What Do You Know About PCB Manufacturing?

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Much of a designer’s job involves creating a product that is compatible with the capabilities of their chosen fabrication and assembly providers. But very few PCB designers have visited a board shop or assembly facility in decades, if ever, and seemingly simple DFM problems continue to dog our industry. What manufacturing concepts are designers missing?

We posed this question to Tony Bell, division manager of San Diego PCB Design, which was acquired by APCT in April 2023 and continues to operate under its original name, with plans to transition to its official new name of APCT Design. Tony has experience in PCB design, fab, assembly, and test, so we asked him what PCB designers need to know about manufacturing. He said the need for designers to continue learning about fab and assembly processes throughout their careers, and why asking questions is not bothersome, it’s necessary for the job.

Andy Shaughnessy: Tony, you have a pretty wide background in this industry. Tell me about that.

Tony Bell: I've been in this industry for a while, and am fortunate to have a diverse background that got me to where I am now. I came to San Diego PCB Design from Plexus in October 2021. At Plexus, I learned assembly process flow and I was an in-circuit test technician. Later, one thing led to another, and I moved into Plexus’ Engineering Solutions, where I managed the North American region’s PCB design team. There, 12 designers reported to me in Neenah, Wisconsin; Guadalajara, Mexico; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Boulder, Colorado. Now that San Diego PCB Design has been purchased by APCT, I’m enjoying learning more about advanced fabrication as a design manager on the fab shop side.

Shaughnessy: What do you think designers and design engineers need to know about manufacturing processes?

Bell: They need to know that the manufacturing process is ever-changing. This goes for electrical interfaces, fabrication, assembly, and test. Designing in a vacuum without a desire to learn new things can be stifling to a designer’s ability to grow in their capabilities as well as their ability to contribute to their organization.

To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the January 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.