JULY 2022 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 79
The most common question I get asked by
PCB designers is, "Do you need copper
ground pours on digital multilayer PCBs?"
The short answer is, "It depends." Copper
pours are sometimes used incorrectly simply
to fill in the unused space on a board. How-
ever, in some cases ground pours may be an
advantage. In this month's column, I will look
at where and where not to use ground pours.
Electrical engineer Mar-
shall Massengill is the
first to admit that he has a
pretty sweet gig. Marshall
serves as a mentor for the
Zebracorns, a robotics
team based at a STEM-
oriented high school in North Carolina. We recently spoke with
Marshall about his work with the FIRST robotics team, and what
it's like teaching PCB design to high school students.
To be effective at PCB
design and layout, one
needs to become profi-
cient with the different
tools of the trade. Parts
libraries are among the
most important.
Who, what, when, where,
and why with? I've slowly
become disillusioned
over the past decade
with the whole "design-
for" schtick. Design for manufacturing or "DFM"
has become extremely subjective. I must say I am
even becoming hesitant to splatter the acronym
"DFM" when referencing job descriptions or when
considering a layout tool's manufacturing analysis
audit anymore because the term is so cliché.
This course
addresses specific
challenges encoun-
tered in military and
aerospace applica-
tions, including the effects of vibration,
shock, radiation, and altitude, extended
operating temperature range, and other
design considerations for high reliability
applications.
What skills actually
prepare you for your
future career? Tim
Haag reflects on
an eighth grade typing class that baffled
those around him because "everyone
knew that I had absolutely no aptitude
for any sort of literary or language skills."
For the latest news and information, visit PCBDesign007.com
Connect the Dots:
The Benefits of a
Parts Library
Passionate People Can Do Fantastic Things
Beyond Design: Copper Pours
in High-speed Design
Tim's Takeaways:
Today's Preparations
for Tomorrow's PCB Designs
Target Condition: Designing With
the 5Ws and Other Acronyms
IPC Training Course:
PCB Design for Military &
Aerospace Applications
