PCBgogo

Things to Check Before Submitting Your PCB Order for Manufacturing

Order PCB in PCBGOGO is very cheap and designing a printed circuit board is a long process; determining your performance specifications, researching components, pouring over datasheets to be sure they will fit your needs, and simulating your design. Once you’re satisfied with your design the last stage is production. To make this process even easier for you in PCBGOGO.COM, here are some tips to check your design to avoid some common delays. 

1. Do your Gerber Files load correctly and format is RS-274-X?

If you are new to exporting your circuit designs for manufacturing, it is recommended that you double check the gerber files exported from your design program in a separate gerber file viewer. PCBGOGO recommends the CAM350 free gerber viewer. Things to look for in your files include: do the files load in the viewer and format is rs-274-x? Are there track layer, drill data, silkscreen layer, and soldermask layer in your file? They are needed if you want the fabrication smoothly.

2. Do your traces meet PCBGOGO’s requirements?

We at PCBGOGO can manufacture a minimum trace width of 4 mils and a minimum trace spacing of 4 mils. Minimum size of drill should be over 0.2mm. These values increase with higher copper weights. You can double check these measurements in your gerber file viewer. 

3. Do you have a layer for your board outline and are your components far enough from the board edge?

We at PCBGOGO require a clearance of all components and traces to the board edge of 8 mils but for connectors or gold fingers required to be at the board’s edge please contact us to see if we can meet your needs. The benefit of the board outline layer is we are able to cut boards with any outline shape. 

4. Did you include a centroid file for pick and place?

For PCB automatic assembly, a file is needed to instruct the machine where each component should be placed and in what orientation. This file is pick and place file and it is needed when you place the PCB assembly order. 

5. Are your chosen parts available for order?

One of the most common delays in assembled PCB manufacturing is part availability. You can avoid this issue by checking your BOM availability using an online service such as digikey and mouzer. Availability does fluctuate so do this right before you RFQ or place an order. If you have a specialty part in your design that is not available at popular distributors you may wish to purchase this part yourself and consign it for assembly. 

6. Did you include a drill file?

A drill file specifies the location and size of holes drilled into your board. Some CAD software may require a separate step or option to export a drill file when generating gerber files. Double check that your drill file is included before submitting. Without drill files, your PCB order will be audit failed.