Navi

gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng
Par
t1
A deeperi
nsi
ghti
ntot
hePCBmanuf
act
uri
ngpr
oces
s.
Tabl
eofCont
ent
s

Par
t1

Fr
ont
-EndEngi
neer
ingA PCBPr
oductp3

How toComparePCBManuf
act
uri
ng
Ser
vicesf
orYourBoar
dp9

How t
oCr eat
eaPCBManuf
act
uri
ng
Cos
tEs t
imati
onp1
3

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|2
Fr
ont
-EndEngineer
ing
aPCBProduct
I
nthebr
oades
tappl
icat
ionoft
het
erm,“
front
-end
engi
neer
ing”r
efer
stoanengi
neer
ingdes
ign
appr
oachus
edt
ocont
rolpr
ojectcos
tsand
t
hor
oughl
ypl
anf
orapr
oject
.ThePCBpr
oduct
devel
opmentpr
oces
sref
erst
oal
lthes
tepst
aken
pr
iort
otheboar
dbei
ngmovedf
rom t
hedes
ignt
o
t
hef
abr
icat
ionpr
oces
s.Thi
sar
ticl
ewi
llr
evi
ew t
hos
e
s
teps
,def
inewhathappensi
nthem andwhatt
he
cr
iti
calel
ement
sar
eforeachoft
hem.Subs
equent
ar
ticl
eswi
lladdr
esst
heact
ualoper
ati
ons
per
for
meddur
ingt
hef
abr
icat
ionpr
oces
s.

W hat
’sI
ntheFi
les

Ass
howni
nFi
gur
e1,f
ront
-endengi
neer
ingi
sthe
f
irs
tst
epi
nfabr
icat
ingaPCB.I
tshoul
dbenot
ed
t
hatt
hepr
oces
sshowni
nthi
sfi
gur
eiss
tandar
d
acr
osst
hePCBf
abr
icat
ioni
ndus
tryf
ort
hemanu-
Fi
gure1.Mul
til
ayerPCBFabr
icat
ion
f
act
uri
ngofmul
ti
layerPCBs
. Pr
ocessFlow

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|3
Her
e,al
loft
hePCBdes
igndat
acr
eat
eddur
ingt
hel
ayoutpr
oces
sispr
ovi
dedt
othef
abr
icat
or
s
othatt
hemanuf
act
uri
ngpr
oces
scanbegi
n.Comput
er-
aidedmanuf
act
uri
ng(
CAM)s
tat
ions
pr
oces
sthedes
igndat
athr
oughas
eri
esofs
tepst
hatr
esul
tint
het
ool
ingneededdur
ingt
he
PCBf
abpr
oces
s.Fi
gur
e2s
howsat
ypi
calf
ront
-endengi
neer
ings
tat
ion.

Thei
nfor
mat
ionpr
ovi
dedf
ort
hispr
oces
sincl
udes
:

The“
Ger
ber
”dat
aori
magesoft
hel
ayer
soft
hePCB.
Thenet
li
stt
hats
howst
heconnect
ivi
tyoft
hePCB.
Thes
tackupi
nfor
mat
ion.
Thedr
il
linf
ormat
ion.
Thef
abr
icat
ions
peci
fi
cat
ion.
Themat
eri
alss
peci
fi
cat
ion.
Fi
gure2.Typi
calFrontEnd
Engi
neeri
ngWor ks
tati
on

Ascanbes
een,byt
heabove,ens
uri
ngal
lthei
nfor
mat
iondel
iver
edt
othef
abr
icat
ori
scom-
pl
eteandaccur
atewi
llhaveadi
rectbear
ingont
heout
comeoft
hef
abr
icat
ionpr
oces
s.Tabl
e1
i
sthel
istoft
het
ypi
caldat
afi
lesr
equi
redbyaf
abr
icat
or.Ther
ear
esever
alf
ormat
sus
edf
or
t
hisdat
a,i
ncl
udi
ngGenCam,Ger
ber
,andOCB++.

