The circuit board layout is fundamental: it determines whether the electronic circuitry of the individual elements on the board exactly fulfills the intended function. Multi Circuit Boards is specialized in producing high quality circuit boards according to your layout specifications - we stand for the highest quality and excellent conditions!
Our product range includes circuit boards for every application. In addition to simple circuit boards, we also manufacture multilayer boards with up to 48 layers, even impedance-controlled. We are also available for the production of prototypes as well as serial production. Multi Circuit Boards Ltd. Is the leading supplier of low-cost "state oft the art" printed circuit boards!
What sets a good PCB layout apart from the rest
A PCB layout is more than just connecting components with traces. It forms the basis for a reliable assembly that can be manufactured cost-effectively and assembled using automated processes. We see layouts from all industries on a daily basis – and it is often the same details that distinguish a professional design from one prone to errors.
The most important principle is: think from the perspective of the manufacturing process. Your layout defines not only the electrical function, but also the yield in mass production and the cycle time in the placement machine. Three concrete examples from our experience:
1. Don’t forget the fiducials. Three asymmetrically placed fiducials on the PCB or within the panel frame are essential for the placement machine’s automatic image recognition. If they are missing or arranged symmetrically, the placement machine cannot unambiguously determine the position of the board. The result: misalignment during placement, scrap, and delays.
2. Connect copper areas for thermal relief. Large copper areas directly adjacent to SMD component pads draw heat away from the soldering process. This results in cold solder joints and poorly wetted connections. Thermal connections (heat sinks) with defined bridges solve this problem without compromising electrical conductivity.
3. Solder mask bridges: pitch and pad width are decisive. Whether a solder mask bridge can be realised between fine-pitch pads depends on three geometric factors: your pitch, your pad width and our manufacturing process. For a via, we require a minimum width of 75 µm plus a clearance of at least 50 µm all round. As a rule of thumb: below 0.5 mm pitch it becomes critical; below 0.4 mm pitch, vias are generally no longer feasible. In this case, we use a block clearance – all pins are then located within a single solder mask opening. Therefore, please create vias directly in your layout; we will check the feasibility in CAM.
These three details take no more than a minute to add to the layout – but they save hours of rework, complaints and costly field failures.
Your circuit board layout is implemented exactly
Whether prototype or series: When we become a producer for you, we need your PCB layout. We accept many file formats, which we convert for you into Gerber or ODB ++ data, respectively. The production data is transferred to our production facilities and converted one-to-one (see possible data formats). Of course, our CAM station engineers will check your data free-of-charge before production, for technical producibility (Design Rule Check). This way each, PCB is accurately produced according to the layout specification!
When it comes to the assembly of your circuit boards, we also offer a helpful service: Although we do not do assembly, we manufacture laser-cut SMD-Stencils for you. For this purpose, we have developed an easy-to-use online calculator. With just a few clicks, you can assemble the stencil for your circuit board.
Circuit board by layout file within 24 hours
If you order a circuit board according to layout specifications, the production takes place from 24hours / 1WD production time. A short-term order does not give us any problems. Whether flexible or rigid-flex board, whether metal core, high frequency or thick copper circuit board: Multi-CB produces printed circuit boards according to layout - fault-free, fast and cheap!
We prefer to process Extended Gerber (RS-274X) + Drillfile and ODB++. These formats allow for automatic analysis in our calculator. In addition, we also import native formats from common CAD programmes such as EAGLE (.brd), KiCad (.kicad_pcb), Altium (.pcbdoc) and Target (.T3001) – in these cases, we convert the files to Gerber format free of charge. Please note that we export standard layers only. Any non-standard layers must be explicitly specified.
Our standard pooling parameters allow for trace widths and spacing from 100µm (0.1mm) and drills from 200µm (0.2mm) with a via pad of 400µm (0.4mm). These high-tech parameters are already included in our most competitive prices. For special requirements involving even finer structures, please contact us or send us an enquiry via the PCB calculator.
We offer pre-defined layer buildups for 4-, 6- and 8-layer multilayer boards at no extra cost, optimised for standard impedance values. Our impedance calculator will help you with the preliminary design.
If you require controlled impedance (±10% or ±5%), please clearly indicate the desired values, the trace type (e.g. 100 Ω differential) and the relevant layers on your production drawing or in a separate impedance table. In this case, select “Impedance control” in our PCB calculator!
Yes, every order undergoes an automatic Design Rule Check (DRC). If any issues are identified that could affect functionality or manufacturability, we will send you feedback with specific recommendations for action.
The three most common causes of queries and delays are: missing details regarding layer definition in the copper – i.e. labelling: TOP in the top layer, BOT in the bottom layer, incomplete data (e.g. missing drill file or D-code table for standard Gerber files) and copper extending to the milling edge. Ensure there is a minimum distance of 200 µm between the copper and the milled edge. A full data check before uploading saves time and hassle.