Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541169
32 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 TA RG E T C O N D I T I O N Not sure if the part exists? A 30-second search using a supply chain tool like Octopart or Ultra Librarian, or even Google, will usually get you what you need. Service providers like Cofactr will show you availability. Let's face it: Without part numbers, we're left playing the guessing game, and no one wins that race. Connectivity Connectivity is the heart of the design. A schematic is more than just lines and symbols; it's a story. It tells us how each part is supposed to talk to every other part. Sure, you can sketch something on the back of a napkin, and yes, we've seen it before. But a CAD-generated schematic tells us a whole lot more. A good schematic shows electrical intent, pin assignments, reference designators, part values, and often even hints at placement strategy. It's your best communication tool. Give us a solid schematic, and we're off to the races. Hand us a drawing with "connect this to that" scribbled in ballpoint? Well, we're off to the bar instead. Board Outline The board outline is the parking space where all your circuitry will live. Without it, we don't know where to place components, where to keep out, or how your board fits into the larger system. Whether you're designing a smartwatch, an avionics module, or a toothbrush with Wi-Fi, everything starts with the mechanical boundary. A proper outline tells us where to keep in, where to keep out, and where connectors and mounting holes go. Think of it as your design's property line. Without it, we can't start building. Target Condition: Set the Table Before Serving the Meal There are thousands of options in PCB design, just like there are thousands of trim packages for that Tesla. But no one starts building a car without know- ing the basics. We need to know what we're build- ing before we can even think about how to design it. Before clicking "send" on that email that asks your layout team to "just get started," ask yourself: • Do I have a complete parts list with part numbers? • Do I have a schematic that accurately reflects what I want built? • Do I have a mechanical outline that defines the board's form factor? If you've got all three, we're in great shape. If you're missing one—or all—we're probably still at the dealer, arguing about what "green" really means. Thank you for your order. We'll be right with you. DESIGN007 Kelly Dack, CIT, CID+, provides DFx centered PCB design and man- ufacturing liaison expertise for a dynamic EMS provider in the Pacific Northwest while also serv- ing as an IPC design certification instructor (CID) for EPTAC. To read past columns, click here. " " Connectivity is the heart of the design. A schematic is more than just lines and symbols; it's a story.