Questions tagged [pcb-fabrication]
About the manufacturing of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards).
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Remove Unused Pad/ Via
I want to make remove unused pad/via at inner layer in order to increase area. But I wonder that does it cause problems in terms of IPC Class-III or PCB manufacturing?
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How to cover thermal vias in design spark pcb
I am trying to cover the vias on my PCB using the solder mask however when I upload the PCB to a manufacturer's website the vias are not covered. I am using DesignSpark PCB software
There is a post in ...
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Fusion 360 Board Panelization
I'm working on panelizing a PCB designed in Fusion 360. While I'm aware of external tools for panelizing Gerber files, I'd like to explore options within Fusion 360.
Does anyone know if Fusion 360 ...
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Is it okay for two pads F.MASK to overlap each other in Kicad
I made a new footprint for XL-0807RGBC-WS2812B based on this datasheet.
When I place this footprint in PCB editor the F.Mask for the pads on this component overlaps each other.
Is this okay?
I assume ...
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IPC-2221 Min. conductor spacing for low voltage? [closed]
May I have smaller spacing than B1 ( say as 0.05mm) at the conduction spacing if voltage between conductors is around 5V?
I'm curious that IPC conduct spacing of requirement of 0-15V is 0.05mm, but if ...
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Is it possible to create new footprints and integrate additional components into an already manufactured PCB?
What is the most effective method to do so? I have enameled wire, which seems safer to me due to the insulation. My plan is to cover them with solder mask. However, I have a question: Would it be ...
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PCB etching just not working, noob needs help
I am trying to DIY make a PCB at home following this tutorial.
There are some problems:
I could not order the stuff from the YouTube description because
Tools & Materials:
-) Photopositive PCB ...
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4
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What are these hard black dots on PCB? [duplicate]
I have this LCD from Adafruit. On the bottom side, it has these hard black spots, slightly domed. I'm wondering what they are, and how they are produced.
There are clearly traces running to these, and ...
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Where can I find the schematic and CAD files of an open source PCB? [closed]
This is a fairly well known power bank fast charging module which is open source. I am unable to find its PCB CAD files on the internet. Can somebody provide it? Even just the schematic would help.
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KiCAD: remove DNP components from paste layer
We have an adapter board that works as an interface between our own and third-party electronics. Depending on the third-party configuration about a third of somewhat expensive components may be unused....
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What is the purpose of exposed copper on certain traces on this PCB?
I recently took apart a DeWalt battery charger. What is the purpose of this particular arrangement of exposed copper on certain traces (mostly on the right side of the image)? These are wide, high-...
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Gerber X1 to Gerber X2 [duplicate]
I have gerber files from a client. Their extensions are: .fph, .fpl, .pho, .rep, .drl, .lst, .dxf. Of these, I know .drl are the drill files and .dxf is the mechanical drawing. Also, there is a .fph ...
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How do I change minimum anular ring in vias for different layers in Altium?
I want to send my gerbers to a PCB manufacturer but its manufacturing capabilities force diferrent minimum anular ring for vias in different layers. For outer layers, its 0.13 mm and for internal ...
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PCB Layout review: ESP-07 with 28BYJ-48 Stepper board
I have used the 28BYJ-48 in conjunction with an ESP8266 in some applications and I thought it would be handy to have pcb made. I want to use JLCPCB including Pick and Place.
The Kicad source code is ...
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Soldering with SAC on a glass PCB
I’m having trouble getting the solder paste to wet my glass PCBs.
I am using SAC305 solder.
Funny that it works fine on FR-4 but with glass it just balls up.
Maybe it is because glass conducts heat ...
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What should be the minimum number of SMD components on a reel (minimum tape length) for a pick and place machine?
What should be the minimum number of SMD components on a reel for a pick and place machine? Different scenarios are possible for each machine. In terms of professional machines, if everyone writes ...
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Aluminum PCB PTH conducts across the entire board
I've designed plenty of PCBs and had them manufactured using FR-4, but I had never worked with aluminum PCBs and I had been wanting to try it out. So in my latest order of some FR-4 boards, I added in ...
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Can SMD pick and place machine work without a breakaway rail?
I designed a 4 layer PCB. SMD components are on one side only.
When I order bare board directly (no breakway rails, no panelization) it costs $100. When I order 20 pieces (there are 2 PCBs in each ...
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PCB design - Routing without a schematic
I am using Altium CircuitMaker to design a PCB. I'm wondering if there's a way to make my PCB design without a schematic.
My idea is to simply make a PCB with just pads and populate it myself with the ...
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PCB Design Process
I'm new to PCB Design so I wanted to clarify a few things about the process.
For context, I have already physically made my project on a breadboard. Now I am trying to lay it out on a PCB.
I have ...
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SMD small footprint problem, extending pads for more solder
I have this component (LTST-FC12WEGBD-5A SMD LED by Lite-On) that has been very difficult to use due to the pad sizes being so small.
Below is the footprint.
The problem is with the smaller square ...
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Can hard gold be selectively used on a PCB in the center of the board?
I have charging pads at the center of the device which makes repeated contact with a pogo pin. I'm concerned an ENIG pad may wear out over time as the user clicks it on and off the charger.
Can hard ...
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PCB material with high dielectric constant
Typical PCBs have a dielectric with a low constant \$\varepsilon_r\$. I'm studying the effect the electrical fields on dielectrics and as an experiment would like to test PCBs with a very high ...
