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Listen to the Podcast: Download this episode (right click and save) Watch the video: Show Highlights: Introduction, Rick Hartley and Mike Creeden Printed Circuit Engineering Course: PCE EDU Why not PCB-EDU Who is this course for? What is contained in the course, and the inspiration behind it? Who authored the course and where can Design Engineers sign up? How will this course be proctored for certification purposes? PCE EDU will be...

In this series of articles, we will be looking at some of the different types of Serial Communication Protocols available to transfer information between microcontrollers, data-producing and data-processing peripherals, and other smart devices. The articles that follow this introduction to serial communications will cover some of the more popular protocols in common usage. At the end of this series, we will summarize the advantages and...

So many designers love to focus on the PCB, but if a design is ever going to be turned into a real product, you’ll have to consider the mechanical and manufacturing side of the design. PCB tooling holes are one important mechanical feature that helps you get your design through fabrication. Tooling holes are not the same as mounting holes, and they are necessary for securing a board to a work table during manufacturing. While tooling holes are...

If you’ve ever used an external Gerber file viewer, or you’ve used some PCB design applications with a built-in Gerber viewer, you know there are different formats and file extensions for Gerber files. Some applications can very nicely reproduce the look and feel of a PCB layout with just a few active layers, such as the Gerber image I’ve shown above from one of our example press-fit connector layouts. The key to building and using these Gerber...

Listen to the Podcast: Download this episode (right click and save) Watch the video: Show Highlights: Introduction to Gerry Partida and Summit Interconnect Why knowing and following IPC standards are critical for Design Engineers AABUS: What is it, and when to use it (Edge clearances) Removing non-functional pads Watch for 3.5 mil minimum dielectric rule IPC 2221. Work around How to access standards, talk to your fabricator: IPC...

On a clear fine day, the ground typically carries a slight negative charge with a corresponding positive charge in the upper atmosphere. This generates an average electric field strength around the globe in the order of 120 V/m. By comparison, just before it discharges through a lightning strike, a thunderstorm cloud generates an electric field strength in the order of 25 kV/m. This creates a potential difference between this cloud and the ground...

In this article Zachariah Peterson, founder of Northwest Engineering Solutions, discusses how his company successfully collaborates with mechanical engineers outside of his firm. He shares practices and tools that have been most useful along the way. Judy Warner: Zach, as an engineer and the owner of Northwest Engineering Solutions (NWES), what challenges do you see as most prevalent and problematic for design engineers when it comes to...

A schematic drawing will not only tell your PCB design software what needs to connect where, but it also communicates the purpose of a circuit to other people. It’s easy how to make schematics, but it can be harder to make helpful schematics that can be quickly and easily read and comprehended by the reader. Anyone reading your schematic diagram should not have to try and trace wires around to figure out what they do or need to unscramble a...

Version control gives development teams the ability to do just as its name implies: control which version of a project or data repository is the master version of a project, with all changes between versions being tracked and timestamped. Version control systems are great for tracking and maintaining entire codebases without the old-school copying, pasting, zipping, and emailing steps most PCB designers are familiar with. There’s also the matter...