PICTURE OF FAST PCB PHOTOSHOP

In order to provide the fastest and most accurate quotation for your PCB & Assembly it is extremely useful if you can supply us with the following:

• Gerber Files
• Bill of Materials
• Expected Lead Time

The more information we receive from you the better!

PICTURE OF MANUFACTURING FLOOR

We will need to figure out the following before we make your PCB…

• The PCB footprint (dimensions and shape)

• The number of layers (e.g double sided, 4-layer, etc)
• The number of holes and number of hole sizes
• The material type and thickness (e.g 1.6mm FR4)
• The PCB finish (e.g Pb-free HASL, gold, etc)
• Is solder resist required?
• Is a silk screen legend required and, if so to one side or both?
• Are the boards to be supplied in single or panel form?
• What quantity / quantities would you liked quoted?
• What delivery time(s) are required to be quoted?

If you provide this information, plus the following, you will be well on the way to a successful PCB build:

1) Gerber files – the complete Gerber files should include:

• All electrical layers
• Each required solder mask layer
• Each required solder paste layer
• Each required legend layer
• Drill detail file
• Aperture files for pad and track sizes
• Drill report showing number of holes and tool sizes
• PCB outline and/or mechanical detail showing any cut-outs, etc

2) Solder Mask colour
3) Legend colour

There are many Gerber viewers available online. He is a link to a free Gerber viewer: http://www.graphicode.com/GC-Prevue#download

To find out the bare board specifications we can work to click on this pdf. (Bare Board Spec PDF)

PICTURE OF ANYA AND PICTURE OF SMT PICK AND PLACE LINE UP

Similarly to manufacture, for a PCB assembly we will need to figure out:

• All of the above blank PCB data (We do offer assembly on to boards made elsewhere but in terms of accountability we prefer it if we make the PCBs too!)
• A clearly defined Bill of Materials (Simply enter your e-mail address below and we will provide you with a free BOM template to get you started).
• Instructions of any special requirements or techniques (e.g conformal coating)
• Test procedure if appropriate (or is flying probe testing required)
• Instructions of any modifications, deviations or variances from the above supplied data

PICTURE OF BOM TEMPLATE

Enter your e-mail address for a free Bill of Material Template.

PICTURE OF NORMAN ON COMPUTER

Free PCB Design Layout Software

If you are new to PCB design you will probably want to take advantage of our design expertise. However you may also want to learn how to use design layout software without any major investment. The link in the related information box will allow you to download free PCB CAD software. http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=pcb

Open Source PCB Design Layout Software

The folks at Boldport have created PCBmodE, free open source software for designing printed circuit boards, but with an artistic perspective. Traditional EDA tools are designed from an engineering perspective, whereas PCBmodE treats the PCB as a creative palette. They aim to give you freedom to express your design with all the tools of the medium. http://pcbmode.com/

Electronic Design & Manufacturing Standards

There are new emerging technologies and manufacturing techniques. A number of organisations exist where you can get help with design guidelines, build acceptance standards and a variety of invaluable support documentation. European Circuits recommends IPC as such an organisation. http://www.ipc.org/