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Design for Manufacturing: Optimizing SMT Prototype Boards for Production

Posted by RBB on Mon, Oct 7, 2024 @ 11:10 AM

Rbb Blog 7

Optimizing SMT Prototype Boards for Production

When designing Surface Mount Technology (SMT) prototype boards to move towards mass production, manufacturability becomes a crucial consideration. Every aspect, from component placement to soldering and assembly tolerances, is meticulously optimized to align with the ultimate goal of mass production.

At RBB, we recognize the significance of this process and emphasize the necessity for close collaboration between design engineers and our manufacturing team during the transition from prototyping to production. This blog will explore the techniques and approaches essential for achieving outstanding SMT prototype boards, shedding light on the pivotal aspects that define manufacturability.

This blog will explores the optimizing of SMT proto type boards  and RBB's core value of "Always Better" and our unwavering commitment to providing maximum customer benefits. 

At RBB, we constantly assess our manufacturing processes and seek ways to enhance each task's efficiency. 

Strategies for Component Placement

 At RBB, we understand component positioning is important in assembly processes and manufacturability. Design engineers pay careful attention to planning the layout of components to make assembly easier. 

Some of these factors include component location, orientation for automated pick-and-place machines, and signal path routing. These factors are critical for determining component placement for production.

Soldering Techniques for Manufacturability

Soldering, the backbone of electronic assembly, requires extra consideration regarding high volume manufacturing. Design engineers have to decide on the soldering processes that produce strong joints but are also suitable for production. 

Aspects such as reflow soldering profile, solder mask and stencil are important in the soldering process for volume manufacturing. When combined, these techniques set RBB apart in charting a course to manufacturability superiority.

Tolerances in Assembly and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly Robustness

Manufacturability considerations encompass assembly tolerances and the robustness of the design. When designing a product, design engineers must assess the variation of allowable dimensions for successful part qualification and production. Additionally, when the PCB layout and structure are concerned, designing for robustness means evaluating the ability of the design to meet the requirements for production.
Understanding the manufacturing assembly of a design and its constraints is key to ensuring a collaborative relationship with manufacturing that drives the appropriate assembly tolerances and robustness when designing.

The Importance of Collaboration between Design Engineers and Manufacturing Teams

The collaboration between design-based engineers and manufacturing-based groups is instrumental in improving the ease of the transition from a prototype to a production model. Utilizing open process discussions to build an understanding of the design's objectives, limitations, and issues that may arise during manufacturing is, and should be, an instrumental part of the journey to production wherever possible. 
RBB has adopted that idea since design engineers and manufacturers that participate in the process can develop a work mode in which challenges are addressed before they impact the time to market or manufacturability of the SMT boards.

RBB’s DFM Recommendations

We recommend the following DFM step reductions when a PCB is designed:

  • Focus on the shape of the PCB Bare Board to guarantee that it is rectangular or square. Odd shaped boards will cost more and take more steps to produce.
  • Minimize the number of components (especially those that cannot be washed after soldering), and attempt to use the same number of Cap or Resistor when possible. 
  • Select active components, components with low lead times, and components with more than one manufacturer (be sure to include this in your Bill of Material).
  • Focus on the layout of the circuit board. For example, keep components at least 5mm away from the edge of the board and away from the top side of the board.
  • Mark components with polarity clearly on the silkscreen.

    Improving the Transition to Mass Production

    At RBB, we place a significant emphasis on design for manufacturability, as seen in our objective of growing SMT prototype boards into meaningful designs for production. Our goal is to take a more holistic concept to component placing, soldering strategies, assembly tolerances, and a collaborative aspect between design engineers and manufacturing to make the transition to production less difficult. 

    RBB's commitment to design for manufacturability indicates our real commitment to always delivering quality, capable, functioning, and generally reliable electronics to our customers.

Our Certifications for Quality Assurance in Electronic Assembly

At RBB, we are proud to be certified to ISO 9001:2015 for quality electronics assembly services and a UL-certified control panel shop for reliable electronic board assembly, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability in our assembly processes.

RBB strives to move heaven and earth to get our clients what they need when they need it. It is our mission statement but lived out in our daily behavior. Check out feedback from RBB’s clients here to learn more.

Topics: Circuit Board Quote, About RBB, PCBA, PCB Electronics, RBB, trust, SMT, value, Electronic Manufacturing Services, Through Hole, engineering

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