<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lqc1jmbSxnE" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Why is the thickness of PCB layers important? Explained.
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

How to choose PCB?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OG2Ci_xr0pM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
If you would like to watch a full step-by-step tutorial about how to design your own custom keyboard, let me know in comments. Thx for watching.
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">Overview</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:20</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard parts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:54</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard PCB design</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">02:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Small version</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:53</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard case</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">05:11</span><span class="chapters-text">Switches and encoders</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:10</span><span class="chapters-text">Keycaps</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:56</span><span class="chapters-text">Firmware QMK</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">07:52</span><span class="chapters-text">VIA app to set shortcuts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:28</span><span class="chapters-text">Finished keyboard</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

I Built This Custom Keyboard from Scratch

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m3Ny3j5nH0U" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Close look at BGA soldering, chip soldering, hand soldering and more
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:09</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering BGA</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">01:18</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering TSSOP</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:05</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering QFN</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:02</span><span class="chapters-text">Hand soldering</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Multilayer PCB under a microscope</span></li>
    </div>

    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.keyence.eu/yt-kib-vhx-0924">Microscope Keyence VHX-7000N</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Have you ever seen soldering THIS close?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        In case you need generate 3D pdf ( <a href="http://www.voipac.com/downloads/imx/53/doc/iMX53_SODIMM_3D.pdf">like this iMX53 SODIMM 3D pdf</a> where you can click and see the board from every angle), use for example <a href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/9.0/3D/WS58a04a822e3e50102bd615109794195ff-7c13.w.html">Adobe 3D Reviewer</a>. How? Export your PCB from Altium Designer into STEP file and open it in the Adobe software. Then File -> Export will save it into 3D PDF file. Disadvantage – Adobe 3d Reviewer is not FREE.
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-text">
        In case you need to print some screenshots/pictures of your 3D board into pdf, follow these steps in your Altium Designer:
        <ol class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Set the 3D view you like in your PCB editor.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Go to Job file -> <i>Add New Documentation -> PCB 3D prints</i>.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Then Right click -> <i>Configure -> Custom -> Take Current Camera Position</i>. Ok.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Print / Publish into PDF.</span></li>
        </ol>
    </div>
   
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/ad4f1-3d-print.jpg" alt="3d print" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        See also my post – <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-of-your-pcb-its-reallyeasy/">Altium Designer – 3D model of your PCB – it’s really easy</a>
    </div>

   
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.voipac.com/downloads/imx/53/doc/iMX53_SODIMM_3D.pdf">like this iMX53 SODIMM 3D pdf</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/9.0/3D/WS58a04a822e3e50102bd615109794195ff-7c13.w.html">Adobe 3D Reviewer</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/altium-designer-3d-model-of-your-pcb-its-reallyeasy/">Altium Designer – 3D model of your PCB – it’s really easy</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Altium Designer – Print 3D pictures into PDF

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        There are two options:<br><br>

        <b>1) Leave your PCB manufacturer to design PCB stackup for you (Recommended)</b><br>
        <u>Why?</u>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">You don’t need to spend your time by designing stackup. Leave it on PCB manufacturer – they are professionals. They do it every day. Also, by doing it this way, you can work on design in parallel of handling issues with PCB stackup.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Many times PCB manufacturer is not able to build PCB stackup designed by other company or a person outside their company. The main reason is unavailability of material used in some PCB stackups. Selection of material is the best to leave on them – they will choose stocked material.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCB manufacturers use different track geometry calculators and they will not guarantee track impedance if track geometry is calculated by someone else. Many times their calculated numbers and your calculated numbers will be different.</span></li>
        </ul><br>

        An example of email to PCB manufacturer with request for PCB stackup and track geometry.
    </div>
    <div style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;background-color:#eaeaea;">
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>Please suggest PCB stackup and track geometry for PCB with following parameters:</i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i><u><b>PCB Description</b></u></i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– 12 Layers: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i>L1 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i>L2 – GND </i><br> 
                                        <i>L3 – Signal </i><br>
                                        <i>L4 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i>L5 – GND </i><br> 
                                        <i>L6 – Powers </i><br> 
                                        <i>L7 – Powers </i><br>
                                        <i>L8 – GND </i><br> 
                                        <i>L9 – Signal</i><br> 
                                        <i>L10 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i>L11 – GND </i><br>
                                        <i>L12 – Signal </i><br> 
                                        <i><b>Please suggest stackup.</b></i></p>

