Wednesday, October 16, 2013

An Insight Into PCB Design Services

By Catalina Nielsen


The world seems to be getting more and more reliant on electronic gadgets. They seem to be everywhere, some bigger than others, but they all have an impact on the way that people live. If you were to take a peek inside one of these devices you would see electronic components stuck to a board. It all looks very confusing, which is why businesses make use of PCB design services.

The initials stand for printed circuit board, and when you see how complicated they look you can understand why professional assistance is sought when it comes to designing them. A board itself is easy to understand as it is of a laminate construction, and the physical size and thickness may vary but the basic construction stays the same. One of the first thing the designers need to know is where it will be fitted.

Once the actual size has been worked out the designers can start to create a template. On this they can plot obstructions, such as the position of the screw holes used to mount the board. Also of critical importance is how will power be introduced to the board, and where will it come from.

If you ever see a circuit board there is a very good chance that it will be one of two distinct types, these are either a surface mount board or a through board. On a surface mount board the electronic components are a lot smaller. So for more complicated circuits in a limited area this might be a better option. Another possible factor could be the weight, which will be less due to their physical size.

By far the most commonly used board that a person will observe is the through board. This type is easy to recognize as the components have metal wire legs, the legs are fed through the board. On the opposite side of the board there are metallic tracks, the component legs are soldered to these tracks. The tracks are also there to ensure that the power only goes where it is meant to.

Once the choice of which type of board has been made the planning of the circuit itself can take place. The designers need to know exactly what the client wants the component to do. From there a detailed wiring diagram can be thought out, alongside a schematic diagram.

Once the circuit has been planned a working prototype can be created. The schematic layout is miniaturized and printed on the non-track side of the circuit board. This will tell the technician exactly where each component is to be placed. When the circuit board has been completely populated testing can be conducted to make sure that it works as the client requested.

Creating the circuit can be an intensive process, which many feel is best left to the professionals. As a consequence businesses, rather than struggle with something attempted in house, will make the most of PCB design services. Perhaps the next time you use any electronic device you will have a slight idea about how it came to be.




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