What are the best practices for PCB fabrication and assembly documentation?

1 Use standard formats and symbols

One of the first steps to create effective documentation is to use standard formats and symbols for your schematic diagrams, PCB layout, bill of materials, and other documents. This will make it easier for you and your manufacturer to communicate and understand each other, as well as avoid confusion or ambiguity. Some of the common standards include IPC, IEEE, ANSI, and ISO, which define the conventions for symbols, units, dimensions, tolerances, and annotations.

2 Include all relevant details and specifications

Another important step is to include all the relevant details and specifications for your PCB design, such as the board size, shape, thickness, layers, materials, surface finish, solder mask, silkscreen, drill holes, vias, pads, traces, components, and test points. You should also specify the electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental requirements and constraints, such as the voltage, current, resistance, impedance, frequency, power, temperature, humidity, and vibration. These details and specifications will help your manufacturer to select the appropriate equipment, tools, and methods to fabricate and assemble your PCB.

3 Check for errors and inconsistencies

Before you send your documentation to your manufacturer, you should check it for any errors or inconsistencies that might affect the quality or functionality of your PCB. You can use various tools and methods to verify and validate your design, such as design rule check (DRC), electrical rule check (ERC), netlist comparison, gerber file inspection, simulation, and prototyping. You should also review your documentation for any spelling, grammar, or formatting mistakes, as well as any missing or outdated information.

4 Organize and label your files and folders

Another best practice is to organize and label your files and folders in a clear and logical way, so that your manufacturer can easily access and identify them. You should use consistent and descriptive names for your files and folders, as well as include the version number, date, and author. You should also group your files and folders according to the type of document, such as schematic, layout, gerber, BOM, etc. You should also include a readme file that explains the contents and structure of your documentation.

5 Provide feedback and instructions

Finally, you should provide feedback and instructions to your manufacturer, especially if you have any special requests, preferences, or expectations for your PCB fabrication and assembly. You should also ask for feedback and instructions from your manufacturer, especially if they have any questions, concerns, or suggestions for your design. You should maintain a regular and open communication with your manufacturer, and use a common platform or channel to exchange your documentation and feedback.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?