Tabl
e1.Typi
calDat
aFi
l
esUs
edt
oFabr
icat
eaPCB

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|4
Ini
tial
izi
ngt he
Front-end
EngineeringEffor
t
Thef
irs
tst
epi
nthef
ront
-endengi
neer
ingpr
oces
sis
t
ocheckt
hedes
ignf
oraccur
acy.A cr
iti
calpar
toft
his
pr
oces
sist
osynt
hes
izeanet
li
stf
rom t
heGer
berdat
a
orar
twor
kthats
howshow t
hePCBwi
llbeconnect
edi
fit
i
sbui
ltt
othear
twor
k.Thi
ssynt
hes
izedl
isti
scompar
edt
o
t
heCAD net
li
st(
provi
dedasnot
edabove)andr
epr
esent
show
t
hePCBs
houl
dbeconnect
ed.Thi
snet
li
stcompar
isonef
for
tist
he
i
rstcr
uci
als
tepi
nthePCBt
ool
ingpr
oces
sands
houl
dneverbeomi
ttednomat
terhow t
ight
t
hes
chedul
emaybe.Thenet
li
sti
nfor
mat
ionneedst
obecompl
eteandaccur
ate(
ther
eby
avoi
dingt
heol
d“gar
bagei
n/gar
bageout
”scenar
io)
.Ift
heGer
berdat
anet
li
standCAD net
li
st
donotagr
ee,t
hennof
urt
herwor
kshoul
dbedoneunt
ilt
hedi
ff
erencesar
eres
olved.Thi
snet
-
l
istcompar
eoper
ati
oni
savi
tals
afeguar
dagai
nster
ror
sthatmaycr
eepi
ntot
hedes
igndat
a
al
ongt
heway.Fai
li
ngt
omaket
hisef
for
tfr
equent
lyr
esul
tsi
nPCBst
hatar
ewr
ongandunus
-
abl
efr
om t
heget
-go.Oncet
henet
li
stexer
cis
ehasbeens
ucces
sful
lycompl
eted,t
henexts
tep
i
stocheckt
hedes
ignar
twor
ktoens
ure:

Cor
rectt
racewi
dths
.
Cor
rectcl
ear
ances
.
Pr
operr
egi
str
ati
onbet
weenal
lthel
ayer
s.
Thepads
izesar
eadequat
efort
hedr
il
lsi
zesandt
oler
ances
.

I
fthePCBi
sfabr
icat
ed,i
tiscont
rol
ledi
mpedance.Thedes
ignengi
neer
ingt
eam hasf
ail
edt
o
pr
ovi
det
het
racewi
dths
,lami
nat
ethi
cknes
ses
,ands
tyl
esr
equi
redt
oar
riveatt
hecor
recti
m-
pedancei
neachl
ayer
.Thef
ront
-endengi
neer
inggr
oupwi
llus
eimpedancepr
edi
cti
ngt
ool
sto
ar
riveatt
hiscr
uci
ali
nfor
mat
ion.Fr
om ourexper
ience,i
tisunwi
set
oleavet
hiscr
iti
cals
tepup
t
othef
abr
icat
oral
onebecaus
eeachonewi
lldoi
ttos
uiti
tss
tandar
dpr
oces
ses
.Thi
scan
r
esul
tinhavi
ngacompl
etel
ydi
ff
erentPCBf
rom t
wodi
ff
erentf
abr
icat
orsus
ingt
hes
ames
etof
f
il
m.Thi
sisoneoft
hekeyr
eas
onswes
pends
omucht
imeons
tackupdes
igni
nourcour
ses
andourwr
iti
ng.Notget
tingi
tri
ghtcancos
tti
me,money,mi
ssedmar
ketwi
ndows
,oral
lthr
ee.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|5
Manuf
act
uri
ngTool
ing
Thenexts
tepf
oll
owi
ngt
hepr
ecedi
ngi
sthegener
ati
onof
manuf
act
uri
ngt
ool
ing.Thi
scons
ist
sof
:

Pr
oduct
ionar
twor
kforeachl
ayer
.
Dr
il
lfi
les
.
Tes
ttool
ing.
Rout
ingpr
ofi
les
.
Pl
ati
ngs
chedul
es.
Et
chi
ngs
chedul
es.
Lay-
upI
nst
ruct
ions
.
Lami
nat
ions
chedul
es.
Qual
it
ytes
ts.

Eachoft
hef
oregoi
ngi
sdes
cri
bedbel
ow.

Pr
oduct
ionar
twor
kcons
ist
sofaf
il
mforeachPCBl
ayer
al
ongwi
thf
il
m pi
ecesf
ort
hes
oldermas
koneachs
ideand
t
hel
egendors
ilks
creenf
oreachs
ide.Thi
sar
twor
kisdi
ff
erent
t
hant
hedes
ignar
twor
kint
hef
oll
owi
ngways
:

Thet
racewi
dthswi
llbemadewi
dert
oal
low f
ort
he
nar
rowi
ngt
hatoccur
sdur
ingt
heet
chi
ngpr
oces
s.
Theact
uals
izeoft
hear
twor
kwi
llbes
light
lyexpand-
edt
oal
low f
ort
hemat
eri
als
hri
nkaget
hatt
akespl
ace
dur
ingt
hel
ami
nat
ionpr
oces
s.
Manuf
act
uri
ngt
ool
ingf
eat
ureswi
llbeaddedar
ound
t
heper
imet
eroft
hepaneli
nwhi
cht
hePCBi
sbei
ng
bui
lt
.Thes
efeat
uresi
ncl
ude:

Regi
str
ati
ont
arget
s.
Tes
tst
ruct
ures
.
Res
indamst
oevent
hef
low ofr
esi
nint
he
pr
epr
egasi
tsof
tensdur
ingl
ami
nat
ion.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|6
 Phot
oont
hel
efts
howst
hemanuf
act
uri
ngt
ool
ing,r
esi
n
dams(
thepat
ter
nofbl
ackdot
s),andt
ests
truct
uresar
e
vi
sibl
eint
hepanel
'sboundar
y.

