Prefabricated prototyping printed circuit boards can significantly accelerate system bring-up when combined with a skilled laboratory technician. Many designs can be brought into a working state without having to wait for a custom PCB. Buerklin now provides an array of prototype PCB offerings that satisfy the most demanding customers.

Prototype PCBs provide technicians with a set of predefined solder positions. Components can usually be inserted into through-hole mounts, and are then soldered together. When combined with jump wire, complex circuit designs can be created effortlessly.

Classic EuroCard Format Options Available

Prototype PCBs can be easily cut to size using either an X-Acto knife or a small saw. Due to this, PCB manufacturers often provide their prototyping PCBs in the EuroCard format (160x100mm). SKU BYB-3-11H6006, then, yields the classic fiberglass PCB shown below.

Thanks to the pitch of 2.54mm, most, if not all, through-hole integrated circuits and components mount directly to the PCB. If additional thermal insulation is needed, DuPont headers or an IC socket can be used to satisfy design requirements.

Should the task at hand require the use of a larger printed circuit board, SKU BYB-3-11H6046 yields a 160x233 mm-sized option.

Some designs can be best realized on strip-line-based printed circuit boards. One example is the SKU BYB-3-11H6016, which has the layout shown in the figure. It can, of course, be processed using a Dremel or an X-Acto knife to create bus islands ideally suited to the PCB at hand.

Advanced Options for Surface-Mount Prototyping

2.54mm components are standard, but often are supplemented by products in different pitch settings. If a 1.27mm connector is to be used, the SKU BYB-3-11H6036 provides a fitting printed circuit board template with a DIN footprint at the end.

Classic surface-mount components can also be populated onto prototyping PCBs. This is accomplished via so-called SMD adapters -- a series of small printed circuit boards which take the SMD IC in question and break its pins out in a Dupont-compatible spacing.

The exact PCB depends on the physical housing of the target IC. In the case of an MSOP8 part, for example, ordering BYB-3-11H6037 yields a workable solution.

ICs housed in SO8, SO8w, HSOP8, HTSOP8, or SOP8 form factors are handled by catch-all SKU BYB-3-11H6042. It provides a universal adapter board where the IC can be mounted in the middle.

Conclusion

Using prototype PCBs saves time during the prototyping process. Bürklin's by.B series offers an affordable and easy-to-order family of high-quality prefab PCBs, ideally suited not only for prototype manufacturing but also for soldering training and small-scale manufacturing.