4PCB
Advanced Circuits, Inc. (ACI)

As experts in the manufacture and assembly of printed circuit boards, we work to make our blog a helpful resource on PCB topics and the industries that we work with, including automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace and many more. Here you'll find insights into PCB design, tech trends, assembly issues, and trending topics in the general news media as they relate to printed circuit board technology.

Have an idea for a blog topic you would like us to cover? Get in touch with us

Category Archives: PCB Design

Understanding High-Power PCB Requirements

Pinpointing what constitutes a high-power design can be challenging. However, high-power designs generally involve currents measuring multiple amperes or voltages extending into the kilovolt range. A general guideline is to categorize designs with the potential for electrical shock or significant … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Design, PCB Development, PCB Manufacturing, PCB Materials | Comments Off on Understanding High-Power PCB Requirements

The Significance of Thermal Management in the PCB Design Process

Temperature influences electronic component behavior and characteristics in numerous ways. The effects are not limited to the components that get hot directly, but also those that are indirectly affected — for example, due to proximity or the PCB material’s thermal … Continue reading

Posted in Aerospace, Circuit Board Design, Commercial, Defense, Manufacturing, Medical, Multilayer PCB, PCB Design, PCB Materials | Comments Off on The Significance of Thermal Management in the PCB Design Process

The Importance of Power and Ground Planes in PCB Design

Ground and power planes are large conductive areas in a PCB design that serve diverse purposes. Ground planes provide a common reference point for electrical signals and serve as return paths for currents. Power planes carry power supply voltages to … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Design, PCB Manufacturing, PCB Materials, printed circuit board design, Printed Circuit Boards, SMT Manufacturing | Comments Off on The Importance of Power and Ground Planes in PCB Design

Advanced PCB Routing Strategies

PCB routing is pivotal in ensuring the functionality, signal integrity, manufacturability, and reliability of electronic designs. Conductive traces are more than mere component interconnections or power distribution paths, and through effective routing, engineers can minimize signal degradation, crosstalk, and electromagnetic … Continue reading

Posted in Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing, PCB Design, PCB Manufacturing | Comments Off on Advanced PCB Routing Strategies

Approaches to PCB Design for Signal Integrity and Manufacturability

After formalizing a circuit’s functionality in a schematic diagram and deciding on the parts, devices, and technologies to employ, the next step is to create a functional PCB layout. This step aims to place all components on the PCB and … Continue reading

Posted in Circuit Board Design, Manufacturing, Multilayer PCB, PCB Design, PCB Layout Software, PCB Manufacturing, SMT Manufacturing | Comments Off on Approaches to PCB Design for Signal Integrity and Manufacturability

Navigating The Choice Between Surface-Mount Devices and Through-Hole Components

Before constructing a PCB layout, engineers should take a few preparatory steps to streamline the layout creation. When designing digital and analog circuits, one crucial question is which technology to use. While numerous integrated circuits and discrete components come in … Continue reading

Posted in Aerospace, Consumer Electronics, PCB Assembly, PCB Design, PCB Manufacturing | Comments Off on Navigating The Choice Between Surface-Mount Devices and Through-Hole Components

Transforming PCB Design: Lessons from Facility Visits

PCB design is dynamic, with constant advancements in technology and manufacturing processes. As PCB designers, our approach to creating innovative and manufacturable boards evolves over time. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the transformative experiences that change perspectives on … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Design | Comments Off on Transforming PCB Design: Lessons from Facility Visits

How to Better Plan Your Printed Circuit Build

Are you wondering what the easiest and most cost-effective way to build a printed circuit board (PCB), also called a printed wiring board (PWB), is? How do you start? Does Advanced Circuits have any PCB solutions? Start with a Schematic … Continue reading

Posted in Circuit Board, Circuit Board Design, PCB, PCB Design, PCB Development, Printed Circuit Boards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How to Better Plan Your Printed Circuit Build

How to Improve Your PCB Design

Regardless of what you are making, you want it to work flawlessly. You need your PCB design to be on point. Given the fact that circuit designs today can be complex, this is not always easy. After all, the electronics … Continue reading

Posted in Circuit Board Design, PCB Design, PCB Design Software, printed circuit board design | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How to Improve Your PCB Design

Why Should You Prototype Your Circuit Board First?

The printed circuit board has been around for longer than many people realize. It’s still one of the most utilized pieces of technology in the modern world, even though many people do not know it. Circuit boards are hiding in … Continue reading

Posted in PCB Design, PCB Prototyping, printed circuit board design, prototype pcb | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why Should You Prototype Your Circuit Board First?