PCBs & Assembly

JLC PCB short cuts and tips

• Pre-configured RULES & STACK MANAGER files https://github.com/ayberkozgur/jlcpcb-design-rules-stackups 

• Export the Gerber & NC Drill files  https://jlcpcb.com/help/article/How-to-export-Altium-PCB-to-gerber-files

• To reduce shipping cost I would like to order 3 seperate designs from JLCPCB at the same time. All three boards also have different stack ups. Is it possible and how do I do so ? LINK

• x

PCB Manufacturers and assemblers

• Elecrow (Heston at JJ Harnessing say they use them for PCBs ordering. Maybe you can add your boards to their lots, save on shipping.)

• Seeed Studio - Fusion PCB Manufacturing & Prototype PCB Assembly

• PCB shopper 

• JLCPCB - PCB Prototype & PCB Fabrication Manufacturer 

• PCBWay - China PCB Prototype & Fabrication Manufacturer

• PCBCart  - PCB Manufacturing and Assembly

• PCBGOGO - PCB prototype | China PCB manufacturer | PCB Assembly

• Royal Circuits USA

• Advanced Assembly USA

• Markus Scissor table says look at people in South America. Compete very well with Cinese. Better IP protection. See contacts.

• Check out EasyEDA & LCSC & JLCPCB. 

1. https://passport.easyeda.com/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fjlcpcb.com%2Fauth%2Flogin%3Fscode%3DA&from=jlc

2. https://easyeda.com/?_ga=2.256286728.2000217088.1571523587-1767461412.1568934839

3. https://easyeda.com/page/pricing

4. https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-combine-boards-JLCPCB-and-components-LCSC-into-a-common-order-cc0f3ff5fc0845839af9f37910bca742

5. https://easyeda.com/explore/JLCPCB

6. https://support.jlcpcb.com/article/21-how-do-i-place-an-order?_ga=2.100132765.2000217088.1571523587-1767461412.1568934839

7. https://support.jlcpcb.com/article/83-smt-assembly-faqs

• POE youtube

• Lots of links to manufacturers.

• Check die uit. Dalk goed om nie oostere goed te gebruik nie. https://www.multi-circuit-boards.eu/en/index.html

• CircuitHub rapid electronics manufacturing. Listen to this episode on TheAmpHour. They do instant quote using Software.

• DK Red 

Local PCB Manufacturers, Assemblers and sourcing companies.

PCBs

• TRAX is now (19 Nov 2021) owned by https://www.icape-group.com/ 

• WH Circuit 

• CCZA 

• Cirtech

• BOSCO

• PCBSA

• EDA Technologies (Veronica) NCAB Group & other supplier for fast turn around.

• ProCircuit

• CIRCUITBOARD MANUFACTURING

• Master Circuits

• Microtronix

Assembly

• JJ Harnessing

• Omnigo Reunert

• Zyteq

• EBG list of PCB assembly services

• Repro Supplies

• RC&C Manufacturing Did they close down due to Covid

• CZ Electronics

• Jemstech

• PRODUCTION LOGIX (Quest components indicated that they have imported from them into ZA)

• Intermet (Jan used them for vacuum meters)

• https://solvedirectelectronics.co.za/ 

• http://chiponboard.co.za/

• Deman Manufacturing

• Diel Manufacturing

• Eagle Micro System

• Edge Assembly

• Montar

• https://transtronics.co.za/ 

Kitting of components.

• ExecuKit

Harnessing.

• HarnTech

• Harness Works

• JDK Harnessing

• JJ Harnessing  Also PCB assembly

• Macrowatt Harness and cable manufacturing

• Sealtron

• https://transtronics.co.za/ 

Stencil

• Laser Stencil technologies

• Felix van China bel my heel tyd. https://www.wmdpcb.com/ Ek het emails wat op tlabs account ingekom het geforward na gmail account toe. dis in KEEP lhfelix@qq.com

EMC

• ITC

• Spaceteq

• iSert

• SABS https://www.sabs.co.za/emc/ 

International PCB Manufacturers, Assemblers and sourcing companies.

ASIA

• PCBway

• Felix van China bel my heel tyd. https://www.wmdpcb.com/ Ek het emails wat op tlabs account ingekom het geforward na gmail account toe. dis in KEEP lhfelix@qq.com

Western 

• https://circuithub.com/

• https://aapcb.com/

Check out

• EveryThingPCB 

• Electrodragon 

• Link1 - Link2 - 

• PCB checklist

• MIL-STD-275E: Printed Wiring for Electronic Equipment 

• Deep PCB AI PCB auto routing. InstaDeep

Libraries, Symbols, Footprint & 3D

Background

• IPC 7351: Explaining the Standard for PCB Footprints

• How does (IPC_2221A.pdf section 9.9.1) and (IPC-2014-Publications-Catalog.pdf) apply

Altium

• The best is probably to do the following.    In a .PcbLib file "Tools>>Footprint Wizzard" or "Tools>>IPC Compliant Footprint Wizzard"

• "Design content" or internal . Is this the same as "Altium content vault"

• Vault Explorer. (Youtube videos)

• Altium footprint generator. Youtube tut video. This approach is similar to PCBlibraries.com approach according to (Feynman) See their datasheet

Other opinions

• (ntcnico) says.. Building your own footprints is the best way forward so learn how to do this. The second best is using footprints from an existing (evaluation board) design so at least you know the footprints have been tested. Maybe use vendor provided footprints. But I stay clear from footprint websites; I never got a good footprint from such a website.

