In the current technological world, all the electronic devices whether it is television, computers, smartphones and even wearable technology like smartwatches are shrinking in size. With the size shrink, there is no compromise in the amount of functionality offered as more functionality is offered in a small design. So what does this shriveling in size means? Obviously, it is bringing with it new challenges for PCB designers who have to put in more efforts in designing the layout for the PCB and putting up an effective PCB assembly drawing showcasing the integration of different PCBs on much smaller footprints and simultaneously offering even more complex and compounded functionality and smaller parts.
Designers for printed circuital boards are persistently pressurized to meet this ever-growing need for small electronic devices with more functionality. PCB designers have to put in the placement of different components in a manner as effectively as possible so as to offer the needed functionality along with meeting the mentioned configuration of the product. Consequently apart from designing PCB components smaller in size; it is also required to place them as close as possible keeping any kind of negative outcomes at bay.
Hence it can be undoubtedly said that preparation of a proper layout for the printed circuital board is very important in determining the final outcome. So it is essential to always start by determining the essential requirements so that the final design is a result of the streamlining of all the important needs and requirements. Now the question which arises is that how the initial requirements and constraints are generated? For the reproduction of initial constraints many factors such as size and placement of electrical components, electrical demands, tolerance etc. play a very important role. This set of constraints help to streamline designing a new PCB or upgrading existing ones as the proper understanding of the requirements and constraints set the initial benchmark for preparing the basic PCB layout as well as their assembly.
If any errors creep in planning the layout as well as assembly of different PCBs then it can have many, otherwise avoidable, adverse effects:
- The final electronic product won’t function as specified, designed or desired.
- Many other kinds of quality issues can come up as the circuit paths might conflict with each other due to electromagnetic interference, size of the components and various other limitations.
- In most bad cases the designer has to converse with the manufacturer once again from the beginning and consequently start from the very first stage i.e. again taking the designing board in hand and reworking. Obviously, this will result in additional costs and more time will be required to finalize and re-manufacture the desired product which in most cases is not at all feasible.
From the above factors, we can understand the importance which PCB Design, Layout and Assembly holds in the manufacturing of electronic products. Hence nowadays most PCBs are designed using computer-aided-software and PCB design tools; the documentation of which is used thereafter by the fabricator to manufacture the board. PCB Designers are therefore advised to create a design that not only covers all the requirements but also can be manufactured effectively well within the stipulated cost.
