DFM Tools: DFM (design for manufacturability) will allow you to interactively check each routing choice against the design rules for your PCB fab. Make use of this knowledge as early as possible in your design process.

Make use of whatever DFM tools your PCB fabricator has available. Full-board DFM run at the end of the design process may not be ideal, but it’s better than nothing. Sunstone Circuits offers certified rule decks for EAGLE and Altium, as well as built-in full-DFM from our own PCB123 design environment. Ask your PCB manufacturer about rule decks for your editor environment.

Other Steps in the Manufacturing Supply Chain: Don’t overlook your assembly house as a process resource. Sunstone Circuits, for example, works with another company called Screaming Circuits. The staff at Screaming Circuits can provide valuable feedback on their work with components, board designs, and even surface finishes, much of which is also shared openly via their blogs or customer support. For example, with SMT pitch getting tighter and tighter, you may find the need for a more planar surface finish, but which one? Even a simple question over RoHS compliant finishes has a range of answers, but each type has its pros and cons. Partners like Screaming Circuits can offer assistance specific to your design criteria.

Impedance Planning

A Sunstone technician checks a customer’s design prior to prototyping.

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