Dr
illf
il
esi
ncl
udet
hedr
il
lsi
zesandl
ocat
ionsf
oral
loft
he
hol
es,bot
hpl
atedandnon-
plat
ed.Theyar
eor
gani
zedt
o
pr
ovi
det
hemos
tef
fi
cientdr
il
ltot
ravelf
rom hol
etohol
e.I
f
Fi
gure3.I
nnerl
ayerdet
ailshown
af
tert
heappli
cati
onofblackoxi
de. t
hef
ini
shedhol
esi
zehasbeens
peci
fi
ed,pr
oces
sengi
neer
ing
wi
llcal
cul
atet
hedr
il
lsi
zeneededt
oar
riveatt
hef
ini
shedhol
e

f
oll
owi
ngpl
ati
ng.I
tisver
yus
efult
oadds
peci
fi
cnot
esr
egar
dingdr
il
lsi
ze.Tr
adi
ti
onal
ly,t
he
f
ini
shedhol
esi
zewass
peci
fi
ed,andt
hef
abr
icat
ort
hanchos
eadr
il
lsi
zet
hats
uit
edi
tspr
oces
s.
Wi
tht
oday’
sdes
ignsandt
het
ights
paci
ngofcomponentpi
ns,t
her
eisnotal
otofmar
ginf
or
var
iat
ionsi
nhol
esi
ze.That
’swer
ecommendchoos
ingt
hedr
il
lsi
zeaspar
toft
hepads
tack
des
ignpr
oces
sandt
henf
reezi
ngi
t.Thi
sres
ult
sins
peci
fyi
ngt
hedr
il
lsi
zei
nthedr
il
lchar
tas
oppos
edt
othef
ini
shedhol
esi
ze.I
flas
erorcont
rol
led-
dept
hdr
il
li
ngorbackf
il
li
ngi
sspeci
fi
edas
par
toft
hedes
ign,t
hos
efi
leswi
llal
sobecr
eat
edaspar
toft
hedr
il
lfi
les
.

Testt
ool
ingi
ncl
udest
hei
nfor
mat
ionneces
sar
ytobui
ldt
het
estf
ixt
ure,t
hewi
ri
ngr
ulesf
ort
hat
t
exts
truct
ure,andt
henet
li
stus
edbyt
het
est
ert
over
ifyt
hatt
heconnect
ivi
tyi
scor
rect
.

Rout
ingpr
ofi
lesi
ncl
udei
nst
ruct
ionsf
oramachi
ne(
rout
er)t
hatcut
sthePCBf
rom t
hepaneli
n
whi
chi
twasbui
lt
.Ift
hePCBsar
econnect
edi
nas
ub-
panelt
ofaci
li
tat
eas
sembl
y,t
he
i
nst
ruct
ionswi
lli
ncl
udecr
eat
ingt
hegr
oovel
inesorl
inesofdr
il
ledhol
est
hatwi
llbeus
edt
o
br
eakt
hePCBf
rom t
hes
ub-
panelaf
teras
sembl
y.Fi
gur
e4s
howsapanel
izedPCBcont
aini
ng
ni
nes
mal
lPCBswi
thi
nthepanel
.Ithasbeendes
ignedt
oopt
imi
zet
heas
sembl
ypr
oces
s.The
l
ightar
easr
epr
esentt
hemat
eri
alt
ober
emovedar
oundeachPCBdur
ingt
her
out
ingpr
oces
s.
Fol
lowi
ngas
sembl
y,eachPCBwi
llbebr
okenoutoft
hepanel
.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|7
 Pl
ati
ngSchedul
esdef
inewhatki
ndsofmet
alswi
llbepl
ated
ont
otheout
erl
ayer
soft
hePCBandhow l
ongt
hepanelwi
ll
needt
oremai
nineachpl
ati
ngs
tept
oachi
evet
her
equi
red
met
alt
hicknes
s.I
tshoul
dbenot
edt
hatcr
eat
ingi
nnerl
ayer
s
doesnoti
nvol
vepl
ati
ng.

Et
chi
ngSchedul
esdes
cri
bet
heet
chi
ngs
tepsr
equi
redand
how l
ongt
hePCBori
nnerl
ayer
sar
etor
emai
nineachet
chi
ng
Figure4.A Panel
izedPCBwit
h
6PCBsperPanelReadyf or s
tep.
tAssembly

LayupI
nst
ruct
ionsdes
cri
behow t
hei
nnerl
ayer
s,s
ubas
sembl
ies(
ordet
ail
s),pr
epr
egl
ayer
s,and
out
erl
ayercopperf
oil
sar
ear
rangedt
oar
riveatt
hef
inals
tackup.Thi
sinf
ormat
ioni
ncl
udeshow
manyPCBswi
llbei
ncl
udedi
nas
ingl
epr
essopeni
ngandhow t
heyar
etobes
epar
ated.

