Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are laminates that provide mechanical support and electrical interconnections for electronic components using copper traces on an insulating substrate. While the standard color for PCBs is green from brominated FR-4 glass-reinforced epoxy, specialized “yellow PCBs” utilizing alternative materials also exist. This article explores yellow PCB technology … Read more

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) play a vital role in electronics, providing the foundation for mounting and interconnecting components in most devices. The PCB fabrication process transforms raw materials into completed circuit boards ready for component assembly. This involves many complex steps to create the intricate copper traces, pads, layers, and … Read more

The Benefits of Quickturn PCB Prototypes Getting a quickturn printed circuit board (PCB) prototype manufactured can provide numerous benefits during the electronics design process. Some key advantages include: When to Order a Quickturn Prototype Here are some common situations when it makes sense to get a quickturn PCB prototype: For … Read more

Introduction For electronics engineers and designers, ordering custom printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing is an inevitable step in product development. While PCB costs represent only one component of the total budget, understanding realistic cost expectations helps with planning and budgeting your project. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to … Read more

Introduction A PCB footprint defines the pattern of copper pads, traces, and other features that represent a component on the board layout. Footprints precisely specify the land pattern geometries and dimensions required to successfully solder components and route connections to them. Incorrect footprints are a common source of issues during … Read more

Introduction Drilling is a critical step in printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing that creates the holes used to mount and interconnect components on the board. Holes allow attachment of through-hole parts, routing of signals between layers, proper alignment, and securing boards in assemblies. In this comprehensive guide, we examine: Understanding … Read more

Overview of Gerber Files A Gerber file is a file format used to represent printed circuit board (PCB) designs and manufacture their layers. Gerber files are extensively used in PCB fabrication workflows to transfer design data from CAD software to machines that manufacture the boards. Gerber files contain 2D vector … Read more

Introduction Printed circuit boards (PCBs) provide the foundation for almost every modern electronic device. Being able to design and fabricate your own PCB opens up exciting possibilities for custom projects and products. While commercial board houses handle large scale PCB production, DIY methods are also available for hackers, makers, and … Read more

Introduction Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are an essential component of most electronic devices. They provide the physical platform to mount and connect electronic components using conductive copper traces on an insulating board substrate. While simple PCBs can be mass produced cheaply, custom PCBs allow designers to optimize the board layout … Read more