Our PCB Circuit Board Design Process
A printed circuit board (PCB) breathes life into your product concept, transforming your ideas into functional hardware.
Our expertise spans simple to complex designs on rigid, flexible, and flex-rigid PCBs. At our factory in Suffolk, UK, we provide ISO9001 accredited PCB design services adhering to IPC and RoHS standards. This ensures that the custom circuit boards we create are not only reliable but also cost-effective.
Conceptual Electronic Circuit Design
Your PCB begins with the creation of a conceptual circuit design. This step involves drafting the basic idea of how your electronic circuit will function. Using state-of-the-art 3D CAD tools, our team in Suffolk meticulously translates this conceptual design into a schematic design.
Schematic PCB Design
The schematic design is a critical phase in electronic PCB design. It represents the components and the interconnections between them, effectively forming the blueprint for your PCB. This design element is fundamental for verifying crucial details such as pin numbering, labels, symbols, connectors, and decoupling capacitors. Ensuring accuracy at this stage is vital as it sets the stage for the subsequent steps in the PCB design process, beginning with the layout of the PCB.
Our PCB Circuit Board Design Approach
As technology advances, PCBs are becoming increasingly complex, compact, and lightweight, with the rising popularity of flexible PCBs adding an extra layer of intricacy. The consequences of an inadequate circuit board layout can range from electromagnetic interference to complete failure. Addressing any issues after board layout not only incurs additional manufacturing delays but also leads to increased costs.
From simple double-sided through-hole PCBs to multi-layer high-density PCBs designed for demanding applications, we employ a comprehensive circuit board layout methodology. This approach prioritizes the strategic routing of power, ground, and signal traces, ensuring that signals have a dependable path to travel. Our circuit board layout methodology also recognizes the critical role thermal management, electromagnetic interference, and component placement play in achieving an optimal PCB layout.
Surface Mount Components
SMT component selection and placement are critical in PCB circuit board design
We prioritize using larger size components where space permits, simplifying the assembly process. However, factors such as space constraints, current, voltage, frequency, and component availability influence our choices. Our team is skilled in navigating these challenges to ensure optimal component selection and placement.
Managing SMT Component Obsolescence
As a leading PCB design company, we are adept at managing component obsolescence. Identifying long lead time and obsolete components early in the design process allows us to undertake product re-engineering if necessary. This proactive approach ensures that your PCB remains viable and up-to-date with the latest components available.
Multilayer PCBs Boost Performance
A Multilayer PCB board offers enhanced functionality and performance, accommodating more complex circuit designs. Our team in the UK specializes in creating sophisticated stack-up designs that optimize the electrical characteristics and thermal management of your custom PCB board. The stack-up design is a crucial aspect of multilayer circuit boards, defining the structure and arrangement of different layers within the PCB. This design attribute is integral to the overall performance and reliability of the electronic circuit design.
Circuit Board Design Review
Using advanced simulation tools, we analyze the PCB design to predict its behaviour under various conditions. This step helps identify potential issues and allows us to make necessary adjustments before prototype development, and finally setting up for the circuit board PCBA at our factory in Suffolk.