Saturday 19 October 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.

For those who might not know those 3 initials mean printed circuit board, and when you look at one it is easy to understand why, when designing them, it is always preferable to utilize professional bodies. On its own the board is of a simple laminate structure, and will be available in a range of sizes and thicknesses. The size is determined by where it is due to fit in the equipment.

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.

Circuit boards are normally of one of two basic types, they are either through board or surface mount. Side by side they are simple to tell apart, the components employed by a surface mount board will be much smaller. They can be the better option should weight be of prime concern, or if the circuit is complicated but there is not much room.

It has to be said that an individual will most likely see the through board version. On these, the electronic components are attached to metal legs. These legs are lined up and inserted through the holes in the board. The opposite side is home to the metal tracks. The component legs are securely soldered to these tracks. The tracks are also there to make sure that power only goes where it is meant to.

With the type of board selected the designer can now get down to the business of actually planning the circuit. The designer will have been briefed by the client and they are now totally aware of what the product should do. Two diagrams are produced alongside each other, these are a wiring diagram and a schematic diagram.

When everything has been worked out to satisfaction a prototype can be constructed. The schematic diagram is printed on the side of the board without the metal tracks. This enables the technician to know which component is meant to be positioned where. Once the board is fully assembled it can then be tested to ensure that it works as required.

It can be a time consuming process, which really benefits from a professional approach. This is why many businesses utilize PCB design services rather than try to come up with a solution from within the firm. So the next time that you change your TV channel with your remote controller you will have a bit more insight into the process which enabled it to operate as it does.




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