PCB assembly process and what a PCB librarian needs to know

The PCB assembly process: The 4 Things a PCB librarian must know

PCB assembly is one of the main fields that a good PCB librarian needs to know in detail, as it is the point where your board components interact with your final design. Understanding this interaction and the PCB assembly process in general is vital for your initial library creation and to ensure a seamless Design for Manufacturing strategy early in your design process.

Are you normal?

Siemens recently commissioned a survey through Aberdeen Research looking at the state of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) industry within North America and Europe to learn about the challenges the PCB industry sees. It covered the technologies they are implementing, the general timelines they are given, and to learn how Design for Manufacturing (DFM) strategies and software are being leveraged to help meet a company’s overall goals

PCB assembly machine

What is the PCB Design Process?

The PCB design process can be different depending on your company, but the fundamental aspects are all the same –…

PCB manufacturing capabilities

Why is Design for Manufacturing important?

Who is PCB DFM for? For those of us that have climbed a mountain to take in the gaze of…

PCB stackup with material and copper

PCB Stackup Design e-book

While not the final word on the subject of stackups, Bill’s e-book goes a long way to helping you plan ahead, providing an important voice in a space that is surprisingly lacking in content. I would also recommend exploring Z-planner Enterprise, a stackup tool that Bill has spent years developing. Now all you need is a sharp pencil.

PCB stackup planning

How do you do PCB Stackup Planning?

Being able to quickly qualify materials based on your known electrical tolerances, and not upon the materials availability of your selected fabricator is key for efficient stackup design. This allows you to optimize the design around the available materials and take complete control of your stackup.

flexible PCB

Flex & rigid-flex PCB DFM: Learn from the expert

Flex and rigid-flex circuits use unique materials in the manufacturing process and must be handled differently than FR4 PCBs.

custom scripting for Valor NPI

Creating Custom Automation in Valor NPI Using Scripting Languages

The most modern language supported and delivered with Valor NPI is Python. If Perl is your language of choice then an additional module needs to be acquired through Active State. When all else fails there is the legacy C-Shell that is also included with Valor NPI.

PCB design panelization

The last step in PCB design needs more attention

We put a lot of attention on the first step of a process and then it seems we fall behind schedule. By the time you get to the last step of a process you are out of time and just need to wrap things up. How often are you pressed by management to get a PCB design out the door and sent to the fab house?