Introduction to Advanced Circuits PCB

Advanced Circuits is a leading manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in the United States. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Advanced Circuits has built a reputation for providing high-quality PCBs to customers across various industries, including aerospace, medical, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. In this article, we will explore 10 essential facts about Advanced Circuits PCB that you should know.

1. PCB Manufacturing Capabilities

Quick-Turn PCB Services

Advanced Circuits offers quick-turn PCB services, allowing customers to receive their PCBs in as little as 24 hours. This service is ideal for prototyping and low-volume production runs, enabling designers and engineers to test their designs quickly and efficiently.

Standard and Advanced PCB Technologies

Advanced Circuits provides both standard and advanced PCB manufacturing capabilities. Standard PCB technologies include:

• Single-sided PCBs
• Double-sided PCBs
• Multi-layer PCBs (up to 28 layers)

Advanced PCB technologies offered by Advanced Circuits include:

• High-density interconnect (HDI) PCBs
• Rigid-flex PCBs
• Aluminum-backed PCBs
• Heavy copper PCBs

PCB Material Options

Advanced Circuits offers a wide range of PCB materials to suit different applications and requirements. Some of the most common PCB materials include:

Material	Description
FR-4	A popular, cost-effective laminate for general-purpose PCBs
Polyimide	A high-temperature, flexible material for demanding applications
Rogers	High-frequency laminates for RF and microwave applications
Isola	A range of laminates for high-speed digital and RF applications

2. PCB Design Services

PCB Layout and Design

Advanced Circuits provides PCB layout and design services to help customers optimize their PCB designs for manufacturability and performance. Their experienced design team can assist with:

• Schematic capture
• PCB layout
• Design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis
• Signal integrity analysis

PCB Design Software

Advanced Circuits supports various PCB design software packages, including:

• Altium Designer
• Cadence OrCAD
• Mentor Graphics PADS
• Eagle PCB

Customers can submit their PCB design files in industry-standard formats, such as Gerber files, ODB++, and IPC-2581.

3. PCB Assembly Services

Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Assembly

Advanced Circuits offers surface mount technology (SMT) assembly services for both prototyping and production runs. Their SMT assembly capabilities include:

• Automated pick-and-place machines
• Reflow soldering
• Automated optical inspection (AOI)
• X-ray inspection

Through-Hole Assembly

In addition to SMT assembly, Advanced Circuits provides through-hole assembly services for components that require traditional soldering methods. Their through-hole assembly capabilities include:

• Hand soldering
• Wave soldering
• Selective soldering

PCB Assembly Options

Advanced Circuits offers several PCB assembly options to cater to different customer needs:

Assembly Option	Description
Turnkey	Advanced Circuits sources components and assembles the PCBs
Customer-Supplied	Customers provide components, and Advanced Circuits assembles the PCBs
Partial Turnkey	Advanced Circuits sources some components, and customers provide others

4. Quality Control and Certifications

ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Advanced Circuits is ISO 9001:2015 certified, demonstrating their commitment to quality management and continuous improvement. This certification ensures that their PCB manufacturing processes adhere to internationally recognized quality standards.

IPC Standards

Advanced Circuits manufactures PCBs in accordance with IPC standards, which are globally accepted guidelines for PCB design, fabrication, and assembly. Some of the key IPC standards include:

• IPC-A-600: Acceptability of Printed Boards
• IPC-6012: Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards
• IPC-A-610: Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies

Automated Inspection Systems

To maintain high quality standards, Advanced Circuits employs automated inspection systems throughout their manufacturing process. These systems include:

• Automated optical inspection (AOI)
• Automated X-ray inspection (AXI)
• Flying probe testing
• In-circuit testing (ICT)

5. PCB Prototyping Services

PCB Prototyping Options

Advanced Circuits offers several PCB prototyping options to help customers quickly validate their designs:

Prototyping Option	Description
Same-Day Prototypes	PCBs are manufactured and shipped within 24 hours
Weekend Warrior	Prototypes are manufactured over the weekend and shipped on Monday
5-Day Prototypes	PCBs are manufactured and shipped within 5 business days

Free PCB Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Analysis

Advanced Circuits provides free PCB design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis for all prototyping orders. This service helps customers identify and resolve potential manufacturing issues before the PCBs are fabricated, saving time and money.

