Summary of Electronic Interconnect Offers DFM Service that Catches PCB Design Problems Up Front
Electronic Interconnect offers automated Design for Manufacturing (DFM) services to identify and resolve PCB design issues before prototyping or production. This process prevents downstream manufacturing problems and saves costs by ensuring designs comply with manufacturing limits, assembly requirements, and design rule checks (DRC). The service covers various PCB types, from single-sided to complex multilayer boards, serving both design engineers and contract assemblers.
Parts used in the DFM Service:
- Soldermask clearances
- Soldermask bridges
- Trace/Pad Widths & Spacing
- Copper finish
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 31, 2010
Electronic Interconnect provides Design for Manufacturing (DFM) services automatically for new PCB orders, to detect, identify, and fix PCB design problems before they reach the prototype or production stage. This saves money for customers and prevents PCB manufacturing problems downstream, according to Shehryar Abbasi of EIs Engineering Department. EI is a PCB fabricator, serving design engineers and contract assemblers, providing all types of PCBs from single-sided to complex multilayer circuit boards and Surface Mount (SMT) boards from prototype through production.
Before any PCB design goes to even the prototyping stage, the engineers at EI subject that design to a number of reviews and checks to make sure that the PCB that the customer requests can actually be built, Abbasi says. Quite often, designers will submit the artwork for a PCB that is superb in concept, but may not be compatible with the limits of the PCB manufacturing process.
A PCB design may also create issues for the assembly stage, such as a lack of solder mask between component leads that might cause bridging and shorts during the soldering process, when components are attached to the bare board. All of these things must be looked at in light of DFM, Design for Manufacturability and DRC, Design Rule Check principles and limitations. We dont run files as is; every board that we make initially goes through a comprehensive DFM check Abbasi says.
DFM at EI includes the following checks:
Soldermask clearances — distance to keep mask away from solderable areas;
Soldermask bridges — mask between SMDs to prevent solder bridging during later assembly;
Trace/Pad Widths & Spacing — minimum spacing and trace widths, trace width tolerances allowed;
Copper finish — to determine how much artwork compensation needs to be done for chemical processes.
These are the primary checks, but there are many others. For more information and a complete listing, visit http://www.eiconnect.com.
About Electronic Interconnect
Electronic Interconnect (EI) is a professional printed circuit board manufacturer located in the Chicago area, and manufacturing printed circuit boards in the U.S. since 1985. EI serves design engineers and contract assemblers, providing all types of PCBs from single-sided to complex multilayer circuit boards from prototype through production. EI is ITAR registered, is a member of the Chicago Minority Business Development Council (cmbdc.org), and is ISO and UL certified. For more information, visit http://www.eiconnect.com, or contact the company at 2700 W. Touhy Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, Tel. 800-364-4844.
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- What is the primary benefit of Electronic Interconnect's DFM service?
It detects, identifies, and fixes PCB design problems before they reach the prototype or production stage to save money. - How does EI handle PCB design files before manufacturing?
Every board goes through a comprehensive DFM check rather than running files as is. - Can a conceptually superb PCB design still cause manufacturing issues?
Yes, designers often submit artwork that may not be compatible with the limits of the PCB manufacturing process. - What specific assembly issue can occur due to lack of solder mask?
A lack of solder mask between component leads might cause bridging and shorts during the soldering process. - Which principles guide the review process at Electronic Interconnect?
The reviews are conducted in light of DFM, Design for Manufacturability, and DRC, Design Rule Check principles. - What is included in the Soldermask clearances check?
It determines the distance required to keep the mask away from solderable areas. - What is the purpose of checking soldermask bridges?
The check ensures there is enough mask between SMDs to prevent solder bridging during later assembly. - Why is copper finish analysis necessary in the DFM process?
It helps determine how much artwork compensation needs to be done for chemical processes.
