Using layout data for predicting effects on production processes in PCB-manufacturing

Today's non-mass-production PCB-manufacturers have to be able to deliver a wide spectrum of PCB-layouts with a vast amount of different and sometimes contradicting requirements. Therefore both, the equipment and production processes have to be very flexible and well controlled. Nevertheless experience in PCB-production affirms that the outcome of some processes can be significantly influenced by the PCB-layout. Design of Experiments (DoE) is widely used for optimizing manufacturing processes and identifying influencing variables. Hence DoE should be useful for tagging crucial workpiece variables and evaluating their influence on particular manufacturing processes and machines. Using the example of copper deposition in mechanically-drilled areas of PCBs, a possible realization of DoE and its effectiveness is shown. The importance of focusing on the characteristics of the product to improve knowledge and quality of its manufacturing processes is also illustrated.