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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 ...
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Different trace/space rules for copper pour than for traces?
I recently ordered a 4/4 mil trace/space board from a new manufacturer who is geared towards very low-cost prototype manufacturing. They manufactured the first board I sent them with no issues.
...
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Production quality issue?
I had 5 two-layer boards fabricated by a popular assembly house in China and I'm curious what folks thoughts are based on what I received.
Here is a photo of the 5 boards which has a red square around ...
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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 ...
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How to specify the stiffener for ordering Flex-PCBs at JLCPCB
I have a Flex-PCB design that contains several areas that are supported by stiffeners. I am trying to order the PCB at JLCPCB but can not figure out how to specify the areas where the stiffener is ...
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What is the difference between these vias?
I have marked them with red and purple. What purpose do they serve?
P.S. I am new to this, so please help me through this.
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Aspect ratio and different vias width
I've recently been looking into the width of vias, and could use the feedback of more experienced designers.
Through-hole vias :
I've read that for through-hole vias, the way to go is 8:1 (so if your ...
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Why is there white stuff on these inductors?
Why are these inductors covered with white stuff?
Is this to reduce EMI/EMC?
To reduce of unwanted noise?
Whatever it is, please explain it.
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Is it possible to expose dry photoresist film to UV before applying to copper for etching?
I've looked at a couple of resources regarding etching PCBs using dry photoresist film and in each of the methods, the film is applied to the copper before the image is projected onto the film with UV ...
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Guidelines for component spacing [duplicate]
Are there any standard component clearance guidelines/rules/best practices (for SMD parts)? Or does one have to talk to the EMS every time for all the components' clearance?
For example how close can ...
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What is the minimum FR-4 PCB width (not trace width) that can be manufactured?
The figure below shows a single FR-4 PCB that has narrow "bridges" (marked with arrows). How narrow can these bridges be so the PCB is still structurally sound?
I imagine that the width will ...
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Why is there a difference between pad-to-trace and trace-to-trace clearance?
I am looking to have a PCB produced for a personal project of mine. I have to use very thin traces and tight clearances to escape pads on a BGA chip on my board. I was looking at the capabilities of ...
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PCB trace / clearance sizes (why so big?)
I started a new job at a place that runs really high volumes using IPC class2. Before I always did lower volume at class3, so I have uncertainty here and there.
All of the boards at the new place seem ...
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Why are some components missing areas of pour near mounting holes?
Circled in red are component through holes in a copper pour plane that are missing areas / don't have the copper poured completely around the via. Seen on tons of components both through hole and ...
user298907
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Blank PCB testing of high current traces
I have a successful PCB design that conducts 10 amps of current at 27.5 volts. (Drives a DC motor) I desire to have my blank PCB manufacturer test the high current traces for manufacturing defects ...
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PCB stencil layer for cutout
I ordered a multiple PCBs which all arrived fine. I never included a stencil because of the high cost for it compared to the PCBs. Now I combined a few board designs to fit on a single stencil, so I ...
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Matching Altium and manufacturing DRC technology
I want to input inside my Altium designer the DRC of a manufacturer shown in the link below. There are some importance settings I need to find but the terminology differs from Altium to designers laws ...
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Earbuds charging contacts -- surface finish changed after use
In the photo is a closeup of one of my earbuds that I have used for a few years.
One of the contact surfaces (to the right in picture) is gold-colored and quite shiny. The other one is more brownish ...
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Is there a way to create PCBs with very cheap laser module? [duplicate]
I am quite new to electrical engineering, and I want to progress by creating PCBs. Unfortunately, I do not have the budget to buy a laser cutter to engrave PCB boards, so I was wondering if there ...
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Can a 650 nm 250 mW diode laser remove the first layer of a PCB?
Basically I’m trying to make a DIY laser engraver using the specified diode laser, which I’ve seen people successfully engrave more “forgiving” materials such as wood or cardboard.
I was wondering ...
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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 ...
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Verification of Gerber file layers
I have old PCB Altium design files and Gerber files. I want to cross check Gerbers with design files. However I'm trying by visually checking, but I know that's not a smart technique to do that. Is ...
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Matrix Trackpad
I wanted to build a matrix capacitive trackpad. Ideally, its PCB would have 4 layers:
1--> The plate array
2--> The circuit that links the rows (horizontally)
3--> The circuit that links the ...
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Pie shaped stubs in RF supply PCB layout
In a recent question there is a photo of a RF PCB
And it shows several pie shaped pads on the supply end of the biasing network.
How are these pads designed. Is there a rule of thumb for the two ...
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How to create a component in Altium library that has multiple parts/components
Is there a way to create a library component for another PCB module in Altium?
For example, let's say that I want to have a footprint that accepts DRV8825 motor driver module (from the picture below).
...
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Output by variants when exporting Altium 3D-PDF
Yes, as in the title that I mentioned, I finished my project in Altium and the prototype PCBs arrived. I send the 3D-PDF export file to the technician for pick and place operation of the components, ...
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CircuitMaker generates outlines for internal resistors
CircuitMaker is generating outlines for internal resistors and I think the manufacture will cut holes in those places.
The PCB view (top layer) is:
The problems are resistors R4, R5, and R1.
The ...
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