<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rr9NBtrA4t4" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        Watch how differential pair signals are travelling through a PCB. Thank you very much Yuriy Shlepnev 
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:33</span><span class="chapters-text">Differential pairs routed on top / bottom, THIN PCB, 1W</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">12:56</span><span class="chapters-text">3W, Top / Bottom</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">17:17</span><span class="chapters-text">THICK PCB, Top / Bottom</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">23:49</span><span class="chapters-text">No GND plane</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">30:01</span><span class="chapters-text">Differential pairs inside of PCB</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">45:30</span><span class="chapters-text">3D animation, top/bottom, 1W</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">48:51</span><span class="chapters-text">3D animation, top/bottom, 3W</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">57:12</span><span class="chapters-text">3D animation, inside of PCB, 1W</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">58:40</span><span class="chapters-text">3D animation, inside of PCB, 3W</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:06:21</span><span class="chapters-text">Crosstalk examples</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriy-shlepnev-7b39136/">Yuriy's LinkedIn</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.simberian.com/">Yuriy's company</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Watch Differential Pair Fields and Currents in PCB

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_MNw4EWer0" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        Professional hardware design of complex boards explained by Istvan Nagy
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:59</span><span class="chapters-text">Learning step-by-step</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">09:53</span><span class="chapters-text">Where we can find electronics</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">15:02</span><span class="chapters-text">Misconceptions</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">41:30</span><span class="chapters-text">Istvan's book</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">44:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Testing</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">51:19</span><span class="chapters-text">What to learn</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:05:09</span><span class="chapters-text">What do we need to start</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:15:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Learning types</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:23:29</span><span class="chapters-text">Learning path</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:27:48</span><span class="chapters-text">Hobby tools</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:37:56</span><span class="chapters-text">Production</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:45:05</span><span class="chapters-text">Company types</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Complex-Digital-Hardware-Design-Istvan/dp/1032702087">Istvan's Book</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Are you the right person to design complex electronic boards?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sfcFgt5RZbM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Watch close details of building a keyboard - from soldering to programming. Enjoy!
    </div>

  <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">I received PCB and 3D printed parts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:29</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">04:20</span><span class="chapters-text">Finishing and testing the board</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:59</span><span class="chapters-text">Software</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">09:56</span><span class="chapters-text">Building the case</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">12:23</span><span class="chapters-text">RGB colors and custom shortcuts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">13:56</span><span class="chapters-text">The final result</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

I built a real electronic product from home… and recorded everything

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B8wQVrPKTSw" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        When you are doing layout, sometimes you may want to use a special rule in a specific area. For example if you have a BGA with a very small pitch, which requires a special clearance rule to fanout the tracks.<br><br>

        The simplest way how to do it in Altium Designer, is to set a minimum clearance rule under the problematic footprint. 
    </div>
</div>


Altium Tutorial – Smaller clearance under BGA or Footprint

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        Do you need a special PCB stackup for your project? The following steps will help you to get the stackup you want.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Step 1 – Suggest a stackup</h2>
        Easiest way is to modify/adjust an existing stackup. If you need to start from a scratch, try to use standard materials. Here are some examples of materials which you can use:<br><br>

        <i>Screenshot of standard materials used during PCB manufacturing</i>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/2cf59-pcb-materials.png" alt="pcb materials" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        This screenshot was taken from <a href="http://www.sqpinternational.com/">SQP International</a> website. <a href="http://www.sqpinternational.com/base_materials.php">Here you can find there more information.</a><br><br>

        If you would like to see how PCB is manufactured, have a look at this video which I made some time ago: <a href="http://www.fedevel.com/blog/how-does-a-multilayer-pcb-is-made/">How is a multilayer PCB made</a>. That may help you to understand how the PCB material is put together.<br><br>

        <i>TIP: Ideally, you want to keep the thickness of dielectricum, which is placed between reference GND and signal layer, to minimum. This will help you to minimize crosstalk between tracks.</i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Step 2 – Calculate track geometry</h2>
        I often use <a href="http://www.saturnpcb.com/">Saturn PCB</a> software to calculate track geometry (e.g. to calculate track width for all the digital signals, which need to be 50 or 55OHM). The software is free, easy to use and it gives you quite accurate numbers. You can download it from here: <a href="http://saturnpcb.com/pcb_toolkit.htm">Saturn PCB Toolkit</a><br><br>

        <i>Screenshot from <a href="http://saturnpcb.com/pcb_toolkit.htm">Saturn PCB Toolkit</a></i>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/c6f05-saturn-pcb-screenshot.png" alt="Saturn PCB screenshot" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Step 3 – Iterate</h2>
        If after your calculation the track width is not as you would expect (e.g. too wide tracks or too thin tracks), go back to the Step 1, adjust the stackup and then recalculate track geometry in the Step 2. Be aware of the minimum track, which your PCB manufacturer can actually manufacture.
    </div>
  
    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Step 4 – Check with your PCB manufacturer</h2>
        Very often, the real stackup and track geometry will be a little bit different from the theoretical values which you calculated. You need to check the stackup and geometry with your PCB manufacturer. For this, we created following document: <a href="http://www.fedevel.com/welldoneblog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PCB-Stackup-and-Track-Geometry-Suggestion.xlsx">PCB Stackup and Track Geometry Suggestion.xlsx</a>. Feel free to use it as a template. Fill it up with your requirements and send it to your PCB manufacturer.<br><br>

        <i>Screenshot from <a href="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/downloads/PCB-Stackup-and-Track-Geometry-Suggestion.xlsx">PCB Stackup and Track Geometry Suggestion.xlsx</a></i>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/9fb51-pcb-stackup-and-track-geometry-suggestion.png" alt="PCB Stackup and Track Geometry Suggestion" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Step 5 – Confirm or Recalculate</h2>
        From your PCB manufacturer, you will receive a stackup back. If you are happy, you can use it in your design. Often, you may need to go back to Step 1, adjust the stackup, recalculate and double check with your PCB manufacturer again.<br><br>

        <i>Screenshot from the final PCB stackup, received from our PCB manufacturer</i>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/d6527-stackup-from-pcb-manufacturer.png" alt="Stackup from PCB manufacturer" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        Some PCB manufacturers are very good and will send you the correct stackup almost imeddiatelly, with some PCB manufacturers you may need to be very patient, as it may sometimes take weeks to agree on the final stackup.
    </div>
 
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.sqpinternational.com/">SQP International</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.sqpinternational.com/base_materials.php">SQP International - base materials</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.fedevel.com/blog/how-does-a-multilayer-pcb-is-made/">How is a multilayer PCB made</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.saturnpcb.com/">Saturn PCB</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://saturnpcb.com/pcb_toolkit.htm">Saturn PCB Toolkit</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/downloads/PCB-Stackup-and-Track-Geometry-Suggestion.xlsx">PCB Stackup and Track Geometry Suggestion.xlsx</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

5 Steps to define a Custom PCB Stackup

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CvMfb95YBgc" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        <a href="http://www.altium.com/">Altium</a> and <a href="http://www.element14.com/">Element 14</a> released a new software called <a href="http://www.circuitstudio.com/">CircuitStudio</a>. I was curious how it looks. I made this video, so you can see the menu & options of CircuitStudio and compare it with Altium Designer.
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.altium.com/">Altium</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.element14.com/">Element 14</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.circuitstudio.com/">CircuitStudio</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>


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