        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– Required impedances: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>Single ended:</u> 50 OHMs (L1 (Ref: L2); L3, L4 (Ref: L2, L5); L9, L10 (Ref: L8, L11); L12 (Ref: L11)) </i><br> 
            <i><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Differential:</span> 70, 90, 100 OHMs (L1 (Ref: L2); L3, L4 (Ref: L2, L5);  L9, L10 (Ref: L8, L11); L12 (Ref: L11)) </i><br> <i><b>Please suggest geometry for impedance controlled tracks: Track width / Gap</b></i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– Used VIAs: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>Through hole VIA</u>: 0.45mm (pad)
                / 0.2mm (drill),</i><br> <i>Start layer: L1, End layer: L12 </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>uVIAs:</u> </i><br> 
            <i>Start layer: L1, End layer: L2; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i><br>
            <i>Start layer: L2, End layer: L3; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i><br>
            <i>Start layer: L10, End layer: L11; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i><br>
            <i>Start layer: L11, End layer: L12; 0.27mm (pad) / 0.1mm (laser drilled hole) </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i><u>Buried VIA:</u> </i><br>
            <i>Start Layer: L3, End layer: L10; 0.45mm (pad) / 0.2mm (drill) </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:15px;"><i>– Other: </i></p>
        <p style="padding:10px; padding-left:30px;"><i>Minimum track: 0.1mm / Minimum gap: 0.1mm</i><br>
             <i>Board thickness: approximately 1.6mm</i><br> 
             <i>Board size: 40x80mm</i></p>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content">
        <b>2) Design PCB stackup by yourself</b><br>
        Basic information about PCB stackups:
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCB is build from three basic materials: Copper foil, Prepreg, Core</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Standard Copper foil thickness: 5um, 12um, 18um, 35um, 70um</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Standard prepreg thickness: 65um, 100um, 180um</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Standard core thickness: 0.15mm, 0.20mm, 0.36mm, 0.46mm, 0.56mm, 0.71mm, 1mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.4mm, 3.2mm. Core is supplied with copper foil on both sides. For some cores you need to add copper foil thickness (18um or 35um) to the core thickness.</span></li>
        </ul><br>

        <i>PCB stackup examples</i>
    </div>
    <table>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>Standard 4 Layer PCB stackup [mm]</td>
                <td>Standard 6 Layer PCB stackup [mm]</td>
                <td>Standard 8 Layer PCB stackup [mm]</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Copper foil<br> 0.18 prepreg<br> 0.18 prepreg<br> 0.71 core<br> 0.18 prepreg<br> 0.18 prepreg<br>
                    Copper foil</td>
                <td>Copper foil<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.36 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br>
                    0.10 prepreg<br> 0.36 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> Copper foil</td>
                <td>Copper foil<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.20 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br>
                    0.20 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.20 core<br> 0.10 prepreg<br> 0.10 prepreg<br>
                    Copper foil</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>


    <div class="blog-content-text">
        There are some rules how to build your stackup. Not every combination is possible. Check it out with your PCB manufacturer.<br><br>

        <i>Note: If you calculate impedances for your own stackup, don’t forget about PLATING. Plating process add an additional copper (e.g. 20um)  to top and bottom layer (or if you use uVIAs and buried VIAs, then also to some of the inner layers).</i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <b>PCB impedance calculation and Track geometry design</b><br>
        <u>Example of Microstrip (the tracks on TOP and BOTTOM layers) impedance calculation</u><br>
        90 Ohms Differential / 55 Ohm Single ended for:<br>
        Track width: 11mil / Copper foil 18um (0.7mil) / Track Gap 8 mil / Dielectric thickness 2x 0.1 prepreg = 0.2mm (7.8mil) / material FR-4 (dielectric constant 4.8)<br><br>

        <a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/pcb-impedance-calculator-single-ended-differential-pair/">PCB impedance calculator – Single ended / Differential pair</a>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/4d7a9-diff-impedance-90_55.jpg" alt="diff impedance 90_55" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <i><u><b>Tip:</b></u> It’s easy to convert between mm and mils. Use google and look for: “10mil to mm” or “0.2mm to mil”</i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/blog/pcb-impedance-calculator-single-ended-differential-pair/">PCB impedance calculator – Single ended / Differential pair</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

How to design PCB stackup

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k3Dz0KckiSM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        The video explains how to create / add a 3D model to a component in Altium Designer PCB layout. Also explains how to add other SYSTEM 3D parts into board model.
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.fedevel.com/welldoneblog/2011/09/altium-designer-3d-model-and-real-pcb-side-by-side/">Real picture of the PCB from this video</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>   
</div>


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