All Questions
Tagged with manufacturing pcb-fabrication
19
questions
6
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Automatic serial number on a PCB
Imagine you're printing 10 PCBs and you want each PCB to have its own serial number, but you want to add the serial numbers automatically from Kicad. Is this possible or not? Does it depend on the ...
4
votes
0
answers
59
views
Attempting to patch the "G75 Bug" on a Gerber Level
Context
I am currently looking for alternative PCB manufacturers for my company and have sent Gerber files to some (Chinese) companies.
These Gerber files have already been used in the past by various ...
1
vote
1
answer
54
views
Electronics Manufacturing Engineers: What needs to meet IPC-6012 the finished copper or the starting copper foil?
I have a PCB that has a finished copper thickness of 1 oz on all layers and must meet IPC-6012 requirements for Class 2.
Does this mean that the manufacturer can start with 0.5 oz copper foil then ...
1
vote
1
answer
295
views
Soldermask bridge gap too small - PCBWAY
I've got a PCB design which contains a chip that uses the QFN (7x7) package.
Because of the package size the pins are very close together and the pads are 0.2mm apart, which is smaller than the ...
22
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Environmentally sustainable electronics
I am part of my company's work to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable. On a high level for the company that means pursuing ISO certifications (such as ISO 14001) and working according ...
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Placing through hole and SMT on the same side
I have a design with huge push buttons (with 6 TH holes.)
There's a few of them so they do take up quite a bit of space mechanically from the top.
I was thinking of placing the majority of the SMT ...
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What exactly makes small quantity PCB production costly compared to large quantity PCB production?
The per-PCB cost of manufacturing a small number of PCB is 10 times or more compared to the per-PCB cost of manufacturing a large number of PCBs.
So what is it exactly that adds to the cost?
People ...
1
vote
0
answers
47
views
How to Design method to Program & Calibrate a Panel of PCBs
I'm designing a sensor-package PCB which needs to be programmed and calibrated while still in a panel of 10.
I'd like to avoid a large bed-of-nails type setup for this step so that the panel can ...
2
votes
1
answer
221
views
PCB Thickness Variability
How much variability is there in the thickness of a standard PCB?
Let's say I order a 1.6mm FR-4 board. Will the actual thickness range 1.5mm-1.7mm? 1.4mm-1.8mm? 1.59mm-1.61mm? What is the (...
1
vote
4
answers
376
views
Choosing a PCB Manufacturer/Assembler for the first time [closed]
I've just finished designing my first PCB, and I'm about to send out a batch of emails for quotes from manufacturing/assembly shops. My design is super simple: the only components are 7 identical SMD ...
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Half-etched fiducials Vs through-cut fiducials
While making PCB, I added 8 fiducials (fids) marks so that pick and place machines use these marks as referent points on the PCB to position the surface mount components (Packages) during assembly.
...
1
vote
1
answer
5k
views
Which minimum tracking/spacing size is actually required for a 0.2mm gap between LQFP leads?
I am uncertain as to the manufacturing specifications that I will need for a PCB I am hoping to get produced. The most complex component is the MCU (STM32151RCT) which has a recommended footprint for ...
0
votes
1
answer
227
views
Solder paste for stencil
I'm going to solder a small pcb with reflow process and I'd like to use a stencil for that because the components are too tiny for hand soldering iron.
The pcb has a QFN32 (0.5mm pitch and exposed pad)...
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Good way to affordably manufacture low-quantity PCB?
I am thinking about making an open-source development board for a specific field in power conversion.
If there is interest from local universities, I will manufacture a few hundreds of these boards. ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
From what pitch should I consider ENIG finish
My design (4-layer, FR4, 1.6mm) has a couple of ICs with 0.5mm pitch pads and some LEDs with 0.4mm pitch pads, very small LEDs.
Should I consider ENIG (more expensive) or will HASL do the job?
I read ...