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Designer’s Notebook: What Designers Need to Know About Manufacturing, Part 2Beyond Blueprints: Early Involvement Shapes Superior Fab Outcomes
January 11, 2024 | Lea Maurel, ICAPE GroupEstimated reading time: 1 minute
PCB fabrication is the cornerstone of innovation in electronics, transforming intricate circuit designs into crucial PCBs. As technology advances, the demand for reliable PCBs with ever-increasing circuit density surges and highlights the pivotal role of fabrication in shaping the electronics landscape. In this intricate dance between innovation and execution, a symbiotic relationship emerges between designers and fabricators. This forms the core of success.
Effective communication acts as the bridge between design ideation and manufacturing realization, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach. The essence lies in early involvement, where fabricators contribute knowledge from the design's nascent stages, ensuring a seamless transition to functional PCBs. Subsequent exploration will delve into harnessing this symbiotic relationship at key stages, reaping tangible benefits in PCB fabrication.
Early Involvement of Fabricators
Collaboration in Floorplanning
In the intricate dance of PCB fabrication, the initial floorplanning stage emerges as a crucial arena where the collaboration between designers and fabricators sets the stage for success. This collaborative approach brings forth many advantages to shape the trajectory of the entire fabrication process.
First, involving fabricators in floorplanning bridges design intent and manufacturability. Fabricators bring practical insights into the materials and processes that will be employed during manufacturing. This collaboration ensures that the floorplan not only aligns with the functional requirements but also optimizes the placement of components for enhanced manufacturability.
One notable advantage is optimizing component placement for both performance and manufacturability. By integrating the expertise of fabricators, designers can strategically position components to minimize trace lengths. This reduction in trace lengths enhances signal integrity and streamlines the routing process during layout. The result is a PCB that meets design specifications in a manner that is inherently easier and more efficient to fabricate.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the January 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
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