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How to Choose PCB Plating for Your Finished Board
Once your board passes through the standard PCB fabrication process, the bare copper in your PCB will be ready for the application of a surface finish. PCB plating is applied to protect any copper in your PCB that would be exposed through the solder mask, whether it’s a pad, via, or other conductive element. In this article, I’ll run over the different PCB plating material options and their advantages in your PCB.
Blog
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What is the PCB Supply Chain?
The PCB supply chain encompasses multiple components, raw materials, and the PCB itself. PCBs and PCB assemblies are often the most technically complex components that are purchased for electronic assemblies and products. The complexity of modern PCBs leads to several challenges for a supply chain management team that may be significantly different when compared with other commodities the team manages. In this brief guide, we'll look in-depth at the PCB supply chain, and specifically what falls within the purview of a procurement and supply chain management team.
Blog
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A Guide to Mode Conversion, Its Causes, and Solutions
On interconnects, such as board-to-board connections or cascaded transmission line arrangements, you have an important EMC compliance metric that is sometimes overlooked. This is mode conversion, which can be visualized in an S-parameter measurement for differential and common-mode signal transmission. In this article, we’ll look at a short overview of mode conversion in high-speed design with some examples from common differential standards.
Blog
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PCB Via Size and Pad Size Guidelines
There are some aspects of PCB design and layout that seem deceptively simple, and yet they have a complex answer that is related to many important aspects of manufacturing. One of these design aspects is the match between PCB via size and pad size. Obviously, these two points are related; all vias have a landing pad that supports the via and provides a place to route traces into a via pad. However, there are some important sizing guidelines to follow when the matching pad and via sizes, and this match is an important element of DFM and reliability.
On-Demand Webinar
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Preparing your files for Fabrication Release
When you’re done creating a new board, it’s time to send your design data to the manufacturer. Before releasing your designs, you’ll want to make sure that everything is ready and works as intended. In this informative video, we’ll review some of the must-have checks before sending your output data for fabrication.
Blog
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Differential Microstrip Impedance Calculator
Are you looking for a free tool that you can use to calculate the impedance of differential microstrips? We created a simple tool you can use to calculate differential microstrip impedance for a given geometry and dielectric constant. If you’ve been looking for an accurate differential microstrip impedance calculator, then the calculator below is certainly one of the best free tools you’ll find on the internet before you start using field solvers to determine differential pair impedance.
Blog
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Getting Through a PCB DFM Check
In this article, we’ll discuss the key design features to implement, and steps to take prior to fabrication that will help prevent some common DFM problems. I’ll also provide examples of where I commonly see these PCB DFM problems in signal integrity circuits.
Blog
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What is Spreading Inductance?
If you’re working with a high-speed digital component, there are some simple power integrity rules that should be followed. However, there is one quantity that is sometimes ignored when building a PDN impedance simulation: the spreading inductance of your plane pair. Here are some points designers should know about the spreading inductance of a plane pair.
Blog
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PCB Design Basics for New Designers
In this article, I’ll present some design basics that every new designer should follow to help ensure their design process is successful. Some of these points may challenge the conventional view of how circuit boards are constructed, but they are intended to help balance low noise signaling, manufacturability, and ease of solving a layout.
On-Demand Webinar
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Efficient PCB Routing Using Gloss and Retrace Tools
The primary goal of your traces is to carry signals throughout your board without losses. To do this properly, you must familiarize yourself with the requirements for signals on the printed circuit board and how to optimize the topology of the board in terms of signal integrity. We will analyze the most popular routing cases applicable for using the Gloss and Retrace tools in Altium Designer to optimize your signal integrity.
Blog
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How Altium 365 Supports Agile Hardware Development
Discover how Altium 365 can be your ally in making agile hardware development a practical reality.
Blog
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PCB Layout Replication Whitepaper
Experience seamless acceleration in your design workflow with Altium Designer® 24's PCB Layout Replication feature. Effortlessly duplicate layouts for recurring circuit blocks and component groups, amplifying efficiency and reducing expenses.
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How Is Your Design Data Protected in Altium 365 GovCloud?
Here's how Altium 365 GovCloud protects your sensitive electronics design data. Learn more about our encryption technologies, access restrictions, and network security standards.
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Balancing Budget and Data Security: Cost-Effective Strategies for IT Managers
Make decisions that balance cost-efficiency with uncompromised security. Find ways to ensure your data security measures are both strong and economically viable.
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Custom Pad Stack Whitepaper
Explore our manual on the Custom Pad Stack enhanced feature. From thermal connections to pad shapes, every detail matters. Pads are no longer merely points; they demand unique, tailored solutions. With Altium Designer 24, you can customize pad shapes, fine-tune thermal relief, and master rounded/chamfered rectangle pads to meet manufacturing standards, conquer tight spaces, and elevate your design game significantly.
Blog
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Pi.MX8 Project - Board Layout Part 2
We are continuing the exploration of board layout in our Pi.MX8 Project. In this chapter, we focus on defining the impedance profiles, establishing matching design rules for the correct trace width, and initiating the routing of the DRAM interface.
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How Altium Designer Empowers Designers to Master Complex PCB Projects
Discover the power of Altium Designer for tackling modern PCB design challenges! From advanced constraint management to dynamic routing, it's tailored for success. In our brand new article, you'll find the ultimate solution for managing the varying complexities of PCB design.
Blog
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How Data Integrations Improve Supply Chain Performance
Discover how data integrations can elevate your supply chain performance through real-time insights, enhanced transparency, and enriched component data.
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Why Altium Designer Can Help Design PCBs Intuitively and Intelligently
Altium Designer sets the PCB design standard with its cohesive environment, cutting-edge tools, and 3D-MID support. Learn more about how to eliminate errors, accelerate cycles, and foster innovation with our software.
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Multi-CAD Engineering: Top 6 Challenges
Explore the challenges and reasons behind Multi-CAD engineering and discover solutions for smooth cross-platform ECAD collaboration.
Blog
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Constraint Manager Whitepaper
Explore the precision of PCB design with Altium Designer's latest Constraint Manager! Hone your skills in component positioning, routing, and rule definition to enhance your design capabilities with Altium's state-of-the-art tools. Discover more about this cutting-edge feature in the manual today.
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Redefining the Assembly Process for Miniaturization and Ultra HDI Technology
Learn the whole story of revamping the SMTA Test Board, the groundbreaking tool for solder paste testing.
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Why the Principles Are Sound, but the Tactics Need a Re-Think
Explore common principles and rituals of Agile and how you can adapt them to hardware product development.
Blog
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USB to Serial-Over-RJ45 Module
Have you considered converting a USB interface to serial (UART), while delivering data over a custom Ethernet cable and RJ45 connectors? If so, we invite you to check out this article on building a USB to Serial-Over-RJ45 Module. Additionally, you'll find a link to our workspace to explore the entire project.
Blog
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Why the Principles Are Sound, but the Tactics Need a Re-Think
Explore common principles and rituals of Agile and how you can adapt them to hardware product development.
Blog
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Pi.MX8 Project - Board Layout Part 1
Our exploration of the Pi.MX8 open-source computer module project progresses. In this third chapter, our focus shifts to the PCB layout preparation of the board. Key topics include defining the layerstack and component break-out routing.
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