The Shaughnessy Report: Always With the Negative Waves
Connect the Dots: Stop Killing Your Yield—The Hidden Cost of Design Oversights
Global PCB Connections: A Field Engineer’s Perspective on the Top 10 Trends to Watch
BOOK EXCERPT: The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to... DFM Essentials, Introduction
October 16, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Introduction
One of the biggest challenges facing printed circuit board designers is properly understanding the cost drivers in the PCB manufacturing process, particularly the manufacturing of advanced technology PCBs.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is defined as the practice of designing printed circuit boards that meet not only the capabilities of the customer’s assembly manufacturing process, but also the capabilities of the board fabrication process to provide the highest reliability at the lowest possible cost.
The guidelines offered in this book are based on both ASC recommendations and IPC standards and apply to standard to advanced technology PCBs. UHDI technology may require violating many of the guidelines included within. It is also understood that some of these guidelines may require adjustment based on the material set, fabricator processes, and other design constraints.
While not a substitute for early design engagement with the PCB fabricator, in this book the reader will learn about these cost drivers (from the PCB manufacturer’s perspective) and the design decisions that will impact product reliability and help companies “design for success.”
Visit the I-Connect007 library to continue reading The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to DFM Essentials.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Avnet Technology Links STMicroelectronics’ STM32 Microcontrollers
04/11/2025 | AvnetDesign engineers who struggle with chip down design will now be able to quickly prototype and deploy their projects based on STM32 series of microcontrollers, specifically the STM32F7 and STM32N6 series.
The Key to First-pass Success in PCB Design
04/10/2025 | Gerry Partida, Summit InterconnectIn the dynamic world of PCB manufacturing, achieving first-pass success hinges on more than just cutting-edge equipment and skilled teams. At Summit Interconnect, we have seen countless successful launches of advanced HDI designs that can be traced directly to engagement between designers and fabricators early in the design phase. Unfortunately, collaboration in the PCB industry often begins only after problems arise—such as field failures, assembly fallout, or low fabrication yields. This reactive approach is the wrong starting point for collaboration.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Innovating Design—IPC's Vision for the Future
04/09/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOPeter Tranitz leads the IPC Design Initiative, which aims to enhance design offerings and engage the community, including the Design Leadership Council guiding future strategies. Peter talks about the IPC-hosted European electronics design conference, featuring peer-reviewed content and global participation. IPC's design initiative also tackles challenges, such as semiconductor scaling and AI integration, focusing on innovative co-design solutions.
The Shaughnessy Report: Always With the Negative Waves
04/09/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportWhen I started covering PCB design in the ‘90s, RF designers comprised a small percentage of the design community. Other than cellphones and handheld GPS devices, RF wasn’t seen very often outside of military, aerospace, and law enforcement applications. Now, RF is everywhere. Almost every electronic device in your house and pocket—your cellphone, tablet, laptop, smartwatch, and wireless/smart speaker—contains RF technology. The entire wearable segment is built on RF technology
Siemens Acquires DownStream Technologies to Expand PCB Design-to-Manufacturing Flow
04/08/2025 | SiemensSiemens Digital Industries Software announced that it has completed the acquisition of DownStream Technologies, a leading provider of manufacturing data preparation solutions for printed circuit board (PCB) design.