Design for manufacturability (DFM) refersto considering the manufacturability of a product from the beginning of thedesign process, aiming to improve the yield and reliability of the productwhile making it easier to manufacture and reducing manufacturing costs.
DFM is based on the concept of concurrentdesign, where the manufacturing process requirements, testing requirements, andassembly feasibility are comprehensively considered during the design phase,allowing for control over the cost, performance, and quality of the product.
Generally, DFM includes three main aspects:PCB manufacturability design, PCBA assembly design, and low manufacturing cost design.
1.PCB manufacturability design focuses onoptimizing the fabrication process parameters to improve the yield of PCBfabrication and reduce communication costs during the process. Considerationsinclude trace width, trace spacing, and hole-to-trace and hole-to-holedistances.
2.PCBA assembly design involves standardizinglayout, designing PCB packaging, and ensuring thermal balance of components.Layout standardization ensures proper component spacing to avoid spatialinterference, while PCB packaging design focuses on soldering performance andthe matching between component pads and PCB. Component pin spacing and solderfillet allowance are also considered.
3.Low manufacturing cost is essential forcompetitiveness in the market. Designers need to optimize manufacturingprocesses and understand the pricing rules of PCB manufacturers to reducecosts. This involves selecting manufacturing processes that are efficient andsimple and understanding the pricing logic of PCB manufacturers.
In summary, DFM requires consideringnumerous factors, often adhering to many design rules. However, without the aidof tools, controlling all aspects manually increases the risk of errors.Although there are few tools for process inspection available on the market,some companies resort to manual inspection using checklists, which isinefficient and error-prone.