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42 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2023 Study the Rulebook It is up to you to be familiar with the design rules. Not every manufacturer prioritizes mak- ing DFM rule sets for popular design tools available, cost-effective, and current. Work- ing with a manufacturer who does make rules available will save time and money. Of course, using design rule checks (DRC) alone will not guarantee manufacturability, but performing them is a great way to ensure that you have created as close to an error-free design as possible. Remember that error-free is an unattainable point on the horizon you can almost see, but never quite catch. e goal should be a design that lowers the risk of defects and can then be manufactured and assembled. e DRC will help you identify conflicts, such as issues with insufficient clearances between electrical con- ductors, that will affect electrical functions and create potential manufacturability issues. Always Review Your Design We strongly encourage you to always review your design. Take a second look for issues such as insufficient power trace widths, blind vias, and components that are laid out too close together. When a design pushes the man- ufacturer's tolerances, it is easy to accidentally cut holes or route slots too close to pads or traces. Copper thickness is another important design consideration. Higher current may require thicker copper and narrow traces probably should be thinner. Be specific about what you need to ensure your design will not fail. Check land patterns against the part sup- plier's manufacturer datasheets (MDS) as well. Oen, that is all it takes to avoid common design issues. Consider How Your End Product Will Be Used Your manufacturing partner does not know what type of device the board will be part of, or the conditions in which it will have to perform. It's common for harsh environments or expo- sure to interfere with a board's performance. To avoid catastrophic failure down the road, you must call out materials that will tolerate the final product's operating environment. Be sure your board and components can tolerate thermal stress or solder joints risk breaking and damaging components.