PCB Configurator

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It has been a while since we posted newsitems here. A complete new module for Eurocircuits customers was implemented, We started the implementation for Eurocircuits, Elektor PCB Service as well as Element 14 PCB Service in May. By now ( October 2013) the system is stable and all orders from Eurocircuits channels are processed through the new PCB Configurator.

Dirk Stans, managing partner marketing sales of Eurocircuits states :

PCB Configurator – visualised ordering saves time and cuts costs.

“How can we make the ordering process faster, safer and simpler for our customers?  How can we present them with the widest choice of technologies, deliveries, quantities and prices so that every order is optimised to their requirements?”.  These are some of the questions we asked ourselves when we started to redesign our user interface.

We made changes to our service structure (our blog about the new services).  We made changes to our pricing structure (logic behind our new pcb price calculator).  But we also introduced powerful new features into the ordering process itself.

Read the full text in the PCB Configurator blog on the Eurocircuits website (PCB Configurator for Eurocircuits)

PCB Visualizer update 06/03/2013

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  • Added Check the outline import remark given when the outline was found with some degree of incertainty.

  • Improved visualisation of rout layers.

  • Improved visualisation of blind/burried drill layers in customer data

  • Inner layer annular ring was reported under the header Outer layer annular ring in PCB Checker. Solved.

WOTS2014 – Eurocircuits trekt mee aan de kar !

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WOTS2014 – Eurocircuits trekt mee aan de kar !

Eurocircuits is een actief lid binnen het FHI, de federatie van technologie branches in Nederland en is sinds dit jaar ook bestuurslid van de FHI branche Industriële Elektronica. Al vele jaren maken we deel uit van de beurscommissies voor de beurzen Electronics & Automation en HET Instrument.

Deze laatste beurs zal niet meer plaats vinden onder die naam. Het FHI, federatie van technologiebranches, en het FEDA, federatie aandrijven en automatiseren, hebben de handen in elkaar geslagen en brengen in 2014 hun branches: FHI-laboratorium, FHI-automation, FHI-industriële-elektronica en FEDA-motion-en-drives samen in 1 beurs onder de naam World Of Technology en Science of kort WOTS.

Elk van deze branches treedt tevens op onder zijn eigen logo en heeft zijn eigen plek op de beursvloer. Vanuit het verleden is echter bekend dat de verschillende branches veel synergiën met elkaar vertonen en zo samen een succesvolle beurs met elkaar kunnen organiseren. De toevoeging van de branche Motion & Drives van FEDA zal dit effect alleen maar versterken.

De beurs vindt plaats van 30 september 2014 tem 3 oktober 2014 in de Jaarbeurs te Utrecht, NL.

Exposanten kunnen zich nu inschrijven.

Eurocircuits trekt mee aan de kar om de Belgische bedrijven te motiveren van dit forum, WOTS, gebruik te maken om zich aan de Benelux markt te tonen.

Samen met het FHI organiseren we 10 december aanstaande een informatiemiddag in Kasteel Tivoli, Antwerpsesteenweg 92 – 2800 Mechelen – België.

Het programma voor 10 december 2013:

12.30 uur – Ontvangst met lunch

13.45 uur – Opening en welkom – Dirk Stans, Eurocircuits

14.00 uur – Introductie World of Technology & Science: beursconcept en bezoekersdoelgroepen

14.30 uur – Interactie & beursbeleving; beursvloerprojecten en seminars – Paul Petersen, FHI, federatie van technologieranches

15.00 uur – Koffiepauze

15.15 uur – Toegevoegde waarde van World of Technology & Science voor Vlaamse markt – Delen van ervaringen door Vlaamse deelnemers

16.00 uur – World of Technology & Science praktisch: locatie, clusterindeling, inschrijven – Linda Bos-Dekker, FHI, federatie van technologiebranches

16.30 uur – Borrel

Inschrijven voor deze namiddag kan u doen bij Linda Bos, manager communicatie en beurzen van het FHI, via +31 33 465 75 07 of l.bos@fhi.nl.

Samen met het FHI hopen wij u van harte te mogen ontvangen.