6. PCB Fabrication Capabilities

PCB Layer Count and Thickness

Advanced Circuits can manufacture PCBs with up to 28 layers and a maximum thickness of 0.250 inches (6.35mm). They offer a wide range of layer counts and thicknesses to accommodate various applications and design requirements.

Minimum Feature Sizes

Advanced Circuits can produce PCBs with the following minimum feature sizes:

Feature	Minimum Size
Line Width/Space	0.003 inches
Drill Hole Diameter	0.004 inches
Annular Ring	0.003 inches
Via Diameter	0.008 inches

Controlled Impedance PCBs

Advanced Circuits offers controlled impedance PCBs for high-speed digital and RF applications. They can fabricate PCBs with precise impedance control for microstrip, stripline, and differential pair traces.

7. PCB Surface Finishes

Advanced Circuits offers a variety of PCB surface finishes to suit different applications and assembly requirements. Some of the most common surface finishes include:

Surface Finish	Description
HASL	Hot Air Solder Leveling, a cost-effective finish for general-purpose PCBs
ENIG	Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold, a flat, solderable finish for fine-pitch components
OSP	Organic Solderability Preservative, a low-cost, lead-free finish
Immersion Silver	A cost-effective, solderable finish with good shelf life
Immersion Tin	A lead-free, solderable finish with excellent solderability

8. PCB Panelization and Routing

PCB Panelization Options

Advanced Circuits offers various PCB panelization options to optimize manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs. These options include:

• Arrayed panelization
• Step-and-repeat panelization
• Custom panelization

PCB Routing Services

Advanced Circuits provides PCB routing services to separate individual PCBs from the panel. They offer several routing options, including:

• V-Scoring
• Tab Routing
• Perforated Routing
• Breakaway Routing

9. PCB Testing and Inspection

Electrical Testing

Advanced Circuits performs electrical testing on PCBs to ensure they meet the customer’s specifications. Some of the electrical tests they conduct include:

• Continuity Testing
• Isolation Testing
• Impedance Testing
• High-Potential (HiPot) Testing

Visual Inspection

In addition to automated inspection systems, Advanced Circuits conducts visual inspections of PCBs to identify any surface defects or workmanship issues. Their inspection process is based on IPC standards and customer requirements.

10. Customer Support and Resources

Dedicated Customer Support Team

Advanced Circuits has a dedicated customer support team available to assist customers with any questions or concerns. Their team can provide guidance on PCB design, manufacturability, and order status.

Online PCB Calculators and Tools

Advanced Circuits offers a range of online PCB calculators and tools to help customers estimate costs, determine PCB thickness, and calculate trace impedance. These tools include:

• PCB Instant Quote
• PCB Thickness Calculator
• Trace Impedance Calculator
• PCB Stackup Generator

PCB Design Resources

Advanced Circuits provides various PCB design resources to help customers optimize their designs for manufacturability and performance. These resources include:

• PCB Design Guidelines
• PCB Material Selection Guide
• Controlled Impedance Design Guide
• PCB Panelization Guide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the minimum order quantity for PCBs at Advanced Circuits?

Advanced Circuits has no minimum order quantity for PCBs. Customers can order as few as one PCB for prototyping or small-scale production.

2. How long does it take to receive PCBs from Advanced Circuits?

The turnaround time for PCBs depends on the service selected. Same-Day Prototypes can be manufactured and shipped within 24 hours, while standard lead times for production orders are typically 5-10 business days.

3. Does Advanced Circuits offer PCB assembly services?

Yes, Advanced Circuits offers both SMT and through-hole PCB assembly services for prototyping and production orders.

4. What file formats does Advanced Circuits accept for PCB design submissions?

Advanced Circuits accepts industry-standard PCB design file formats, including Gerber files, ODB++, and IPC-2581.

5. Does Advanced Circuits provide PCB design services?

Yes, Advanced Circuits has an experienced PCB design team that can assist customers with schematic capture, PCB layout, and design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis.

Conclusion

Advanced Circuits is a trusted manufacturer of high-quality PCBs, offering a wide range of services and capabilities to meet the needs of customers across various industries. From quick-turn prototyping to full-scale production, Advanced Circuits provides reliable and efficient PCB solutions. By understanding the key aspects of Advanced Circuits PCB, such as their manufacturing capabilities, design services, quality control measures, and customer support, designers and engineers can make informed decisions when selecting a PCB manufacturer for their projects.