Levison Enterprises Blog

How Design Impacts PCB Manufacturing Process

PCB design is a complex process. Careful considerations, down to the tiniest detail, must be made. All of your design choices will affect one or more stages of the PCB manufacturing process. This includes everything from shape and size to what type of drill hole technology you use. Failing to pay attention to how your design will affect the PCB fabrication process can take weeks of work right down the drain as you go back to the drawing board for a redesign. To keep everything on track, it is important to truly understand the PCB manufacturing process from beginning to end so you make the best possible design choices right from the start.

Is Turnkey PCB Manufacturing Right for You?

The PCB manufacturing process can be pretty involved. At times, upwards of 11 physical prototypes could be required before moving forward with production. This means the traditional approach to PCB board manufacturing can be pretty slow because it wasn't designed for prototypes and small batch runs. It can also be expensive and prone to errors. Enter turnkey PCB manufacturing.

4 Tips to Save You Money on Your Next Test and Measurement Electronic Assembly

Advances in technology are driving up the demand for more efficient and accurate test and measurement capabilities. Some test and measurement suppliers need help keeping up. That's why they are outsourcing to sophisticated electronic assembly and manufacturing partners. Working with a contract manufacturer for electronics manufacturing services comes with an added bonus. It can save you money. Here is how:

Partnering with an Electronics Manufacturing Service Can Save You Time and Money

Outsourcing has become the way of life for original equipment manufacturers. A third-party electronics manufacturing services partner (EMS) handles assembly of circuit boards and other electronic devices leaving you to focus on the big picture of your project. A manufacturing partner can streamline your production process and dramatically cut costs. Here are some examples of how you can save time and money with an electronics manufacturing services partner:

Electronics Manufacturing Services for the Food Industry

Quality and safety are of the utmost importance to the food manufacturing industry. Failure of process standards for contamination control could result in sickness for hundreds or thousands of people or even lead to someone's death. Needless to say, there are strict standards in place. And you should expect the same when it comes to electronics manufacturing services.

Use an Engineering Consultant To Take Your Product To Next Level

You’re really good at what you do, you’ve got a sweet product that you are so close to taking to the next level, but you’re stuck. Stuck in design, stuck in function, STUCK. You need some new ideas to move your product forward. Consider using an electronics engineer to breathe new life into your design.

Finding The Best PCB Design Services Partner

In-house engineering is paramount for PCB design services. They need to have an eye on your design but are also looking at it from a production standpoint. Is it manufacturable? Can they make small adjustments to the design, but not function, to assist with manufacturability? Look for a design services partner that also has assembly and manufacturing on-site. Here are some things to look for:

5 Advantages To Using SMT

The old saying "bigger is better" just isn't accurate in the world of electronics. This is especially true when it comes to surface-mount technology (SMT.) SMT places components directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board in order to create a circuit. It has become a preferred method of creating circuits in the electronics industry. Both surface mount technology and through-hole can be used on the same PCB. However, in many cases, SMT versions of through-hole PCB designs can be produced. Surface mount technology can make a big impact on design and development. Here are some of the advantages of using SMT:

5 Warning Signs Design Engineers Should Look For in an ECM Partnership

The right electronic contract manufacturer with the right team and the right tools will successfully serve all of your needs from prototype to production. After all, electronic contract manufacturing plays an important role in industries around the world. However, the relationship with your ECM can be a lot like any other relationship. When it’s good, it’s good, but when it is bad it is really BAD. Here are some warning signs that will make you pull off those ECM rose-colored glasses.

7 Common Features of a Box Build Assembly

Many electronics manufacturers work with multiple vendors on projects. They source components from one company. Another ECM handles sub-assembly. Yet another partner tackles the final assembly. This can waste valuable time and money. Plus, little bits of your quality can fall between the cracks.

PCB Component Factors That Are Driving Up Your Electronic Assembly Quote

The cost of electronic assembly can vary as much as the design of a printed circuit board (PCB.) Most think the cost is driven by the availably of the multitude of components needed for PCB assembly. While that may be an influence, there are a whole host of other factors that comes into play too. Add them all together and your costs can skyrocket. Component shortages are real, but here are some other factors that may be driving up the cost of your PCB.

What Should a Mechanical Engineering Firm Look for in an Electronics Manufacturing Partner?

As a mechanical engineer, you create some pretty cool stuff. But does any of that stuff have electronic components? Have you just been winging it? Don't play DIY with your electronics manufacturing. You may have been lucky up to this point, but it could burn you if your electronics project goes boom.