Wij kunnen het allen zeer aanraden zich als bedrijf op de beurs WOTS als ook op de E&A beurs te presenteren. Zo ben je elk jaar in beeld in de Benelux!

www.wots.be – www.wots.nl

LED event 2013 – Eurocircuits is weer van de partij!

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LED event 2013 – Eurocircuits is weer van de partij!

Als actief lid binnen het FHI, de federatie van technologie branches in Nederland en sinds dit jaar ook als bestuurslid van de FHI branche Industriële Elektronica, zijn wij al van de eerste editie van de partij bij dit relatief nieuwe maar succesvolle LED evenement 2013.

Het LED event vindt plaats in het “1931 congrescentrum” in de Brabanthallen in “s Hertogenbosch.

Gratis registreren kan u hier doen

Op 27 november aanstaande zorgen 35 exposanten voor een nuttige dag vol met interessante lezingen en bieden er u de mogelijkheid hen persoonlijk te ontmoeten.

Het programma van de lezingen vindt u hier.

Wij zijn ook weer van de partij en tonen u onze nieuwste versie van de eC-reflow-mate en geven u een guided tour in onze wereld van visualisatie van uw PCB: PCB Visualizer, PCB Checker en PCB Configurator met al hun functies en mogelijkheden. Ook de nieuwe PCB PIXture resulaten zullen we u voorstellen alsook onze “smart menus” uitleggen en de voordelen die ze voor u kunnen betekenen.

Wij hopen u 27 november aanstaande te mogen begroeten op onze stand. Vergeet niet te registreren aub. Dit kan hier.

Your optimum PCB Design flow

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Achieve the ideal PCB Design flow by using Eurocircuits’ smart menus

In support of our Design engineering customer community, we have created smart menus and PCB visualization tools. These will help designers to follow the best PCB layout flow possible and thus save time, avoid communication problems and achieve the best price and reliability for their PCB.

Smart menus.

The Eurocircuits calculator is based upon the technology of our PCB Configurator software which is part of the PCB Visualization tools of our website. However this calculator can work without attaching data to it. You will have the complete service scope of Eurocircuits at your finger tips including all technical validation rules that apply when choosing different technical options for your board.

We therefore call it “smart menus”. They contain:

  • Build-up wizard: more than 700 predefined build ups including blind and buried combinations can be chosen.
  • Technical validation: around 300 rules are built into the smart menus helping you to choose only those combinations of options that are viable. All violation are explained and possible corrections advised. If none are clear or what you had in mind, calling operator assistance through “launch inquiry” is always possible.
  • Classification wizard: our classification aide shows you the possible pattern and drill classes in function of the chosen base copper foils.
  • Price guidance: on every option you choose, the smart menu informs you if there will be a slight cost increase or if the board is no longer poolable and the cost will be calculated based on production panels. All prices are always calculated including alternatives based upon other more favourable quantities and delivery terms. Also a full customer definable price matrix is possible.

Visualization tools

After you have finished your PCB Layout based upon the PCB design parameters you defined using our smart menus , you can load your PCB data into the shopping basket of your account. Our PCB Visualizer software will start analysing your data and will come up with a reply some minutes later. Your board is now viewable. What can you discover?

  • PCB Visualizer: see your input data and if necessary map an individual data file to another function on the board. You can view the board base upon the chosen order details or the default details in case you choose analyse my data. Going through all order details, you can view all comments and possible violation.
  • PCB Checker: shows the result of the design rule check of your data against the order details of the basket item. You can consult all possible errors individually and evaluate.
  • PCB Configurator: this tool allows you to change the order details and bring them in accordance with the content of your data.

Presentation “share our knowledge”

In this presentation we go through the PCB Design flow with the emphasis on the Eurocircuits smart menus and PCB Visualization tools and how they can help you gain time, avoid misunderstandings and save costs.

View the Presentation – click here

The presentation is best viewed when you open the speaker notes and view them on a second screen. This can be controlled from the option button in the bottom left corner.

How Often Can You Raise a Eurocircuits PCB to Lead-free Soldering Temperatures?

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Read more →

PCB PIXture makes your boards stand out from the crowd !

