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Printed Circuit Board FAQ

You are here: Home / FAQ / FAQ – Prototyping Center / Printed Circuit Board FAQ

What is a PCB?

A printed circuit board or PCB is a device that is used to mount and connect multiple electronic components together with the use of traces, pads or other connection methods. A PCB is made using layers of copper that’s laminated onto layers of a non-conductive substrate (fiberglass for
FR4 panels).

FEDC PCB Manufacturing

What types of copper panels do you offer?

At the FEDC you can choose between the following copper panels depending on the specification of your circuit:

  • 1 Oz Single Sided FR4 Panel
  • 0.5 Oz Flexible(Thin) Double Sided FR4 Panel
  • 0.5 Oz Double Sided FR4 Panel
  • 1.0 Oz Double Sided FR4 Panel
  • 2.0 Oz Double Sided FR4 Panel

Can I bring my own copper panel to manufacture my PCB?

You may choose to provide your own copper panel to make your PCB(s) but you must consult
with a technician before submitting your material and PCB request.

What machines do you use to create PCBs?

Primary machine:

S103 Protomat by LPKF
Max Panel Size and layout area (X/Y/Z): 12 X 9 X 1.4/0.9 in
Holds up to 15 tools (Tool list below)
Max resolution: 0.5 μm (0.02 mil)
More info here: https://www.lpkfusa.com/datasheets/prototyping/s103.pdf
0.4mm Minimum Drill Size
Minimum 10 mil. (.254 mm) trace thickness + 10 mil. Spacing
No text or images

Service Requests – PCBs

How can I learn how to design a PCB to submit if I’m a beginner?

We recommend that you create your PCB using Eagle which is part of the Autodesk suite. All Texas A&M students can download Autodesk software for free through TAMU’s software store. We also recommend that you take the LinkedIn learning course on PCB design using Eagle if you’ve never created a PCB before using Eagle.
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-pcb-design-with-eagle/manufacturing-options?u=746
50722

WHAT IF I WANT TO USE ALTIUM TO DESIGN MY PCB?

Exporting gerber files from Altium is a bit more involved, but still possible. here is a link to a tutorial:

https://support.jlcpcb.com/article/42-how-to-export-altium-pcb-to-gerber-files

Differential tuition pays for enhancements to the learning experience of undergraduate students in engineering. These enhancements include extra sections of overfull courses, new computers and equipment, and even extra lecturers to teach classes. Learn more about differential tuition here.

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