PCB Manufacturers and PCB Design Services
PCB Manufacture
For many organisations it makes sense to use a 3rd party PCB manufacturer to create your circuit boards. PCB manufacturers offer standard and fast turnaround services on PCBs. Printed circuit boards can be single, multi-layer (with through-hole) and even flexi-rigid PCBs. Generally, the more layers, the higher the price for circuit boards. Many PCB manufacturers can also offer a PCB design service and even circuit design expertise.
PCB Assembly
Once a circuit board has been manufactured the assembly process may begin. Most modern circuit boards use surface mount components and high pin-density integrated circuits, processors and microcontrollers. Most modern circuits are designed on a computer and this provides a design file for the PCB layout, which minimises errors. PCB design software is used to create the design and find the best routing of connections between components. Often, designers place stringent rules on circuit signal paths to keep distances to a minimum or to help with providing a suitable ground plane. Component placement is carefully considered to provide a small PCB with connectors in the correct position and possible allowing for cooling and other requirements. The PCB design software produces 'artwork', a series of plots, one for each layer of the PCB which a designer can check. Many PCBs are made on one single board and are then cut and finished to provide the final product.
Pick and place machines take reels of components and place them in the correct position on the circuiti board. The PCB then goes through a 'reflow soldering' process.
PCB Design Software
High quality PCB design software which can provide power for multi-layer boards contines to grow in features and capabilities. For those looking to design their own boards at low cost, you will find a number of free (demo or full featured) PCB design packages available for download.
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PCB Terminology
If you're new to printed circuit boards then here's some basic terminology:
Bare Board
A finished printed circuit board (PCB) that has no components mounted yet.
Blind via
A via hole that does not pass completely through the printed circuit board. A blind via starts from one side or another.
Buried via
A via connects two or more inner layers but no outer layer, and cannot be seen from either side of the board.
CEM1 or CEM3
PCB board materials, standard epoxy resin with woven glass reinforcement over a paper core, differing only in the type of paper used. They are less expensive than FR4
Component Side
The side of a printed circuit board on which most of the components will be mounted.
Double Side PCB
The pads & traces are on both sides of the board.
Electroplating
The electrodeposition of a metal coating on a conductive object. The object to be plated is placed in an electrolyte and connected to one terminal of a d-c voltage source. The metal to be deposited is similarly immersed and connected to the other terminal. Ions of the metal provide transfer to metal as they make up the current flow between the electrodes.
Etching
Removing unwanted metallic substance by chemical or chemical/electrolytic process.
FR-4
The most commonly used PCB board material. "FR" stands for Flame Retardant and "4" means woven glass reinforced epoxy resin.
Gerber CAM Viewer
There are many Gerber viewers on the market. Here is a short list: GC Prevue, ViewMate, GerbTool, CAM 350, CAMTASTIC, CAMCAD, CAM Expert, Evgraver, ViewPlot.
Internal Layer
A conductive pattern which is contained entirely within a multilayer printed board.
Multilayer PCB
The pads and traces are on both sides and also there are traces embedded within the board. Speedy PCB is able to provide 3-20 multi layer boards.
Pad
The portion of the conductive pattern on printed circuits designated for the mounting or attachment of components.
Panel
An array of, usually identical, separate circuits manufactured on the same piece of material.
PCB A Printed Circuit Board