Looking to get a quote for your PCB design? Our "PCB Design Quote FAQs" are here to help. This guide covers everything you need to know, from how to submit your design to ensuring it meets the best quality standards. Let's get started and answer your key questions.
For an accurate PCB design quote, please provide:
How to Submit:
For those looking to understand our quotation and project onboarding timelines, here are the key points to consider:
At our company, we have a strong preference for the precision and expertise of human hands over automated tools in PCB design. We don't use or endorse autorouters; instead, we believe in the unmatched value that our seasoned PCB designers bring to the table, ensuring adherence to IPC guidelines and major benchmarks like UL and CE. The personal touch in design makes all the difference
Each board is unique, and the time frame for design varies accordingly. Our agile and dedicated design team ensures that quality is always maintained, even with a quick turnaround. The process usually incorporates essential reviews post part placement and subsequent routing. It's vital to remember that your prompt feedback during these checkpoints is instrumental in ensuring a streamlined delivery.
With over 20 years in the PCB industry, we've honed our quoting system for clarity and precision. We value your input:
Your feedback ensures you always get the best value.
A netlist is an essential aspect of PCB design, representing the connectivity between different components. Here's how you can generate a netlist from some popular PCB design tools:
1. Altium: a. Open your PCB project in Altium Designer. b. Go to the 'Design' menu and select 'Create Netlist For Project'. c. In the dialog box that opens, select the appropriate format for your netlist. d. Click 'OK', then choose a location to save the netlist file.
2. Allegro: a. With your board file open in Allegro, navigate to the 'Export' option in the menu. b. Choose 'Netlist' from the dropdown. c. In the subsequent window, ensure that you've chosen the right format and configurations. d. Hit 'Export' and save the netlist to your preferred location.
3. PADs: a. Launch PADs Layout and open your design. b. Go to the 'File' menu and choose 'Export'. c. From the dropdown menu, select 'Netlist'. d. Configure the export settings to your preference and choose the format. e. Click 'Save' to generate and store the netlist.
Remember, the steps might slightly differ based on the specific version of the software you're using. Always refer to the software's official documentation or help guides for the most up-to-date and detailed instructions.
If you have a specific mechanical constraint for your PCB when seeking a design quote, it's crucial to communicate this information clearly to ensure accurate quoting and design compatibility.
Steps to Provide Mechanical Constraint Information:
Detail Your Constraint: Clearly describe the specific mechanical constraint in writing. This could include specifics about board shape, component height limitations, placement of mounting holes, or any other physical restrictions.
Include Diagrams or Sketches: If possible, provide a visual representation of the constraint. This can be a simple hand-drawn sketch or a more detailed CAD drawing. Visual aids can help us clarify complex constraints and prevent misunderstandings.
Mention Software Preferences: If you've already started the design in a particular software (e.g., Altium, Allegro, PADs), specify that and share any relevant files. Some constraints might be software-specific.
Be Open to Feedback: After providing your constraint details, be open to feedback or questions. We likely have dealt with similar constraints before and can offer valuable insights or solutions.
Include in the Initial Communication: When reaching out for a quote, ensure that the mechanical constraint information is included in your initial communication. This will allow for a more accurate quote and reduce back-and-forth communications.
During the PCB design process, board reviews are essential checkpoints to ensure the design meets your specifications and quality standards. Our protocol for board reviews is systematic:
Critical Placement Review: Once critical components are positioned on the board, a review is conducted to verify their placement aligns with design requirements.
Placement Complete Review: After all components have been placed, another review ensures optimal layout and addresses any potential issues.
Critical Routing Review: When crucial connections between components are established, we hold a review to confirm the pathways are correctly and efficiently routed.
Routing Complete Review: After completing the entire routing process, a comprehensive review is conducted to check the board's overall connectivity and ensure there are no routing conflicts.
Pre-Deliverable Review: Before generating the final deliverables, we conduct one more review to ensure everything is in order and meets the set benchmarks.
In some cases, certain milestones might require additional reviews to address complex or specific requirements.
To facilitate a smooth review process, we offer virtual meetings, enabling you and our design team to go over the board in real-time, discuss any concerns, and make on-the-spot adjustments if necessary. This collaborative approach ensures the final design is aligned with your vision and requirements.
Design Guidelines Adherence: We strictly follow industry-standard design guidelines to minimize potential production challenges. These guidelines are tailored to ensure that designs are both functional and manufacturable.
Automated DFM Checks: Using advanced design software tools, we conduct automated checks on the board design. These tools can quickly identify common issues that could hamper manufacturability.
Manual Review: In addition to automated checks, our experienced design team conducts manual reviews. Their expertise allows them to identify subtle issues that machines might overlook.
Collaboration with our Manufacturing Team: By maintaining open communication between our design team and manufacturing team, we gather feedback during the design phase, making necessary adjustments to align the design with production capabilities.
Through these proactive measures, we ensure that your board design is not only functional but also optimized for efficient and error-free manufacturing.
Guaranteeing the testability of your board (Design for Testability or DFT) is essential to ensure reliable functionality and performance in the final product. We adopt a structured approach to ensure that every design can be efficiently tested:
Adherence to DFT Standards: We rigorously adhere to industry-recognized DFT standards, ensuring that common testing protocols can be effectively applied to your design.
Automated DFT Analysis: Our design software tools are equipped to conduct automated DFT checks, flagging potential issues related to test coverage or accessibility.
Manual DFT Review: Our seasoned designers complement automated checks by manually reviewing the design for testability. This helps in identifying and rectifying subtle challenges that might compromise test effectiveness.
By implementing these measures, we ensure that each board is not just designed for functionality but also for effective and comprehensive testing.
The primary deliverables for PCB design encompass the following key components:
Beyond our specialized PCB design services, we offer a broad range of engineering solutions to cater to all your technical needs. Our multidisciplinary team brings expertise in:
Electrical Engineering: From circuit design to power analysis, our electrical engineers ensure your systems run efficiently and safely.
Software Development: Our software team can develop firmware, embedded systems, and application-level software tailored to your project's requirements.
Mechanical Engineering: Whether you're looking to design enclosures, mounting systems, or intricate mechanical parts, our mechanical engineers have you covered.
Integration and Testing: We provide end-to-end solutions, ensuring that various engineering components are integrated seamlessly and tested rigorously for optimal performance.
So, if you're looking for a one-stop shop for all your engineering challenges, from conception to production, we're here to assist every step of the way. Learn more about our Comprehensive Engineering Services.
