Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1517130
28 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2024 Realistic PCB designs should prioritize manufacturability and reliability of the PCB as well as meet the other design requirements. To do so, one must account for the production variables associated with individual manufac- turing partners. Understanding and creating robust PCB designs, especially in terms of board manu- facturing, requires a lot of attention to detail. When more detail is included in the design, the manufacturing process goes more smoothly, and process yields are higher. Product development professionals with limited PCB design experience get tasked with designs. Not immersed in the PCB design Designing for Reality: Prioritizing Manufacturability discipline, they don't know all the unwritten rules, best practices, techniques, and design requirements. I recently sat down with Nolan Johnson for the first in a series of discussions about design- ing PCBs for the reality of manufacturing. By sharing lessons learned over a long career in the PCB industry, we hope to shorten learn- ing curves and help designers produce better boards with less hassle and rework. PCB Manufacturing 101 PCB manufacturing is the physical manifes- tation of a digital design, and to design manu- facturable boards, it's important to understand Connect the Dots by Matt Stevenson, SUNSTONE CIRCUITS