Lami
nat
ionschedul
esi
ncl
udehow muchpr
ess
urei
stobeus
eddur
ingl
ami
nat
ion,t
het
emper
a-
t
urepr
ofi
lef
ort
hel
ami
nat
ions
tep,t
hedur
ati
onoft
hepr
esscycl
e,andhow t
hel
ami
nat
edPCB
wi
llbecool
ed.

I
naddi
ti
ont
othenet
li
stcompar
etes
tsdes
cri
bedabove,addi
ti
onalQual
it
ytes
tscheckf
or
s
hor
tsandopen,t
race-
to-
viacl
ear
ances
,andvi
a-t
opl
anes
-cl
ear
ances
.

Summar
y
Fr
ont
-endengi
neer
ingf
ocus
esonal
loft
hes
tepsneces
sar
ytomoveaPCBf
rom t
hedes
ignt
o
t
hef
abr
icat
ionpr
oces
s.Thi
sisacr
iti
calpar
toft
hemanuf
act
uri
ngpr
oces
s,andt
het
hor
ough-
nes
sofi
twi
llens
uret
hatt
hemanuf
act
uredPCBmat
chest
heas
-des
ignedPCB.

Woul
dyoul
iket
ofi
ndoutmor
eabouthow Al
ti
um canhel
pyouwi
thyournextPCBdes
ign?Tal
k
t
oanexper
tatAl
ti
um ordi
scoverhow t
oeas
ilyexpor
tnat
ivedes
ignsorot
herEDA f
il
efor
mat
s
wi
thAl
ti
um Des
igner
’sPCB-
to-
Ger
berconver
terf
unct
ional
it
y.

Ref
erences
:
Ri
tchey,LeeW.andZas
io,JohnJ.
,“Ri
ghtTheFi
rstTi
me,A Pr
act
icalHandbookonHi
ghSpeedPCBandSys
tem
Desi
gnVol ume2.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|8
How toCompar
ePCBManuf
act
uri
ng
Ser
vicesf
orYourBoar
d
W henyour
unades
ignf
irm,t
her
e’sonet
ypeofemai
lyou’
reboundt
orecei
vemor
ethanany
ot
her
:sal
esemai
lsf
rom PCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ces
.Iunder
standt
hat
compani
esneedt
ogett
hei
rnamesoutt
her
eandwantt
owi
nbus
ines
s,s
othi
spos
tis
n’t
meantt
odeni
grat
ethos
ecompani
es.Ther
ear
epl
ent
yofPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
cesyoucan
f
indonl
ine,andt
heycanal
lst
artt
obl
endt
oget
her
.Ifyou’
res
ear
chi
ngf
oranew s
ervi
cepr
o-
vi
der
,itcanbehar
dtocompar
eal
loft
hem andf
indt
hebes
tmanuf
act
urert
hatmeet
syour
needs
.

Somecompani
eswi
lls
pam youwi
thof
fer
sli
ke“
2to48l
ayerHDIRFmet
alcor
ePCB”or
s
omet
hings
imi
lar
lyabs
urd.W hi
leexper
ienceddes
igner
scans
potbogusmanuf
act
urer
sfr
om
af
ar,t
her
eisal
waysat
empt
ati
ont
ogowi
tht
hel
owes
tpr
iced,s
uppos
edl
yfas
tes
tover
seas
companyyoucanf
ind.However
,ther
eisal
otmor
ethats
houl
dgoi
nto
choos
ingaPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
cet
hanj
ustpr
ice.

How t
oChooseYourPCBManuf
act
uri
ngSer
vice
W henyou’
rel
ooki
ngatengagi
ngwi
thaPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ce,you’
llf
indal
otofi
nfor
-
mat
ionont
hei
rwebs
itet
ous
eforcompar
ison.Ther
eisal
otofover
lapbet
weendi
ff
erents
er-
vi
cesi
nter
msofpr
iceandl
eadt
imes
,butt
her
ear
emul
ti
plemet
ricsyous
houl
dus
etocom-
par
edi
ff
erents
ervi
ces
.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|9
 Tos
tar
t,l
ookatt
hemanuf
act
urer
’s
capabi
li
tyl
imi
ts.Mos
tmanuf
act
urer
s
ar
epr
ett
ycompet
iti
vei
nthi
sar
eaand
canr
eli
abl
yfabr
icat
edownt
osome-
t
hingl
ike4mi
ltr
aces
,8mi
lvi
as,and
f
ew mi
lspaci
ngons
tandar
dst
ackups
.
Af
teryou’
vever
ifi
edyourboar
d
mat
chest
hei
rcapabi
li
ti
es,t
her
ear
e
ot
hermet
ricsyous
houl
dus
efor
compar
ison:

Pr
icevs.LeadTi
me
Pr
iceandl
eadt
imet
endt
ofol
low ani
nver
ser
elat
ions
hip:onegoesupwhi
let
heot
hergoes
down.I
fyourboar
dhous
eof
fer
sfl
exi
blel
eadt
imeopt
ions
,youcanof
fsets
omeoft
he
f
abr
icat
ioncos
tsbyext
endi
ngyourl
eadt
ime.Thi
sappl
iest
obot
hfabr
icat
ionandas
sembl
y.
Si
mil
arl
y,i
fyouneedyourboar
dst
urnedover
night
,you’
llhavet
opayext
raf
ori
t.Makes
ure
yourPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
cecanaccommodat
eyourl
eadt
imet
arget
swi
thi
nyourbudget
.

