It is the most important thing that often many PCB designers tend to forget that is to strictly follow the guidelines of DFM. The following of the DFM guidelines is important because it helps the users to work the much certainty.
For the creation of the printed circuit board (PCBs), the designers have much more to perform. The work is more than just inserting the template into a 3D printer or computer system. The process of designing a printed circuit board is quite extensive and should be checked carefully before a sample is made.
Various types of printed circuit boards require quality checking. Hence the design for manufacturing (DFM) should be followed with much consciousness. Therefore, by the end of this article, you will be able to know PCB DFM guidelines.
PCB DFM guidelines: everything you need to know about it
There are many things that you need to know about the PCB DFM guidelines. Meanwhile, some of the potential areas of problem are mentioned below.
- Problems that occur physically
The physical problems include the crowding of the component which is usually quite easy to find and rectify. Yet other problems are present internally that can be a tad bit difficult to solve.
- Problems that occur electrically
Such problems can occur even when you are working according to the DFM guidelines. There are several kinds of layouts that have a standard flow of current which are tricky to solder. This can turn into an uneven flow of heat when the current starts to flow all around the design board.
- Design documentation problems
These problems can occur from such factors that are present inside the materials bill or inside the schematics. This can furthermore lead to the over other components that have to be used during the manufacturing process.
- Difficulty in manufacturing
These problems occur when the layouts are stuff to be created without damaging the components. For example, overlapping of the holes might block and cause the drill bits to break.
There are several problems that PCB DFM guidelines can harbor to follow. However, the majority of them cannot be found in the design software. Among all these problems the other one is also known as the trap of acid.
This problem is caused when the acid is used for printing a PCB board where it is undesired. Such areas can be quite tiny and offer easy access to miss the human eye. However, they can still cause several electrical problems or lower the overall structure and system of the PCB board.
Yet another problem that can be very difficult to detect is the solder. This problem tends to happen when the two areas that are soldered remain quite close together. This close space causes these areas to be connected with the help of small threads of solder.
Such connections are expected to be very rare and a mismatch. They can cause the areas of a printed circuit board to short. Similarly, another problem can happen when the unconnected wire of the copper is met after the process of engraving.
PCB DFM factors: what are those?
Some steps of the DFM guidelines include the mentioned sequence that can determine many factors. Like, such as the processing, designing, materials, environment, and the working of the present product.
- Process of manufacturing
The first part of the guidelines for the DFM is to find out the correct type of manufacturing procedures. These manufacturing procedures are meant to be used when you need to make a product in a required amount of quantity. The whole process should be able to reflect the goal of the production and the total number of pressings that were planned for the entire process.
To determine the ideal process of manufacturing any given product you must be able to consider factors that include various things. Like, the overall size of the given product and the materials that are used in the production. Secondly, you should also be able to determine the steps for the surface of the product and know whether other second steps will be needed to get the assembly started.
- The design of the product
The second part of the DFM guideline is to test the design of the product. It will also help you to know whether the specs are properly working for the finished product or if you have to make other additional changes before you proceed with production.
The importance of this step is to solve any issues regarding the design of the product. So that you do not have to face issues in the upcoming production steps which might hinder the production of the product.
- Materials required for product
Yet another important aspect of the PCB DFM guidelines is to go through all the materials that are important for production. Now depending on the shape of the product, size, and the required use you will have to choose a variety of factors for the system.
Such as the overall strength, Look and properties that are thermally important and required for the production of materials. During the middle of this step, you will have to consult with your contract manager or manufacturer. Since that will help you to choose the materials with utmost surety.
- Examining the environmental factors
Before you proceed with the finalization of your choices including the process, product designing, and the required material of your product, you will have to examine the environmental factors. Here the environmental factors mean an environment in which the consumers are going to use the product.
Once you are done determining the types of effects over this environment you will then have to check if everything is working according to the DFM guidelines. The manufacturing that is required for the design examples usually includes the consideration of how and where the consumers will use your product.
If you are keen to develop sort of a product that is ideal for the outdoors for an entire year. Then the materials will be required to be able to hold the entire range of the ambient or standard temperatures. If users are going to mount the product over an object, then the design should be according to the idea of setups.
- Testing and the compliance
The final step of the PCB DFM guidelines is to detect whether the whole design and materials are safe. You can do this with the help of a third-party ISO-certified testing facility. A good manufacturing worker or an analyst can oversee the steps of testing. Many kinds of entities have different standards that will affect your ability to move forward with a kind of design that is in its present state.
The chances of your product not meeting the code of its required industry are possible only if the design is not under or according to the safety standards of your own company. Hence this is a very important step that should not be taken for granted.
- What is the main purpose of the DFM insert?
The main purpose of DFM is to eradicate the common Miscommunication that occurs between the majority of designers and product manufacturers. During the past years, the two sides of the parties would come into the middle of conflict for such reasons.
- In the usual scenarios the designer might get a product along a set of different measurements and materials.
- With that the designer would send the sketches or blueprint to the product manufacturer to start the production design. If there were any problems then the designer would let it be over the manufacturer to solve such issues.
- However, with the DFM guidelines specialist from all levels in the designing, development, and manufacturing processes tend to work together.
- Working together they create a combined working team where engineers from every department discuss things together.
- The DFM also helps in saving your money and time by aiding the companies to get the design problems almost without wasting any second.
Working as a team surely helps:
Working together they also offer suggestions and advice and then decide on one mutual decision. This creates a very healthy working environment and also gives chances to other working engineers who yet need to develop experience in the related field. The main purpose of DFM is also to lower the chances of customer dissatisfaction since everything is done with the help of team members.
The product and the teams that are hired for the development also include other parties. That is, they allow the manufacturing procedures from the outside to give their input that including different buyers, sellers and lawyers. Once the product design is completed the companies then spend some time setting a budget for manufacturing.
With the help of DFM companies can also avoid the mistakes that can lead to a costly stop in production and wasted processes. Moreover, DFM also aids manufacturers to avoid the production of faulty products that result in lesser defects, low customer complaints, and fiascos that would destroy the company’s name before everyone’s eyes.
Conclusion
When we talk about the inspections of design and the testing you must be able to seek the total input related to the objective. During PCB production the rules of DFM always go together.
