3 Tips For Effective PCB Redesign

Posted on: 21 November 2019

Circuit boards are integral to the performance of many consumer goods. Tweaking the design of your printed circuit assembly boards (PCBs) can help create a more efficient and cost-effective end product. Unfortunately, making the wrong adjustments to PSB design could be costly.

Be sure that you are considering all factors when creating a new PCB design so that you end up with a circuit board that will best meet your needs.

1. Balance Board Size

The need for small, yet functional PCBs has grown in recent years. If you are thinking about reducing the size of your PCBs when creating a new design, you will need to weigh this change against the cost of production.

A larger circuit board can be more affordable to manufacture. This is due to the fact that a larger board is easier to route than a smaller one. Smaller circuit boards often have multiple layers, which can increase production costs. Balance board size against production costs to select the right PCB design.

2. Consider Thermal Limitations

Another factor that should come into play when you are creating a new PCB design is the presence of thermal limitations. Large components on a PCB can act as a heat sink during the manufacturing process. The added heat can prevent the solder in smaller components from melting properly.

The layout of your PCB should accommodate any differences in thermal retention that might affect the quality of the finished product.

3. Check Component Availability

The types of components that are included in the design of PCBs are constantly evolving. It can be tempting to redesign your PCBs around the latest components released into the market, but this might not be the most cost-effective option. You want to check the availability of any components you plan to include in your PCB design.

PCB components that are available in bulk tend to be more affordable than any of the highly-specialized components that are new to the market. If cost is a primary concern in the production of your PCBs, then you need to pay close attention to component availability when working on a new design.

It's important to continually evaluate the effectiveness of your PCB design. Minor changes can be beneficial in helping you improve the performance and profitability of your end products. Factor in all the elements that could affect the success of your PCB design before committing to any long-term changes

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