Summary of HOW TO PREVENT MISTAKES THAT DELAY YOUR PCB ASSEMBLY (AND COULD COST YOU)
This article outlines five critical steps to ensure timely and cost-effective PCB assembly by providing sufficient information to contract manufacturers. Key actions include correct panelization, legible silkscreen, indicating component polarity, including fabrication drawings, and sending a complete Bill of Materials with manufacturer part numbers. The text emphasizes that while manufacturers often handle panelization, designers must follow specific spacing guidelines if doing it themselves to prevent component overlap issues.
Parts used in the PCB Assembly Process:
- PCB design files
- Panelized PCBs
- Silkscreen markings
- Component polarity indicators
- PCB Fabrication Drawings
- PCB Assembly Drawings
- Complete Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Manufacturers' Part Numbers
Many designers can’t get their board fast enough after sending their PCB design files to their PCB assembly vendors.
But the surprising thing is some customers do not provide sufficient and necessary information to their contract manufacturers (CM) – causing problems, delays, and increased cost.
By focusing on 5 simple steps, you can ensure a smooth PCB assembly process and help your CM deliver your boards to you on-time and on-budget.
Let’s walk through these action items:
- Panelize your PCBs Correctly
- Make Sure Silkscreen is Legible
- Indicate Component Polarity
- Include PCB Fabrication and PCB Assembly Drawings
- Send a Complete BOM that includes Manufacturers’ Part Numbers
1. Panelize Your PCBs Correctly
Panelization is the placement of smaller boards into multi-board arrays to gain manufacturing efficiency.Panelization plays a vital role in the PCB assembly process. And to progress through the PCB assembly process without complications requires using correctly panelized PCBs.
Generally, it is best to leave the PCB panel design to your PCB manufacturer since they know all the requirements and how to implement them. However, should you decide to do the PCB panelization yourself, make sure you follow the design guidelines. Particularly, if your PCB has overhanging components, there needs to be enough spacing between the individual PCBs in the panel so that overhanging components do not overlap adjacent PCBs.
Read more: HOW TO PREVENT MISTAKES THAT DELAY YOUR PCB ASSEMBLY (AND COULD COST YOU)
- Why do some customers cause delays in PCB assembly?
Customers cause delays by not providing sufficient and necessary information to their contract manufacturers. - What is the purpose of panelizing PCBs?
Panelization places smaller boards into multi-board arrays to gain manufacturing efficiency. - Who should ideally design the PCB panel?
It is generally best to leave the PCB panel design to the PCB manufacturer since they know all requirements. - What spacing requirement exists for overhanging components during panelization?
There needs to be enough spacing between individual PCBs so that overhanging components do not overlap adjacent PCBs. - Which drawing types are required for a smooth process?
You must include both PCB Fabrication and PCB Assembly Drawings. - What specific data must be included in the BOM?
The BOM must be complete and include Manufacturers' Part Numbers. - How many simple steps does the article suggest for a smooth process?
The article suggests focusing on 5 simple steps.
