Prototyping solutions · September 16, 2021
Why bring PCB prototyping in-house?
PCB prototyping plays a crucial role in electronic design. Time to market must constantly shrink while meeting demanding R&D requirements: prototyping has become indispensable.
The limits of outsourcing
A typical scenario: the engineer orders at least 10 to 20 boards and waits one to two weeks for the first prototype. They assemble and test it. If the results disappoint, or if they want to test a second iteration, they have to rework the layout and order another batch… and wait another one to two weeks.
Yet effective prototyping usually takes several iterations. Waiting between builds breaks creative momentum and slows projects down. Finally, the cost can become prohibitive, especially for multilayer boards, where a single prototype can cost thousands of euros.
“Thanks to our LPKF ProtoMat, we completed a project that should have taken 10 weeks in just one week.”
The solution: LPKF circuit board plotters
Since 1976, LPKF has been developing rapid PCB prototyping solutions. Its systems produce boards of the same quality as outsourced ones, with excellent signal integrity and no hazardous chemicals.
No minimum quantity
One or several boards can be made, tested and modified in a single day. Each change is made right away, without waiting to bundle several: lead times drop from weeks to a few hours, for better designs and fewer errors. And intellectual property stays safe, since the data never leaves the lab.
Simple, and precise all the way to multilayers
Unlike entry-level plotters, LPKF solutions are easy to use and precise enough to produce multilayer boards with plated vias, ready for the latest generation of SMDs. Many of our customers used to outsource their prototypes: they have gained in productivity, performance and control.
