Comment on Is This The Last PCB You’ll Ever Buy?
j4k3@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Nope, but it is an idea. I think he’d be better off with swaging a solid core copper wire. The vast majority of prototypes are primarily constrained by the enclosure. The other main need for vias is to use BGA and other small packages. The types of boards this services can just as easily work as a larger single sided design with jumper wires or resistors, and without the size constraints.
JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 6 days ago
Vias are necessary for literally every part of electronics design beyond the basic I take a premade module and hook it up to these other 2 premade modules (which all have many vias on them), not just small packages.
Most PCBs nowadays are ≥4 layers. You need vias to use the center layers. Vias are necessary for ground return paths, stitching, shielding, RF plane coupling, signal integrity, and much much more. Single layer designing simply does not work if one is actually designing electronics and not just quick and dirty throwing 2 data busses together for a proof of concept.
BGAs don’t need vias, they are so small (0.5mm pitch and smaller) they usually need microvias (0.15mm/0.3mm ID/AR or smaller, which brings PCB prices from 15€ to 300€ for a set). Then the vias generally have to be filled at least and capped, optimally to not suck the solder through the vias from the balls. That is a whole other ballgame.
j4k3@lemmy.world 6 days ago
I etch and design my own boards.
JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 5 days ago
Cool, what does that have to do anything? Are we just swapping facts about ourselves?
I am a professional electronics engineer with experience in high speed data signal integrity analysis, years of circuit and pcb design experience in medical devices, industrial, and consumer electronics, and designing and debugging for EMC.
j4k3@lemmy.world 5 days ago
It had to do with your tone and rudeness. Plus you are incorrect in some I’d your statements, but that is not something I care to address within a place that is about community and being a digital neighbor. The angst reply to a genuine comment is toxic 90s internet that should have died long ago.