphate for etching.
Does anyone know how long the etchent can be kept once mixed before it ...
0
votes
0answers
99 views
How are the prepreg & core selected for a 6 layer (1 oz each) and 93mil PCB thickness?
I would appreciate your help. How is defined the number of prepreg and Core dielectrics for a 6 layer (1 Oz each) and the total 93 mil tickness of the PCB?
2
votes
3answers
3k views
How to convert PDF to Gerber for PCB layout?
I've got a PDF file with a PCB layout I'de like to produce - however, I need the file in Gerber format first. Is there an easy way to convert between the two? I've found this: ...
2
votes
1answer
386 views
How do I calculate the proper width of a copper trace based on a given gauge (AWG) of wire?
I am designing a PCB which I will etch at home, but I need to know how to convert a wire gauge into the proper corresponding width of a copper track on the PCB. Is there a standard formula for this?
1
vote
0answers
99 views
CircuitCam 6.1 Alternative
I just got an old LPKF 91s PCB mill, from another department at my school. The mill came with 2 broken computers.
I have just finished setting up the mill to work with a "new" computer. I got ...
1
vote
5answers
207 views
PCB Prototyping and Fabrication
I have been working on a project for the past four months. Most of my development have been on breadboards and prototyping boards. I am now in the stage where I want to get a PCB printed and ...
0
votes
2answers
95 views
Buried via annular ring size
How do you decide the minimum annular ring size of a buried via?
I remember to have seen one manufacture list this, but generally I can't find the size on manufacture websites.
3
votes
1answer
76 views
How is it possible to create wires/circuits that are nanometer in size?
This image from wikipedia shows -
An array of 17 purpose-built oxygen-depleted titanium dioxide
memristors built at HP Labs, imaged by an atomic force microscope. The
wires are about 50 nm, ...
1
vote
6answers
446 views
How to hand drill PCBs?
Drilling 300 holes in fibre board is tedious, difficult to do neatly and prone to snap bits. What simple methods and tools are available to the home user to drill PCBs effectively?
In my case it's ...
4
votes
3answers
110 views
Methods of sliding PCB in straight line on drill press
I use a drill press like the first one in the linked answer at home for drilling my PCBs. If there was a way of sliding a PCB along a straight line left-to-right (or front-to-back) it would make ...
3
votes
2answers
427 views
PCB Trace inductance
I am planning to do a high current (200A+) PWM in a PCB and I am afraid the PCB traces inductances will be a huge problem...so I have some questions:
1- How may calculate the trace inductance?
2- As ...
6
votes
3answers
279 views
What is this adhesive tape that comes in some parts?
I think this is a Mylar tape, but why they come with it? I guess its so to make the Pick and Place machine job easier?
And why is so common to find them holding cables inside some laptops? Just ...
1
vote
0answers
238 views
0.5mm Pitch BGA Fanout - Reasonable Vias, Drills, Traces and Clearances
I'm pretty new to layout and using Altium.
I need to break out a 0.5mm pitch Spartan 6 BGA, I want to use "reasonable" vias, drills, traces, etc... but I don't really know what that means now a ...
4
votes
2answers
128 views
Cost difference of different Vias
I would like to know what could be typical cost difference of :
Through hole via (say x $)
Blind Via
Buried Via in a high dense PCB.
Which is costlier & Why?
3
votes
1answer
98 views
preserving printed circuit boards
How can we preserve Printed Circuit Boards without causing any damage to the boards in any conditions (air, cold, heat) while we are not using them for a long time?
3
votes
5answers
245 views
Covering PCB Pads
I have a PCB that was poorly designed and there is a ground pad that is too close to a signal pad. As a result, the signal pad on the surface mount component will short to ground. I was looking to use ...
1
vote
3answers
172 views
Feasibility Question and Advice on CAD software
For a hobby project I have bread boarded, I am considering using a pair detectors that operate as a single use physical barrier. When hit by a projectile, a trace is broken allowing +5VDC to to ...
5
votes
3answers
163 views
how to purchase simple custom devices with low quantities?
We have need for a few simple devices, mostly as adapters and connectors between other devices.
One example is:
6-pin Molex connector with 20-30V between two pins
24V to 12V DC-DC voltage converter
...
6
votes
6answers
6k views
Standard via sizes?
Is there a standard for via sizes, or can you make them any size you want?
(I'm going to be using traditional PCB houses to manufacture my PCB's.)
8
votes
3answers
780 views
Feasibility of PCB edge plating?
How feasible is it to edge plate a PCB or at least a portion of one? I've seen it done but as I understand the outer edge is only cut after plating at most fab houses. Is this something that's ...
5
votes
3answers
288 views
Questions with overhanging silkscreens in eagle cad
I am currently using several footprints in my pcb design which have tPlace silkscreens that extend beyond the board boundaries, and I was wondering what the implications of such silkscreens are since ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
High PCB copper thickness: What are the pitfalls?
We need to carry high currents on a PCB (~30Amps sustained), so we are likely to order our PCBs with high copper thickness. So far we've only used 35 microns in our designs, so 'high thickness' for us ...
3
votes
1answer
317 views
Eagle V6 and CNC router
Any one used Eagle V6 and CNC router to produce prototype PCB boards. I have a high res CNC router HighZ1000-s/T which accepts G-code and HPGL. I am pretty sure that at the end of the day it will well ...
10
votes
1answer
461 views
How are multi-layer PCBs made?
I know how normal PCBs are etched, but every time I grab a magnifying glass and examine the edge of a multi-layer board I'm astounded by the precision that must be required during production. On top ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Difference between drill layer, hole layer, and milling layer in Eagle
What is the difference between the drill layer (44), the hole layer (45), and the milling layer (46) in Eagle PCB?
2
votes
3answers
233 views
Photoetching: Developed photoresist coating sticks to the PCB
I've been practicing making PCBs using the photoetching process and I've come across a problem which I I haven't seen mentioned much on the Internet.
When I put the exposed board in the developer, ...
5
votes
2answers
208 views
Flexible-PCBs: what data is needed for manufacturers?
Can someone explain more about how you generate data for flexible or flexi-rigid PCBs for manufacture? Do I just make more layers and export more gerber files? Is there anything I need to keep in mind ...
5
votes
2answers
204 views
What would be the easiest method of removing FR-4 from a FCBGA chip
Does anyone know of any method of decapsulating a FCBGA chip that uses FR-4 as its exterior packaging ? I am interested in studying the internals of such chips and others as a hobby. I understand that ...
2
votes
1answer
247 views
8 layer PCB with Gold plating for each inner layer and immersion gold for all out layers?
it is just a 8 layers PCB with min line 4mil ,6mil holes in a 10 mil pads, Can somebody tell me why we need gold plating for each inner layer while immerison nickel gold for all out layers.
