EQ’s or Engineering Questions are common for many PCB design file packages received.  PCB Global’s Computer Aided manufacturing (CAM) Engineering department will invariably have a few EQ’s to confirm before proceeding with the customer’s PCB order. One common example of a typical EQ regarding Tooling and V-Grooving is shown below:

Tooling Hole Cut by V-Grooving

EQ from CAM:

Tooling hole on the tooling strips too close to the V-groove.

Explanation:

The V-grooving can easily damage the tooling hole and cause poor registration through the SMT process on both solder paste application as well as SAMT component placement.

 Resolution:

Our customer confirmed to move the tooling hole 2mm to the right to ensure the V-grooving will not affect the integrity of the non-plated through tooling hole.

For further tips and information when designing and laying out your printed circuit board design file please do not hesitate to contact our PCB Global team at sales@pcbglobal.com

When ordering your prototype printed circuit board, there is a tooling charge associated with the creation of your new PCB. When re-ordering your existing PCB’s, it is important to consider and understand the minimum order quantity (MOQ) associated with the minimum order value (MOV).

MOQ’s and MOV’s are important as this is associated with the economic viability of producing your PCB’s. For example: It is commercially viable for the factory to run the production for 3pcs at US$3.00 with a tooling charge of US$198.00 (Total of US$207.00 plus shipping) however, it is not commercially realistic to fabricate 3pcs with a total cost of US$9.00.  The cost of all the set ups required and running the production line machines is accounted in the MOQ.

Here is the matrix below:

2 layer – US$125.00

4 layer – US$225.00

6 layer – US$275.00

8 layer – US$375.00

10 layer – US$395.00

12 layer – US$495.00

14 layer – US$545.00

16 layer – US$620.00

18 layer – US$695.00

20 layer – US$750.00

Note: These MOV’s do not include the price of shipping.

Example using matrix: If you initially ordered 5pcs of a 6- layer PCB at US$12.50 each and you require another batch of the same revision PCB again, for US$275.00 you will receive 22pcs or be charged the equivalent of 22pcs if you do not wish to obtain 22pcs.

For further explanations, or more information on this, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@pcbglobal.com

Solder mask appications are usually simple and easy to follow on a Computer Aided manufacturing (CAM). Sometimes, depending on the quality and clarity of the PCB design file package received, PCB Global’s Engineering department will invariably have a few Engineering Questions, also known as, EQ’s to confirm. One example involving a typical EQ is for issues with solder masks is shown below:

Solder mask opening on bottom layer only

EQ from CAM:

Top layer has standard solder mask opening on the pads but bottom layer does not.

Explanation:

The solder mask files are generally open for all SMT and through hole pads, these 4 pads have plated through holes with no the solder mask opening on the bottom layer.

 Resolution:

Our customer confirmed to apply the solder mask as per file as these 4 pink highlighted pads on the top layer are sometimes soldered together to make a connection for certain options on the PCB.

For further tips and information when designing and laying out your printed circuit board design file please do not hesitate to contact our PCB Global team at sales@pcbglobal.com

PCB Global currently supply Printed Circuit Boards to Israel. The PCB industry in Israel is known to be one of the country’s youngest industries and has grown alongside the rise of the electronics industry. The rise of electronics in Israel began in the early 1960’s as there was a large demand in response to the requirement of defence and aircraft manufacture.

Telecommunications, medical, computer and scientific instrumentation in Israel soon experienced a boom into a high technology environment. This hence placed demands on more high tech printed circuit board requirements. Israel’s printed circuit board and electronics industry comprises of many manufacturers, however, for quick turn and high technology requirements, such as flex and rigid flex are outsourced. Due to the high demand of the PCB industry, many materials such as glass epoxy copper clad laminates are being produced and exported globally.

PCB Global can offer flex PCB’s, rigid flex and high technology blind and buried vias which are commonly utilised in PCB’s manufactured for purposes of electronics in the defence industry. PCB Global can assist many global customers, such as Israel with these capabilities, including quick turn and high tech PCB’s.

The benefits of high tech PCB’s such as rigid flex includes:

#1- the ability to maintain strong physical interconnections even with minimal space
#2 -  it’s adaptable shape allows for a large variety of intricate applications
#3 – the layer stack-up possibilities allows the engineer greater freedom when designing and applying the design to the required device. This may cause the deign to be more challenging in the drawing process, however, the finished product is a more efficient and capable board.

For PCB’s outside of our online capabilities, please contact us at sales@pcbglobal.comwith your design file and we will provide a rapid free quote.

There may be a few discrepancies when it comes to a PCB design file package received. PCB Global’s Computer Aided manufacturing (CAM) Engineering department are experienced in distinguishing these discrepancies and following up with EQ’s to the customers specifications.

Drill File Differs from Drill Drawing

EQ from CAM:

Drill file differs from the drill drawing in the PCB file supplied. Hole count shows 121 in the drill file and 118 in the drill drawing.

Explanation:

It is important to ensure that all the correct holes are drilled as per the printed circuit board design. This error generally occurs when the fabrication drawing is produced, followed by a last minute minor amendment made to the circuit without regenerating the fabrication drawing again.

Resolution:

Our customer confirmed to ignore the drill drawing and process as per the drill file.

For further tips and information when designing and laying out your printed circuit board design file please do not hesitate to contact our PCB Global team at sales@pcbglobal.com