Other

• Mouser SamacSys Found on (see ECAD model MAX3232)  SAMACSYS tool "Altium Library Loader" already installed in Altium. Other tools available.

• Digikey Ultra Librarian (see ECAD model MAX3232)

• Digikey SnapEDA  (see ECAD model MAX3232)

• Snap EDA.  Footprint Libraries?  3D Models?  Paid/Free?

• EE Concierge

Misc 

• 10 websites for footprints

Mechanical layers for component creation 

• Standard for Altium mechannical layers

• https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/altium-designer-19-standard-layers/

• https://www.ninedotconnects.com/back9-mechanical-layers

• https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/working-with-mechanical-layers

• https://blog.mbedded.ninja/electronics/general/altium/altium-tricks-and-standards/

• https://www.ultralibrarian.com/2020/04/09/top-four-recommendations-for-component-courtyard-management-ulc

• component courtyard    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2vEi3tdO9g 

Front Panels

• Beta-Layout

• Front Panel Express Download their free Front Panel Designer. Read somewhere it spits out DXF Youtube

• Front Panel Express Download their free (also named) Front Panel Designer. Modular Synths gebruik baie faceplates

Design resources

• San Francisco circuits design school. Looks like good design info.

• Sierra Circuits - PCB design guidelines.  Investigate. Looks really comprehensive.

• Saturn PCB calculator

PCB design software

• EasyEDA

• CircuitMaker

• Altium365

• Upverter

• Diptrace. Have a free version and apparently (Feynman) a good IPC footprint generator. 

• Cadence OrCAD with Allegro (advanced option) for PCB design. Capability matrix with videos. Only alternative for Altium

• EAGLE / Fusion 360     Looks like they have very cool ideas on MCAD ECAD integration. #471 – An Interview with Matt Berggren

Gurus

• rick hartley altium

• lee ritchie altium

• eric bogatin altium

Training videos to watch

• https://www.youtube.com/c/AltiumAcademy/search

• Altium designer 19 | Essentials online training playlist 

• AD21 whats new playlist Check it out if it is good and remove if not.

Issues investigated

• LAYERS

• This is a bit of a bugger issue. Seems like there is no standard for what goes on what layers

Issues investigated

• LAYERS

• This is a bit of a bugger issue. Seems like there is no standard for what goes on what layers

Quote template

Dear Sir/Madam

Please complete the attached REQUEST FOR QUOTATION FORM.docx and send it back with your quote.

Please use the attached (PRJ_NAME_V0?.zip) Altium Designer generated Gerber & NC drill files to generate quote on PCB manufacturing as follows:

1. PCB Name = PRJ_NAME_V0?

2. Quantity = ?.

3.  2 Layers i.e. double sided. (Or single sided or multi layer. Change Layer Stack)

4. Use 1.6 mm thick FR4 material. (Or other options. Change Layer Stack)

5. Copper thickness = 35um. (Or 75um. Change Layer Stack)

6. Surface finish = Immersion Silver. (Gold Plated(area?,thickness?), HASL, etc) 

7. Quality testing i.e. flying probe = No. (TRAX & WH can do it)

8. Solder resist = Green.

9. Top Overlay(Legend) layer = White.

10. Bottom Overlay(Legend) layer = White.

11. Board paneling = Routed. (Routed or V-Scored)

12. Delivery time = ? (According to your needs)

Optional info already included in design source but required separately by certain manufacturers:

1. Number of holes per board = ?

2. Number of Tools changes per board = ?

3. Smallest hole size(mm) = ?

4. Board length(mm) = ?

5. Board width(mm) = ?

Please also add delivery cost from your premises to: Shipping Address

PCB Manufacturer (design rules and manufacturer capabilities)

Understanding and adhering to different PCB manufacturer capabilities have always been a problem. You might forget to check certain requirements and it only gets picked up when they do quote. Then you have to rework board. Rather catch it early do it right from the start by having a complete list of capabilities for each manufacturer encoded into a Altium design rule set. Some do it on a PCB template with rules basis rather that just the rules file. It might be better because then you capture stack-ups as well.  You can always export the rules if you want to apply it to a existing board. Can you export stack-ups?

• Question on Altium forum

• Answer to problem. People are doing it. See Eurocircuit solution (templates) (capabilities)

• Maybe look at this video again. (capabilities of protoexpress)

Design for Manufacturing DFM

Eurocircuits

• PCB Assembly Visualizer  Eurocircuits  -- Youtube videos list1 and list2

• ALWAYS use green solder mask. Listen to this. This video is a very good summary of their tool.  Here is the process for soldermask.   Google search

• Apparently eurocirciuts dfm tool is really good

Sierra Circuits

• Look at their DFM resources. Also search for other Sierra circuits links on this website.