{"id":2403,"date":"2023-06-14T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/eagle\/blog\/?p=2403"},"modified":"2024-02-12T12:24:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T20:24:00","slug":"top-10-manufacturing-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/top-10-manufacturing-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Design for Manufacturing Mistakes Every PCB Manufacturer Hates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever wonder what kind of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) mistakes you can make that will drive your PCB manufacturer absolutely crazy? Learn about the top 10 DFM mistakes now, so you don\u2019t make them in the future!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"workers-circuit-board-manufacturing-factory\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Listen we get it, designing a PCB layout<\/a> is hard<\/span>. Especially when you\u2019re trying to smash in all of that functionality into an enclosure that seems to shrink more and more with every new board design. <\/span> You’ll likely end up having a manufacturer breathing down your neck at the end of the line, telling you that this is too small, that\u2019s too thin, and that component doesn\u2019t match. Aren\u2019t you just tired of the back and forth? Guess what, so is your P<\/span>CB manufacturer! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Design for Manufacturing <\/h2>\n\n\n

This is where Design for Manufacturing (DFM), can make everyone\u2019s life easier. Think of it as a kind of risk management<\/span>. It’s personal insurance that what you spend hours designing can actually be made at the end of the day. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fusion 360 Design Rule Check (DRC) Manufacturing Dialog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether you like it or not, you can make the best PCB in <\/span>Autodesk <\/span>Fusion 360<\/a>, but if that board can\u2019t be made, then it\u2019s all for nothing. So instead of fighting with your PCB manufacturer for each and every mm, just start your design process off right by not making these 10 DFM mistakes<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n

1. Not leaving enough edge clearance <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

The problem with coppe<\/span>r is that while it might be a great conductor, it\u2019s also prone to corrosion from the environment. To combat this, your manufacturer coats it with a protective material. But what happens if you don\u2019t leave enough space between the edge of your board and your copper? That protective coating can get cut off in the manufacturing process<\/span>. This expos<\/span>es the copper beneath, and then you\u2019re just waiting for a disaster to happen<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fusion 360 DRC Copper\/Dimension Distance Preference<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This problem is an easy one to fix. Ensure that you\u2019re leaving enough space between the edge of your copper and the edge of your PCB. That\u2019s a minimum of 0.010\u201d inches for outer layers and 0.015\u201d for inner layers. You can even plug these clearances into your design rules (DRC), so you\u2019ll never need to worry about it again. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

2. Making acid traps<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

We all likely know by now not to use any acute-angled traces in our PCB layout, opting instead for 45-degree angled traces instead of 90. This helps to prevent any acid from getting trapped during the PCB etching process<\/span>. It also helps to prevent any serious circuit defects down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"acid-trap-electronics-design\"
Try to avoid this when routing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But time and time again, PCB designers forget one simple thing<\/span> \u2014 you can still make acute angle acid traps from the joining of two traces. Do yourself a favor and thoroughly scan all of the trace angles on your board after you finish your routing. Are you unintentionally creating an acid trap from the joining of two traces even if you used 45-degree routes? It happens, but fix it before your manufacturer ever gets your design files. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

3. Placing vias in pads<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

It can be really tempting to throw a via inside a pad when your board space is getting tight. <\/span>However, when it comes time for soldering, that via-in-pad will actually draw solder away from the pad, causing the attached component to be mounted poorly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fusion 360 3D Visualization of PCB <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While this one-off special technology is certainly useful in the right circumstances, only use it if it\u2019s absolutely necessary. This also holds true for micro vias, blind vias, and buried vias. If there\u2019s an alternative, use it! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

4. Overcomplicating Your Board Layout<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

If you’re struggling to place all of your SMT components on the same side of your board and are thinking of placing a few on the bottom, stop. <\/span>This going to cost you twice as much, <\/span>and is going to be a pain for your manufacturer to run your board not once, but twice, through their pick and place machine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one likes throwing money away during manufacturing<\/span>. Take the time during your PCB layout process to place all of your SMT and through-hole components on the same side of your board. Your manufacturer will thank you later, and so will your wallet. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

5. Sending an incomplete pick and place file<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Chances are if you’re placing SMT components then you\u2019ll need to send your manufacturer a pick-and-place file. This file tells a pick-and-place machine exactly where every part needs to be placed on your board. But when was the last time you verified the data this file generates? And is it even complete? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a manufacturer\u2019s worst nightmare when the pick and place file a designer sends over doesn\u2019t include all the information they need to place parts properly. At the very least, be sure to include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n