Onet
hingIdi
dnotaccountf
ori
nmyf
irs
tmanuf
act
uri
ngr
unwast
hes
hippi
ngt
imer
equi
red
t
omovef
rom f
abr
icat
iont
oas
sembl
y,andt
odel
ivert
hef
ini
shedPCBA t
ome.Al
so,Idi
dnot
accountf
ort
het
imer
equi
redt
oshi
pcomponent
stot
hemanuf
act
urer
,whi
chdel
ayedt
he
s
tar
tofPCBas
sembl
y.Makes
ureyouaccountf
ort
hes
eot
heras
pect
soft
hePCB
manuf
act
uri
ngpr
oces
ssoyoudon’
tgets
urpr
isedbyanydel
iver
ydel
ays
.

Fabr
icat
ion,Assembl
y,orBot
h?
Somemanuf
act
urer
swi
llpr
ovi
def
abr
icat
ionandas
sembl
yin-
hous
e,whi
les
omewi
ll
out
sour
ceas
sembl
ytoapar
tner
.Keept
hisi
nmi
ndbecaus
eyoumayneedt
ohaveyour
abr
icat
edboar
dsandyourcomponent
ssentovert
oanas
sembl
er,as
sumi
ngyouwon’
tdo
as
sembl
yyour
sel
f.SomePCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ceswi
llof
ferat
urnkeys
ervi
ce,wher
ethey
handl
eever
ythi
ngr
elat
edt
oyourpr
oduct
ionr
unandyoudon’
thavet
owor
ryaboutmuch
el
se.Thi
sisgoodf
ordes
igner
swhomaynotbef
ami
li
arwi
tht
hepr
ocur
ementand
cons
ignmentpr
oces
sorhavet
imet
omanagepr
ocur
ement
.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
0
Pr
oduct
ion-
LineFl
ashi
ng
Thi
sismor
efort
heembeddeddevel
operwhowant
stoevent
ual
lypr
oduceathi
ghvol
ume,but
i
t’
sst
il
lsomet
hingt
ocons
ider
.SomePCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ceswi
llof
ferpr
oduct
ion-
li
nef
irm-
war
efl
ashi
ngs
ervi
ces
,wher
eyourcodei
sfl
ashedi
ntomemor
ybef
oret
heboar
dsar
esentout
t
oyou.Thi
sisnots
omet
hingyou’
llneedt
ododur
ingPCBpr
otot
ypi
ng,butyouwoul
dneedt
o
cons
ideri
tifyout
akeyourpr
otot
ypei
ntohi
gh-
vol
umemanuf
act
uri
ng.

Pl
atingandCopper Avai
labl
eMat
eri
alsandSt
ackups
W ei
ghtOpti
ons I
’veputt
hisl
astbecaus
eit
’sal
mos
tal
ways
LookatanyPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ce t
hel
astt
hingnew des
igner
sthi
nkofwhen
webs
ite,andt
heyal
lof
ferj
ustaboutt
he pl
anni
ngapr
oduct
ionr
unf
oraboar
d.
s
ames
peci
fi
cat
ionsoncopper
:0.
5or1 I
nst
ead,t
hever
yfi
rstt
hingyous
houl
ddo
oz.
/sq.f
t.copperwi
thENI
G pl
ati
ngont
he bef
oredes
igni
ngyourboar
discr
eat
ea
out
erl
ayer
s,and1oz.
/sq.Ft
.copperon pr
opos
eds
tackup,andt
hencheckwi
tha
i
nnerl
ayer
sorpl
anes
.Ifyouneeddi
ff
erent f
abr
icat
ort
omakes
uret
heycanpr
oduce
copperwei
ghtand/
orpl
ati
ng,makes
uret
o s
omet
hingatorcl
oset
othos
especi
fi
ca-
checkonyourf
abr
icat
or’
scapabi
li
ti
esand t
ions
.Youcans
endas
creens
hotofyour
s
tackupopt
ions
. pr
opos
eds
tackupt
othef
abr
icat
or,and
t
heycanconf
irm whet
hert
hei
rmat
eri
al
s
tockscanmat
cht
hos
erequi
rement
s,or
t
heycanpr
opos
eanal
ter
nat
ives
tackup.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
1
 Exampl
est
ackupt
abl
efr
om aPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ce.Not
ethatt
hisboar
dhasnon-
standar
dthi
cknes
s.

