By Kelly Dack | Published on: August 05, 2015
If you are an intuitive and well-read PCB designer, over the past decade, you have likely been introduced to the topic of via filling by well-known industry leaders who have covered the process extensively. However, if you are like me, you have to stub your foot on the machinery, and trip over the operators who run it before a snappy concept like via fill can become a personal reality. (I try not to apologize for this as most everyone knows that many PCB designers are visual learners, taking in knowledge less by reading and more by sight and touch of the physical parts and processes. Advisory: Ouch! This method can hurt sometimes.)
Fortunately, I took a wonderful detour from my 30 year long career path as a designer that has led me to work at a place where learning prototype PCB manufacturing by way of the senses is easy. At Prototron Circuits I am steps away from the materials, processes, and people successfully fabricating quality PCB prototypes that incorporate via fill technology.
Over the past few weeks, without personal injury, I have been able to fill my senses with a clear understanding of via fill by following a PCB through our shops' various processes, and believe me, there are many! Now I understand what I’d missed skimming through so many of those white papers! After examining the silky-gold coplanar surface finish covering those filled vias, I have to ask myself -- why aren’t more designers ordering via fill on their designs? Are the white papers describing via fill not getting through to the design community?
The answer: well, unfortunately there aren't any comprehensive white papers on ordering via fill. Don't despair! You don’t have to stub your toe, or bonk your head to grasp the understanding of this subject. I've already done it for you and I'm going to share with you how you can incorporate via fill on your next design by following four simple steps from Prototron Circuits.
It's simple, just remember SAND: Select, Assign, Note & Drill
That's it. Four simple steps!
On your next project, why not let Prototron show you how our via fill capability can increase your design’s manufacturability, solderability, thermal dissipation characteristics and overall quality!
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