Beyond Design: The Metamorphosis of the PCB Router
Elementary, Mr. Watson: PCB Routing: The Art—and Science—of Connection
The Shaughnessy Report: Planning Your Best Route
The Key to First-pass Success in PCB Design
April 10, 2025 | Gerry Partida, Summit InterconnectEstimated reading time: 1 minute
In the dynamic world of PCB manufacturing, achieving first-pass success hinges on more than just cutting-edge equipment and skilled teams. At Summit Interconnect, we have seen countless successful launches of advanced HDI designs that can be traced directly to engagement between designers and fabricators early in the design phase.
Unfortunately, collaboration in the PCB industry often begins only after problems arise—such as field failures, assembly fallout, or low fabrication yields. This reactive approach is the wrong starting point for collaboration.
When issues surface late in the design cycle or during production, the costs of fixing them escalate exponentially. Redesigns, delays, and rework add unnecessary complexity and expense, while product reliability and time-to-market suffer. To avoid these challenges, collaboration needs to occur earlier in the design cycle, where issues can be proactively addressed.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap
PCB designers often focus on functionality, performance, and compliance with end-use requirements. Meanwhile, fabricators look at manufacturability, process efficiency, and cost optimization. Proactive collaboration between the OEM and the manufacturer ensures that requirements and capabilities are aligned from the outset, minimizing potential conflicts between design intent and fabrication results.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the March 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Beyond Design: The Metamorphosis of the PCB Router
06/18/2025 | Barry Olney -- Column: Beyond DesignThe traditional PCB design process is often time-consuming and labor-intensive. Routing a complex PCB layout can consume up to 30% of a designer’s time, and addressing this issue is not straightforward. We have all encountered this scenario: You spend hours setting the constraints and finally hit the Go button, only to be surprised by the lack of visual appeal and the obvious flaws in the result.
Robust AI Demand Drives 6% QoQ Growth in Revenue for Top 10 Global IC Design Companies in 1Q25
06/15/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that 1Q25 revenue for the global IC design industry reached US$77.4 billion, marking a 6% QoQ increase and setting a new record high. This growth was fueled by early stocking ahead of new U.S. tariffs on electronics and the ongoing construction of AI data centers around the world, which sustained strong chip demand despite the traditional off-season.
Cadence Advances Design and Engineering for Europe’s Manufacturers on NVIDIA Industrial AI Cloud
06/13/2025 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.At NVIDIA GTC Paris, Cadence announced it is providing optimized solutions for the world’s first industrial AI cloud in collaboration with NVIDIA.
Zuken Autorouters Embrace Collaborative AI
06/12/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineMaybe you’ve never liked autorouters; if so, you’re not alone. As Andy Buja, Zuken’s technical account manager for PCB Solutions, admits, autorouters are not perfect. But today’s autorouters allow designers a greater level of control than ever before, especially routers that incorporate collaborative AI.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Test: A Conversation with Bert Horner
06/11/2025 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Bert Horner is a seasoned industry veteran and co-creator of The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI), a test and inspection company spanning over 45 years. In this candid conversation, Bert reflects on the challenges our industry faces with the retirement of career professionals and the subsequent loss of critical tribal knowledge. As he unveils The Training Connection’s innovative training initiatives, Bert emphasizes the importance of evolving educational programs that align with industry needs, particularly in design for test (DFT), and sheds light on strategies being implemented to foster the next generation of engineers.