-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssuePartial HDI
Our expert contributors provide a complete, detailed view of partial HDI this month. Most experienced PCB designers can start using this approach right away, but you need to know these tips, tricks and techniques first.
Silicon to Systems: From Soup to Nuts
This month, we asked our expert contributors to weigh in on silicon to systems—what it means to PCB designers and design engineers, EDA companies, and the rest of the PCB supply chain... from soup to nuts.
Cost Drivers
In this month’s issue of Design007 Magazine, our expert contributors explain the impact of cost drivers on PCB designs and the need to consider a design budget. They discuss the myriad design cycle cost adders—hidden and not so hidden—and ways to add value.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
How to Successfully Purchase PCBs
June 8, 2015 | NCAB GroupEstimated reading time: 1 minute
How do you go about purchasing reliable and durable PCBs at the lowest possible cost? A key success factor is to provide the prospective suppliers with accurate and clear specifications, and to keep a close eye on the quality of the boards once they are in production. This in turn requires the parties involved to establish and maintain a close and efficient dialogue to ensure that the process builds on correct and relevant information.
PCBs are not standard components and thus not an easy product to purchase. The cost is determined to a large extent, by the complexity of the design.
”This means that factors determining the costs of a new PCB are established at a very early stage, long before the buyer has started asking for quotations from prospective suppliers. The major proportion of the cost is determined already at the engineering and design phase,”says Bo Andersson, technical manager at the NCAB Group. The best way of reducing costs is to think in terms of volume right from the start. You should start gathering appropriate data from the EMS and PCB suppliers at the design stage; this to enable the boards to be optimized for series production, taking into account what they are they going to be used for.
”There is a great deal to be gained by looking twice at such factors as the material and technical specifications, for example track and gap, tolerances and aspect ratios. It can, in some cases be extremely difficult and costly to put right design solutions that haven’t been optimised before they go into production. For example, an unnecessarily high aspect ratio affects so many parameters that it can be extremely time consuming to correct. I know of a case where it took a year to put right design shortcomings, since almost all the PCBs needed to be redesigned,” says Andersson.
”Issues that may lead to unnecessary costs can often be corrected. It is important to familiarize yourself with and get a firm grasp of the specific requirements, and then work to achieve those requirements,” he observes.
Suggested Items
Global Citizenship: Comparing and Contrasting the U.S. and China PCB Industries
10/23/2024 | Tom Yang -- Column: Global CitizenshipI have spent a lot of time in the U.S., and one question I am frequently asked is about the differences between the Chinese and U.S. PCB industries. It’s always an interesting question, and I will try to answer it in this month’s column. Certainly, the U.S. was the leader in PCB manufacturing, including developing the processes and technology, which it taught to the Chinese in the late 1980s and ’90s. As a result, China has become a force to be reckoned with in the global PCB market. Having been educated in America and now leading a major PCB manufacturing company in China, I have a unique vantage point when it comes to comparing the two nations’ approaches to PCB production.
Material Insight: David Griesel: Career Success Requires Tenacity, Flexibility
10/23/2024 | Dr. Preeya Kuray -- Column: Material InsightDavid Griesel, CEO of Sunrise Group, has been in the PCB industry for nearly 50 years. “I didn’t even have a desk when I started,” says David, who, as a fresh college graduate, got his start at Norplex, a company in Wisconsin that made plastic. “At that time, I had no idea what plastic was even about.” But it gave him an opportunity to learn the business from the ground up. He worked in customer service, followed by technical sales and marketing through several iterations of the company, including as Isola. I hope you’ll enjoy this interview with David as much as I did.
Spotlight on Jayda: Ucamco's Revolutionary PCB Quoting Software
10/22/2024 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Ucamco has developed Jayda, a groundbreaking PCB quoting software that significantly streamlines and enhances the efficiency of obtaining fast and accurate quotes. Born out of their Integ8tor solution, Jayda leverages advanced algorithms to quickly analyze PCB design files and assess complexity with a very rapid turnaround.
The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Direct Metallization
10/21/2024 | Carmichael Gugliotti, MacDermid AlphaCarmichael Gugliotti of MacDermid Alpha discusses the innovative realm of direct metallization technology, its numerous applications, and significant advantages over traditional processes. Carmichael offers an in-depth look at how direct metallization, through developments such as Blackhole and Shadow, is revolutionizing PCB manufacturing by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. From its origins in the 1980s to its application in cutting-edge, high-density interconnects and its pivotal role in sustainability, this discussion sheds light on how direct metallization shapes the future of PCB manufacturing across various industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, and beyond.
Back to School With Jonathan Studinka
10/16/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineAt the Anaheim Electronics & Manufacturing Show, I spoke with Jonathan Studinka, a student in John Watson’s PCB design class at Palomar College. In this interview, Jonathan shares his experience, highlighting how John’s class has broadened his understanding of PCBs and sparked his interest in mechatronics. Despite having no prior electronics training, Jonathan says he finds the coursework manageable by taking it step by step.