PCB design services involve specialized activities aimed at creating an optimum printed circuit board layout using CAD software and other specialized PCB design tools. There are different kinds of PCBs and the process for each one may vary a bit. Regardless of the type of board or layout, though, it's always going to be roughly the same multi-stage designing process that begins with schematic capture.
Designers typically require that clients should provide basic information regarding three key matters. The most important of them is the schematic, but it may alternatively be in the form of a netlist file. This is a file containing connectivity details and component descriptions.
Another thing the client is required to provide is the bill of materials (BOM) specifying each component used and its footprint. Designers are sometimes asked to help with component footprint capture. The client is also expected to provide the board outline. Once they have the schematic or netlist, BOM and the board outline, the designer should be able to do the rest.
There are many intermediate techniques used in several stages that build on the schematic or netlist. These functions include things such as library development, signal integrity checks, stress analysis, thermal simulation and EMI checking. All this leads up to the generation of the gerber file. This is the most commonly used format used for transferring complete PCB images ready for manufacturing.
The designer must be capable of coming up with solutions for complicated analog, digital, RF and mixed PCBs. Then there's also the type of board, which can be single-sided, double-sided or multi-layered. The board's size may vary, and so can the pin densities and component quantities.
There's also the question of deciding on the characteristics of the board. This refers to the method used to mount components and create the traces for the circuit. Surface-mount technology is the most popular technique used now for mounting components.
Using this surface-mount technique, the end caps are directly soldered now on the same side of the board. This new method has almost completely replaced the earlier through-hole boards. In these older boards, leads were inserted from one side of the board and soldered onto traces on the other side.
Designing new boards is just one part of the services offered by PCB designers. They may also be asked to perform other functions such as evaluate designs, along with the components used and their footprints. Clients sometimes ask them to assist with procurement of prototypes and check for availability and pricing information against the BOM contents.
As a matter of fact, PCB design services continue to be required even after the product is delivered. Customers frequently need to make changes, and reorders bring a lot more business. Reverse engineering is another service that needs a highly skilled designer. In this case, the designer is given the gerber file and must come up with the schematic or netlist, which the client can then use for making wide-ranging changes.
Designers typically require that clients should provide basic information regarding three key matters. The most important of them is the schematic, but it may alternatively be in the form of a netlist file. This is a file containing connectivity details and component descriptions.
Another thing the client is required to provide is the bill of materials (BOM) specifying each component used and its footprint. Designers are sometimes asked to help with component footprint capture. The client is also expected to provide the board outline. Once they have the schematic or netlist, BOM and the board outline, the designer should be able to do the rest.
There are many intermediate techniques used in several stages that build on the schematic or netlist. These functions include things such as library development, signal integrity checks, stress analysis, thermal simulation and EMI checking. All this leads up to the generation of the gerber file. This is the most commonly used format used for transferring complete PCB images ready for manufacturing.
The designer must be capable of coming up with solutions for complicated analog, digital, RF and mixed PCBs. Then there's also the type of board, which can be single-sided, double-sided or multi-layered. The board's size may vary, and so can the pin densities and component quantities.
There's also the question of deciding on the characteristics of the board. This refers to the method used to mount components and create the traces for the circuit. Surface-mount technology is the most popular technique used now for mounting components.
Using this surface-mount technique, the end caps are directly soldered now on the same side of the board. This new method has almost completely replaced the earlier through-hole boards. In these older boards, leads were inserted from one side of the board and soldered onto traces on the other side.
Designing new boards is just one part of the services offered by PCB designers. They may also be asked to perform other functions such as evaluate designs, along with the components used and their footprints. Clients sometimes ask them to assist with procurement of prototypes and check for availability and pricing information against the BOM contents.
As a matter of fact, PCB design services continue to be required even after the product is delivered. Customers frequently need to make changes, and reorders bring a lot more business. Reverse engineering is another service that needs a highly skilled designer. In this case, the designer is given the gerber file and must come up with the schematic or netlist, which the client can then use for making wide-ranging changes.
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