Fast PCB Prototype Tips

PCB design engineers draw thousands of lines on the circuit board every day, all kinds of packaging, and repeat the work of pulling the wires. It seems to be repetitive, but in fact, designers have to make a choice between various design rules in the process of fast PCB prototypes, taking into account performance, cost, layout, technology, and other aspects. It's not as simple as it seems. Excellent working habits will make your design more reasonable, production easier, and performance better.

1. The details in a fast PCB prototype determine success or failure.
PCB design is a meticulous job that requires care and patience. To avoid problems with fast PCB prototype products, check the package again when drawing, and compare the package with the actual device before feeding to avoid low-level mistakes.

2. Learn to set rules for fast PCB prototypes.
Now that advanced PCB design software needs to set the routing rules, some easy-to-use PCB tools can also set the rules. After all, the human brain is not a machine, so it is inevitable that there will be negligence and mistakes. Therefore, we set some easily ignored problems in fast PCB prototypes into the rules and let the computer help us check, so as to avoid making some low-level mistakes.

3. A schematic diagram should be drawn for a fast PCB prototype.
The schematic diagram in a fast PCB prototype is used to generate the netlist for PCB inspection. In the hierarchical schematic diagram, the circuits of different functions and different modules are divided into different pages, so that no matter whether you read the diagram or reuse it in the future, you can significantly reduce the workload.

4. A fast PCB prototype should have a good circuit layout.
A good PCB layout makes it easy to pull the wires in the back. The circuit board can be divided into several areas according to different functional modules. Separate the analog and digital, separate the power signal, separate the heating device from the sensitive device, do not get too close to the edge of the larger device, pay attention to the shielding of the radio frequency signal, etc. Spending more time to optimize the layout of a fast PCB prototype can save more time when pulling the wire.

5. Try to do simulation on a fast PCB prototype.
Although there is a difference between the simulation results and the actual results, the simulation can show the correct trend, according to which the engineer can make the correct judgment. As long as you start slowly and accumulate, you can appreciate the importance of simulation. Before the completion of the fast PCB prototype, determine the position prone to problems in advance and solve it in advance to avoid the occurrence of problems. Simulation can help you do more, fundamentally solve the problem, and improve their design ability, which will also be of great help.

An important reason for fast PCB prototypes

We all know that the fast PCB prototype is an extremely important step in the innovation process, which requires planning and investment. As the number of fast PCB prototype manufacturers increased, so did the demand for fast PCB prototypes. Fast PCB prototype production is usually the longest step in the process, and since new software and features can only be tested on PCB prototypes, it needs to be shortened in a practical way.

1. Shorten the cycle of fast PCB prototype

The best fast PCB prototype production methods have one thing in common, that is to shorten the turnaround time.

2. Improve the design and editing abilities of fast PCB prototypes

A fast PCB prototype identifies potential errors and fixes them before mass production.

3. A fast PCB prototype is more creative
Through fast PCB prototypes, engineers can quickly understand the design and try new technologies to provide better functions. At the same time, they can complete the task on time and maintain the motivation of project development.

4. Cooperation between departments of fast PCB prototype

Another benefit of the fast PCB prototype service is its ability to create and introduce fresh hardware variants within the same product family.

The capability of fast PCB prototype services significantly reduces development costs and the time required to create new products for customers, allowing them to better innovate and adapt to challenges, which is critical to the success of large-scale production of PCB designs.

Fast PCB prototype production method

1. Mechanical engraving of a fast PCB prototype
This is the use of the physical engraving method, where the PCB board is on the lead and solder pad and you do not want to separate copper, which is still acceptable for some very simple circuits. In special cases, the PCB copper layer can also be carved by a high-power laser, which is suitable for some special substrate circuit boards, such as ceramic substrate PCBs or aluminum substrate PCB production, etc.

2. Chemical corrosion of fast PCB prototypes
The principle adopted by this class of methods is similar to the traditional PCB production process, which is to cover the welding pad and lead that need to be retained on the copper coating surface of the PCB through exposure, heat transfer printing, inkjet printing, oil pen painting, and other methods, and then use chemical corrosion to remove the remaining copper coating so as to form a usable PCB.

3. Paste the circuit of a fast PCB prototype
Even when the current is relatively high, some simple leads can be pasted with copper foil tape. 

4. Conductive ink for fast PCB prototype
This is done by adding a few silver nanoparticles to the ink, allowing it to quickly dry and conduct electricity, forming a conductive metal film.

5. Fast PCB prototype castles in the air

To achieve the highest state of the circuit, that is, no circuit board, today's device ratio is tiny, but in special cases, removing the circuit board can considerably reduce the size of the circuit.

The Fast PCB Prototype Cycle

In the printed circuit board industry, "fast PCB prototype" is a relative term. Production time is everything; the entire purchase order, from confirmation to delivery steps, needs a certain amount of time to complete. With the rapid development of the Internet, customers are shortening the production cycle of fast PCB prototypes and improving their capabilities. If we take the conventional 1.6-mm tin-sprayed circuit board as an example, how long will the production cycle of a fast PCB prototype manufacturer take?

• Single-side fast PCB prototype delivery time: normal delivery time is 2-3 days; it can be expedited to 12 or 24 hours.

• Double-sided fast PCB prototype delivery time: normal delivery time is 2-3 days; it can be expedited to 12 or 24 hours.

• Four-layer fast PCB prototype delivery time: normal delivery time of 4-5 days, 12/24/72 hours expedited.

• Six-layer fast PCB prototype delivery time: normal delivery time is 6-7 days, 72 hours expedited.

Delivery time of a small batch fast PCB prototype is 5–6 days within 5 square meters, 6-7 days within 10 square meters, and 8–9 days above 10 square meters.

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