Every day Hardware Design TIPS
100 videos • 269,211 views • by Robert Feranec
1
TIP #100: Create a Board Release procedure
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2
TIP #099: Your product should be tested for ESD discharge
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3
TIP #098: Don’t forget to place other mounting holes (e.g. for heatsink)
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4
TIP #097: During layout, consider to hide component designators in PCB
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5
TIP #096: Place pins in schematic symbol the easy to read and consistent way
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6
TIP #095: You may want to place all the components on the board before you start doing layout
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7
TIP #094: Don’t use 4 wire cross junctions
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8
TIP #093: Put a big title on the top of each page and put a small title for each chip / connector
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9
TIP #092: Under a component with exposed pad (EP), you may want to ...
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10
TIP #091: In schematic, mark the components which you may not want to fit
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11
TIP #090: Crystals can be placed also on the opposite side of PCB, just keep the tracks short
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12
TIP #089: When desoldering, don’t be afraid of using a lot of solder
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13
TIP #088: Add “PCB only” components into your schematic (mounting holes, fiducials, ...)
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14
TIP #087: Use board version number in the project name and in the PCB file name
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15
TIP #086: After you finish a project, print schematic into PDF
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16
TIP #085: If you don’t have space on PCB, consider to use stands off components
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17
TIP #084: Place hot components on the top
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18
TIP: #083 Be aware of different connect styles used to connect through hole pins or VIAs
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19
TIP #082: Always add assembly drawing layer into your footprint (if your CAD system supports it)
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20
TIP #081: Place components in the schematic close to the pins where they should be located on PCB
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21
TIP #080: Add testpoints
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22
TIP #079: Name every important net in your schematic, even if ...
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23
TIP #078: Preferably use through hole connectors
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24
TIP #077: Make component outline a little bit bigger than component real size
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25
TIP #076: Consider to place small SMD LEDs on the edge of PCB, so you can ...
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26
TIP #075: Consider not using dot (“.”) in symbol description e.g. 2.2uH. Do it this way instead 2u2
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27
TIP #074: If it’s not necessary, you may not want to use a hierarchical schematic design
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28
TIP #073: If you are not 100% sure if a circuit is going to work correctly, add ...
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29
TIP #072: Name schematic pages by short and clear names
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30
TIP #071: Consider not using autorouter
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31
TIP #070: You may want to use 1% resistors instead of 5% resistors
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32
TIP #069: You can use an industrial hot air gun to replace (solder / desolder) components ...
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33
TIP #068: Place tall components on one side of PCB
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34
TIP #067: Be sure you fanout all the BGA pins and place all the BGA VIAs before you ...
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35
TIP #066: Include voltage value in power net name
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36
TIP #065: If you are not sure, if put something into your schematic, add it there
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37
TIP #064: Backup and possibly do versioning of your project folders
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38
TIP #063: Consider to place analogue circuits in corners of your PCB
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39
TIP #062: On the cover page, include status of the schematic
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40
TIP #061: Do not forget about VIA aspect ratio
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41
TIP #060: Use the same number of Pins and Pads between Schematic Symbol and Footprint
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42
TIP #059: Use optional resistors to re-route one interface to more places
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43
TIP #058: Create board variants (if your CAD software supports it)
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44
TIP #057: If you are testing your prototype and something is wrong, do not ...
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45
TIP #056: If you are soldering a BGA manually (e.g. by a hot air gun), watch when it settles down
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46
TIP #055: Use different footprint for resistors and capacitors, even they are same size (e.g. 0805)
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47
TIP #054: Place reference point of a footprint for through hole components to pin 1
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48
TIP #053: Create net classes (if your CAD system supports it)
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49
TIP #052: In power supply placement, place output capacitors close to the power output
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50
TIP #051: In your schematic, always create a cover page with list of pages and page numbers
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51
TIP #050: Read Errata documents
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52
TIP #049: Place crystals close to the chip to keep the tracks as short as possible
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53
TIP #048: Import reference schematics
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54
TIP #047: Use chips with good software support
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55
TIP #046: Check pin ordering of your footprint
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56
TIP #045: Create useful folder structure for your projects
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57
TIP #044: When doing placement under BGA, first only check where the free space is and then
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58
TIP #043: When you create a schematic symbol, list all pin alternate functions
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59
TIP #042: Create Assembly Drawings, documents describing where each component is located on PCB
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60
TIP #041: Add more information on silkscreen of some components (connectors, slots, …)
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61
TIP #040: Use the chip manufacturer support as few as possible
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62
TIP #039: Be careful how you order pins on your connectors
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63
TIP #038: Place fiducials in the PCB corners and on the side where SMD components are fitted
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64
TIP #037: Use “.Checked PCB” ".Checked SCH" as component parameters
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65
TIP #036: Buy a good mouse
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66
TIP #035: Use ferrite beads or 0R resistors on powers
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67
TIP #034: Have a look at what your competition is using
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68
TIP #033: If you can, try using leaded tin when repairing during debugging or testing
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69
TIP #032: Always do testing in environmental chamber
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70
TIP #031: Include page number in Schematic page name
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71
TIP #030: Do Paper model of your board
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72
TIP #029: Be sure you connect enough pins on connector to carry high currents
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73
TIP #028: When you are looking for a component, you may want to ...
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74
TIP #027: Use at least 2 monitors
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75
TIP #026: If you are new in memory layout, do not place memory chips too close to CPU
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76
TIP #025: Try to use as big gap / clearance between signals as possible
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77
TIP #024: Place Reference point (the x=0,y=0 point) of a footprint for ...
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78
TIP #023: Don’t be scared of creating components by yourself
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79
TIP #022: Place ESD protection as close as possible to the connectors
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80
TIP #021: If possible, have two soldering irons
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81
TIP #020: Don’t forget about heat distribution
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82
TIP #019: Always be sure that the pin numbers in schematic are pointing to ...
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83
TIP #018: Always create a BOX around the ribbon cable headers
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84
TIP #017: For complex boards, always build minimum 3, but rather 5 prototypes
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85
TIP #016: Using series termination resistors may help to lower possible crosstalk
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86
TIP #015: Create a TODO file to list the changes for the next board version
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87
TIP #014: If you have an exposed pad on your component, consider ...
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88
TIP #013: Be aware if a connector should be placed directly on the edge ...
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89
TIP #012: Put useful notes / screenshots / tables into schematic
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90
TIP #011: Don’t forget to place mounting holes on your board
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91
TIP #010: Once you name a net, always copy and paste its name. Never re-write it manually.
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92
TIP #009: Choose two or three biggest component suppliers ...
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93
TIP #008: You may want to use multiple VIAs in high current tracks
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94
TIP #007: Set the right height of your table
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95
TIP #006: Always create specific schematic symbol for every component type
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96
TIP #005: Make small test circuit boards
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97
TIP #004: Add a page reference next to the ports
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98
TIP #003: Use “+” sign as a prefix of all your power net names
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99
TIP #002: Always spread signals if you have space
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100
TIP #001: You can have crosstalk even on a board running at a low frequency
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