PCB Data Guidelines: What Our Engineers in Japan Want You to Know
Printed circuit boards play a key role in nearly every electronic device. However, clear guidance on how to prepare PCB manufacturing data remains hard to find. Many engineers end up relying on trial and error or outdated templates. This often leads to delays, extra costs, and frustration during production.
To help address that issue, we are sharing the PCB Manufacturing Data Preparation Guidebook, created by our partners at P-Ban in Japan. It provides practical tips and information you can apply right away, whether you order through PCBFlash or another PCB service. We hope you find it useful for producing better quality PCBs from your very first build.
š What is Included in the Guidebook?
The guidebook is organized into three chapters that you can refer to again and again:
-
10 Key Points for Gerber Data Output This section focuses on how to generate Gerber and drill files that accurately reflect your design, without scaling errors or unit mismatches.
-
Key Points for Error-Free Manufacturing Data (Basic) This chapter covers essential checks, such as annular ring sizes, minimum line widths, edge clearance, and drill hole formatting. These steps help avoid defects and prevent delays in production.
-
Key Points for Error-Free Manufacturing Data (Quality and Stability) This section provides advanced recommendations, such as adding corner radii, breakaway rails, guide holes, fiducial marks, and clear board labeling. These techniques are especially important when moving from prototype to consistent repeat production.
These are the exact standards used by P-Ban's specialists when reviewing customer data before fabrication. You can apply them not only through PCBFlash, but with any professional PCB manufacturer.
šÆ Why This Matters
Following these guidelines helps reduce questions during data review, minimizes the risk of errors, and keeps your order moving into production smoothly. This is especially important if you are working on a tight timeline or preparing a prototype that needs to be right the first time.
š ļø A Few Key Highlights from the Guidebook
- Slotted holes: Always define slot dimensions both as repeated drill hits and in the outline layer. This helps prevent misinterpretation or incorrect fabrication when only one method is used.
- Solder mask rules: For green, red, blue, yellow, and purple solder masks, the minimum line width is 0.1 mm. For white, black, and matte black, the minimum is 0.2 mm. This helps prevent issues like solder bridging, especially on fine-pitch components.
- Silkscreen printing: Maintain a minimum line width of 0.127 mm and text height of at least 1.00 mm. Recommended sizes are 0.150 mm and 1.50 mm, respectively. Anything smaller can lead to illegible or faded text on your final board.
- Board edge and copper spacing: Leave at least 0.3 mm between copper and board edges to avoid exposure after routing. A full 1.0 mm is preferred for improved safety and quality.
- Breakaway rails: Consider adding 10 to 20 mm wide rails around your board for better handling, protection during transport, and extra space for tooling or fiducial marks. Even if you are not panelizing, these help maintain board integrity.
These are just a few of the practical insights included in the guidebook. Whether you are a seasoned engineer or working on your first PCB, applying even a few of these best practices can reduce risk and improve fabrication results.
š Download the Free PDF
Click here to download the PCB Manufacturing Data Preparation Guidebook (PDF).
Note: You must be logged in to download the guide.
š¬ Need Help? Our Engineers Are Ready
If you are unsure whether your files meet the required standards, use our Custom PCB Order page. Upload your data, include any notes, and our engineers will review your submission and follow up with helpful feedback.