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    Why PCB Design Uses 3D Function ?

    In recent years, printed circuit board is more complex with the number of network grows, rigid design constraint and layout density, and subject transfers to high speed, high density. Luckily, PCB design tool had kept balance, dealing with the challenges of increasingly complex design filed. A great change--the using of 3D, it may combine the competition of design innovation and global market for designers. 

The challenges for 3D design

First of all, the designer is not sure if printed circuit board can fit before manufacturing prototype.

     Secondly, this way would lead to using the prototype for several times in the design process.

     And then, multiple prototype wastes so many times, the average cost is $8,929 for such a mid complex prototype.

    It would affect the company’s competition and prevent us from advancing because of the increasing of any extra time or fee in the process, no wonder it’s unpopular.

    Another default is two dimension design traditionally for PCB layout. Layout is mainly in 2D ways, after marking by hand to mechanical design engineer.

    Mechanical design engineer uses CAD to be 3D redrawing for design. Because operating by hand completely, it wastes time so much, and makes mistake easily.

    So, it couldn’t provide competitive differences for electronic product of next generation. Now the problem is apparent, so printed circuit board designers need to check and analyse their increasingly complex design with a better way.

    The final destination of PCB designer is to create the product for real world(with 3 dimension), so using a design tool of advancing 3D functions is the best.

    It could check the real 3D image of design for designer before manufacturing out of manufacturing prototype, saving time and fee. Making accurate 3D module easily, and doing printed circuit board layout for the real 3D.

    Besides, making housing 3D module of target to PCB design, ensuring the designed printed circuit board to place in the house perfectly. Finally, the designer is confident to submit their its file to manufacture.

    3D export functions provide the capability for designer to analyse in other analysis tools, such as heat dissipation and electromagnetic simulation. For such the battery operated apparatus, which the wireless connection and compact are used at present, This function is the key of heat dissipation depends on the printed circuit board shape.

    3D functions is necessary for electronic product of next generation to design with high speed,accuracy and low cost in the PCB design tool.

Full 3D functions

   It’s not denied that the value of adding 3D functions in the printed circuit board, so a lot of companies are able to take this function as a promo at present. However, it’s different for 3D functions with design tool.

   To play a full advantage of 3D, it’s not enough to check the real 3D image, you have to develop the function of full 3D, including:

Creating the capability of 3D cartoon/video for design

    The designer is easy to share and show his product design by this function, and takes as the material of promotion.

     It also promotes the better cooperation with other design tram or manufacturer. For example, designer show the product after assembly by a 3D video, which is used for explaining the order of component welding in the printed circuit board.

3D module(including components) is importing the capability of printed circuit board design

Please attention, some design tools lack such function, only allowing designer to have a visual and clearance inspection of component.

 However, it could place the component on the right site at the first time if importing the housing and other mechanical object.

Supporting the capability of 3D inspecting

Because the rule is timely guide in the design progress, it’s the importance of function.

Design rule tester of 3D would send a message for designer that is there any disturb in 3D space( every axis) both of the components, components and housing or components and heat dissipation.

The capability of copper layer modeling in the inner structure

It would has the problem in the manufacturing process in spite of ECAD of 3D functions.

When finding the problem in the late design period, it’s multiplied the cost. For the copper layer modeling capability in the PCB inner structure, it’s easy for designer to check the connection or thermal reliefs of pin and inner.

The advantage of 3D design

There are many advantages for you to design in the form of 3D. it’s from MCAD and ECAD iteratively circulation to one circulation(in some case it’s zero), and shortening the design time, avoiding the design mistake at the greatest extent to increase productivity.

What’s more, it could pay more attention to design of product aesthetics for designer by quitting the suitable uncertainty of printed circuit board layout and housing.

Other advantages:

Competitive advantage

3D design is making the product design in advance to be more reasonable and efficient for manufacturing process, and promoting product quickly by improving and communicating within the organization and between supplier and customers.

There is a lower design cost, higher profit, and it means the income will increase with the advance of marketing time and promoting of product quality.

Promoting global cooperation

A real 3D design image can improve communication efficiency with supplier, customers and manufacturer. And non CAD staffs are allowed to join this process( for example, applying to questionnaire survey, specify or product assembly for customers)

Now it’s important for a lot of companies to tend to the case of outer manufacture( in China or local state). No matter how design intention or final product requested, the global design and manufacture are easily misunderstand and make mistake.

However 3D design image is providing the platform, which is universal, easy to understand, all team members for any operating.

More efficient check and update

Setting the capability of render and cartoon simplify the design programme and checking design in the design team member.

It could modify and update the latest design change for designer. For example, it’s easy to make a new 3D render or cartoon once modifying is finished.

More efficient manufacture and assembly progress

3D module provides a universal base for manufacturer to work, and send design intention and related details accurately and apparently.

Only after manufacturing can we find the mistake, which it’s found as soon as possible in the design process. So it’s more accurate and efficient to manufacture and assembly with 3D module.

Promoting sales and marketing

3D module would be a great promotion tool, which has a view of all products for customers before manufacturing, so it’s fast for marketing department to do the its evaluation report, helping us with the extra advantage.

Conclusion

In recent years, 3D graphic technology has fully changed the interact ways of society and computer. This changes are now in the PCB design period by 3D PCB tools. It’s changing the design and manufacturing ways of electronic product. 

However, it’s important to find the best implement ways as the new technology or ways. It has to find a software programme with full 3D functions for PCB designers, who want to benefit of 3D.