LPI Soldermask & PCB Manufacturing – Bay Area Circuits
Liquid Photoimageable (LPI) Soldermask For many years the only color you would see on a printed circuit board was green. Maybe a military influence? The color of the printed circuit board is only a small part of the consideration for …
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An Introduction to Controlled Impedance for PCBs
What is Controlled Impedance? Electrical impedance is the measure of the opposition (resistance) that a circuit presents to the passage of a current when a voltage is applied in an alternating current circuit. It is represented by Zo: Electrical …
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Cross Section Analysis: Inside a PCB
Cross-Section Analysis How can the internal quality of a printed circuit board be inspected and verified using cross section analysis? We previously published an article that talked about IPC Inspection guidelines that provides an overview of the standards used in …
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An Expert’s Guide to PCB Surface Finishes
Applying the surface finish is one of the last steps of manufacturing a printed circuit board. The surface finish on a PCB is typically applied after the soldermask process and is designed to prevent oxidation of the remaining exposed copper, …
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Time & Money Saving Design Rules: Insights from a Fabricator
As a PCB fabricator we’re frequently asked, “What are your basic design rules?” Typically what designers are looking for are some guidelines to follow when designing a PCB layout, though this could mean a variety of things. Over the years …
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Understanding Controlled Impedance: Measurement Techniques
One of the most common examples of controlled impedance is the cable that connects the antenna to your television. That cable may be a coaxial cable consisting of a round, inner conductor, separated from the outer cylindrical conductor commonly called …
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