Makes
uret
oletyourf
abr
icat
orknow i
fyouhaveani
mpedancer
equi
rement(
usual
ly50Ohms
s
ingl
e-ended)
.Ifyou’
vemadeami
stakewhencal
cul
ati
ngt
hes
tackupandt
racewi
dth,agood
f
abr
icat
orwi
llt
ellyout
hecor
rects
tackupt
hatt
heycanpr
oduce.Remember
,ifi
tcan’
tbemanu-
f
act
ured,t
henyoumi
ghtaswel
lnotevendes
igni
t.

TheTakeaway:Tal
ktoYourPCBFabr
icat
orFi
rst
Fr
om t
heabovel
ist
,ther
ear
emanydi
mens
ionsyou’
llneedt
othi
nkaboutt
ocompar
ePCBman-
uf
act
urer
s.I
tdoes
n’thur
ttot
alkt
oyourf
abr
icat
orear
lyt
ogetani
deaoft
hei
rcapabi
li
ti
est
o
ens
ureyourr
uni
ssucces
sfulandmeet
syourexpect
ati
ons
.

W henyouneedt
oacces
saneas
y-t
o-us
ePCBl
ayoutt
oolt
hati
ncl
udesever
ythi
ngneededt
o
bui
ldhi
gh-
qual
it
ymanuf
act
urabl
eci
rcui
tboar
ds,l
ooknof
urt
hert
hanCi
rcui
tMaker
.W henyou’
re
pl
anni
ngyournextmanuf
act
uri
ngr
un,youcani
nst
ant
lygener
atet
heout
putf
il
esneededt
oput
yourboar
dint
opr
oduct
ionwi
thaPCBmanuf
act
uri
ngs
ervi
ce.Al
lCi
rcui
tMakerus
ersal
sohave
acces
stoaper
sonalwor
kspaceont
heAl
ti
um 365pl
atf
orm.Youcanupl
oadands
tor
eyour
des
igndat
aint
hecl
oud,andyoucaneas
ilyvi
ew yourpr
oject
svi
ayourwebbr
ows
eri
nas
ecur
e
pl
atf
orm.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
2
How toCreat
eaPCBManuf
act
uri
ng
CostEst
imati
on
Unl
essIr
ecei
veal
ayoutj
obdi
rect
lyf
rom a Unl
essIr
ecei
veal
ayoutj
obdi
rect
lyf
rom a
manuf
act
urer
,mycl
ient
swi
llus
ual
lyas
kif manuf
act
urer
,mycl
ient
swi
llus
ual
lyas
kif
I
’m amanuf
act
urer
.Mycompanydoes
n’t I
’m amanuf
act
urer
.Mycompanydoes
n’t
manuf
act
ureboar
ds,butIt
hinki
t’
s manuf
act
ureboar
ds,butIt
hinki
t’
s
i
mpor
tantt
okeepcl
ient
sinf
ormedoft
he i
mpor
tantt
okeepcl
ient
sinf
ormedoft
he
manuf
act
uri
ngcos
tsf
ornew PCBs
.OnceI manuf
act
uri
ngcos
tsf
ornew PCBs
.OnceI
s
tar
tedgat
her
inges
timat
esf
ors
omeofmy s
tar
tedgat
her
inges
timat
esf
ors
omeofmy
f
irs
tpr
oject
s,Is
tar
tedt
obet
terunder
stand f
irs
tpr
oject
s,Is
tar
tedt
obet
terunder
stand
t
hepr
imar
ycos
tdr
iver
sofPCB t
hepr
imar
ycos
tdr
iver
sofPCB
manuf
act
uri
ngandhow t
opr
oper
lys
truct
ure t
manuf
act
uri
ngandhow t
opr
oper
lys
truc-
acompr
ehens
ivees
timat
eformycl
ient
s. t
ureacompr
ehens
ivees
timat
eformycl
i-
ent
s.

W hatDr
ivesPCBManuf
act
uri
ngCostEst
imat
ion?
Ther
ear
eanumberoff
act
orst
hatdr
ivemanuf
act
uri
ngcos
ts.I
ngener
al,pr
oduci
ngmor
e
boar
ds,us
ingmor
evi
asperboar
d,us
ings
mal
lert
races
/vi
as/
mount
inghol
es,andus
ingmor
e
component
sperboar
dwi
llal
lincr
eas
emanuf
act
uri
ngcos
ts.However
,thecos
tsi
nvol
vedar
enot
l
inear
.Inot
herwor
ds,doubl
ethenumberofboar
dsandcomponent
swi
llnotdoubl
ethet
otal
cos
tofanor
der
.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
3
Ther
ear
esomei
mpor
tantr
eas
onsf
ort
his
.Ther
ear
ea
numberoff
ixedcos
tsi
nvol
vedi
nanymanuf
act
uri
ngr
un,i
n-
cl
udi
ngt
ool
ingcos
ts,des
ignr
evi
ew,s
tenci
lcr
eat
ion,and
ot
her
s,dependi
ngonyourr
equi
rement
s.Ot
hercos
tsar
evar
i-
abl
eandar
edet
ermi
nedonaper
-boar
dbas
is.Thecos
tper
boar
dcandecr
eas
easor
ders
izedecr
eas
es,whi
chhasl
esst
o
dowi
thpanel
izat
ionandmor
ewi
thamor
tizi
ngf
ixedNREand
t
ool
ingcos
tsacr
ossanent
iref
abr
icat
ionr
un.Thes
amei
dea
appl
iest
oas
sembl
y(s
eebel
ow)
.