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“Personalized PCBs?

Why would I want to personalize the appearance of my PCB design?” Well, your boards may be visible in the final product and you want to add customer appeal or brand awareness. Or as a prototype designer you want your customers and prospects to recognize your work and send you new projects.

There are already different ways used to personalize PCBs: adding a logo in the legend; using a different soldermask colour or designing a recognizable board shape.

Now we offer something more – PCB PIXture.

The goldPIXture project.

The PIXture mask concept started during the summer of 2013. We experimented with graphical images built in silver and gold on copper clad epoxy (standard FR-4). The result is a new service where we build pictures (we call them PIXtures) using PCB manufacturing technology. For more information about this service, go to www.goldPIXture.com, or click on the PIXtures below.

The PCB PIXture mask.

For the goldPIXture project we developed software to break a graphical image into pixels and convert the image to DPF. This is the format used by our frontend engineering system (UCAM) and our laser phototool plotters. With this software we can now add any graphical image into a PCB dataset and create an extra ‘Image layer’ that can be printed, for instance, as a soldermask layer.

How do we make a PCB PIXture mask?

The PCB PIXture is printed on the boards as a double soldermask layer. The first layer is a white photo imageable soldermask made in the normal way. The second layer, printed over the first, is a black soldermask layer with the artwork based on the PIXture file. This process does not affect the functionality of the board or the solderability, as the material we use is standard photo imageable soldermask ink.

Do you want a PIXture on your PCB?

We want to have your opinion before we decide if it makes sense to offer PCB PIXture as a poolable option in our services. Please complete the poll below. If you want to test PCB PIXture right away, you can send your PCB design (or Eurocircuits order number) together with a graphical image or idea to info@goldpixture.be. We will make you a proposal showing what your PIXturized PCB would look like. For the first 10 requests we will produce a free prototype board including a PCB PIXture.

Pourquoi ne pas signer vos circuits imprimés avec une photographie réalisée en vernis épargne de votre choix ?
Ils peuvent être visibles dans un équipement ou comme produit fini. Porteur de votre image, c’est un vecteur de communication qui vous rendra reconnaissables entre tous.

{jvotesystem poll==5}


UK Sales Manager – PCBs

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Eurocircuits are looking for a UK-based Sales Manager to handle sales and technical support in the UK, with some additional input into other European countries. The position has become vacant due to retirement.

The primary responsibility of the role is to grow turnover in the UK to a level justifying our own UK sales company. You will achieve this by active prospecting, exploiting our extensive contact database and working with existing customers. As we specialise in prototype and small batch PCBs, electronics designers are our target market. Here providing good technical support is one of the keys to attracting and retaining new customers.

The job’s secondary responsibility is to be part of the team providing online technical support for customers in other European countries where we don’t have our own sales subsidiaries.

As UK Sales Manager you will work from home, supported by colleagues (all English-speaking) from our head office in Mechelen, Belgium, and by our comprehensive online sales administration system.

You should be able to demonstrate some years of successful technical sales to electronics design engineers. You should also have a sound working knowledge of PCB fabrication. The role demands a self-motivated self-starting manager, able to work effectively remote from the central office. Overseas travel will not normally be required other than for sales meetings or trade shows.

Salary is negotiable depending on experience.

Eurocircuits are one of Europe’s largest specialist manufacturers of prototype and small batch PCBs. Our head-quarters are in the historic town of Mechelen in Belgium. We have factories in Germany, Hungary and India, sales subsidiaries in Germany, France, Switzerland and USA and local sales in the UK and Italy. Over the last 13 years we have developed a lean online business model based on order-pooling. This allows us to deliver small batches of PCBs across a wide range of technologies, fast, reliably, at low cost to our customers, and profitably to ourselves – profits which have financed a substantial program of re-investment over the last 3 – 4 years. In the first 9 months of this year we have already shipped more than 53,000 PCBs orders to over 7000 different customers across Europe.

To apply, please send your CV and the names of two referees to Dirk Stans, Sales Director, at dirk.stans@eurocircuits.com. Referees will not be contacted without your permission. Or email Dirk for more information. Interviews will be held in the UK end of October and November.