Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/952929
60 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2018 Naicker: Yes, we've got some local companies that can manufacture around 12-layer PCBs, but not necessarily in high volume. Usually any product destined for high volume or which utilizes advanced technologies such as buried capacitance or laser drilling would normally be sent offshore. Matties: How much of the business that comes through there winds up going offshore? Do they use your service or do they have their own channels to get it accomplished? Naicker: There's always the fear factor of deal- ing directly in China. However, since EDA has been doing this for over 20 years, we have established strong relationships with approved suppliers, and we've also built a level of trust and confidence with our customers. EDA man- ages the full design and manufacturing cycle for clients, so that they can focus on selling their products. Matties: Are you seeing a demand increase for HDI boards? Naicker: I would say, yes. The fastest-growing segments in our local PCB market are flex-rigid and HDI boards. Matties: In terms of HDI, what's the greatest challenge from a design point of view that you see? Naicker: The greatest challenge I would say is really the drill stacks. For very complex PCBs requiring dense routing of the traces, we often have stacked vias, one on top of the other, so that creates some challenges for manufacturing. But more and more PCB designs are being forced to go that way because of the dense topology on the boards. Matties: You've been doing this for many years. What advice would you give a circuit board fabricator from a designer's point of view? Naicker: For a fabricator, share your knowledge, share information. The biggest pitfall with many designers is that they go full steam ahead with a design, but then sadly due to poor design and material choices, the board may not be manufac - turable. It is best if manufacturers share more of their kno wledge up front with their customers. Matties: When we talk about not being man- ufacturable, there are simulation tools and a lot of other resources like DFM tools. Why do we get to the point where it's at the fabricator before we've realized it's not manufacturable? Naicker: I think a lot of it has got to do with ignorance, unfortunately, because we should know what the capability of a factory or a fabricator is before we go down the path. The designer should work with reputable suppli- ers or suppliers they're familiar with, find out the capabilities and the roadmap, and design accordingly—not wait until the end. Matties: What sort of feedback is he most valu- able that you could receive from a fabricator, post-production? Naicker: If they could come back and tell us, "We managed to do your board, but in the future if you just increase the annular ring by 'X' amount, your yield will increase." Then we wouldn't be repeating poor choices and we would in effect lower the cost of manufacture. Matties: Have you ever known a fabricator to just provide you that information, or is this something that unless you ask for it they don't share it?