Pr
e-Pr
oduct
ionDFM Revi
ew andI
nspect
ion
SomePCBmanuf
act
uri
nghous
eswi
llof
ferdi
ff
erentl
evel
sofs
ervi
ceasf
arasapr
e-pr
oduct
ion
i
nspect
ion,des
ignandengi
neer
ingr
evi
ew,andDFM r
evi
ew ar
econcer
ned.Taki
ngadvant
ageof
af
ullengi
neer
ingr
evi
ew cans
igni
fi
cant
lyi
ncr
eas
etheper
-boar
dcos
tatl
ow vol
umeasi
tcar
ries
anaddi
ti
onalf
ixedcos
t.Not
ethat
,somel
evelofPCBdes
ignr
evi
ew hast
ooccurf
ort
hedes
ign
t
obequot
edandt
oens
urei
tisevenmanuf
act
urabl
e.I
fyouvi
olat
esomebas
icdes
igncon-
s
trai
nts(
clear
ancesbei
ngt
hemos
timpor
tant
),yourpr
ojectmi
ghtgetmar
kedno-
bidunt
ilyou
cor
rects
omebas
icer
ror
s.

Whenyourdes igngoesthroughat horoughDFM

revi
ew,yourfabricat
orwi
llcheckyourfil
esto
ensureyourdesigncanbemanuf actur
edi nt
hei
r
process
.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
4
Thi
siswher
elevelofs
ervi
ceandt
heext
entofanyr
evi
ew i
sver
y
i
mpor
tant
.Somet
imes
,anel
ect
rical
lycor
rectandmanuf
act
urabl
e
des
ignchoi
cewi
llnott
riggeraDFM vi
olat
ioni
nter
msoff
abr
icat
ion
abi
li
ty,buti
tmaycr
eat
eri
skofanas
sembl
ydef
ectorat
otalf
ail
ure
t
ofyourpr
oduct
.A per
fectexampl
eispadst
hatar
etoocl
ose
oget
herwi
thouts
uff
ici
ents
oldermas
kdef
ini
ti
onont
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r
ever
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spos
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l,wher
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ect
rical
lycor
rectdes
ign
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olat
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hedes
ignchoi
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ntent
ion-
al
.Mycompanydoesmanydes
ignsi
nvol
vingRFs
truct
uresand
wavegui
des
,andwes
omet
imesgetanot
ifi
cat
ionofas
hor
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rcui
t
dur
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ignr
evi
ew orwhenr
unni
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.Bes
uret
oin-
qui
rewhati
sinvol
vedi
nthi
stypeofr
evi
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ermi
newhi
ch
des
igndel
iver
abl
esyouneedt
opr
ovi
debef
oreaddi
ngan
engi
neer
ingr
evi
ew s
ervi
cet
oyourquot
e.I
t'
sal
waysgoodi
fyoucan
ant
ici
pat
ethes
eint
endedoruni
ntendedDFM vi
olat
ionsandt
o
communi
cat
ethem wi
tht
heCAM engi
neeratyourf
abr
icat
ionhous
e.

PCBFabr
icat
ionCostDr
iver
s
Her
eisas
hor
tsummar
yofs
omemaj
orcos
tdr
iver
sinvol
vedi
n
f
abr
icat
ion.Bes
uret
ocons
idereachoft
hes
ear
easwhencr
eat
inga
PCBmanuf
act
uri
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tes
timat
ion.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
5
Regar
dingt
henumberofboar
dsbei
ngf
abr
icat
ed,t
hemai
ndr
iveri
snotr
eal
lyt
henumberof
boar
ds,i
t'
sthecos
tperpanel
.Foras
mal
lrun,perpanelcos
tandNREcos
tswi
lldet
ermi
neyour
perboar
dcos
t.Athi
ghvol
ume,t
heperover
allperboar
dcos
tcomesdownasvar
iabl
ecos
ts
domi
nat
etheover
allpr
oduct
ionr
uncos
t.Theot
herpoi
ntsabovear
ejus
tthes
tar
tingpoi
ntf
or
manuf
act
uri
ngast
heyonl
yfocusonbar
eboar
dfabr
icat
ion.Ther
ear
eal
soas
sembl
ycos
tst
o
cons
ider
..

Assembl
yCostDr
iver
s
Thecos
tdr
iver
sinvol
vedi
nas
sembl
yboi
ldownt
othef
oll
owi
ng:

Numberofuni
quecomponent
s:Mor
euni
quecomponent
sequat
est
o
hi
ghercos
t,al
thoughor
der
ingcomponent
sinbul
kreducest
hepr
iceper
component
.

