From PCB Design to PCB Manufacture

Prototyping your printed circuit boards will be a very valuable (and often essential) process in the manufacture and devolvement of your electronic device, regardless of its eventual role and specification. PCBs are the well-known little green boards that we all have in our electronic devices. Their design and structure, along with which components are present on any given PCB, are all at the heart of your device's functionality, but the link between PCB design and manufacture is often not given adequate consideration.

Virtually nothing makes a PCB designer more satisfied than seeing one of their concepts successfully translated into a hi-tech product that’s for sale on the high street. The journey from PCB design to PCB prototype manufacturer can be a very straightforward one, as long as both parties work closely with each other, and respect their individual roles.

The Relationship between PCB Designers & PCB Manufacturers

PCB design and production is a complex process that brings together numerous individuals, including; manufacturers, designers, testers and developers. Manufacturing scale can vary massively, from one-off concepts for testing, to millions of identical boards bound for household appliances.

The relationship between the PCB designer and the PCB manufacturer has a significant impact on innovation, product lead times, and component failure rates.

When a designer begins their search for a PCB Manufacturer that can meet their needs, they need to first carefully determine the precise specification of the board itself. Because PCB components and manufacturing techniques are constantly evolving, this stage will likely require extensive research to ensure the selection of the most suitable components and their arrangement. Another key consideration of course is budget. It's very important that you establish a budget very early on, and make your PCB manufacturer aware of it.

PCB prototype manufacturers have extensive industry experience, and any good supplier / manufacturer should be willing to offer expert help and advice, should you require it. PCB assembly is typically performed in a large manufacturing facility, which means you have access to a team of professionals that each have a dedicated role to play.

Manufacturers are the stewards of innovation. Some specialize in large-scale production of printed circuit boards, whereas others may be more adept at creating one-off concepts, or prototypes. Some parts of the manufacturing process are fully automated, whilst others may require human intervention (which will drive up the cost).

There is a potential for yet greater collaboration between PCB designers and PCB manufacturers, after all, both parties share a common goal.

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