SURFACE MOUNT PROCESS
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  • Articles
    • A GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE STENCIL DESIGN
    • SOLDER PASTE PRINTING PROCESS
    • SOLDER PASTE INSPECTION PROCESS
    • COMPONENT PLACEMENT PROCESS
    • REFLOW SOLDERING PROCESS
    • POST-REFLOW AOI PROCESS
    • THROUGH-HOLE ASSEMBLY - SELECTIVE SOLDERING
    • Cleaning 'No-Clean' flux residues and other contaminants
    • Environmental Protection - Conformal Coating
    • Hand soldering and rework of surface mount components to IPC class 3
  • FAQ
    • Solder paste handling
    • Type 3 or Type 4 Solder Paste
    • Cleaning a misprinted PCB
    • Solder Paste Quality Control
    • What factors affect solder paste transfer efficiency
    • What stencil thickness should be used?
    • What is the difference between aspect ratio and area ratio of stencil apertures?
    • What squeegee speed should be used?
    • What squeegee pressure should be used?
    • What the differences between 'on-contact' printing and 'gap' printing?
    • What separation speed to use in solder paste printing?
    • What are the benefits / challenges of using halogen-free solder paste?
    • What is the best stencil aperture shape for solder paste transfer efficiency?
    • PCB delamination during reflow
    • What are the different types of reflow profile?
    • ROSE (Resistivity of Solvent Extract) testing
    • How do you validate a PCBA cleaning process?
    • Why clean a pcba that has been soldered using no-clean flux
    • How do engineered cleaning fluids such as Zestron and Kyzen work
    • How do engineered cleaning fluids affect surface tension and wetting angle?
    • How does the pH level affect engineered cleaning fluids?
    • How do mixed-bed and carbon filters work in PCB cleaning systems?
    • What are the risks of using ultrasonics to clean PCBA's?
    • What are the differences between 'Water-soluble' and 'No-clean' flux?
    • What is the difference between ionic and non-ionic contamination?
    • What causes electrochemical migration (ECM)?
    • What are methods of masking before conformal coating?
    • How to apply conformal coating by brushing?
    • How to apply conformal coating using dipping?
    • How to apply conformal coating using spray/aerosol?
    • How do selective robots apply conformal coating?
    • What is the best method to dry/cure conformal coating?
    • What concerns are there when demasking?
    • What should be checked when inspecting after conformal coating?
    • How to check the adhesion of conformal coating?
    • Tape and Reel Packaging Standards
    • What is 'Package on Package' (POP)?
    • Stock control and component attrition
    • BOM Comparison Software
    • Comparison of SAC305 and SAC387 Lead-Free Solder Alloys
    • What is a 'Eutectic' solder alloy?
    • What does 'SMT' stand for?
    • What does the term voiding mean?
    • How is void percentage calculated?
    • How to reduce voids in QFN device ground connection?
    • Low temperature lead free solder paste
    • CAD EXTRACTION
    • How are PCB's manufactured?
    • What are the IPC standards that govern electronics manufacturing processes?
    • What are the differences between SMEMA and HERMES?
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PCB DESIGN SOFTWARE AND TOOLS

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So you've got an electronics project that you need to design and need software to make it happen.  There are many PCB design tools available online - some which are free and some that come at a cost. 

FREE SCHEMATIC, CIRCUIT SIMULATION AND PCB DESIGN TOOLS

  • CircuitMaker - Free EDA software tool and a community of creative people, working together to invent circuits and electronics products for a better future.
  • PCBWeb - Free CAD application for designing and manufacturing electronics hardware.
  • FREEPCB - Free open-source PCB editor for Microsoft Windows, released under the GNU General Public License.
  • TinyCAD - Electrical circuit design tool supporting standard and custom symbol libraries.
  • ZenitPCB - CAD software for schematic and printed circuit board design.
  • OsmondPCB - Planning tool for all those who design circuit boards.
  • BSch3V - Basic schematic capture circuit design tool.
  • EXPRESSPCB - Schematic capture through to PCB layout.
  • KiCAD - Software suite for the creation of professional schematics and printed circuit boards up to 32 copper layers with additional technical layers.
  • gplEDA - This electrical circuit design tool runs on Linux and is for circuit and PCB design.
  • Fritzing - Open-source PCB design software for electronics projects.
  • DESIGNSPARK PCB - Electronics design software, specially designed for rapid prototyping and turning circuit ideas into testable boards.
  • EasyEDA - Web and cloud based schematic, circuit simulation and PCB design software.
  • XCircuit - Open-source circuit schematic design and simulation software.
  • PCB Artist - Basic package is free but many features come at a cost.
  • Pad2Pad - Free PCB layout software connected to a REAL circuit board manufacturer.
  • PCB123 - Design tool for Printed Circuit Board designers of all levels

PCB DESIGN SOFTWARE AT A COST

  • OrCAD - Suite of products for EDA, and includes a schematic editor (Capture), a circuit simulator (PSpice) and a PCB designer.
  • CADENCE ALLEGRO - Takes simple or complex designs from concept to production in a constraint-driven design system.
  • CADSTAR - Complete design environment for PCB design – from initial concept through to product realization.
  • EAGLE - Flexible, expandable and scriptable application with schematic capture editor, PCB layout editor, auto-router and CAM and BOM tools.
  • PULSONIX - Choose a combined SCM/PCB product, or Schematic only option.
  • EASYPC - Delivering performance in Schematic Capture and PCB Layout normally associated with products at ten or even twenty times the price.
  • COMETCAD - circuit schematic and layout editor program for Windows 2k, XP, Vista and 7.
  • PADS - The industry-leading, high-productivity, PCB-centric design solution for independent engineers.
  • ZUKEN - PCB design software.
  • VUTRAX - Electronics schematic and PCB design package.
  • MENTOR / VERIBEST - Design Software and Tools offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that improve design, accelerate time to market & increase profit margins.
  • ALTIUM DESIGNER - Combines precision, usability, Native 3D, and collaboration to enable engineers and designers to get complex PCB designs done right, the first time.
  • DIPTRACE - software for creating schematic diagrams and printed circuit boards.

CAD extraction instructions from the various PCB design software can be seen here.

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