Typeofcomponent
s:Al
l-
SMD as
sembl
ycancos
tupt
o~50% mor
e
t
hrough-
hol
eas
sembl
y.

Doubl
e-si
dedvs.si
ngl
e-si
dedassembl
y:Doubl
esi
dedas
sembl
yaddst
o
cos
tsasyourboar
des
sent
ial
lyhast
orundownt
heas
sembl
yli
net
wice.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
6
 Leadpi
tchonSMD component
s:I
’ves
eent
hatanypr
emi
um onf
ine-
pit
ch
SMD component
svar
iesbymanuf
act
urer
.Ifyou’
real
readyus
ingal
l-
SMD,
s
omemanuf
act
urer
swi
llnotchar
geext
raf
orf
inerpi
tchcomponent
s.

BGAs:Si
ngl
e-s
idedordoubl
e-s
idedBGA componentas
sembl
ycancos
t
~
20% mor
ethanot
herSMD component
s,whi
chi
sinaddi
ti
ont
oanypr
e-
mi
um t
hat
'sal
readychar
gedf
ordoubl
e-s
idedas
sembl
y.Fi
nerpi
tchBGAs
bel
ow s
omel
imi
tcoul
dcar
ryaddi
ti
onalcos
ts,dependi
ngonf
abandas
-
s
embl
ycapabi
li
ti
es.

I
PC 601
2/I
PC-
A-600 Cl
ass3:Pr
oduct
ionandas
sembl
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oIPC-
A-600
Cl
ass3cancar
rys
igni
fi
cant
lyhi
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thought
hequal
it
yoft
he
f
inalpr
oductwi
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.Thecos
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eal
sohi
gherduet
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t
ionali
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equi
redt
over
ifycompl
iancewi
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gherper
for
-
manceandi
nspect
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peci
fi
cat
ionsi
mpos
edonCl
ass3pr
oduct
s.

I
TARcompl
iance:I
fyou’
rewor
kingi
ntheU.
S.,yourpr
ojectmayneedt
o
beI
TARcompl
iant
.Fi
nis
hedPCBswi
llneedt
oadher
etoI
TARr
equi
re-
ment
sondat
aint
egr
ity,PCBi
ntegr
ity,ands
hippi
ng.Thes
ecos
tsget
pas
sedont
oyouast
hedes
igner
.

Unl
essas
sembl
yisbei
ngdonebyhand,as
sembl
y
cos
tswi
llnotal
waysi
ncr
eas
eli
near
lywi
tht
he
numberofboar
ds.I
not
herwor
ds,wi
thaut
omat
ed
as
sembl
y,doubl
ingt
henumberofboar
dsdoes
notal
waysdoubl
ethecos
tofas
sembl
y.Someof
t
heas
sembl
ycos
tgoesi
ntopr
ogr
ammi
ngma-
chi
nes
,whi
let
her
emai
nderef
fect
ivel
ypaysf
or
machi
net
im .
me

Componentcos
tsf
oll
ow as
imi
lars
truct
ure.W henyouor
dermor
ecomponent
s,youmi
ght
r
eachanew pr
icet
ierwi
thyourcomponentdi
str
ibut
orwher
ethecos
tpercomponentdr
ops
.
Thi
sisoner
eas
oni
t’
sbet
tert
obuyf
rom as
ingl
edi
str
ibut
orr
athert
hanmi
x-and-
mat
chmul
ti
-
pl
edi
str
ibut
ors
.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
7
 Over seas
vs.Local
Pr
oduct ion
Wel
ivei
nagl
obal
izedenvi
ronment
,andi
t'
sneverbeeneas
iert
oout
sour
cef
abr
icat
ionand/
or
as
sembl
ytoar
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aborcos
ts.Thechoi
cet
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vol
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,leadt
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ent
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ied,I
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oundt
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nes
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thought
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ckel
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laddi
ti
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kcol
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vehadcl
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lect
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TARr
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rement
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wi
lll
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tyourabi
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sour
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abr
icat
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yin
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itst
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ghtenduppayi
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ume,butmys
elf
andmycl
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knowi
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fyou'
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wayst
alkt
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rect
ly.

Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
8
 I
nter
msofcos
t,t
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-uni
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icef
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boar
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int
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S.)canbe
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act
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icef
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ame
boar
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oducedover
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t
eas
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getaquot
efr
om anas
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ercompany.
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rom yourmanuf
act
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t
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soi
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eas
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ntangi
blecos
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oduct
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Becar
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oreyous
endyourdes
ignover
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f
orpr
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lycons
idert
her
isks
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Test
ing,I
nspect
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Tes
tingandi
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ameappl
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uchasI
PC-
13485,NADCAP,or
AS91
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e
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LastButNotLeast
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Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|1
9
Thi
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uddenl
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3.Fors
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ong,butyou'
llhavepar
tsi
ntr
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it
bef
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ini
sht
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ign.

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fyou'
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neer
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irm,makes
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W henyou’
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ti
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het
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ygener
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Navi
gat
ingPCBManuf
act
uri
ng|20